Universal Waite® Pocket Tarot

The Universal Waite deck is one of my favorite decks and the one I used the most. I wasn't aware there was a smaller version until recently and I was hesitant to buy it after reading the reviews. I decided I would give it a shot because I would like something smaller to travel with and I'm very glad I did. These are the size of playing cards so for someone like me with small hands they are very easy to hold and shuffle. This deck will work out great for large spreads. In comparison to the regular sized Universal Waite deck these cards are a matte finish rather than the glossy finish of the larger cards. The larger cards tend to stick together somewhat when shuffling and this smaller deck just feels really smooth when shuffling. The glossy deck also causes some glare to the cards so I really like the matte deck for reading because there are no obstructions. As for the coloring which seems to be the number one complaint, I always felt the larger deck felt somewhat over saturated especially in cards like the High Priestess that almost looks bleached out. I feel like in this deck they finally got the coloring right. It is a little darker but I think it makes everything more vivid and bold. Nothing feels washed out. The images stand true to the larger deck so you can still see the turtle in the King of Pentacles which was muddy and almost indiscernible in the regular Rider Waite deck. I do have lousy vision but I don't think the size of the deck will hinder my reading much just because the Universal deck offers so much more clarity in the images to begin with. I hope this is the case. The backs of the cards are different from the larger deck, it is a star surrounded by clouds. I like these changes because it makes this deck just different enough to stand all on it's own. With this deck I basically have everything that I love about the Universal Waite with several improvements and the benefit of portability and ease of use. The deck even comes in a sturdy box which is good for traveling. This deck will definitely be the one that goes with me everywhere. I hope my larger deck doesn't get jealous.

This beautiful redrawing/coloring by Mary Hanson-Roberts of this most traditional deck is complete with a depth of color that many other versions of the same are lacking. If what you are seeking is a softer alternative to the bold colors and heavy black outlines of the "traditional" Rider deck, you've found it. Interpreting this deck is like resting on a soft pillow. This is my original working deck, and is still my second working deck, after the Robin Wood. It's an excellent place for beginners to start. There's no wondering why the images created by Pamela Colman Smith are singularly the most popular in the world. These images are timeless and are traditionally known as being easy to read, as well as providing depth and insight for the more advanced. This deck is pencil-colored with delicate, soft lines drawn around the faces and figures, and soothing rich colors within the cards. The backs are a fully reversible gold and indigo star field. The Fool in this deck is absolutely gorgeous with his gentle yellow sky and snuggly robe. The High Priestess is absolutely beautiful. You will want to be enveloped by the velvety wings of Temperance. I found this deck to be excellent when coupled with Learning the Tarot: A Tarot Book for Beginners by Joan Bunning, which uses the Universal Waite for illustrations. This book gives a solid grounding in how to read Tarot, and along with this deck, you will be well on your way!

Beautiful color pallette. Sturdy box. Cards shuffle nicely and are of a very convenient size, not requiring hands the size of Andre the Giant's to shuffle them easily. This is a sweet little deck and a faithful upgraded rendition of the RWS tarot cards.

The Universal Waite is one of my top favorite decks ever. It is beautiful. I will take it at any size from the pocket size to even, if ever were made, in the Giant. So much of this review applies for the UW decks, regardless of size and also of the Artist, Mary Hanson-Roberts. I love the regular sized deck with the star-filled, navy background. IF you have small hands, or are limited in reading space, like for bigger card spreads, then you want this UW Pocket sized one. To me this, either size, is my go-to of the Classic Rider-Waite-Smith. It is this and The Radiant Rider-Waite ( I dearly love ) that I reach for. The Radiant Rider-Waite is fully the art of Pamela Coleman Smith, just the re-coloring is perfection! If you want great, you must buy work of Mary Hanson-Roberts. Her own Hanson-Roberts Tarot is next in rank of my top five favorite decks. Do beware on buying of a HR deck, due to the different manufacturers though. So do read many reviews as to if cards are of decent card stock. Some are made of fly-away, flimsy paper. That should've never been allowed. Plus too, about the Hanson-Roberts Tarot is the size again, it is perfect for small hands. Did I say I love her artistry? I do. Do look at images from her own deck. You might just be buying two new decks. ;) Okay, for me the Universal Waite Tarot is the very best of all the clone decks out there, that are not the drawings of Pamela Coleman Smith. Please, do not take this wrong, nor take aim at me. I do love PCS and her art. It is impeccable. I hold her in such a place of honor. Without her contribution, the most known, referenced and respected deck just may not have been and most certainly would not look the same. All that said, I do however, personally enjoy and like Mary Hanson-Roberts art better. It is very engaging and readable. It is as a dear friend overall. The Universal Waite is a great use for reading a person wanting a reading, looking for traditional, but are unsure of Tarot. They can be a little frighten of Tarot in general, just cause new to a reading and no framework for understanding Tarot. It's engaging to them as well, except for the few cards of the 78 that has to be more explained, no matter which deck. Much of the same can be said of the Hanson-Roberts Tarot. The colors used in UW are for the most part softer, many to the point of being pastel. Everything about the artwork of the Hanson-Roberts deck is like reading one of your favorite childhood storybooks, except again those few cards that demand more explaining. It too, will deliver a concise and strong reading. Three additional reasons why I adore this UW pocket sized version are: Decent card stock, as used so far in both UW decks. Gorgeous backs. It being a single yellow star, centered among the clouds in a night sky. I love it. Fantastic Box! Yes, the box deserves an explanation point. It is that good. It will greatly care for your deck. It is extremely sturdy, no knocking this one over, unless it deliberately done. No way ever in putting your deck away, would it bend some of the cards ends, damaging them. The interior of the box is best ever made. It cannot damage your cards, as it isn't a paper folded box with an interior flap. So there is no flap or lip for your cards to hit against. The box will long out live the cards themselves.

So beautiful! I wish I had gotten this deck to begin with instead of the original RWS deck and the Miniature RWS deck. The drawings on the Universal pocket deck are so pretty and also I love the pocket size bc it's perfect for my small hands. The mini deck is too small to shuffle properly and the regular size is to big. This is perfect! I'm so pleased with the packaging and shipping too. It arrived like 3 days after I ordered it, and with no damage! I love the cardboard box the cards come in too..easy storage and I don't have to worry about ripping it like I do with the regular boxes. Overall I just love the vibe of this deck too. It feels powerful. Feels magical. And feels right! Follow up a year later: this deck is still going strong. No damage at all. I have used these almost every single day. At the time when I bought them, I only had three other decks: the rider tarot deck (standard size) and the rider tarot deck miniature edition along with another cheapy deck that was my first ever but was seriously busted up from years of use that was based upon the soprafino art of Carlo Della rocca. I had retired it and went on the hunt for a RWS workhorse deck for everyday use. Like I mentioned before I had the standard and mini but I didn't have this one yet. When I found this one I LOVED it and it sent me on a journey of looking into other decks as well. I now have nearly 30 tarot decks and guess what? After all of that, I ALWAYS COME RIGHT BACK TO THIS DECK EVERY SINGLE TIME! None of the others compare. I love Morgan Greer art and cardstock in the tin version (although I prefer the art better in the stardard version) but it just won't work for me and gives muddled readings. I also love the Smith-Waite Centennial in a tin art so very much but the cardstock I go back and forth on loving and disliking and I feel it messes with my readings having to struggling with it. This one shuffles like buttery velvet. It's beautiful. It reads with 96% accuracy I'd say. It's affordable. It's pocket sized. It's reliable. It's everything anyone could want in a tarot deck. I really wish people would give this deck a chance. It's made my tarot journey so much more bearable and enjoyable and HELPFUL! Do yourselves a favor and get it. You can't go wrong. I won't be looking anywhere else anymore. This is the one. My forever deck!

This deck is excellent quality - easy to shuffle, but sturdy. I have the pocket deck and use it all the time because it is such a great size, that I decided I wanted to get the full size one too. I thought I might use it instead of my commemorative Pamela Coleman Smith deck, since that deck is thick and harder to shuffle. However, the art work of this deck with the colored pencil colorings just doesn't hold up to the original Smith colorings. It doesn't bother me on the smaller deck, but this larger deck just makes those differences more obvious. So, I use this deck sometimes because I like the feel and handling, but I prefer the look of the cards of the commemorative deck.

I am a professional psychic and I love this deck. Decided to order this after my deck of 6 years started to crease, fold, and rip. I always wanted something slightly smaller than my deck (the one pictured in the middle) and I came across this one! How cool! This is a true pocket sized deck. They do make smaller ones out there as I have seen before, but this is the perfect size. If a deck is too small or too big and it’s difficult to shuffle but this one is perfect! I would describe this deck as matte. The colors/illustrations are more matte not super vibrant but I’m not picky about colors anyway I care about the feel of the shuffling as well as how compact/portable the size is. If you want to get real technical then yes the pictures could use more color/vibrancy in comparison to Waite decks. But for the cost and the size, I think the quality is great and the pictures are clearly visible and still colorful enough for me. I love the feel of this deck too it’s very matte not super glossy and I don’t feel it’s going to bend or crease as easily as my other deck which truly felt like glossy flimsy paper. Shuffles real real smoothly I love it. This is probably the best quality pocket sized tarot deck I have come across on Amazon I highly recommend.

this is my favorite tarot. since i use Tarot mostly for symbolism, i love the warm and softly bright colors. they are pleasant to behold. i prefer RW decks. i like the small size, the cards are 2 1/4 inches by 3 1/2 inches. it comes with a LWB and a very sturdy very handsome cardboard box that has a slip off type top thats stays on when closed. the larger Radiant RW deck is very similar, in color, there are a few minor detail differences, actualy these both my favorite tarot, the smaller being a bit easier for me to handle. the back of the Universal Waite, the smaller of the two, is borderless with grayish blue clouds on the long sides, between the clouds is a slightly darker blue but not a deep bue sky. in the center is a yellow eight pionted star. its very nice. im giving a dual review here, of the Universal and the Radiant, because i like them both so much. the back of the Radiant RW has a narrow white border, with a dark blue background, speckled with tiny yellow stars. its lovely. just to mention, the Radiant RW cards are 2 3/4 inches by 4 3/4 inches, and come with a LWB, and a standard type box that can opened from the top or bottom. both boxes are very attractive and colorful. if you like original RW and a tradition stlye RW with more vibrant colors you will most likely enjoy these Tarot very much.