Leela J. Williams

The Horses of the Rider Waite Smith Tarot — Part 3 6 Wands and The Chariot from Rider Waite Tarot Deck Created by Pamela Colman Smith in 1909 under the direction of Arthur Edward Waite. In the previous articles in this series, we explored the white horses of the Major Arcana and the distinctive mounts of the Knights. This final instalment turns to the ceremonial horse of the Six of Wands and the “horse-adjacent” sphinxes of The Chariot. Though very different in presentation, both cards invite...

RIDER WAITE TAROT: KNIGHT OF WANDS, KNIGHT OF CUPS, KNIGHT OF SWORDS & KNIGHT OF PENTACLES Horses have shared a transformative relationship with humanity for over 5,000 years. Across myth, magic and legend, they have emerged as a powerful archetype. In The Magical History of the Horse, Janet Farrar and Virginia Russell observe, “Few systems of symbolism (and the Tarot is one of the richest) can manage without the horse.” Riding with us through work, warfare and expedition, the horse is woven...

By Leela J. Williams What do horses represent to you — freedom, grace, strength? The horses within the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot invite us to go beyond cursory or general associations by recognising them as individual beings, each with a unique presence. They carry more than a rider — they carry a wealth of detail to enhance your readings. Di Day, the President of the Tarot Guild of Australia, speaks of horses as symbolic mirrors of human consciousness and drive. In a recent presentation, she...