Review of the Radiant Wise Spirit Tarot
Radiant Wise Spirit Tarot
Creator: Arthur Edward Waite
Illustrator: Pamela Colman Smith
Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
The Radiant Wise Spirit Tarot uses the same artwork as Lo Scarabeo’s highly sought after “Dirty Pam” (published in 2016 and now out-of-print), reworking Pamela Colman Smith’s “Pam B” linework and recolouring it with blue hues to create a visually stunning edition of the classic Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck.
The Cardstock
The cardstock is my least favourite thing about this deck. The cards are large and thick, making them stiff and difficult to riffle shuffle. But that said, they do loosen up the more you use them. And whilst gloss is not my preferred finish, it does make the colours more vibrant.
The Artwork
The colouring of the artwork in this deck is what made me convert to a traditional RWS lover. The blue hues make this deck pop in a way that no other version of the RWS does. I also love that it’s borderless, a rarity for a traditional RWS deck. And whilst the backs of the cards are not my favourite to look at, they get a tick for being reversible.
One common complaint about the artwork in this deck is that it uses “Pam B” linework, which is much less crisp than the linework seen in the Pam A or Pam D. Personally, this doesn’t bother me, but having larger cards without borders does mean the artwork has been blown up, making the lines look even thicker.
The Guidebook
The Little White Book (LWB) for this deck is surprisingly good. As with all Lo Scarabeo decks, the guidebook includes multiple languages - English, Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese. It touches on the relevancy of the imagery for each card and includes both upright and reversed meanings. Even with no other Tarot knowledge, a beginner would be able to work with this deck using the guidebook. It includes a brief history of the RWS, guidance to help you phrase your question and a few traditional spreads. It is one of the better LWBs I have seen, giving the same amount of attention to the minor Arcana as it does to the majors.
The Box
The Radiant Wise Spirit Tarot comes in a sturdy two-piece box. It is highly durable and is of a much higher quality than the standard Lo Scarabeo tuck box. The guidebook fits neatly inside the box with with no wasted space or excess packaging. It is compact and can be easily stored.
Availability
The Radiant Wise Spirit Tarot is a mass market deck and it is currently in print, making it both available and affordable. Whilst priced slightly higher than other traditional RWS decks, the quality of the box and the guidebook justifies the price tag in my opinion.
This deck can be purchased through most mass market Tarot deck retailers. For anyone located in Australia, you can purchase this deck through my shop.
Summary
So, what do I reckon?
A bit of alright. 4/5 stars.
The colouring of the artwork makes this my favourite traditional RWS deck. However, the cardstock holds it back from getting a 5-star rating. The out-of-print version of this deck, affectionately known as the “Dirty Pam”, was published by Lo Scarabeo in 2016 and has significantly better cardstock, but given the difficulty of getting your hands on a copy of the 2016 edition, the in-print Radiant Wise Spirit Tarot still does the trick. Excellent for any level of reading experience, I recommend this deck for anyone seeking a traditional RWS deck.
