Glow in the Dark Tarot Deck, 78 Rider-Waite Cards
Glow in the Dark Tarot Deck, 78 Rider-Waite Cards- Primary Spiritual Use: Intuition
- Secondary Spiritual Use: Psychic
- Element: Water
- Planet: Moon
- Zodiac: Cancer, Pisces
- Chakra: Third Eye
- Ruling Day: Monday
- Tradition: Rider-Waite-Smith tarot
- Intent: Intuition, Psychic, Divination
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Turn off the lamp and the cards keep going. The Glow in the Dark Tarot is a 78-card deck printed with Pamela Colman Smith's classic Rider-Waite imagery in ink that charges under light and glows once the room goes dark, which makes it the rare tarot deck built for reading by night, at a Samhain table, or under the covers with a flashlight and a friend.
The pictures are the ones tarot readers have trusted since 1909, so nothing about the meanings changes; only the mood does. A 56-page guidebook covers upright and reversed meanings and a handful of spreads. If you have wanted a Rider-Waite tarot deck with a little theater in it, this is the one.
At a glance
Key Features of the Glow in the Dark Tarot
Rider-Waite imagery by Pamela Colman Smith. The Glow in the Dark Tarot uses the classic 1909 artwork, so every card matches the meanings in any Rider-Waite book and everything you learn here transfers to any other deck.
A glow that charges under light. Leave the cards under a lamp or in daylight and they glow when the lights go out, which turns a night reading into something you can actually see and makes the deck a natural for dark-moon and Samhain work.
A 56-page guidebook. The included guidebook covers upright and reversed meanings and curated spreads, enough to carry a beginner through a first month of readings.
The particulars
Product Details
- Card count: 78
- Artwork: Pamela Colman Smith's Rider-Waite imagery
- Feature: cards glow in the dark after exposure to light
- Guidebook: 56 pages, upright and reversed meanings, curated spreads
- ISBN: 9781646711192
- Weight: about 12.8 oz
The Spiritual Significance
The Glow in the Dark Tarot is used for divination and self-reflection in the Western esoteric tradition that runs from the Golden Dawn through the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. You can use it exactly as you would a standard Rider-Waite: a daily card, a three-card spread, a Celtic Cross when the question is large. The glow adds a setting, not a system.
Arthur Edward Waite designed the original deck and Pamela Colman Smith painted it, and it was published in London in 1909. Its great innovation was giving every Minor Arcana card a full scene, which is why so many readers still learn on it and why its imagery is the shared language of modern tarot. Smith's name went unspoken for decades; readers today make a point of saying it.
Reading by the glow of the cards is a modern pleasure, but it fits an old instinct: divination has always leaned toward the dark hours, when the day's noise drops away and the question can be heard.
Ways to use it
What Is the Glow in the Dark Tarot Deck Used For?
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A first deck
The Rider-Waite-Smith imagery is the core symbolism most decks build on. Learn it, and you can pick up almost any other deck and read with it. -
A daily pull
Draw one card in the morning and notice how it shows up over the day. -
Full spreads
Lay out a spread, such as past, present and future, when you want the bigger picture. -
Reading for others
Read for friends and family. -
Quick answers
Pull a single card for a yes or no, or a fast read on a question. -
Learning the cards
Work through the deck one card a day. Write what you see in the morning, note what happens during the day, and journal about it that night. -
Journaling
Write about the card you drew: what you see in it, and what it brings up. -
Shadow work
Sit with a card that unsettles you and write about why. -
Meditating on a card
Set one card where you can see it and let its imagery hold your attention. -
Altar and spellwork
Stand a card on your altar as the focus of a working, so its symbolism points your thinking where you want your life to go. -
New and full moon readings
Pull cards at the new moon to set intentions and at the full moon to see what's grown. -
Holiday readings
Do a reading for a sabbat, a birthday or the new year. -
With a pendulum
If you're not sure how you're reading a card, hold a pendulum over it to check. -
Paired with another deck
Pull an oracle card alongside a tarot spread for extra context. -
In our house
Everyone in our household reads cards, and this is one of the decks we reach for. -
Who it suits
It suits beginners, experienced readers and art lovers, and it makes a good gift. -
A new deck
Cleanse it, go through the cards one at a time so you get used to each other, then spread the cards face down on a favorite surface and swirl them together like a lake. Every card gets turned every which way, so the deck starts out well mixed. -
Reversals
A reversed card doesn't always mean the opposite. Read it with the card's imagery and your intuition; sometimes it points to a blockage instead. -
Storage
Keep the cards stacked neatly in their box or a bag. A crystal on top is a nice touch.
Step by step
How To Use the Glow in the Dark Tarot
- Charge the Glow in the Dark Tarot by leaving the cards face up under a lamp or in daylight for a few minutes before a night reading; the glow fades and recharges, so this becomes part of the ritual.
- Cleanse the deck before its first reading with incense smoke, a selenite wand, or a firm knock on the deck.
- Dim or darken the room, shuffle with your question in mind, and cut the deck once.
- Lay a one-card, three-card, or simple five-card spread and read the glowing scenes before you open the guidebook.
- Check the 56-page guidebook for upright and reversed meanings, then jot the reading down before you turn the lights back on.
The glow is the invitation; the reading is still yours. Trust what the cards say in the dark as much as what the book says in the light.
Good company
Pairs Well With
- Ultimate Guide to the Rider Waite Tarot by Fiebig and Burger A card-by-card reference for the exact imagery on this deck.
- The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by A.E. Waite Waite's own explanation of the 1909 cards, in his words.
- Black Velveteen Pouch, 5 x 7 Inches A dark pouch that keeps the deck protected and makes the first glow of a reading a small reveal.
- Halloween Oracle by Stacey Demarco The natural companion deck for the Samhain readings this one was made for.
- White Selenite Wand Rest the cards on it overnight to keep them clear between night readings.
Before you buy
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cards are in the Glow in the Dark Tarot?
The Glow in the Dark Tarot has 78 cards, the standard tarot count: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana in four suits. All 78 carry Pamela Colman Smith's Rider-Waite imagery and all glow after exposure to light. A 56-page guidebook with upright and reversed meanings and curated spreads is included.
Does the Glow in the Dark Tarot follow the Rider-Waite structure?
The Glow in the Dark Tarot follows the Rider-Waite structure exactly, because it uses Pamela Colman Smith's original 1909 artwork. Suits, numbers, scenes, and meanings match any Rider-Waite deck and any book written for one, so what you learn here transfers everywhere; the glow-in-the-dark printing is the only difference.
How do I make the cards glow?
Make the cards glow by exposing them to light first: a few minutes face up under a lamp or in daylight charges the ink, and the glow appears once the room is dark. The effect fades over time and recharges with more light, so charging the deck before a night reading becomes a small, pleasant part of the ritual.
How do I cleanse a tarot deck?
Cleanse a tarot deck by passing it through incense smoke, resting it on a selenite wand overnight, or knocking firmly on the deck three times with the intention of clearing it. Cleanse the Glow in the Dark Tarot when it arrives, after someone else handles it, and whenever readings feel stale or repetitive.
How do I shuffle a tarot deck?
Shuffle a tarot deck with a gentle overhand shuffle, dropping small stacks from one hand into the other until the cards feel mixed, then cut once. This protects the edges better than a riffle shuffle. The Glow in the Dark Tarot is standard size, so most readers find the overhand shuffle comfortable, even in low light.
Is the Glow in the Dark Tarot good for beginners?
The Glow in the Dark Tarot is a strong first deck, because it pairs the most widely taught imagery in tarot with a 56-page guidebook covering upright and reversed meanings and spreads. Beginners learn the Rider-Waite system and get a deck that makes night readings fun; experienced readers get the classic cards with a twist.
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