Rider-Waite Tarot Deck Kit with Cloth, Bag, Bell & Card Holders

A black and gold foil Rider-Waite deck. The full 78-card deck carries Pamela Colman Smith's classic images with foil detailing, so every tarot book still applies while the cards themselves feel ceremonial.

A complete reading table. The divination cloth defines your space, the two card holders keep a spread upright and readable, and the velvet bag protects the deck between sessions.

Bell and feathers for opening and closing. The 2.5 inch bell marks the start and end of a reading, and the two feathers serve for sweeping the cloth or fanning smoke, small acts that tell your mind the reading has begun.

• Deck: 78-card Rider-Waite tarot deck with black and gold foil detailing
• Card holders: 2
• Feathers: 2
• Bell: 2.5 inches
• Velvet tarot bag
• Divination cloth
• Weight: about 1.7 lb

The Rider-Waite tarot deck is used for divination, meditation, and study across nearly every modern Western tradition, from eclectic witchcraft to ceremonial magic. Arthur Edward Waite, a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, designed it and Pamela Colman Smith, a fellow initiate and working illustrator, painted all 78 cards; it was published in London by William Rider and Son in 1909, and U.S. Games Systems has published it in the United States since 1971. Smith's decision to illustrate every Minor Arcana card with a full scene, rather than a row of cups or coins, is why the deck became the template for most decks that followed.

This kit surrounds the deck with the tools many readers gather over years. Ringing a bell to open and close a reading, laying a dedicated cloth, and keeping the deck in its own bag are common practices across eclectic witchcraft and folk divination; none is required, and each helps mark the reading as set apart from the rest of the day. You can use the whole kit as a portable reading altar, or pull out only the pieces that suit you and let the rest wait.

1. Spread the divination cloth on a clear surface and set the bell, feathers, and holders where your hands can reach them.
2. Cleanse the new deck with a pass through incense smoke or a slow shuffle with your intention spoken aloud, then sweep the cloth once with a feather to clear the space.
3. Ring the bell once to open the reading. Shuffle, ask your question, and lay your spread on the cloth; a three-card line is plenty to start.
4. Stand the key cards in the holders so you can see them at eye level while you consult your guidebook.
5. Ring the bell to close, thank the cards in whatever words come, and return the deck to its velvet bag.

The tools set the stage. The reading is still between you and the cards.

• Rider-Waite deck & book by Pamela Colman Smith: the classic paper edition packaged with Waite's Key to the Tarot, since this kit does not include a guidebook.
• Gold Rider-Waite tarot deck: the gold foil edition on waterproof cards, for a second deck that travels.
• Tarot for Beginners: A Practical Guide to Reading the Cards (Llewellyn's For Beginners, 28) by Barbara Moore: Barbara Moore's beginner guide, written for the Rider-Waite images in this kit.
• White Selenite Wand: lay it on the cloth beside the deck for a smoke-free cleanse between readings.
• Palo Santo Smudge Sticks, 2 oz (3-4 in): a stick to light before you ring the bell, with a feather to fan the smoke over the cloth.

What's the difference between this and the other Rider-Waite editions?

The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck Kit adds a black-and-gold foil deck to a full reading setup: divination cloth, two card holders, bell, two feathers, and velvet bag. The Rider-Waite deck and book set gives you the classic paper deck with Waite's Key to the Tarot, and the Gold Rider-Waite is a gold foil deck alone in a storage box.

Is this kit good for beginners?

Yes, this kit is good for beginners. It uses the Rider-Waite images that nearly every tarot book teaches from, and it includes the cloth, holders, bag, and bell that new readers often buy piece by piece. A guidebook is not listed in the kit, so pair it with a beginner's tarot book.

How many cards are in the Rider-Waite tarot deck in this kit?

The Rider-Waite tarot deck in this kit has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana in the suits of Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles, finished in black and gold foil. That is the standard tarot count, so any spread or guidebook written for the Rider-Waite works here.

What are the bell and feathers for?

The bell and feathers are for opening, closing, and clearing a reading. Ring the bell once to mark the start and once to mark the end; use a feather to sweep the cloth or fan incense smoke over the cards. These are common practices in eclectic witchcraft, not requirements.

How do I cleanse a tarot deck?

Cleanse a tarot deck by passing it through incense smoke, resting it overnight beside selenite, or shuffling slowly while speaking your intention aloud. With this kit, you can fan the smoke over the cards with one of the feathers, then store the deck in the velvet bag until your next reading.

How do I use the card holders?

Stand the cards you want to study upright in the holders so they sit at eye level. Many readers place the central card of a spread, or the card that surprised them, in a holder while reading the rest. The two holders also display a daily card on an altar or desk.