Tarot is more than a deck of cards—it is an art form, a symbolic language, and a mirror that helps us understand ourselves. At Tarot MasterGuide, we believe every Tarot card carries not only the wisdom of archetypes but also the creative spirit of the artists who bring them to life. With our newest release, the Tranquility Tarot Cards, we honor both.
This deck was designed to be a sanctuary in card form—serene, elegant, and deeply reflective. But beyond its soothing artwork and modern design, the Tranquility Tarot also pays tribute to a pioneer of Tarot history. With this release, we dedicate the Nine of Pentacles card to Pamela Colman Smith, the groundbreaking artist behind the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot, whose role as a woman of color has too often been overlooked.
Who Was Pamela Colman Smith?
Pamela Colman Smith (1878–1951) was a visionary illustrator, painter, and storyteller whose imagination transformed Tarot forever. Born in London to American parents, Pamela’s mother, Corinne Colman, was of Jamaican descent—making Pamela a woman of color in the early 20th-century art world, where recognition for women, especially women of mixed heritage, was scarce.
She spent part of her childhood in Jamaica, where the rhythms of folklore, music, and oral storytelling influenced her creative path. Known affectionately as “Pixie,” Pamela embraced a life of art, illustration, and performance, often existing outside the conventional structures of her time.
In 1909, she was commissioned by occult scholar A. E. Waite and the Rider publishing company to create a Tarot deck. What she produced became the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot—today the most iconic deck in the world. Pamela’s innovation was revolutionary: she illustrated every card of the Minor Arcana with symbolic scenes, making Tarot more accessible and intuitive than ever before. Prior decks often left the Minor Arcana as simple pips, but Pamela gave them story, depth, and humanity.
Despite her groundbreaking contribution, she was paid only a flat fee for her work and received little recognition during her lifetime. The deck was long credited solely to Rider and Waite, leaving Pamela’s name in the margins of history. She died in 1951, largely uncelebrated, but her art had already ensured her immortality.
Today, Tarot readers and historians honor Pamela not only as the illustrator of the world’s most famous Tarot deck but as a pioneering woman of color whose creative vision continues to shape spiritual practice worldwide.
Why the Nine of Pentacles?
The Nine of Pentacles is a card of independence, accomplishment, and cultivated abundance. In Pamela’s original artwork, the card depicts a woman standing gracefully in a lush garden, with a falcon perched calmly on her hand. She is a figure of refinement, confidence, and earned success—a person who has built a life of beauty through perseverance.
For us at Tarot MasterGuide, the Nine of Pentacles embodies Pamela Colman Smith herself. Though she never found wealth or widespread recognition during her lifetime, her artistry has provided a garden of symbolism that readers across the globe continue to harvest. She created beauty for others to enjoy, and even without material riches, her legacy has become one of enduring abundance.
In the Tranquility Tarot, the Nine of Pentacles honors Pamela by reimagining the archetype through a lens of serenity, dignity, and timeless empowerment. Each time this card appears, it serves as both a symbol of self-mastery and a tribute to Pamela—the artist who gave Tarot its visual soul.
About the Tranquility Tarot Cards
The Tranquility Tarot is Tarot MasterGuide’s newest release, designed as a calming and elegant deck for readers who want depth, artistry, and a sense of stillness in their practice.
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A modern design for timeless wisdom – The deck blends traditional Tarot symbolism with fresh, serene artwork that speaks to the heart as well as the eye.
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Not just for beginners – The Tranquility Tarot is designed for serious practitioners and collectors, offering layered imagery that invites deeper exploration.
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Art that inspires reflection – With its soothing palette and symbolic detail, the deck is ideal for meditation, journaling, and advanced readings.
Like Pamela Colman Smith’s Rider–Waite–Smith deck, the Tranquility Tarot tells stories through imagery—but it does so in a way that feels uniquely modern, rooted in peace and balance.
Learning Tarot Alongside Tranquility
While the Tranquility Tarot stands on its own as a complete deck, it can also complement the Tarot MasterGuide Beginner’s Course for those who want structured learning. Our course simplifies Tarot into step-by-step lessons, making it easy to understand the symbolism and meanings behind each card.
Pamela herself revolutionized Tarot by making it more accessible through illustration. In that same spirit, Tarot MasterGuide continues her legacy: creating tools that help people not only learn the cards but also connect with them on a personal, intuitive level.
Honoring the Women of Tarot
The release of the Tranquility Tarot is part of a larger mission: to honor the women whose contributions to Tarot history deserve recognition. For too long, Pamela Colman Smith’s name was left in the background, overshadowed by Waite and Rider.
By dedicating the Nine of Pentacles to her, we reclaim her place in history—not as a mere illustrator, but as the visionary artist who gave Tarot its enduring visual language. Every shuffle of the Tranquility Tarot is a reminder of her work, her resilience, and her artistry as a woman of color who broke barriers and left an indelible mark on the spiritual world.
Why Tranquility Matters in Tarot
In today’s fast-moving world, Tarot serves not only as a tool for insight but also as a practice of slowing down and reflecting. The Tranquility Tarot was designed to embody peace, calm, and clarity—qualities that make each reading a grounding experience.
Tarot is not only about prediction; it is about self-discovery. Just as Pamela Colman Smith filled her art with story and symbolism, this deck invites you to discover your own story within the cards.
Final Thoughts
The release of the Tranquility Tarot Cards marks an important moment for Tarot MasterGuide: a deck that embodies serenity while paying tribute to one of Tarot’s most important figures. By dedicating the Nine of Pentacles to Pamela Colman Smith, we honor her not only as the artist behind the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot, but as a trailblazing woman of color whose creative vision continues to guide Tarot readers more than a century later.
With every card drawn, may you find the stillness this deck was designed to hold. And when the Nine of Pentacles appears, may it remind you of Pamela Colman Smith—an independent spirit who cultivated a garden of wisdom that still blooms today.
