Rider-Waite vs Marseille
My Journey
In 2014, I produced a limited edition of the divinatory deck “Oracle Belline”; my version was poker-sized to make manipulations easier for our magical repertoire, I had designed a marking system, and I provided a few mentalism routines using this deck. It quickly sold out.
In 2019, I published my book Oracle Belline, rewriting my routines to use the commercially available Belline deck, which comes in “Tarot card” size and without any markings. This book is still available on my website, only in French, because the Belline deck is very difficult to find in English.
At the time, I was interested in the topic because I was looking for a way to emotionally involve the audience; as I explain in the book, it’s easier for a spectator to connect with a card like “Destiny,” “Betrayal,” or “Family,” rather than the 4 of clubs, 2 of hearts, or 7 of diamonds.
Two other personal experiences also convinced me to explore the field of Tarot…
Luke Jermay and Thailand
In 2012, I was doing a double lecture at the London Magic Festival, with Andy Nyman, Juan Tamariz, Anthony Owen, Ian Rowland, Michael Vincent, Richard Wiseman, and many other talents I admire and respect. Luke Jermay (whose books I have translated into French) was also there. One evening, we were talking in a hotel lobby and, just a few meters away, there was a group of four women busy with their own conversation. Luke then said to me: “If a magician approached that group to show them a magic trick, they’d have a great time. But if you walked over with a Tarot deck to read their fortune, the impact would be even stronger and more personal.”
I think Luke is right. Too often, a magic trick showcases the magician’s skills and the participants aren’t always emotionally involved. When you use a Tarot deck, you’re talking to people about their favorite subject: themselves.
Ten years later, I left France to travel through Asia for a year. I lived for several months in Thailand and, despite the huge cultural and religious differences, I noticed something curious… Many women had a Tarot card (or a Tarot-themed sticker) inside the transparent case of their smartphone, or as their phone’s wallpaper. I had never seen that in France, but I saw it again in Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines (where I currently live).
People don’t choose their phone case or wallpaper by accident: the presence of a Tarot card seemed to indicate a strong personal connection. I asked some of them about it; every time, the answer was either “This card has an important meaning for me, so I keep it as a reminder” or “I don’t really believe in it, but it’s fun to read the cards and imagine my future.”
And when I started using Tarot in my routines, the participant would often ask to take a picture of the card they had chosen.
(By the way, that’s not a good reason to use a smartphone during a Tarot routine! Don’t forget, visible technology kills magic; I talked about it here.)
Tarot fascinates, intrigues, inspires. For a mentalist, it’s not necessarily a mystical tool, but a powerful vehicle for stories, symbols, and interactions with the audience. Choosing the right Tarot means choosing a mood, a visual language, a way to establish a connection. I’m French, and in my home country, the Marseille Tarot seems more popular, whereas Rider-Waite dominates in English-speaking countries; and there are countless themed versions (there are even Tarot decks about cats, Harry Potter, and so on). I have my preference, you’ll have yours. If you decide to explore this field, let’s discuss how your choice of Tarot will impact your presentation.
Two Symbolisms
The Rider-Waite Tarot stands out for its rich and narrative iconography. Even the minor arcana are illustrated with full scenes, allowing for intuitive and inspired readings, without any need to reference complex interpretation systems. Each card thus becomes a visual storytelling tool in itself.
The Marseille Tarot, on the other hand, offers a more minimalist approach. While the major arcana are very iconic, the minors are limited to numerical and symbolic representations (cup, wand, sword, coin).
Notice the difference in style with these few cards:
Also take cultural reference into account. If you are in a country used to a certain Tarot model, using a different one can be surprising. The advantage is that Tarot is a personal choice, so you’re allowed to use the tool that best fits your character, your audience, and your presentation.
Use in Mentalism
Rider-Waite is a powerful ally for the mentalist, since even the minor arcana tell a visual story (unlike the Marseille Tarot). They can be used as a narrative support in a thought-reading effect, or as a visual trigger in a theatrical routine.
Rider-Waite is often recommended to beginners precisely because of the clarity of its visual language. In mentalism, it also allows for simple and effective routines without spending hours memorizing obscure meanings. With Rider-Waite, I quickly became able to read the cards and their meanings, because each image carries a story, a message, or strong symbols that I can use.
The Marseille Tarot, on the other hand, requires a more theoretical and intuitive approach.
Good news for multilingual performers: both decks exist in many languages. The card names are adapted (for example, “The Fool” becomes “Le Mat” or “El Loco”), but the illustrations remain true to the original.
This is very important to me, because I create and perform routines with both French- and English-speaking audiences in mind. It helps preserve the symbolic power while making things easier for the audience to follow. A real advantage for anyone performing internationally.
Your Choice
In the end, there’s no absolute rule. Rider-Waite is a solid choice for beginner mentalists or for those, like me, who prefer strong visual support. The Marseille Tarot is a more neutral tool, but just as powerful if you know how to draw meaning from it.
However, beware of imposture. Tarot isn’t just a decoration for a weak routine or a clumsy presentation. It’s a bit like my Haiku book test, with Japanese poems: people in the audience who know the subject will be able to tell whether you know a little or a lot about it, or whether you’re just using the theme to “look exotic.”
What matters isn’t just the deck you use, but the story you tell with it. Choose the Tarot that inspires you — but never forget that you also have to inspire your audience.
