Before Tarot — 78 Cards | One Moment Before | RWS Tarot with Keywords
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“Tarot: One Moment Before”
A genuinely original concept in tarot design — the Before Tarot is a 78-card Rider-Waite-Smith deck that reimagines every card as the moment just before the traditional scene takes place. Where the classic RWS shows the aftermath or the symbolic tableau, the Before Tarot shows the instant of anticipation, the breath before the action, the heartbeat before the choice. The result is a deck that feels alive, dynamic, and full of narrative tension — and one of the most thought-provoking reading tools available.
The artwork is rendered in a warm, detailed illustration style — clean line art with soft watercolour-style fills in yellows, greens, pinks, and blues on a cream ground — with the card name in bold serif type at the bottom and an extensive keyword system printed on all four sides of every card. Each card carries upright keywords at the bottom, reversed keywords at the top (printed upside down), and elemental and astrological correspondences on the left and right sides — making this one of the most information-rich tarot decks ever produced.
0 • The Fool — the Fool stands at the cliff edge, flowers in hand, dog at his heels, one foot raised — the moment before the step. Keywords: New Beginnings, Innocence, Freedom, Optimist, Spontaneity, Adventure, Youth, Purity, Carelessness, Potential, Travel, Childlike. VIII • Strength — a crowned woman in white reaches toward a lion, her hands not yet on its jaws. Keywords: Strength, Gentleness, Patience, Compassion, Healing, Courage, Heart, Control, Discipline, Ability, Assurance. IX • The Hermit — a robed figure stands on a snowy mountain peak, lantern raised, before descending. Keywords: Solitude, Meditation, Philosophy, Withdrawal, Wisdom, Guidance, Seeking, Mysticism, Privacy, Prudence. X • Wheel of Fortune — the great wheel hangs in the clouds, figures at its rim, the moment before it turns. Keywords: Fortune, Opportunity, Cycle of Life, Destiny, Chance, Fate, Good Luck, Movement, Turning Point, Karma. XI • Justice — a crowned queen seated on a throne, scales in hand, sword not yet raised. Keywords: Justice, Karma, Cause and Effect, Equality, Truth, Consequence, Responsibility, Integrity, Fairness, Legal Action, Judgement. XII • The Hanged Man — a figure suspended upside down from a tree branch, a raven perched above, the moment of suspension. Keywords: Suspension, Letting Go, Feeling Trapped, Surrender, Withdrawal, Restriction, Crisis, Confined, Enlightenment, Transformation. XIII • Death — a skeleton knight on a white horse, black flag raised, before the figures in his path. Keywords: Spiritual Transformation, Rebirth, Endings, Letting Go, Loss, Change, Failure, Destruction, Transitions, Elimination. XIV • Temperance — a winged angel stands at a river’s edge, two cups in hand, before pouring. Keywords: Self-Control, Balance, Moderation, Harmony, Patience, Health, Blending, Unification, Relationships, Guides, Angels. XIX • The Sun — a white horse rears before a blazing sun, a child on its back, the moment of pure joy. Keywords: Happiness, Joy, Fun, Optimism, Glory, Enthusiasm, Clarity, Success, Positivity, Energy, Good Fortune, Life, Warmth. XX • Judgement — an angel descends from clouds, trumpet raised, figures rising from coffins below. Keywords: Rebirth, Renewal, Rite of Passage, Awakening, Calling, Decision, Forgiveness, Redemption, Absolution. XXI • The World — a dancing figure within a laurel wreath, four creatures at the corners, the moment of completion. Keywords: Completion, Success, Achievement, Travel, Accomplishment, Victory, Reward, Unity, Wholeness, Sense of Belonging, Fulfillment. VI • The Lovers — a man and woman stand beneath an angel, the moment before the blessing. Keywords: Love, Choices, Trust, Communication, Partnership, Harmony, Sexuality, Duality, Attraction, Relationship. X • Ten of Cups — a family — man, woman, and child — run through rain beneath an arch of ten golden cups. Keywords: Happiness, Family, Reunions, Stability, Security, Sanctuary, Harmony, Abundance, Happy Ever After, Good Luck.
The card backs are a striking dark holographic design — matte black with a repeating pattern of dark circles and silver star-burst sparkles — giving the deck a cosmic, mysterious quality that contrasts beautifully with the warm, light card faces. The box is matte black with Before Tarot in large blue and gold serif type on the front, a grid of nine sample cards on the back, and Tarot: One Moment Before — 78 Card Deck on the spine. The box side features The High Priestess — a magnificent full-length illustration of a robed woman in an ornate Art Nouveau arch.
For beginners who want the most information-rich tarot deck available — and for experienced readers who want a fresh perspective on the RWS system. The Before Tarot’s “one moment before” concept makes every reading a meditation on anticipation, choice, and possibility. One of the most original and thought-provoking tarot decks of recent years.