A. E. Waite

Arthur Edward Waite (1857–1942) occupies a unique place in the history of Western esotericism. An American-born poet, mystic, and occult scholar who spent nearly his entire life in England, Waite wrote prolifically on the subjects of mysticism, ceremonial magic, Kabbalah, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, and alchemy. He was also the co-creator of the Rider–Waite Tarot deck, the single most influential tarot pack of the modern era. R. A. Gilbert, Waite’s biographer, observed that Waite’s importance lies in the fact that he was “the first to attempt a systematic study of the history of Western occultism.” Waite’s career was marked by his constant search for what he called the “Secret Tradition”, a hidden stream of mystical Christianity preserved within the symbols of esoteric societies and texts.

Early and Personal Life

A. E. Waite was born on October 2, 1857, in Brooklyn, New York, to Charles F. Waite, a Captain in the American merchant marines, and Emma Lovell, daughter of a wealthy London merchant involved in the East India trade. Charles and Emma never married, and Waite and his sister Frederika were thus illegitimate. When Charles died at sea, Emma returned to England with her two children, raising them in poverty on the margins of London society. Rejected by her family, Emma converted to Roman Catholicism when Waite was 6 years old, a decision that would shape his religious outlook for the rest of his life.

Waite, unable to receive a formal education, educated himself and became a voracious reader. He spent two terms at St. Charles’ College at 13 years old before leaving formal schooling. Much of his education came through voracious reading, ranging from cheap novels and romances to medieval and mystical texts. In 1874, the death of his sister deeply shook him, weakening his Catholic faith and setting him on a lifelong quest for spiritual consolation. By age 21, he was studying esotericism in the British Museum Library, exploring Spiritualism, Theosophy, and eventually the works of Éliphas Lévi, whose writings ignited Waite’s enduring fascination with the Hermetic and mystical traditions of the West.

In 1888, Waite married Ada Lakeman, whom he affectionately called “Lucasta,” and they had one daughter, Sybil. Between 1900 and 1909, he supported his family as a manager for the Horlicks company. Lucasta’s death in 1924 was a personal blow; in 1933, he remarried Mary Broadbent Schofield, with whom he spent his final years in Kent.

Writer and Scholar

Waite’s literary output was vast. He authored, translated, or edited works on alchemy, Kabbalah, Rosicrucianism, and ceremonial magic, in addition to devotional poetry and mystical theology. His ‘The Builders’ became a popular Masonic classic, distributed widely in America, and in 1916 he was honored by the Grand Lodge of Iowa with the rank of Past Senior Grand Warden.

His book ‘Devil-Worship in France’ (1896) was particularly influential, as it exposed the notorious Taxil Hoax, which had alleged Masonic involvement in Satanism. Waite’s careful analysis demonstrated the fraudulent nature of the claims and earned him the gratitude of both Masonic and occult leaders like William Wynn Westcott. While non-Masonic reviewers thought Waite had perhaps overstated the case, the work effectively put an end to popular interest in “Masonic Satanism.”

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

Waite joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1891, entering the Second Order in 1899. He was involved with the Order until 1914, save for a break between 1893 and 1896 when he became disenfranchised with the activities of some of his superiors in the order. He founded his own branch, the Independent and Rectified Order of the Golden Dawn, in 1903, but dissolved it in 1914.

Waite’s approach to esotericism emphasized mysticism and Christian spirituality, a contrast to figures like Aleister Crowley and W. B. Yeats who favored ceremonial magic and practical occultism. Crowley, in particular, mocked Waite in print, calling him “Dead Waite” and lampooning him in ‘Moonchild.’ Yet Gilbert and other scholars argue that Crowley’s animosity stemmed from Waite’s insistence that true magic pointed beyond occultism toward mystical union with the divine.

“Crowley’s hostility centred on his awareness that Waite had perceived the true nature of magic and pointed to another way — that of the mystic. Unwilling to accept what he knew inwardly to be true; Crowley turned to verbiage and venom, at the same time belittling himself and ensuring that future generations of occultists should know of Waite and be curious.” 

- R.A. Gilbert

Masonic Career

A.E. Waite was initiated as an Entered Apprentice on September 19, 1901, in Runymede Lodge No. 2430 at Wraysbury in Buckinghamshire. As a courtesy to Runymede Lodge, Waite was raised as a Master Mason on February 10, 1902, in St. Marylebone Lodge No. 1305 in London. He would serve as Worshipful Master of Runymede Lodge in 1910. He was admitted to the Grade of Zelator in Metropolitan College of the SRIA on April 10, 1902. He would later serve as Exponent of this College in 1913. He was exalted into the Holy Royal Arch in Metropolitan Chapter No. 1507 on May 1, 1902. A week later, he was installed as a Knight Templar in King Edward VII Preceptory.

His most treasured initiation came in February 1903, when he traveled to Geneva to receive the Rectified Scottish Rite and the grade of Chevalier Bienfaisant de la Cité Sainte (CBCS). Waite regarded the Rectified Scottish Rite as the purest expression of the mystical Christian “Secret Tradition.”

“The ceremony throughout was read or recited, the rituals not being committed to memory as in English Masonry. The effect was in reality much better, but it is possible that the ritual lends itself especially to this kind of delivery as it was more narrative and exhortatory than are the Craft degrees. I wish in any case to record that as regards both grades the rites could have scarcely been simpler, more impressive or worked with more smoothness and dignity.”

In 1905, he was initiated into Mark Masonry, which he saw as a purer form of Craft Masonry, not the ‘muddled Deism of Anderson's Constitution.’ In 1930, he was still actively promoting the Mark when he became a founder and first Master of Tower Hamlets Mark Lodge No. 892. He was a founding member of Sancta Maria Preceptory of Knights Templar in 1906 and served as Preceptor in 1909 before serving as Registrar from 1910 to 1940. He received the Chevalier-Profès (Professed Knight) and Chevalier-Grand Profès (Grand Professed Knight) by correspondence in 1907; he did not make a second visit to Geneva. He was perfected (initiated) in the Orpheus Chapter Rose Croix No. 79 in 1909, becoming its Sovereign in 1915, and, from 1918 onwards, he was its Recorder.In 1914, Waite resigned from the SRIA after failing in his bid to be elected as Celebrant of Metropolitan College.

After 1920, his association with Craft Masonry faded, although he remained a member of his mother lodge until his death. By this time, he was a member of virtually every rite that was worked in England, and he had played an active role in many of them, including the Holy Royal Arch, the Knights Templar, the Knights of Malta, the Swedenborgian Rite, the Red Cross of Constantine, and the Secret Monitor.

Despite his wide involvement in Masonic bodies, Waite was often critical of mainstream Freemasonry, which he felt had lost its spiritual depth in favor of worldly ceremony and social respectability. By the 1920s, he had largely withdrawn from active Masonic life, though he remained affiliated until his death.

Martinism and Tarot

One of the lesser-known but crucial influences on Waite’s spiritual development was Martinism, the mystical Christian philosophy derived from Louis Claude de Saint-Martin (“the Unknown Philosopher”) and later systematized by Gérard Encausse (“Papus”). Waite encountered Martinism in the late 19th century, shortly after his exposure to Lévi. Whether Waite formally joined Papus’s Martinist Order remains uncertain, but his writings and ritual work demonstrate a deep assimilation of Martinist themes.

At the core of Martinism lies the doctrine of humanity’s fall from divine unity and the possibility of reintegration with God through inner purification and the cultivation of divine wisdom. Waite absorbed this theology and wove it into his broader search for the “Secret Tradition.” His Fellowship of the Rosy Cross reflected Martinist emphases on mystical ascent, Christian esotericism, and the symbolic use of ritual to awaken the soul to divine realities.

Fellowship of the Rosy Cross

In 1914, he resigned from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the SRIA, which coincided with the decline of his Independent & Rectified Rite of the Golden Dawn. He directed all of his energies to the rituals and creation of the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross (FRC), a Christian Order structured in a series of grades that represented a symbolical ascent of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. The Fellowship of the Rosy Cross was founded on July 9, 1915, with the consecration of Salvator Mundi Temple at De Keyser's Hotel on Victoria Embankment, London. Waite’s Order was supposed to be Christian and mystical, rather than pagan and magical, and it synthesized elements from Freemasonry, Kabbalah, alchemy, Martinism, and Tarot in its rituals. Unlike the Golden Dawn, the FRC rejected magical practices in favor of contemplative mysticism and sacramental ritual. For Waite, the FRC represented the culmination of his lifelong quest to reconstruct the “Secret Tradition” as a living spiritual path.

The Tarot

Waite is best known for his involvement with the Rider–Waite Tarot deck, first published in 1910 and illustrated by his fellow member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Pamela Colman Smith. He also authored the deck’s companion volume, ‘The Key to the Tarot’, which was republished in expanded form in 1911 as ‘The Pictorial Key to the Tarot’. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Waite viewed the Tarot as a book of spiritual doctrine. The Rider–Waite deck embodies this vision: its imagery is infused with Christian mysticism, Rosicrucian allegory, and echoes of Martinist philosophy. The Fool’s journey, in Waite’s interpretation, is not merely a tale of chance or fate but a spiritual pilgrimage toward divine union. By fully illustrating all 78 cards (when most decks at the time depicted only the 22 Major Arcana), Waite and Smith introduced narrative and symbolic coherence to the entire Tarot, encouraging its use not simply for divination, but as a meditation on the stages of the soul’s return to God. Although Waite authored dozens of works, it is the Rider–Waite Tarot and its companion volume that secured his enduring fame. The deck revolutionized Tarot practice and has since become the foundation upon which nearly every modern Tarot deck is built, ensuring Waite’s lasting influence on the esoteric tradition.

Death and Legacy

Waite spent his final years in Bishopsbourne, Kent, where he died on May 19, 1942, at the age of 84. He was buried in the local churchyard. While often mocked by contemporaries such as Crowley and even caricatured by H. P. Lovecraft, Waite’s reputation has grown steadily among scholars of esotericism. His insistence on the distinction between occultism and mysticism, his rejection of sensationalism, and his quest for the “Secret Tradition” have left a lasting legacy. As Fort Newton remarked in 1916, Waite “warns us against the dark alleys that lead nowhere, and the false lights that lure to ruin.”

References

1. A.E. Waite. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._E._Waite 

2. Arthur Edward Waite. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Province of Greater London for the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia: https://srialondon.org/arthur-edward-waite/ 

3. Arthur Edward Waite. (n.d.). Retrieved from Grand Lodge of British Columbia & Yukon: https://freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/esoterica/waite_a/waite_a.html 

4. Arthur Edward Waite — The Man Behind the Modern Tarot. (n.d.). Retrieved from Mister Tarot: https://www.mistertarot.com/arthur-edward-waite%E2%80%94designer-of-the-modern-tarot/ 

5. Gilbert, R. A. (1986). The Masonic Career of A. E. Waite. Retrieved from Skirrit: https://skirret.com/papers/waite/masonic_career.html 

6. Higgins, S. (2013, December 11). A. E. Waite and the Occult. Retrieved from The Oddest Inkling: https://theoddestinkling.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/a-e-waite-and-the-occult/ 

7. Steele, E. C. (2015, October 2). Arthur Edward Waite is Born. Retrieved from MasonryToday: https://www.masonrytoday.com/index.php?new_month=10&new_day=2&new_year=2015

Feast Day of Holy Archangel Michael

For the Apostolic Johannite Church, today is the Feast Day for Archangel Michael whose name means “Who is like God?” This archangel is associated with the element fire, the Tarot suit of Wands, the southern cardinal direction, and the color red.

Michael is Prince of the Archangels, Angel of Deliverance, Ruler of Fire, Commander of the Armies of God, Defender of Gnosis (or Divine Knowledge), and Protector of the Sovereign Patriarch of the Church. This archangel is mentioned in all three of the Abrahamic religions who consider him the leading figure who fights evil. According to Gnostic traditions, it is believed that Michael was present at the Creation.

Michael is the champion of the faithful, opponent of Satan, rescuer of souls at the hour of death, and summon's the souls of men at the Judgment. However, when the faithful fell away from God, Michael would be used to punish them; an example is that Michael was sent to bring Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem after they stopped following God's Commandments.

Archangel Michael is the patron of law enforcement, paramedics, and the military around the world. Michael is also the patron of the Holy Roman Empire and modern-day Germany.

The Archangel Michael is often depicted in red robes and holding a flaming sword or scales of divine justice with the Book of Life. Other times, Michael is depicted in armor with helmet, sword or lance, and shield, and standing over a serpent, dragon, or Satan defeated.

Michael is mentioned in the Old Testament and Jewish texts where he appeared to Moses as the Burning Bush, appeared in visions to Daniel, wrestled with Jacob, saved three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace, appeared to Joshua as he prepared for the Battle at Jericho. Some hypothesize that it was Michael who escorted Enoch to Heaven. In the New Testament, Michael is mentioned in the Book of Revelations where Michael defeats Satan.

 

Feast Day of the Holy Archangel Gabriel

In the Apostolic Johannite Church, today is the Feast Day for Archangel Gabriel whose name translates as "God is my strength" or "Power of God" or "Might of God." This archangel is associated with the element of Water, the cardinal direction of West, the color blue, and the number nine.

Gabriel is considered the Messenger of God and is the angel who delivers prophecies or explains visions. Gabriel is also considered the Master or Ruler of the Waters. He is said to be the "first adorer of the Divine Word." It is interesting to note that Gabriel is not referred to as an archangel in the Old or New Testaments. It is in the Book of Enoch where this title is bestowed upon him.

Gabriel appears in the Book of Daniel to explain the vision of the horned ram as portending the destruction of the Persian Empire as well as prophesying the coming of Christ. He foretold the coming of the Precursor, St. John the Baptist, Zechariah (an important figure to Johannite communities). It was Gabriel who appeared to Mary Theotokos and informed her that she would be giving birth to the Son of God; an event known as the Annunciation which is practiced on March 25th. He is also assumed to be the Angel who appeared to Joseph (Christ's stepfather), the three magi, and who supported Christ in the garden. Of the Four Archangels, Gabriel is considered the most responsive to human prayer

Gabriel is often depicted in blue robes and holding a chalice. Being the Messenger of God, Gabriel is also seen with a horn or trumpet. He can also be depicted carrying a lily, a scroll, or a shining lantern. He is most often depicted in artwork of the Annunciation. Being the angel of the waters, Gabriel can also be depicted with the moon.

 

Tarot Card of the Month: The Emperor

The Tarot card for March and the last of this series is the Emperor. The Emperor is also referred to as The Father or Patriarch in other Tarot decks. The Emperor is the Fifth of the Major Arcana in Tarot. It is associated with the planet Mars, the element of fire, and Aries in the zodiac.

The Emperor represents masculine power, structure, rules, and stability. The Emperor is a true pioneer and trailblazer who uses logic rather than intuition. This Tarot card is about self-control and discipline. As Mars energizes other planets in astrology, the Emperor establishes a firm foundation for the other Tarot cards.

This card depicts the Emperor as an elderly man with a long white beard dressed in armor, red robes, and a crown. The Emperor is seated on a stone throne with four rams heads carved into it. In his left hand is an orb and in his right is an Ankh. Behind him is a barren landscape.

The Emperor's garb symbolizes that he is a leader and high social status. His white hair is representative of his wisdom and experience. The throne symbolizes authority and power. This theme is continued by the four rams heads; the Ram is also a symbol for Aries which is the astrological sign for this card. The number four is used as it is a number for stability. The orb is a common symbol for monarchs and rulers while the Ankh symbolizes life. The barren landscape symbolizes the discipline of the Emperor.

Tarot Card of the Month: The Moon

The Tarot Card for February is the Moon. The Moon is the Eighteenth of the Major Arcana in the Tarot card decks. The Moon can also be referred to as Intuition. The Moon symbolizes the planet Neptune, the element water, and Pisces in the Zodiac.

The Moon represents intuition, the unconscious, illusion, deception, confusion, bewilderment, falsehood, hysteria, and madness (lunacy). The Moon indicates that things are not as they seem. The details may not be clear making a decision that much harder to make.

The Moon depicts a full moon in the night's sky, sitting between two large towers or pillars. The Moon is frowning and looking down as Yod-shaped rays emanate from it. In the foreground is a pool of water with a crawfish crawling out of it. A dog and wolf stand in a grassy field howling at the Moon.

The moon is a feminine symbol representing time (often associated with immortality or eternity). It stands as a symbol of light in the dark of night. The moon also symbolizes the soul. The four stages of the moon are said to represent human development: the new moon is infancy, the crescent waxing moon represents youth and adolescence, the full moon is maturity and the apex of our strength, and the waning moon represents the decline of life. The towers symbolize duality - good & evil, life & death, light & darkness, male & female. Their similar appearance alludes to the difficulties that we face in distinguishing between them. The water represents the subconscious with the crawfish, symbolizing the early stages of consciousness as it unfolds. The dog and wolf represent the tamed and wild aspects of our minds.

Tarot Card of the Month: The Star

The Tarot Card for January is the Star. The Star is also referred to as Hope as well as the Celestial Mandate. The Star is the Seventeenth of the Major Arcana in Tarot. The Star is associated with the planet Uranus, the element of Air, and the zodiacal sign of Aquarius.

The Star represents hope, spiritual insight, liberation, and inspiration as well as reconnecting one's soul to the DIvine. As this card represents hope, it also teaches patience; patience that destiny, fate, is always at play. 

The Star card is depicted as a naked woman kneeling at the edge of a small pond with one foot on the ground and one in the water. She pours water from a jar in both of her hands; one jar is pouring onto the land and the other into the pool. The water poured onto the dry land drains into five rivulets. Behind her is a tree with a bird standing on its top. Above her is depicted a starry night: one giant golden star surrounded by seven smaller stars.

The naked woman is said to symbolize the soul and the containers symbolize the heart. Her nakedness represents that she has nothing to hide nor is she burdened by materialism nor is she ruled by fear. Her standing with one foot in the water and one on land shows her balancing between worlds, the material and spiritual, the conscious and the unconscious. 

Stars hold a plethora of symbolic meanings. Stars are associated with magic and luck ("to wish upon a star"). Stars also serve as guides as travelers, whether on land or sea, use the stars to help guide their way at night. A star led the three magi to the newborn Messiah in the New Testament. To be “born under a star” means to have good luck. In modern culture, to be a "star" is to be considered famous and/or talented. Polaris, the north star, holds a constant position at due north which makes it an easy landmark for those trying to determine their direction. To some, stars are divine guardians or represent divine beings; this can be seen in Christianity as Christ refers to himself in Revelations as the Morning Star. In some cultures, stars were seen as the souls of those who have departed this world. 

Trees are often used to represent a medium through which realms communicate to each other (The Sephiroth in the Kabbalah or Yggdrasil in Norse mythology) and the bird is seen as a divine messenger.

Tarot Card of the Month: The Devil

The Tarot Card for December is Devil. The Devil card is also referred to as Shadow. The Devil is the Fifteenth of the Major Arcana in Tarot. The Devil is associated with the planet Saturn, the element of Earth, and the zodiacal sign of Capricorn. The sea-goat Capricorn is associated with Pan because according to legend the satyr Pan fled from the beast Typhon, jumped into a river just as he was transforming himself into a fish. The lower half of his body became fishlike, but his upper body above the water remained in the form of a goat.

While the Western world is familiar with the term "devil" as the adversary and fallen angel who rebelled against God and leads the damned, but as with all Tarot, the Devil's imagery is symbolic, not literal. This card represents the temptation and seduction of the material world and physical pleasures and desires.

This card depicts the Devil as a half-man, half-goat creature with large bat wings and horns sprouting from its head. To some it represents Baphomet while others believe it represents Pan; the latter would make sense as Pan is associated with the zodiacal sign of Capricorn. Its right hand is raised while its left hand is lowered and carrying a torch. Above the Devil is an inverted pentagram. The Devil is squatting upon a black rectangular pillar or altar. Chained to the block are two naked humans: one woman and one man. Both humans seem to be sprouting horns and a tail; the woman's tail is a clump of grapes and the man's ends in flame.

The Devil represents a scapegoat, something people use to blame our problems on so that they can escape accountability, or as a psychological mechanism so people can cope with events that happen outside of their control. The humans appear to be held against their will, but upon closer inspection, the chains are loose and could be easily removed meaning that the humans are there are of their own free will and accord. They are enslaved by their earthly pleasures and vices, and the longer they are stuck where they become more and more like the devil. The tails represent their animalistic inclinations: the grapes representing pleasure and the fire lust. Their nudity is a metaphor for pleasure-seeking and shamelessness. The reversed pentagram is said to represent occult knowledge that leads to further enlightenment beyond the physical realm, but, also serving as a symbol for Earth, reminds of the dangers of materialistic, selfish, and licentious habits.

The Return of Light

Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and it is also the Feast Day for the Archangel Raphael who names translate as "God has healed" or "It is God who heals."

Legend says that Raphael was originally named Labbiel which is said to mean "Knowledge of the Light of the Source of the Whole of Existence". God changed it to Raphael because this Archangel had sided with God in a dispute with the other archangels on the issue of creating man. He is one of the seven angels that attend to the Throne of God. After the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, Raphael was sent to Earth to heal mankind, physically and spiritually.

Raphael is considered the Archangel of Healing, Regent of the Sun, Guardian of the Rising Light, Master of the whirling air and storms, and Guide of travelers. In the Book of Tobit, a book that is a part of the Catholic and Orthodox biblical canons speaks of a story about a man named Tobit, a righteous Jewish man who took upon himself the burial of the dead even when it was forbidden by his Assyrian captors. Tobit becomes blind and God sends Raphael, in disguise, to heal and guide Tobit.

This archangel is associated with the element of Air, the color Yellow, the Tarot suit of Swords, and the cardinal direction of the East which is associated with the Rising Sun and the return of light to the world.

 

Tarot Card of the Month: Temperance

The Tarot Card for November is Temperance. Temperance is also referred to as Art or Equilibrium. Temperance is the Fourteenth of the Major Arcana in Tarot. Temperance is associated with the planet Jupiter, the element of fire, and the zodiacal sign of Sagittarius.

Temperance represents balance, moderation, patience, and peace. Temperance reminds us that harmony comes from the union of dualities. In Freemasonry, Temperance is a cardinal virtue and defined as "that due restraint upon our affections and passions which renders the body tame and governable, and frees the mind from the allurements of vice." One must exercise caution in his action, speech, thought, feeling, judgment, and life.

Temperance is depicted by a winged angel, considered both male and female, pouring water from a cup in her left hand to a cup in her right. The angel is wearing a white robe with a golden triangle within a square. The angel has one foot on the ground and one in the water. On one side of the angel are golden lilies and on the other shows a mountain with a setting sun.

The angel upon the earth represents one's interaction with both the material and the divine. The androgynous nature of the angel represents the balance between the sexes. The pouring of water between cups represents the act of finding the right balance between the two sides. The golden triangle is said to be an ancient symbol of healing. It is also interesting to see the alchemical symbol of a fire contained within the square, another emblem to represent the earth. Combined they represent the sacred flame, the soul of man, contained within the body; Temperance is a reference to the soul. The foot in the water represents the subconscious and the foot on the ground represents the material world. The mountains in the distance represent a future journey to be taken that will bring spiritual fulfillment.

Tarot Card of the Month: Death

The Tarot Card for October is Death. Death is also referred to as Hades in some Tarot decks. Death is the Thirteenth of the Major Arcana in Tarot. Death is associated with the planet Pluto (a planet named after the Roman equivalent to Hades), the element of Water, and the zodiacal sign of Scorpio. It should be noted that in older times this card was associated with Mars, but in modern times has been associated with Pluto.

Death is one of the most feared cards in a Tarot Deck, and one of the most misunderstood. Many believe this card indicates physical death, but it merely represents change, transition, transformation, new beginnings, and metamorphosis.

This card depicts a skeleton dressed in black armor, riding a white horse. The skeleton is carrying a black flag that is emblazoned with a white, five-petal rose. A royal figure appears to be dead on the ground, while a young woman, child, and bishop plead with the skeletal figure to spare them. In the background, there is a boat floating down the river, similar to the Egyptian boats that would carry the dead. On the horizon, the sun sets between two towers.

The skeleton reminds of the mortality of man as well as representing the Grim Reaper, that Messenger of Death. The armor symbolizes invincibility and that death will come, no matter what, and its dark color is a symbol of mourning and the mysterious nature of death. The horse is the color of purity and a symbol of strength and power. The white rose represents beauty, purification, immortality, resurrection, or rejuvenation; all of them concepts of death. The number five (5) represents change and health. The one dead and the three pleading human figures remind us that death does not spare anyone no matter their lot in life. The boat represents transition or transformation. The setting sun reminds us of the cycles of life and death with its continuous setting and rising.

Tarot Card of the Month: Justice

The Tarot card for September is Justice. Justice is sometimes also known as Lust. The Justice is the 8th or 11th of the Major Arcana in the Tarot, depending on the style of deck. Justice is associated with the planet Venus, the element Air, the Zodiacal sign of Libra, and the autumnal equinox. 

Justice represents courage, fairness, cause and effect, karma, balance and equilibrium, accountability, responsibility, and natural law. This Tarot card reminds us that we are always responsible for our thoughts, words, and actions.

The card depicts a person, it may be a man or a woman (depending on the deck), holding a set of scales in his left hand and a sword raised upward in his right hand. Justice is seated in front of a loosely-hung purple veil, and between two pillars. They are clad in red robes with a gold cloak and adorned with a crown emblazoned with a square. The scales represent balance and the sword represents sometimes the necessity to use force to achieve equilibrium. The scales also remind us to balance logic with intuition. The sword is also said to do demonstrate a logical, well-ordered mindset which is necessary to dispense justice. The sword being double-edged reminds us of the consequences of our actions (favorable or not). The purple veil signifies compassion. The pillars signify Severity and Mercy, and remind me of the High Priestess and the Hierophant. The crown with a square on it represents an ordered mind and discernment.

The Occult Book

While doing some research for a paper I'm presenting to my SRICF College, I came across "The Occult Book: A Chronological Journey from Alchemy to Wicca" by John Michael Greer. John Michael Greer is a well-known author and blogger on occultism. He served for 12-years as Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America and, since 2013, he heads the Druidical Order of the Golden Dawn. The book's cover is aesthetically pleasing with blue with golden embossed text and symbols, but inside holds a plethora of information on occultism covering from the 6th Century BC to modern times. The book has the following chapters:

Pythagoras

Empedocles and the Four Elements

Horoscopes

Plato

Bacchic Mysteries

Miriam the Alchemist

Jesus Christ

Fall of Mona

Runic Alphabet

Apollonius of Tyana

Basilides of Alexandria

Magic

Valentinus

The Corpus Hermeticum

Plotinus

Zosimos of Panopolis

Iamblichus of Chalcis

Pagan Rome

Eleusinian Mysteries

Edicts of Justinian

Merlin

Jabir ibn Hayyan

Knights Templar

The Albigensian Crusades

The Kabbalah

Fall of Harran

Abraham Abulafia

Cecco d'Ascolithe 

Philosopher's Stone

Tarot

Witch Trials

Johannes Reuchlin

Paracelsus

Cornelius Agrippa

John Dee

Nostradamus

Isaac Luria

The Legend of Faust

Giordano Bureus

The Rosicrucian Manifestos

Christian Astrology

Freemasonry

Passage of the Witchcraft Act

Emanuel Swedenborg

The Hellfire Club

The Elus Coens

Franz Mesmer

Alessandro Cagliostro

Druids

Francis Barrett

Spiritualism

Eliphas Levi

Theosophy

The Martinist Order

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

Hoodoo

Carl Jung

Rudolf Steiner

The Thule Society

Manly P. Hall

Alchemy

Wicca

The Thirteenth Baktun

Each of these chapters contains a stunning picture relevant to the subject with a page's worth of description. This book does not go in-depth with each subject, but it lays a great foundation for researchers to start off from. At the bottom of each page, Greer gives more information to look up for further study. At the end of the book is a Notes and References Section which includes each date and subject, along with the books the material in this book came from. This book is good for both novices and experts in occultism as it provides the reader with a nice reference and chronological history.

Tarot Card of the Month: The Hermit

The Tarot card for this month is The Hermit. The Hermit can also be referred to as the Monk, Time, Sage, Cronus, or the Shaman. The Hermit is the 9th of the Major Arcana in Tarot. The Hermit symbolizes the planet Mercury, the element Earth, the zodiacal sign of Virgo, and the angel Metatron.

The Hermit represents meditation, introspection, wisdom, awareness, solitude, illumination, and spiritual enlightenment. The Hermit is a spiritual trailblazer of the highest order; that he has attained a higher level of spiritual knowledge and that he is ready to share his knowledge with those seeking it. When drawn, this Tarot card indicates that you have a 1need to step back and carefully examine your situation and decisions.

The Hermit reflects that you are engaging in a period of soul searching and honoring the wisdom found within. This Tarot card reminds me of Christ's conversation with the Pharisees when he says, "For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)

This Tarot card shows an old man with a long white beard, clad in grey robes, standing alone on top of a snow-clad mountain with a lantern in his right hand and a staff in the left. The old man symbolizes wisdom that comes with age. The cloak represents the ability to separate from the world. The mountains symbolize achievement, growth, and accomplishment. The snow represents the heights of spiritual attainment. The star in the lantern is a six-pointed star (sometimes known as Seal of Solomon) that represents wisdom and knowledge. While the flame is contained in the lantern, the light shines symbolizing that it is meant to be shared with others and be used to guide us along our path. The staff in his left hand is said to be the Patriarch’s staff, a symbol of the narrow path of initiation and an emblem of power and authority. The Hermit is the 9th of the Major Arcana is associated with Virgo which is herself the epitome of a person at complete fulfillment alone and to themselves, while always pondering perfection.

The Hermit is an archetype described by Carl Jung. This archetype is shown as a wise old man, a philosopher, or a mentor. We've seen this archetype used with figures like Merlin in Arthurian legend, Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings series, Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, or even Odin in Norse mythology.

Tarot Card of the Month: Strength

The Tarot Card for July is Strength. Historically, Strength was called Fortitude and in some decks, I've seen it called Lust. Strength is the eighth card of the Major Arcana in Tarot card decks. Strength symbolizes the Sun, the element Fire, and the Leo zodiac sign.

Strength represents patience, courage, determination, control, internal peace, and balancing oneself by conquering our animalistic nature. Strength indicates the importance of mind over matter (mental and spiritual strength), and that compassion and understanding may be a better choice than rash decisions and brute strength. This card teaches us to know ourselves and temper our primal urges with our more divine, spiritual nature.

The Strength card displays a scene where a maiden clothed in white holding the jaws of a lion. Above the maiden's head is the infinity symbol. The lion and the maiden stands upon the grass with blue mountains in the background under a golden sky. In the context of this card, the lion represents the beast within us, our primal and animal urges and desires; this is not to say that the lion all it represents is negative. The use of a maiden for Strength indicates that it is not about pure physical strength. Both the maiden and lion do not appear aggressive, but represent that internal strength is needed to overcome the beast within. The white robe symbolizes purity. The infinity symbol is said to represent that there is no end to her calm and nurturing character. 

A Day of Light

Today is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, and it is also the Feast Day for the Archangel Uriel whose name translates as "God is my Light." In many churches and texts, you hardly hear about this angel, but this being is one most important in the angelic hierarchy and in his duties to God.

From sacred texts, Uriel is said to have guarded the Gates of Eden as well as being the guiding angel that led John the Baptist and his family to Egypt during the massacre ordered by King Herod. Uriel is also said to have warned Noah about the impending Great Flood that God was sending.

Uriel is considered an Archangel of Light as he guards and protects the time of summer and the summer solstice. He is the Angel of Wisdom (sometimes referred to as "Keeper of the Mysteries") as he is said to carry the supreme knowledge of all that is; likely, this is from his being also one of the Angels of Presence (an angel who is allowed to enter the very presence of God). He is associated with the Suit of Coins (or Pentacles) in Tarot and as such he is sometimes depicted holding a coin or a pentacle while at others he is shown holding a book to denote the divine wisdom he holds.

This archangel is associated with the element of Earth and the cardinal direction of North. It might seem ironic that, particularly in Masonic circles, the North is associated with darkness, but I believe he is associated with North because, like the element of Earth, it is associated with death or mortality as Uriel is referred to as the Angel of Death. He should not be feared though as he will bring us from this mortal shell and returning to Wholeness with the Most High God.

 

Tarot Card of the Month: The Chariot

The Tarot Card for June is the Chariot. The Chariot is the Seventh of the Major Arcana in Tarot card decks. The Chariot symbolizes the Moon, the element Earth, the Zodiacal sign of Cancer, and associated with the archangel Gabriel whose name means “God is my Strength.”

The Chariot represents forward movement, success, overcoming obstacles, and traveling. The Chariot is associated with a triumphant victory as well as a departure from traditional ideas. It should also be remembered that it is very little you can do to stop the onward motion of the chariot.

The card depicts an armor-clad male figure standing in a chariot. The man has a yellow crescent moon with a blue face on each shoulder, a square on his breastplate, alchemical symbols on his garments, stars in the crown upon his head, and carrying a wand. A canopy supported by four pillars with a veil that is light blue and covered in white stars. The chariot is cube-shaped and has a winged shield on the front. The chariot is being drawn by two sphinxes: one is black and one is white.

Being clad in armor represents the Charioteer's preparedness to work for results. The moons symbolize new beginnings. The cube shape of the chariot is to represents stability and perfection of work. The crown of stars represents that the Charioteer is enlightened while the square on his chest symbolizes the material world. The 5-pointed star is a symbol used by many cultures and religions; Christians used it to represent the five wounds Christ suffered on the cross. The 6-pointed stars represent the Seal of Solomon, a common talisman. The 8-pointed star on the crown symbolizes balance, harmony, order, and justice. Carrying a wand or a staff is a mark of authority and we see this with the king's scepter, the bishop's or verger's staff, the mace of Parliament, and, Biblically, with the staff of Moses. I find many similarities between the star-covered canopy with the paper: Celestial Clothing. The two sphinxes being opposing colors and facing different directions represent balance and duality: male and female, light and darkness, life and death, material and spiritual. They also remind us of the pillars of the High Priestess. As one sphinx represents emotions and one intellect, the charioteer must master so they will draw the chariot in one direction. The concept of a "union" is one of the more important messages of the Chariot.

Tarot Card of the Month: The Lovers

The Tarot Card for May is The Lovers. The Lovers is sometimes called the Twins and is the Sixth of the Major Arcana in Tarot card decks. The Lovers symbolize the planet Mercury, the element Air, the zodiacal sign of Gemini, and the archangel Raphael whose name means “It is God who heals.”

The Lovers represent duality and balance, but can also relate to intimacy, attraction, physical, transparency, and spiritual union, connections, and relationships. The Lovers may also represent an either-or choice one has to make or a dilemma one is facing. Some draw a contrast between it and the Devil card where the former may sometimes represent blissful unconsciousness and the latter represents suffering caused by unconsciousness

As the Lovers follow the Hierophant, associated with institutions and external beliefs, the Lovers helps one define their own personal beliefs, making choices that conform to our own principles. By doing this, we understand ourselves better (To thine own self, be true) and are able to forge more meaningful relationships with others.

While there are different versions, this card I've chosen has a great deal of symbolism. This card shows a scene of a naked man and woman beneath an angel. Behind the man is a tree of flames (twelve of them representing the twelve zodiacal signs) while behind a woman is a tree with a snake around it. Between the man and woman are a distant mountain and a cloud above it. Located above the cloud is an angel which is adorned with a purple cloak, hands lifted upward, wings of crimson, and flame for hair. Above the angel, there is the sun spreading its rays. The nude couple is said to represent Adam and Eve at the time they are being told about the Tree of Knowledge. This serves as a metaphor for all relationships meaning that while they start off pure, the best must be made out of it after the initial bliss is gone.

Tarot Card of the Month: The Hierophant

During my year as Most Excellent Grand High Priest, I will be writing a monthly article analyzing tarot and Freemasonry. Tarot has been described as "symbolizing the path of initiation or a journey towards reintegration with one’s true self." Freemasonry is, first and foremost, an initiatic order whose rituals attempt to transform men both spiritually and morally. With this, I see a loose connection, not necessarily a causal relationship, but a connection nonetheless between tarot and Freemasonry. To make it clear, I find the tarot fascinating and I am writing on the correlations between the two, but there is no historical precedence that associates Freemasonry and tarot; any association is speculative. These are the tarot that I will be looking at each month over the next year (April 2018 through March 2019):

• The Hierophant
• The Lovers
• The Chariot
• Strength
• The Hermit
• Justice
• Death
• Temperance
• The Devil 
• The Star 
• The Moon 
• The Emperor 

This month's Tarot is The Hierophant. The Hierophant is sometimes called the Pope or the Druid, is the fifth of the Major Arcana cards in most Tarot decks. The Hierophant symbolizes the planet Venus, the element Earth, and the zodiacal sign Taurus. The Hierophant is the brother card to the High Priestess; she is the female energy to his male energy.

The Hierophant represents institutions, traditions, society, and their impact on our lives; to conform to the norms of society, to meet the needs of life, and to maintain a semblance of individuality is a complicated balancing act. The Hierophant also represents divine wisdom, inspiration, stubborn strength, toil, endurance, persistence, teaching, help from superiors, patience, organization, peace, and goodness of heart.

The Hierophant indicates new beginnings. This card perfectly describes my life as today marks the beginning of my time as Most Excellent Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons of Idaho.