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Arthur Edward Waite
Arthur Edward Waite (1857-1942) was an American-born British poet and scholarly mystic. He wrote extensively on occult and esoteric matters and was the co-creator of the Rider-Wait...view moreArthur Edward Waite (1857-1942) was an American-born British poet and scholarly mystic. He wrote extensively on occult and esoteric matters and was the co-creator of the Rider-Waite Tarot deck.
Born on October 2, 1857 in Brooklyn, New York, he moved to his mother’s home country of England following his father Capt. Charles F. Waite’s death. He was educated at a small private school in North London and St. Charles’ College from age 13. Following his sister Frederika’s death in 1874, he became attracted to psychical research and studied many branches of esotericism. He joined the Outer Order of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1891 and the Second Order of the Golden Dawn in 1899. He became a Freemason in 1901 and entered the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia in 1902. In 1903, he founded the Independent and Rectified Order R. R. et A. C., which disbanded in 1914. In 1915 he formed the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross.
Waite was a prolific author of occult texts on subjects including divination, esotericism, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, and ceremonial magic, Kabbalism and alchemy. He also translated and reissued several mystical and alchemical works. Titles include: The Book of Ceremonial Magic (1911), The Holy Kabbalah (1929), A New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry (1921), and his edited translation of Eliphas Levi’s 1896 Transcendental Magic, its Doctrine and Ritual (1910). He also wrote two allegorical fantasy novels, Prince Starbeam (1889) and The Quest of the Golden Stairs (1893) and edited Elfin Music, an anthology of poetry based on English fairy folklore.
Waite is best known as the co-creator of the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, notable for being one of the first tarot decks to illustrate all 78 cards fully, not only the 22 major arcana cards. Golden Dawn member Pamela Colman Smith illustrated the cards for Waite, and the deck was first published in 1909. It remains in publication today.
Waite died on May 19, 1942, aged 84.view less
Books by Arthur Edward Waite
The Occult Sciences - A Compendium of Transcendental Doctrine and Experiment: Embracing an Account of Magical Practices; of Secret Sciences in Connection with Magic; of the Professors of Magical Arts; and of Modern Spiritualism, Mesmerism and Theosophy The Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross - A History of the Rosicrucians Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Book of Black Magic Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Saint-Martin, the French Mystic, and the Story of Modern Martinism Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Mysteries of Magic - A Digest of the Writings of Eliphas Levi Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe History of Magic: Including a Clear and Precise Exposition of Its Procedure, Its Rites and Its Mysteries Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Devil-Worship in France or The Question of Lucifer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Pictorial Key to the Tarot Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Audiobooks by Arthur Edward Waite
The Book of Ceremonial Magic Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings