The Major Arcana of the Tarot and Freemasonry

Arthur Edward Waite (1857 - 1943)[i] was a mystic, an occultist, and an enthusiastic Freemason. Bro. Waite was also a prolific author in each of these subject areas, and was the founder of numerous mystic organizations[ii], some for which Masonic Membership was a prerequisite, and others which were loosely based upon the tenets of Freemasonry. Of all of Waite’s lifetime accomplishments, the one for which he is best remembered is his publication (1910) of a unique set of Tarot cards, which came to be known as the Rider-Waite Deck, or the RWD. This deck was unique because it was the first modern deck in which the cards of the Minor Arcana were illustrated and not just those of the Major Arcana (the creator of the Sola Busca Deck did this earlier[iii] - i.e. the late 15^th Century).

Waite bundled an explanatory pamphlet with this deck called The Key to the Tarot[iv]. Bro. Waite also later produced an illustrated book[v] which offered a detailed explanation of the meaning of each of the 72 cards which comprise his deck, along with a discussion of the history of the Tarot. This interesting book is “classic Waite” complete with stilted language and attacks upon his ideological rivals. It is also one of the premiere texts dealing with the interpretation of the Tarot used to this day. Earlier Tarot Authors such as Jean-Baptiste Alliette, (aka Etteilla, 1738 – 1791) and S.L Mathers (1854-1918), both Freemasons, were believed to have heavily influenced Waite’s Tarot Interpretations and the images or illustrations he used. When the Tarot interpretations of A.E. Waite were studied[vi] using a statistical analysis of carefully selected keywords describing the meanings of the Major and Minor Arcana, it was found that more than 48% of the keywords were statistically congruent. Tarot scholar and researcher R.V. O’Neil[vii] reports that in an article in the Occult Review[viii],” Waite stated that as he and Pamela Colman Smith designed the deck, “we have had other help from one who is deeply versed in the subject.” O’Neil further states that “Roger Parisius (Figures in a Dance: W. B. Yeats and the Waite-Ride Tarot) suggested that this help came from W.B. Yeats”. W.B. Yeats, the famous Irish poet was a member of the Golden Dawn, an organization with which Waite was prominently associated. Waite was also involved with Gérard-Anaclet-Vincent Encausse (aka Papus, 1865-1916)[ix] who asserted Egyptian origins for the Tarot. Papus was a key member of the gnostic Martinist Order. Waite incidentally wrote the preface to Papus’ Tarot of the Bohemians[x].

Thus Arthur Edward Waite provides the most modern, and authoritative interpretation of the Major Arcana of the Tarot by a well-known Freemason, whose sources are incorporated into his own work, and who there-by provides a continuum of the tradition of Tarot dating more than 100 Years. Though Bro. Manly P. Hall (1901- 1990) [xi], also published interpretations of the Tarot (1925) these pre-dated his Masonic affiliation (1954) and are sufficiently different from those of Waite as to indicate that they do not represent this tradition.

This paper will explore the interpretations given by Bro. Waite in his illustrated textbook[xii] for those cards in the Rider-Waite Deck which make up the Major Arcana, as conceived by Waite and artistically rendered by Pamela Colman Smith (aka “Pixie”). It will examine his cards, illustrations, and interpretations for evidence of Masonic allusion and symbolism. Many others have also produced interpretative texts of the Tarot. Where appropriate or when interesting, the interpretations of others will be mentioned. For my purposes I will consider that Waite’s interpretation includes both the figurative symbolism presented by the illustration in its parts and in whole, as well as the more subtle over-all impression conveyed by the translation. The below discussion will serve to clarify my meaning.

The Tarot

It is not within the scope of this article to offer anything other than a very brief description of the Tarot, its history, its variants, or its application. Suffice it to say that Tarot is a means of Divination referred to as Cartomancy in which a series of illustrated cards are used to render an impression to the reader of various circumstances which may influence or may have influenced the path in life taken by the person for whom the reading is being performed (called the Querent), along with events which may come to pass. From this, the Querent is guided to a better understanding of his or her life, and to consider how a positive future outcome may be achieved. The Tarot does not assume that a person’s fate is fixed, but rather that an individual can affect one’s fate by making wise (or poor) choices in the present. In this process, the Diviner (reader) follows generally accepted interpretations of the rich symbolism given for the Major Arcana, while the Minor Arcana are treated somewhat more mechanical and contain more rigid meanings. I would hasten to add that the above is my own interpretation of the use of the Tarot, and may differ from the way others see it.

It is often stated that each of the cards in a Tarot deck (especially the Major Arcana) portrays a compelling image of one or more aspect of the human condition, and that taken together a Tarot deck represents the vast majority of all possible human experiences (referred to as Universal archetypes). This is what makes the Tarot so evocative (or expressive), and why the Tarot deck is said to create such empathy between a gifted reader and a Querent. There is in fact a well known Author[xiii] who wrote a tale about a number of Tarot Adepts who were traveling through an enchanted forest and lost their voices. The Adepts in the tale continued through the forest telling their own entire life stories by displaying Tarot cards to one another. This tale is of course an invention; the power of the images contained within a Tarot deck is however quite effectively revealed through this fable.

If my description of the use of the Tarot sounds vaguely psycho-analytical, I should mention that Carl Gustav Jung, the pioneering Psychoanalyst, was a Tarot adept, and studied the Tarot for use as a tool in his practice[xiv]. Jung’s published works on the Tarot are in fact some of the best available in terms of rendering an objective account of the amazing subtleties by which the human psyche perceives the meanings and messages of the cards. In his work[xv], Jung produced a graphical plot of the four functions of consciousness, with "Thinking" and "Feeling" on the X-axis (called the "Rational Axis") and with "Intuition" and "Sensation” on the Y-Axis (called the "Irrational Axis"). In Jung’s analysis, intuition and sensation are considered as tools to "investigate" reality but not to make decisions. On the other hand "emotions" and "thinking" are involved in the decision making process (rational.) In Jung’s theory, the two aspects of self converge through various techniques (dreaming, meditation, and tarot cards) at the intersection of the X and Y Axis. Universal archetypes (i.e. tarot card illustrations) are the symbols employed in these processes. Accordingly, the "total self" is simultaneously the investigator (using intuition and sensation) and the decision-maker (using thought and emotion). Jung’s theory considered that the Tarot facilitates convergence and opens us to our total selves.

The Tarot cards themselves are divided into two separate groups called the Major Arcana (A term which Waite popularized[xvi]) and the Minor Arcana. The Minor Arcana contains 56 cards divided into 4 suits. The suits in the Rider-Waite Deck are called Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. These 4 suits correspond to the "standard" modern playing card deck suits of Clubs, Hearts, Spades, and Diamonds (Waite in fact wrote[xvii] a short piece on a method for divination using standard playing cards). It is conventionally considered that the suits also represent the four basic elements Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. The Major Arcana contains 22 cards, the images of which, according to Manly P. Hall[xviii] represent the 22 chapters of the Book of Revelations. Waite makes no reference whatsoever to this concept, but rather echoes the view proposed by Jung. Others have maintained that the Major Arcana represent the 22 letters of the Hebrew Alphabet, a concept which Waite rejects[xix]. He (Waite) considers the Major Arcana as richly symbolic, but treats the Minor Arcana as “fortune telling” devices. Having said this, nowhere does he insinuate that they are in any way ineffective in this role, merely that they lend themselves less to intuitive considerations. Because the interpretations of the Minor Arcana are considered by Waite to be more-or-less fixed, I have chosen not to include them in this paper which is aimed at discovering Masonic allusion in the RWD.

Each of the 78 cards of the Major and Minor Arcana in the Rider-Waite Tarot deck bear an illustration. The Major Arcana however are not associated with a suit. One basic technique for using the Tarot deck, called the Celtic Cross[xx] and detailed in Waite’s text, requires that a total of six (6) cards be dealt face down and arranged in a particular cross-like pattern, with four (4) additional cards dealt and arranged vertically in a column beside the cross. The cards are then turned up one at a time and interpreted first individually, and then as a whole. The cards meaning and its relative position in the “cross” or “column” both figure into the translation. For an effective Tarot reading (using the Rider-Waite Deck) all of the cards are considered both individually and together to arrive at a net impression. For a more detailed description of the Tarot, and the Celtic Cross in particular, I refer the reader to Waite’s illustrated text, The Pictorial Guide to the Tarot.

Masonic Association with Tarot

In spite of the fact that Tarot Decks have recently been produced with the purposeful (and sometimes superficial) addition of Masonic themes and symbols (i.e. The Masonic Tarot, the Square and Compasses Tarot), there is no historical precedence for such a deck. Tarot itself, is considered by Waite[xxi] to have originated from sources in Southern France during the 13^th or 14^th Century A.D. (at the earliest). Albert Pike, in his Morals and Dogma in 1874 cryptically mentions the Tarot during his discussion of the Knight of the Sun, or Prince Adept[xxii] in which he states that Tarot contains the Kabalistic Alphabet. Other associations of the Tarot with Freemasonry are largely speculative and reliable information is difficult to find. It is this writer’s belief that the primary associations of the Tarot with Freemasonry may be related to their supposed link to the Kabala, the link of Tarot Card illustrations to Hermetic symbolism, and to the fact that numerous designers of Tarot Decks and Tarot Interpreters have coincidentally been Freemasons. As Freemasonry has evolved through the Centuries, so have our rituals; rites and orders have come and gone; and it is entirely possible that past associations with the Tarot may have vanished as well. Many of the Occult and Mystic organizations founded or lead by Waite (notably including the Builders the Adytum or BOTA, Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia or SRIA, and the Order of the Golden Dawn) have certainly used the Tarot extensively. The Tarot, like Freemasonry itself has a somewhat muddled past and much of its true history has been lost to us. Bear in mind, that the lack of a clear Masonic association does not necessarily imply a lack of Masonic significance.

Interestingly, Waite himself had a very definite position on the relationship between the Tarot and Freemasonry. In his book The Hidden Church of the Holy Graal[xxiii], which discusses the Grail Legend and which was published (1909) about one year prior to the date of the publication of his Deck, Waite includes a chapter (IX) entitled “The Hallows of the Graal Mystery Rediscovered in the Talismans of the Tarot”. In this Chapter he presents his conclusive view that the Tarot is the “canonical Hallows of the Graal legend”. This is a telling statement since in his previous Chapter (VIII) “The Analogy of Masonry” he draws the parallel between the Graal Legend and Freemasonry, comparing the character Percival to the Master Mason in search of light. The obvious logic follows that the Tarot and Freemasonry are considered to be closely intertwined in Waite’s view.

Analysis of Waite’s Interpretations

I would first like to mention that an incredibly detailed analysis of the illustrations of the RWD Major Arcana has been performed by O’Neil and Gardner using a method known as Quantitative Iconography[xxiv]. This analysis provides an intricate breakdown of the details of each image along with a tabulation of Tarot decks which pre-date the RWD and which use identical imagery. I have taken the liberty here of adopting a very useful tool devised by O’Neil/Gardner in their work on Quantitative Iconography in my own analysis; specifically I have incorporated the tabular breakdown of the card images they have provided, and have evaluated each detail of the card image in terms of its Masonic Symbolism as opposed to its source as the Authors did.

In order to also include Waite’s descriptive interpretation as a part of this analysis, I needed some method for distilling the often verbose explanations of the cards meanings. During my research I discovered a distillation of such keywords in the form of a “.pdf” file[xxv] at an eclectic website called “Wizard & Witch”. This file provides both Waite’s original interpretation as well as a list of keywords extracted from his interpretations of the Major Arcana, which I carefully examined and found to be absolutely relevant. This list of keywords was also compared to that produced by S. L. MacGregor Mathers in his work The Tarot[xxvi] and was found substantially in agreement with this source, which was influential in the design of Waite’s deck. Keywords (in some cases with minor modifications by yours truly) from this list were accordingly incorporated into the O’Neil/Gardner table creating a composite table which could be used for my purposes.

I have also used both volumes of The Lost Language of Symbolism[xxvii] by Howard Bayley as reference materials for my analysis, along with the many reference sources for images of Masonic Symbols found at Paul Bessel’s website[xxviii] (Thank you Paul). This analysis is of course, based upon my own direct examination of card images and examination of the corresponding interpretation provided by Waite. Where a literal Masonic association is insinuated I have summarized what I believe that association to be as a table note. In order to avoid presenting an exhaustive list in which many card image details have no probable Masonic theme, I have edited the table to show only those cards having literal symbolism or interpretations (based upon keywords) which I believe to actually bear Masonic allusion. This is provided below as Table 1.
The complete unexpurgated worksheet used in this effort is attached as Appendix 1.

I recognize that my methodology is fairly subjective and is limited by my own knowledge and recognition of Masonic symbolism and allusion. I point out that any errors or shortcomings found in this analysis are strictly my own. I would invite the reader at this point to download a free online copy of Waite’s Pictorial Key to the Tarot at the Lodgeroom International Download Center[xxix], and to compare my analysis his own.

I remind the reader that Table 1 identifies only details in symbols or keyword allusions which are literal or overt in terms of Masonic reference. In some instances these references were somewhat tenuous, but were included in the table for more detailed investigation.

Table 1 - Condensed Composite Table, Showing Cards from the Rider-Waite Major Arcana which reveal literal Masonic significance in detail of symbolism or in interpretation.

The Magician
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Age - Youth	Yes	1	-	-	-
Coin on Table	Yes	2	-	-	-
The High Priestess
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
B/W Pillars	Yes	3	Secrets	Yes	4
Cross	Yes	5	Mystery	Yes	6
-	-	-	Silence	Yes	7
-	-	-	Passion ®	Yes	8
The Empress
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
-	-	-	Light ®	Yes	9
The Emperor
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Crown	Yes	10	Aid	Yes	11
Age - Elderly	Yes	1	Benevolence ®	Yes	12
-	-	-	Compassion ®	Yes	13
The Hierophant
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Throne	Yes	14	-	-	-
The Lovers
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Central Sun	Yes	15	Beauty	Yes	16
Age - Mature	Yes	1	-	-	-

The Chariot
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Solid Cube	Yes	17	-	-	-
Black/White Sphinxes	Yes	18	-	-	-
Age - Mature	Yes	1	-	-	-
Strength
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Age - Mature	Yes	1	-	-	-
The Hermit
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Age - Elderly	Yes	1	Treason	Yes	19
The Wheel of Fortune
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Tetragrammatron	Yes	20	-	-	-
Justice
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Age - Mature	Yes	1	Law ®	Yes	21
Crown	Yes	10	-	-	-
The Hanged Man
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Age - Youth	Yes	1	-	-	-
Death
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
-	-	-	Mortality	Yes	22

Temperance
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Circle/Dot	Yes	23	-	-	-
Age - Youth	Yes	1	-	-	-
The Devil
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Pentacle	No	-	-	-	-
The Star
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
7 stars	Yes	24	-	-	-
Age - Mature	Yes	1	-	-	-
The Moon
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Moon Central	Yes	25	Danger	Yes	26
Moon Full & Crescent	Yes	27	-	-	-
Thirty-two Rays	Yes	28	-	-	-
The Sun
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Sun Central	Yes	15	-	-	-
Red Cross	Yes	29	-	-	-

Notes to Table:

1. The RWD makes reference to three specific age categories, these being Youth, Mature, and Elderly. The Masonic relevance is found in the broad interpretation that each of the three Craft degrees represents a man at a different stage of life (Youth, Maturity, and Old Age).

2. The Masonic association here is taken as the coin representative of the Wages of a Master Mason referred to in both the Craft Degrees and certain Degrees of the York Rite.

3. These pillars are two in number, one black and the other white, and each individually bearing the letter B and the letter J respectively.

4. The relevance here is contained within the modern description of the Craft as being a Society with Secrets (as opposed to a Secret Society).

5. The cross is a prominent symbol within certain of the York Rite Degrees, usually combined with the image of a crown.

6. Mystery here is taken as referring to the Lost Word of Masonry.

7. Silence here is taken as associated with the oath of obligation for a Mason to never reveal the secrets of Masonry.

8. A Mason is instructed to subdue his passion and always remain within certain prescribed bounds within which he may not error.

9. Light is that which a Freemason most desires.

10. The Crown as mentioned in an earlier note is a symbol used in certain York Rite Degrees, usually in combination with a Cross. In the Craft degrees the Crown is emblematic of the Crown of King Solomon, which takes the form of the Top Hat worn by the Lodge W/M.

11. A Freemason is obligated to render aid within the length of his cable tow.

12. Masonry is a Benevolent Fraternal Organization, contributing to Charities and Promoting benevolent organizations around the world.

13. A Freemason shows compassion to his Brothers in so far as it does not jeopardize his own livelihood or that of his family.

14. The chair of the Lodge W.M. is likened to a throne.

15. The image of the Sun is a common Masonic Symbol.

16. Beauty is one of the Virtues held in special esteem by Masons. Note that the Card “Strength” is also named after a Virtue of importance to Masonry, but ironically the details or keywords related to this card have no specific Masonic allusions.

17. A cube is the first and most basic Platonic Solid.

18. The black and white sphinxes represent Isis and Osiris. A pair of such sphinxes graces the central hallway of the House of the Temple in Washington D.C., Headquarters for the Southern Jurisdiction of the 33^rd Degree of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

19. The crime of Treason is held as especially heinous by Freemasons. This is incorporated into one of the obligations for the 3^rd Degree, and also comprises a complete Ritual theme within the Scottish Rite.

20. The Tetragrammatron holds special significance for Freemasons. It is closely associated with the Kabala.

21. Law in this case is taken as the Volume of Sacred Law upon which every Mason binds himself to the Craft and assumes his Obligations.

22. Mortality is a common theme in the 3^rd Degree, and the symbol of the Momento Mori is a long standing symbol of the Craft.

23. The PointWithin a Circle is a prominent Masonic Symbol.

24. The symbol of seven stars is used in certain degrees of the Scottish Rite.

25. The symbol of the full Moon is used in Freemasonry

26. The word danger is moderately connected to Masonry in the form of the Grand Hailing Sign.

27. The symbol of a crescent Moon is also commonly used in Masonry.

28. The primary Masonic reference here is contained within the number 32, an important number within the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

29. The red cross bears Masonic allusion to the Red Cross of Constantine.

Summation

It is evident from my analysis, even given the distinct possibility that I have missed one or another subtle detail, that very few of the symbols or interpretations of the Rider-Waite Deck display anything close to overt Masonic association (as we know it in Freemasonry today). I also point out again that my tabular analysis was designed to find literal (overt) Masonic references and that Table 1 contains some less than solid Masonic allusion.

high_priestess_tarot Specifically, of 350 total card details evaluated, only one (the High Priestess card with pillars labeled B and J, shown here as Figure 1) proved to have direct, overt, and identifiable association with Masonic symbolism. Of 240 keywords examined, none overtly or specifically alluded to Masonic principles when taken in the context in which they appeared. These numbers are in the final analysis statistically insignificant given the fact that Masonic symbols and philosophies have been influenced by and adopted from many other established traditions, especially Alchemy. In fact a very large number of the symbols and interpretations found in the RWD distinctly and directly allude to Alchemical principles.

Consequently I am led to conclude that literal (or overt) Masonic-Specific Imagery is not prevalent in the Major Arcana of the Rider-Waite-Deck; I would however offer that given Jung’s explanations of the Universal Archetypes portrayed in these cards, it would be very unusual indeed if Masonic allusions could not be discerned. One excellent exposition offered by W.B. P.C. Browne[xxx], details the Masonic allusions present in several different Tarot Decks, including the RWD, and can be found at Phoenixmasonry Masonic Museum[xxxi] under the heading “Masonic Tarot Card Deck”.

The study which I present here represents only one method for analyzing the RWD for Masonic content; further efforts by others, employing different techniques may produce different results. If you are involved in performing such an analysis, I’d like to hear from you. I may be contacted at wsburkle@sprynet.com.

[i] R. A. Gilbert. 1987. The One Deep Student, a Life of Arthur Edward Waite. Wellingborough. From the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon. Retrieved August 3, 2008

from http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/bibliography.html.

[ii] Ibid. The One Deep Student, a Life of Arthur Edward Waite.

[iii]Voley, Holly. 2001. A Journey Through the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck. Retrieved August 3, 2008

from http://home.comcast.net/~vilex/.

[iv] Waite, A.E. The Key to the Tarot. Rider & Co (1999) ISBN-10: 0712670629; ISBN-13: 978-0712670623 .

[v] Waite, A.E. (1910/1911). The Pictorial Key to the Tarot: Being Fragments of a Secret Tradition under the Veil of Divination. Rider and Sons. London.

[vi] Revak, James W. (2000). The Influence of Etteilla & His School on Mathers & Waite. Retreived August 4, 2008

from http://www.villarevak.org/emw/emw_11.htm.

[vii] O’Neil, R.V. Sources of the Waite/Smith Tarot Symbols; The Magician (Note 2.b.). Retreived August 8, 2008

from http://www.tarotpassages.com/old_moonstruck/oneill/1.htm.

[viii]Waite, A.E. (1909). The Tarot: A Wheel of Fortune. Occult Review. (Volume X) pp. 307-317.

[ix] Revak, James W. (2001). Great Tarotists of Yesteryear: Papus. Retrieved August 8, 2008

from http://www.villarevak.org/bio/papus_1.html.

[x][x] Papus. (1892/1972). The Tarot of the Bohemians: The Absolute Key to Occult Science. Trans. A. P. Morton Third Edition, Revised, with Preface by Arthur. E. Waite. Wilshire Book Company. pp. xvii . ISBN 0-87980-158-1.

[xi] Hall, Manly P. An Analysis of Tarot Cards. In Masonic, Hermetic, Quabalistic, and Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy (Subscribers Edition). Being an Interpretation of the Secret Teachings concealed within the Rituals, Allegories and Mysteries of all Ages. Golden Anniversary Edition. 1925-1975. H.S. Crocker Company, Incorporated, San Francisco MCMXXVIII. pp 129-132. Retrieved August 2, 2008

from http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/secret_teachings_of_all_ages.htm.

[xii] Waite, A.E. op. cit. The Pictorial Key to the Tarot.

[xiii] Calvino, Italo. 1979. Castle of Crossed Destinies. Harvest Books. Trans. William Weaver. ISBN-10: 0156154552 ISBN-13: 978-0156154550.

[xiv] Schueler, Gerald PhD. 1997. Chaos and the Psychological Symbolism of the Tarot. Retrieved August 4, 2008

from http://www.schuelers.com/chaos/chaos7.htm.

[xv] Jung, C.G. (1956/1976). Symbols of Transformation. Hull, R.F.C. (Trans). Bollingen Series XX The Collected Works of C.G. Jung. 5. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

[xvi] Wood, Juliette. (1998). The Celtic Tarot and the Secret Tradition. Folklore. pp. 15-24.

[xvii] Waite, A.E. (1912). A French Method for Fortune Telling. Manual of Cartomancy and Occult Divination. Rider & Sons.

[xviii] Hall, Manly. op. cit. An Analysis of Tarot Cards. pp 129-132.

[xix] Waite, A.E. op. cit. The Pictorial Key to the Tarot. pp. 161.

[xx] Waite, A.E. op. cit. The Pictorial Key to the Tarot. pp. 299-304.

[xxi] Waite, A.E. op. cit. The Pictorial Key to the Tarot. pp. 38-40.

[xxii] Pike, Albert. (1874). Morals and Dogma of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Supreme Council of the 33^rd Degree. Masonic Publishing Company. New York . pp.777.

[xxiii] Waite, A.E. (1909/2002 The Hidden Church of the Holy Graal: It’s Legends and Symbolism. Fredonia Books. ISBN-10: 1589639057; ISBN-13: 978-1589639058.

[xxiv] O'Neill, R. V. and R. H. Gardner. 1982. Quantitative iconography. Journal of the International Playing Card Society XI (1): pp. 15-23. In Sources of the Waite/Smith Tarot Symbols. (R.V. O’Neil). Retrieved August 2, 2008

from http://www.tarotpassages.com/old_moonstruck/oneill/.

[xxv] Wizard & Witch. Rider-Waite Tarot Card Meanings. Retrieved August 2, 2008

from http://www.wizardandwitch.com/free-stuff-resources/rider-waite-tarot-card-meanings/

[xxvi] Mathers, MacGregor, S.L. (1888/1992). The Tarot: Its Occult Significance, Use in Fortune-Telling, and Method of Play, Etc. ISBN-100877287546. ISBN-139780877287544 Retrieved August 3, 2008

from http://www.dragonlibraryebooks.com.

[xxvii] Bayley, Howard. (1851/2000).The Lost Language of Symbolism: An Inquiry Into the Origin of Certain Letters, Words, Names, Fairy-Tales, Folklore, and Mythologies. 2 Vols.. Book Tree. ISBN 1585090700, 9781585090709. ISBN 1585093092, 9781585093090.

[xxviii] Bessel, Paul. (1998-2008). Masonic Graphics, Pictures, Clip Art in Paul M. Bessel’s Homepage. Retrieved August 2, 2008

from http://www.bessel.org/maspix.htm.

[xxix] Lodgeroom International UK. Waite Tarot Pictorial Key. Retrieved August 5, 2008

from http://www.lodgeroomus.net/downloadcenter/index.php?act=view&id=42.

[xxx] Browne, P.C. (1998). The Masonic Tarot (A History). Lyceum Lodge of Research No 8682 E.C. in Phoenixmasonry Masonic Museum. Retrieved August 28, 2008

from http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/Tarot_Cards_Masonic.htm

APPENDIX 1

The Unexpurgated Composite Table

Note: ® = Reversed

The Fool
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Cliff	No	-	Folly	No	-
White Dog	No	-	Mania	No	-
Dog Leaping	No	-	Extravagance	No	-
Age - Youth	No	-	Intoxication	No	-
Red Feather	No	-	Delirium	No	-
Blonde Hair	No	-	Frenzy	No	-
Looking Up	No	-	Negligence ®	No	-
White shirt	No	-	Absence ®	No	-
Colorful Tunic	No	-	Distribution ®	No	-
Belt of Circles	No	-	Carelessness ®	No	-
Falling Boots	No	-	Apathy ®	No	-
White Rose	No	-	Nullity ®	No	-
Staff	No	-	Vanity ®	No	-
Purse	No	-
The Magician
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Lemniscus	No	-	Skill	No	-
Age - Youth	Yes	1	Diplomacy	No	-
Black Hair	No	-	Address	No	-
Right hand up	No	-	Subtlety	No	-
Left hand down	No	-	Sickness	No	-
Wand	No	-	Pain	No	-
Points down	No	-	Loss	No	-
Headband	No	-	Disaster	No	-
White Tunic	No	-	Ensnarement	No	-
Red Cloak	No	-	Enemies	No	-
Snake Belt	No	-	Self-Confidence	No	-
Stone Table	No	-	Will	No	-
Knife on Table	No	-	Querent (if male)	No	-
Cup on Table	No	-	Physician ®	No	-
Rod on Table	No	-	Magus ®	No	-
Coin on Table	Yes	2	Disgrace	No	-
Carvings	No	-	Disquiet	No	-
The High Priestess
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
B/W Pillars	Yes	3	Secrets	Yes	4
Lotus tops	No	-	Mystery	Yes	5
Veil behind	No	-	Future	No	-
Cubic Throne	No	-	Attraction	No	-
Age - Youth	No	1	Querent (if female)	No	-
Black Hair	No	-	Silence	Yes	6
Blue Dress	No	-	Tenacity	No	-
Blue Robe	No	-	Wisdom	No	-
Cross	Yes	7	Science	Yes	-
Horned Orb	No	-	Passion ®	Yes	8
Head Veil	No	-	Ardour ®	No	-
Scroll	No	-	Conceit ®	No	-
Part Hidden	No	-	Superficiality ®	No	-
The Empress
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Stone Bench	No	-	Fruitfulness	No	-
Shield	No	-	Action	No	-
Cushions	No	-	Initiative	No	-
Orbed scepter	No	-	Time	No	-
Left Hand on leg	No	-	Unknown	No	-
12 Star Tiara	No	-	Clandestine	No	-
Pearl Necklace	No	-	Difficulty	No	-
Gold Lapel	No	-	Doubt	No	-
White Gown	No	-	Ignorance	No	-
Flowers on Gown	No	-	Light ®	Yes	9
			Truth ®	No	-
			Clarification ®	No	-
			Rejoicings ®	No	-
			Vacillation ®	No	-

The Emperor
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion		Notes
Square Dais	No	-	Stability	No		-
Stone Throne	No	-	Power	No		-
Ram Heads	No	-	Protection	No		-
Crown	Yes	10	Realization	No		-
Red White Stones in Crown	No	-	Stature	No		-
Trefoil	No	-	Aid	Yes		11
Age - Elderly	Yes	1	Reason	No		-
White Beard	No	-	Conviction	No		-
Body Armor	No	-	Authority	No		-
Armored Legs	No	-	Will	No		-
Uncrossed Legs	No	-	Benevolence ®	Yes		12
Red Tunic	No	-	Compassion ®	Yes		13
Red Robe	No	-	Credit ®	No		-
Ankh	No	-	Confusion ®	No		-
Hands on Throne	No	-	Obstruction ®	No		-
Orb	No	-	Immaturity ®	No		-
No Shield	No	-
The Hierophant
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion		Notes
Stone Pillars	No	-	Marriage	No		-
Dais	No	-	Alliance	No		-
Throne	Yes	14	Captivity	No		-
Dotted Circle	No	-	Servitude	No		-
Black/White Tiling (Rug Border)	No	-	Mercy	No		-
Crossed Keys	No	-	Goodness	No		-
Triple Crown	No	-	Inspiration	No		-
Earlaps	No	-	Society ®	No		-
Triple Cross	No	-	Understanding ®	No		-
RH Blessing	No	-	Concord ®	No		-
3 Fingers	No	-	Kindness ®	No		-
White Tunic	No	-	Weakness ®	No		-
Red Cloak	No	-
White Trim	No	-
3 Crosses	No	-
2 Attendants	No	-
The Lovers
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Central Sun	Yes	15	Attraction	No	-
Straight Rays	No	-	Love	No	-
Angel	No	-	Beauty	Yes	16
Age - Mature	Yes	1	Success	No	-
Red Wings	No	-	Failure ®	No	-
Cloud	No	-	Foolishness ®	No	-
Apple tree	No	-	Discord ®	No	-
He Right, She Left	No	-
Both Blonde	No	-
She looks up	No	-
He looks at her	No	-
The Chariot
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion		Notes
River	No	-	Succor	No		-
Solid Cube	Yes	17	Providence	No		-
Four pillars	No	-	War	No		-
Starred Canopy	No	-	Triumph	No		-
Shield on Front	No	-	Presumption	No		-
Lingham & Yoni	No	-	Vengeance	No		-
Winged Disk	No	-	Trouble	No		-
Black/White Sphinxes	Yes	18	Riot ®	No		-
Egyptian Headdresses	No	-	Quarrel ®	No		-
Laurel Wreathe	No	-	Dispute ®	No		-
Age - Mature	Yes	1	Litigation ®	No		-
Circle/star tiara	No	-	Defeat ®	No		-
Scepter in Right Hand	No	-
Moons on Shoulders	No	-
Breastplate	No	-
Square on chest	No	-

Strength
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Phallic Hill	No	-	Power	No	-
Field Behind	No	-	Energy	No	-
Plain Sky	No	-	Action	No	-
Lemniscus	No	-	Courage	No	-
Age - Mature	Yes	1	Magnanimity	No	-
White tunic	No	-	Success	No	-
Closing Mouth	No	-	Honors	No	-
Left on Top	No	-	Despotism ®	No	-
Lion Standing	No	-	Abuse ®	No	-
Licking Hand	No	-	Weakness ®	No	-
Facing Left	No	-	Discord ®	No	-
She behind Lion	No	-	Disgrace ®	No	-
Lion looking up	No	-
Tail between legs	No	-
Looking down	No	-
The Hermit
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
On Peak	No	-	Prudence	No	-
Grey Sky	No	-	Circumspection	No	-
Standing still	No	-	Treason	Yes	19
Grey Robe	No	-	Dissimulation	No	-
Peaked Hood	No	-	Corruption	No	-
Hood on Head	No	-	Concealment ®	No	-
Face Shows	No	-	Disguise ®	No	-
Age - Elderly	Yes	1	Policy ®	No	-
White Beard	No	-	Fear ®	No	-
Looks Down	No	-	Cautious ®	No	-
Right Hand Lamp	No	-
Lamp Black	No	-
Cylindrical	No	-
Holds Up	No	-
Left Hand Staff	No	-
Plain Wood	No	-
Faces Left	No	-
The Wheel of Fortune
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Wheel Free-floating	No	-	Destiny	No	-
No Turn Handle	No	-	Fortune	No	-
Sphinx Atop	No	-	Success	No	-
Sphinx Seated	No		Elevation	No	-
No Platform	No	-	Luck	No	-
Sphinx has Sword	No	-	Felicity	No	-
Sword over shoulder	No	-	Increase ®	No	-
Egyptian Headdress	No	-	Abundance ®	No	-
4 Winged Beasts	No	-	Superfluity ®	No	-
Fox-face Ascending	No	-
Fox-face Naked	No	-
Serpent descending	No	-
ROTA	No	-
Tetragrammatron	Yes	20
Triple Circle	No	-
8 spokes	No	-
Signs on 4 Spokes	No	-
Justice
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Sword	No	-	Equity	No	-
Right Hand	No	-	Righteousness	No	-
Circle & Dot	No	-	Probative	No	-
Scales	No	-	Executive	No	-
Stone Pillars	No	-	Deserving	No	-
Drape	No	-	Law ®	Yes	21
Cubic Throne	No	-	Legal ®	No	-
Dais	No	-	Complications®	No	-
Age - Mature	Yes	1	Bigotry ®	No	-
Blonde	No	-	Bias ®	No	-
Red Gown	No	-	Severity ®	No	-
Green Robe	No	-
Green Stole	No	-
Crown	Yes	10
3 Peaks	No	-
Square	No	-
Foot Out	No	-

The Hanged Man
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Single Upright	No	-	Wisdom	No	-
No lopped Branches	No	-	Circumspection	No	-
Beam alive	No	-	Discernment	No	-
Inverted	No	-	Trials	No	-
Arms behind	No	-	Sacrifice	No	-
Hands untied	No	-	Intuition	No	-
Legs crossed	No	-	Divination	No	-
Left leg behind	No	-	Prophecy	No	-
Rope	No	-	Selfishness ®	No	-
Age - Youth	Yes	1	Political ®	No	-
Blonde	No	-
Red Tights	No	-
Blue Tunic	No	-
Red Belt	No	-
Slippers	No	-
Hair falling	No	-
Eyes Open	No	-
Relaxed	No	-
Death
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Cliff	No	-	End	No	-
River	No	-	Mortality	Yes	22
Viking Boat	No	-	Destruction	No	-
Skeleton	No	-	Corruption	No	-
Red Plume	No	-	Failure	No	-
White Horse	No	-	Loss	No	-
Fallen king	No	-	Inertia ®	No	-
Bishop	No		Sleep ®	No	-
			Lethargy ®	No	-
			Petrifaction ®	No	-
			Somnambulism ®	No	-
			Hopelessness ®	No	-
Temperence
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Mountains	No	-	Economy	No	-
Pond	No	-	Moderation	No	-
Radiant Halo	No	-	Frugality	No	-
White Tunic	No	-	Management	No	-
Circle/Dot	Yes	22	Accommodation	No	-
Square	No	-	Church ®	No	-
Triangle	No	-	Religion ®	No	-
Blonde	No	-	Priesthood ®	No	-
Age - Youth	Yes	1	Disunion ®	No	-
Right Foot in water	No	-	Misfortune ®	No	-
Left Foot on Land	No	-	Competition ®	No	-
Gold Chalices	No	-
Matched	No	-
Pours Water	No	-
LH to RH	No	-
The Devil
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Goat Head	No	-	Ravage	No	-
Curved Horns on Devil	No	-	Violence	No	-
Pentacle	Yes	-	Vehemence	No	-
Beard	No	-	Force	No	-
Squatting	No	-	Effort	No	-
Bat Wings	No	-	Fatality	No	-
Eagle Talons	No	-	Predestination	No	-
Furred thighs	No	-	Evil ®	No	-
Torch	No	-	Weakness ®	No	-
Points Down	No	-	Pettiness ®	No	-
Right Hand up	No	-	Blindness ®	No	-
Open Palm	No	-
Cubic throne	No	-
Two Figures	No	-
Horned Figures	No	-
Chain/Rope	No	-
The Tower
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Square	No	-	Misery	No	-
Three Windows	No	-	Distress	No	-
Crown Top	No	-	Indigence	No	-
Gold Crown	No	-	Adversity	No	-
Round Crown	No	-	Calamity	No	-
Lightning	No	-	Disgrace	No	-
Z-Shaped	No	-	Catastrophe	No	-
Window Flames	No	-	Oppression ®	No	-
Clouds	No	-	Imprisonment ®	No	-
Sparks	No	-	Tyranny ®	No	-
Two Falling	No	-
Man on Left	No	-
Woman on Right	No	-
Crowned	No	-
He blue tunic	No	-
The Star
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Central Star	No	-	Loss	No	-
8-pointed	No	-	Theft	No	-
Gold Star	No	-	Privation	No	-
7 stars	Yes	23	Abandonment	No	-
Hills in back	No	-	Arrogance ®	No	-
Tree on hill	No	-	Haughtiness ®	No	-
Ibis in Tree	No	-	Impotence ®	No	-
Flowers	No	-
Pond	No	-
Naked figure	No	-
Blonde	No	-
Age - Mature	Yes	1
Right Foot on water	No	-
Left Knee on land	No	-
Gold pitchers	No	-
Identical	No	-
Right into water	No	-
L onto Land	No	-
Looks in water	No	-
The Moon
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Distant Mountains	No	-	Enemies	No	-
Path to mountains	No	-	Danger	Yes	24
Moon Central	Yes	25	Calumny	No	-
Moon Full & Crescent	Yes	26	Darkness	No	-
Face in Profile	No	-	Terror	No	-
Face looks down	No	-	Deception	No	-
Thirty-two Rays	Yes	27	Occultism	No	-
Two Towers	No	-	Instability ®	No	-
Towers square	No	-	Inconstancy ®	No	-
Single Window	No	-	Silence ®	No	-
Square Windows	No	-	Error ®	No	-
Dog to one Side	No	-
Dog Brown	No	-
Wolf to Other Side	No	-
Pond in foreground	No	-
Crayfish emerging	No	-
The Sun
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Sun Central	Yes	28	Happiness	No	-
Face on Sun	No	-	Fortune	No	-
S/C rays	No	-	Contentment	No	-
Wall	No	-
Stone Blocks	No	-
White Horse	No	-
Child	No	-
Child Naked	No	-
Child Blonde	No	-
Feet/Hands Flying	No	-
Red Banner	No	-
Facing Viewer	No	-
Judgement
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Angel	No	-	Change	No	-
Red Wings	No	-	Renewal	No	-
White Tunic	No	-	Outcome	No	-
Flame Hair	No	-	Weakness ®	No	-
Cloud	No	-	Pusillanimity ®	No	-
Trumpet	No	-	Simplicity ®	No	-
Banner	No	-	Decision ®	No	-
Red Cross	Yes	29	Sentence ®	No	-
Mountains	No	-
Ocean	No	-
Trees	No	-
Coffins Float	No	-
Figures naked	No	-
Arms Raised	No	-
Man Left	No	-
Woman Right	No	-
Child center	No	-
Faces away	No	-
The World
Details	Masonic Symbolism	Notes	Keywords	Masonic Allusion	Notes
Four beasts	No	-	Success	No
Only Heads	No	-	Recompense	No
No Wings	No	-	Voyage	No
Lower animals face viewer	No	-	Route	No
Upper animals face each other	No	-	Emigration	No
Clouds	No	-	Flight	No
Wreathe	No	-	Mobility	No	-
Oval	No	-	Inertia ®	No	-
Ribbons	No	-	Fixity ®	No	-
Two Ribbons	No	-	Stagnation ®	No	-
Red Ribbons	No	-	Permanence ®	No	-
Lemniscus	No	-
Female	No	-
Age - Mature	Yes	1
Purple Drape	No	-
Dancing	No	-
On Right Foot	No	-
Left Foot Behind	No	-
Two Wands	No	-