Arthur Edward Waite: Founder of Modern Tarot

Arthur Edward Waite, commonly known as A.E. Waite, was a famous English poet, occultist, writer, and Freemason. He is best known for the Waite-Smith Tarot, which he created in collaboration with Pamela Colman Smith, and which is widely used around the world and has become the standard for modern Tarot.

Early Life and Education
Waite was born on October 2, 1857 in Brooklyn, USA, but moved to England at a very young age. When he was a child, his father died and the family was in financial difficulty. Waite grew up in London and received a good education. He developed a strong interest in the occult and the paranormal at an early age, which laid the foundation for his later research and creation in these fields.

Occultism and Freemasonry
Waite was a prolific writer who wrote many books on the occult and Freemasonry. In 1891, he joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, an organization dedicated to the study of occultism, alchemy, tarot, and magic. In this organization, Waite met many like-minded occultists and further deepened his research.

The Birth of the Waite-Smith Tarot

In 1909, Waite collaborated with Pamela Coleman Smith to create the Waite-Smith Tarot (also known as the Rider-Waite Tarot). The design of this set of tarot cards combines Waite’s deep understanding of occultism and tarot cards with Smith’s unique artistic talent. The biggest feature of this set of tarot cards is that each card contains rich symbolic meanings, especially the Minor Arcana, which are given detailed images for the first time, not just simple symbols.

The release of the Waite-Smith Tarot is epoch-making in the history of tarot cards. This set of cards is not only easy to understand and use, but the images are full of symbols and metaphors, making divination and meditation more profound and revelatory. Because of this, this deck quickly became popular and became the first choice for many tarot readers and researchers.

Waite’s Works and Contributions
Waite not only created the Waite-Smith Tarot, he also wrote many books on tarot and occultism. The most famous include The Pictorial Key to the Tarot and The Holy Kabbalah. These books are still widely read and cited today, and provide important references for occultism and tarot research.

Personal Life and Later Years
Waite devoted his life to the study of occultism and Freemasonry, and made great contributions to these fields. He died in 1942 at the age of 85. Although he has been gone for a long time, his influence is still far-reaching, and his works and the Waite-Smith Tarot continue to inspire occult enthusiasts and tarot readers around the world.

Conclusion
As one of the founders of modern tarot, Arthur Edward Waite’s contribution cannot be ignored. He created a far-reaching tarot deck through his collaboration with Pamela Coleman Smith, and spread the knowledge and wisdom of occultism through his writings. Today, the Waite-Smith Tarot remains a classic in the tarot world, and its symbolic meaning and artistic value have deeply influenced the lives and spiritual journeys of countless people.