A. E. Waite

Date of Birth: October 2, 1857

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: May 19, 1942

Biography

Arthur Edward Waite, commonly known as A. E. Waite, was an influential British scholarly mystic, poet, and author. Born on October 2, 1857, in Brooklyn, New York, Waite is best known for his work on occult and esoteric subjects. After his father’s death, he moved to England with his mother, where he pursued his education and developed a keen interest in mysticism and the occult. He joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret society known for its teachings on the metaphysical and paranormal. Waite’s contributions to the study of mysticism are vast, but he is perhaps most famous for co-creating the Rider-Waite Tarot deck with artist Pamela Colman Smith. This tarot deck remains one of the most popular and widely used in the world. He also wrote extensively on subjects such as alchemy, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, and the Holy Grail. His works, such as “The Book of Ceremonial Magic” and “The Holy Kabbalah,” have become essential reading for students of esoteric traditions. Waite continued to write and lecture on mystical subjects throughout his life, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence modern esoteric and occult practices.

5 Interesting Facts about A. E. Waite

1. A. E. Waite was a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, where he worked alongside notable figures such as Aleister Crowley and W.B. Yeats.

2. Waite was one of the first to attempt a comprehensive history of Western occult traditions, bridging the gap between scholarly study and practical application.

3. He translated and published several important esoteric texts, including works by Eliphas Levi and Paracelsus.

4. Waite was known for his meticulous approach to research, often spending years compiling and cross-referencing sources for his works.

5. Despite his reputation as a mystic, Waite was a devout Christian and sought to reconcile his esoteric studies with his faith.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from A. E. Waite

1. “The true Tarot is symbolism; it speaks no other language and offers no other signs.”

2. “All occult sciences are not sciences in the ordinary sense of the word, but are rather a species of knowledge that transcends human understanding.”

3. “Mysticism is the art of union with Reality.”

4. “The Tarot embodies symbolical presentations of universal ideas, behind which lie all the implicits of the human mind.”

5. “The secret tradition of the Tarot is not a matter of cards but of the life and the soul.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

A. E. Waite’s highest net worth is not documented, as he lived in a time when such records were not commonly kept and his work was primarily scholarly.

Children

A. E. Waite had one daughter, Sybil Waite, who was born in 1887. Sybil’s life was relatively private, and she did not follow in her father’s footsteps into the world of mysticism and occultism.