The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Hermetic Guide to Tarot Symbolism, Arcana Meanings, and Esoteric DivinationBy Arthur Edward Waite
Length4h 21m
About this audiobook
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot is both an explanatory companion to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck and a concise treatise on tarot symbolism. Waite organizes the Major and Minor Arcana through descriptions, occult interpretations, and divinatory meanings, writing in a deliberately formal, allusive style that reflects the esoteric scholarship of the early twentieth century. Situated within the fin-de-siècle occult revival, the book helped transform tarot from a fortune-telling apparatus into a structured symbolic language. Arthur Edward Waite was a British mystic, scholar, poet, and leading figure in Western esotericism, associated for a time with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. His interests in Christian mysticism, Kabbalah, ritual magic, and secret traditions shaped his approach to tarot. Working with artist Pamela Colman Smith, he sought to encode spiritual and moral symbolism into images accessible to serious students. This book is recommended for readers interested in tarot history, symbolism, and the intellectual culture of modern occultism. Though some passages are cryptic, Waite's work remains indispensable for understanding the most influential tarot deck in the English-speaking world.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreSpirituality and Religion
Length4 hrs 21 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateOct 14, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (Annotated)
53The Suit Of Cups: King
2Introduction
54Cups: Queen
3Synopsis
55Cups: Knight
4Historical Context
56Cups: Page
5Preface
57Cups: Ten
Show all chaptersShow less
6PART I. THE VEIL AND ITS SYMBOLS
58Cups: Nine
7§1. Introductory And General
59Cups: Eight
8§2. The Trumps Major, Otherwise Greater Arcana
60Cups: Seven
9§3. The Four Suits, Otherwise Lesser Arcana
61Cups: Six
10§4. The Tarot In History
62Cups: Five
11PART II. THE DOCTRINE BEHIND THE VEIL
63Cups: Four
12§1. The Tarot And Secret Tradition
64Cups: Three
13§2. The Trumps Major And Their Inner Symbolism
65Cups: Two
14II. The High Priestess
66Cups: Ace
15III. The Empress
67The Suit Of Swords: King
16IV. The Emperor
68Swords: Queen
17V. The Hierophant
69Swords: Knight
18VI. The Lovers
70Swords: Page
19VII. The Chariot
71Swords: Ten
20VIII. Strength, or Fortitude
72Swords: Nine
21IX. The Hermit
73Swords: Eight
22X. Wheel of Fortune
74Swords: Seven
23XI. Justice
75Swords: Six
24XII. The Hanged Man
76Swords: Five
25XIII. Death
77Swords: Four
26XIV. Temperance
78Swords: Three
27XV. The Devil
79Swords: Two
28XVI. The Tower
80Swords: Ace
29XVII. The Star
81The Suit Of Pentacles: King
30XVIII. The Moon
82Pentacles: Queen
31XIX. The Sun
83Pentacles: Knight
32XX. The Last Judgment
84Pentacles: Page
330. Zero
85Pentacles: Ten
34XXI. The World
86Pentacles: Nine
35§3. Conclusion As To The Greater Keys
87Pentacles: Eight
36PART III. THE OUTER METHOD OF THE ORACLES
88Pentacles: Seven
37§1. Distinction Between The Greater And Lesser Arcana
89Pentacles: Six
38§2. The Lesser Arcana Otherwise, The Four Suits Of Tarot Cards
90Pentacles: Five
39The Suit Of Wands: King
91Pentacles: Four
40Wands: Queen
92Pentacles: Three
41Wands: Knight
93Pentacles: Two
42Wands: Page
94Pentacles: Ace
43Wands: Ten
95§3. The Greater Arcana And Their Divinatory Meanings
44Wands: Nine
96§4. Some Additional Meanings Of The Lesser Arcana
45Wands: Eight
97§5. The Recurrence Of Cards In Dealing
46Wands: Seven
98§6. The Art Of Tarot Divination
47Wands: Six
99§7. An Ancient Celtic Method Of Divination
48Wands: Five
100§8. An Alternative Method Of Reading The Tarot Cards
49Wands: Four
101§9. The Method Of Reading By Means Of Thirty-Five Cards
50Wands: Three
102Analysis
51Wands: Two
103Reflection
52Wands: Ace
104Memorable Quotes
More from Arthur Edward Waite
The Hidden Church of the Holy Graal (Annotated)Arthur Edward Waite25h 35m$2 · $0.00
Der Schlüssel zum Tarot (Zusammengefasste Ausgabe)Arthur Edward Waite2h 26m$2
The Occult & Esoteric Works of A. E. Waite (Illustrated Edition) (Annotated)Arthur Edward Waite21h 3m$3 · $0.00
Devil-Worship in France: The Question of Lucifer (Annotated)Arthur Edward Waite7h 22m$2 · $0.00
Die verborgene Kirche des Heiligen GraalArthur Edward Waite27h 34m$2 · $0.00
Divine DestinyScott Hogle5h 4m$20
Proud Police WifeRebecca Lynn4h 52m$10 · $0.00
I Hear His Whisper 365 Daily Devotions (Gift Edition)Brian Simmons, Gretchen Rodriguez9h 23m5.0 (1)$10 · $0.00
The Chosen Presents: A Blended Harmony of the GospelsSteve Laube, Amanda Jenkins, Dallas Jenkins7h 8m5.0 (1)$10 · $0.00
A Little God Time for Women Morning & Evening DevotionalBroadStreet Publishing Group LLC15h 15m$10 · $0.00
The Gospel of Luke: NASB 2020New American Standard Bible2h 41m$15
Morning & EveningC.H. Spurgeon35h 32m$30
Prayers from the Throne RoomBrian Simmons8h 55m$10 · $0.00
31 Decrees of Blessing for Your LifePatricia King2h 38m$10 · $0.00
Walk With Me JesusMarie Chapian6h 4m$10 · $0.00
The Book of Mormon (Annotated)Joseph Smith32h 58m$2 · $0.00
Prayers on Fire for WomenBrian Simmons, Candice Simmons8h 24m$10 · $0.00
Strong's Bible ConcordanceJames Strong136h 23m$2 · $0.00
365 Days of Hope and Healing for Your Body, Mind, and SoulJoan Hunter8h 48m$10 · $0.00
Rewrite the Mother CodeDr. Gertrude Lyons10h 55m$25
Loved BabySarah Philpott4h 51m$10 · $0.00
The QuranAllah23h 7m$1 · $0.00
The Secret of the RosaryLouis de Montfort6h 1m$2 · $0.00
Jesus SpeakingGabrielle Bossis4h 13m$15 · $0.00
The Holy Qur-an: Text, Translation and CommentaryAbdullah Yusuf Ali22h 16m$1 · $0.00
You may also like
General Book of the TarotA.E. Thierens4h 45m$2 · $0.00
The Kabbalah - Collected BooksJ. Abelson, Nurho de Manhar, Bernhard Pick, S. L. MacGregor Mathers, W. W. Westcot36h 23m$2 · $0.00
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination (Annotated)L. W. De Laurence4h 18m$2 · $0.00
The Kabbalah UnveiledS. L. MacGregor Mathers12h 6m$2 · $0.00
Astrology: How to Make and Read Your Own Horoscope (Annotated)Sepharial4h 32m$2 · $0.00
Prophetical, Educational and Playing CardsJohn King Mrs. Van Rensselaer7h 57m$2 · $0.00
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Summarized Edition)Manly P. Hall7h 14m$2
The KybalionThe Three3h 47m$4.70 · $0.00
The Lesser Key of SolomonSamuel Liddell2h 23m$3.50 · $0.00
IonPlato35m$1.80 · $0.00
The Oriental Religions in Roman PaganismFranz Valery Marie Cumont6h 11m$1 · $0.00
Teachings of an InitiateMax Heindel5h 6m$3.50 · $0.00
Prophetical, Educational and Playing CardsJohn King Mrs. Van Rensselaer5h 33m$2 · $0.00
The Magical Books of SolomonSamuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, Aleister Crowley, Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare8h 38m$2 · $0.00
Feng Shui (Annotated)Ernest J. Eitel3h 5m$2 · $0.00
The Hindu Book of Astrology (Annotated)Bhakti Seva2h 15m$2 · $0.00
The Essential Works of KabbalahJ. Abelson, Nurho de Manhar, Bernhard Pick, S. L. MacGregor Mathers, W. W. Westcot36h 23m$2 · $0.00
The Kybalion - The OriginalElias Rubenstein3h 54m$18 · $0.00
Sacred Mysteries Among the Mayas and the K'iche's (Illustrated)Augustus Le Plongeon4h 5m$2 · $0.00
The Prophecies of the Brahan SeerAlexander Mackenzie3h 3m$3.50 · $0.00