Masonic Roots of the Old World Tarot
The Halo/Sharp tarot deck is the only tarot deck in existence that is totally free of masonic influence!
“Masonic influence?” you say, scratching your head.
“Indeed!” I proclaim.
The tarot deck in its current form, with its 22 major arcana and 56 minor, is a Masonic creation. The tarot deck that you’ve seen in stores, the tarot you see on the web, the tarot deck that creeps in movies, the tarot deck that every tarot aficionado in the world uses, the tarot deck that some people like to believe is full of divinely inspired wisdom, was created by a well known and respected Free Mason by the name of Arthur Edward Waite (1857 – 1943) and is therefore, and necessarily, full of masonically inspired philosophy.
Masonic Fool Card
Yup, it’s true. Old Mr. Waite took an old tarot system which had nothing to do with freemasonry, designed a bunch of new images for it, created the distinction between major arcana and minor arcana (and interestingly enough the minor arcana were not illustrated before Waite came along), and completely colonized our understanding of the tarot in the interests of rich and powerful white men the world over! The truth is if you pick up a tarot deck, just about any tarot deck you care to mention, you are picking up and learning from the philosophical textbook of the masonic orders.
As one masonic commentator notes:
Arthur Edward Waite (1857 – 1943) 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, 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.
Yup, a masonic tarot.
And if that doesn’t stew your noodle and cook your cockles then consider this.
Just about every single deck currently in print bears a masonic imprint.
Just about every book written on the subject reflects masonic ideas.
Like it or not, it is true.
If you pick up a deck and it calls you a Fool.
Masonic Fool Card
If it says life’s a school and you are here to learn your lessons…
Masonic Magician Card
If it calls domination, “strength.”
The Masonic Tarot - Strength
If it worships hierarchy and authority…
If it justifies submission…
The Masonic Tarot - The Devil (a.k.a. The System)
and says “you’ll be judged”
The Masonic Tarot - Judgment
Then it is a masonic tarot deck and you are absorbing masonic concepts.
It is a little stunning when you think just how IMMENSE the esoteric influence of masonic thinking is. I mean, who hasn’t held in their hands, thought about, offered guidance through, or learned lessons from, a deck like that?
The truth is, if you have ever been interested in the western tarot, then you have come face-to-face and eye-to-toe with Masonic ideas.
Which is fine, if that’s your intent.
However if you don’t want to be taught by a Master Mason…
If you don’t want to participate in hierarchies of judgment, exclusion, privilege, reward, and punishment…
In other words, if you want something different…
…then check out my deck, the Halo/Sharp tarot deck. The Halo/Sharp deck is the quite literally the only tarot deck currently in existence which is free from masonic influence. I can say that because, as you will see if you examine the deck and the associated books with an eye tuned to esoteric depth, I took great pains to “break the spell.”
It’s true.
The Halo/Sharp deck (featured on this website) is a completely revised, completely independent, and totally clean version of Tarot archetypes, one that painstakingly strips out masonic influence and leaves you with a pure and powerful tool of spiritual awakening and empowerment completely devoid of the authority, hierarchy, exclusion, and judgment of the masonic deck.
The Calling to Awaken (Halo/Sharp Deck)
Of course, I know just how big these statements are and unless you actually investigate the system in more depth and detail, there is no way for me to justify or defend the statements here, so I won’t. You can take it or leave it but if you think there might be something here, if you are interested in finding out more, or just want to prove my arrogant presumptions wrong, browse this website for a basic introduction to the Halo/Sharp Tarot and its new energy archetypes. If your interest is piqued and you want to learn more you need to know that the Halo/Sharp new energy tarot is part of a larger system of spiritual awakening and empowerment known as The Lightning Path.TM If you really want to understand the significance, importance, and watershed nature of the Halo/Sharp deck, you’ll need to study The Lightning Path.
- You can get an overview of the Lightning Path itself by visiting this introduction to The Lightning Path
- If you want to jump right in and get started, visit the Lightning Path Curriculum website and have a look at the LP Quick Start Guide
- If you want to know more about me (Michael Sharp) visit my home page
