masonic tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 28 Dec 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

maya	28 Dec 2003
does anybody know about the masonic tarot and its symbols? maya

jmd	28 Dec 2003
There is also an earlier thread on the Masonic Tarot which you may want to read through... I wonder what kind of question regarding this deck you have... Many of its symbols are not specifically Masonic, but rather incorporate sacred geometry and general esoteric lore. The artist, though having incorporated some Masonic imagery, seems to have included no more than is also found in numerous other modern decks designed or painted by Free or CoMasons (such as Waite or Harris - amongst many others).

maya	28 Dec 2003
I hold the masonic order was keeping possibly keys to the ancient symbols and mysteries of the old world.– It is hard to find a good deck so far. There are many nice decks but very few good ones. The waite deck has its shortcomings. For example 11 and 8 are exchanged. This is a major mistake. Would you say the masonic deck offers some light into the depth of ancient relics?

jmd	28 Dec 2003
Personally, I consider the Masonic deck, though beautiful in many ways, more a reflection of the individual preferences of the artist than one which unveils or reveals Masonic symbolism - or one which sheds specific light on 'ancient relics'. I personally agree with you that Waite's (following the Golden Dawn) inversion of Justice and Strength is unfortunate - though some quite early decks are also not consistent in their ordering or numeration. You may be interested in having a browse through the Iconography/History section of the Forums - especially in the various threads which deal with the Major Arcana (an index - incomplete - is available by clicking here). I mention the above, as it seems to me that your question focusses not so much on the Masonic deck, but on investigating early sources of iconography. Masonic symbolism itself arises and is transformed around similar times to early Tarot - though they may each reflect or contain elements of far earlier strivings, to my mind, each is independent.

maya	29 Dec 2003
Thank you for your kind assistance.– I have still quite another question that nobody answered at another forum place. Do you know where or how I can get the old copy of the Xultun Tarot which is brown instead of green on the back and larger than the custom deck? Many people will be looking at the Xultun as being a strange deck. This is rather true. It is not a tarot deck. It is a book of the ancient mysteries of the mayan, toltec and olmec. Peter Balin came very incidentally, I guess, across these riches of the old lores taken form the frescos and steles of Mexiko and Guatemala. The system is reminding partly the gematria and the tree of life. I hope it does not bore you… maya

jmd	29 Dec 2003
I personally do not know the deck, but if you visit Tarot Garden, and type 'Xultun' in their search engine, you will have a little more information. Jeannette & Lori of Tarot Garden are not only extra helpful, but can be trusted - if you request of them to search on your behalf, if the deck is somehow available, they'll be able to find it. Other than that, may I also suggest that you begin a new thread on the Xultun (in this Tarot Decks area) and see what comes up. Those with kowledge of the Xultun may not read a thread entitled 'Masonic Tarot'... And again - welcome to Aeclectic :)

maya	30 Dec 2003
thank you for these informations.

The masonic tarot thread was originally posted on 28 Dec 2003 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.