I totally agree that Waite left the path intact, with his "trail of crumbs" and to me he indeed comes across as a man of honor, who wishes he could be more specific without violating at least three oaths.
Here's a bit more from the book I've been working on for years! It's close to finished but i just can't seem to muster the guts to submit it to a publisher.
The article focuses on Tarot history and his assumptions are surprisingly accurate for that time. In The Great Symbols of the Tarot, he confirms that certain symbols, like The High Priestess could not date back further than medieval times. His writings make it clear that he does not perceive a strong relationship between historic and modern Tarot. The most striking element in his article is at the end, where he hints that trumps from his deck hold hidden meaning as he writes, “Here is the only answer to the question whether there is a deeper meaning in the Trumps Major than is found on their surface. And this leads up to my final point. If anyone feels drawn in these days to the consideration of Tarot symbolism, they will do well to select Trumps Major produced under my supervision by Miss Pamela Coleman Smith. I am at liberty to mention these as I have no interest in their sale. If they seek to place upon each individually the highest meaning that may dawn upon them in a mood of reflection, then to combine the messages, modifying their formulation until the whole series moves together in harmony, the result may be something of living value to themselves and therefore true for them. It should be understood in conclusion that I have been dealing with pictured images; but the way of the mystics ultimately leaves behind it the figured representations of the mind, for it is behind the kaleidoscope of external things that the still light shines in and from within the mind, in that state of pure being which is the life of the soul in God.”
The prior paragraph, like this post "use a symbolic means to access to the memories of the universal order of truths" brings to mind Martinism.
According to Saint-Martin, humanity neither conceives nor perceives but instead, receives abstract thought and natural creativity from sources other than mental impressions. God becomes apparent only to the soul and essentially restores harmony to create a reunion of human and divine will, thus achieving an internal Kingdom of God. An innate Divine spark allows the human soul to regenerate and restore a beautiful communion between Divinity and humankind. Like his spiritual influences, Saint-Martin never presents mere theosophical science. His writings shine with a true love of God and reflect a path that he humbly chose to not only advocate but also experience in personal existence.
Obviously, Waite wrote on secret doctrines behind Martinism and Freemasonry but he appears to seek secrets within Christianity. While representing an unknown doctrine to many modern Christians, the most important doctrine put forth in the ministry of Jesus is about as secret as the Golden Dawn. Jesus mentions the “Kingdom of God” over twenty times in Mathew alone. First century Jews saw the Kingdom of God as throwing off Roman rule, while Judea rises up as the ethical state of New Jerusalem. Actually, modern fundamentalist and evangelical Christians still seek this future political kingdom; however, that is not the “Kingdom” Jesus focuses on in His ministry. Mathew 4:17 states “Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” From His words, emerge two potential conclusions. Either Jesus lied to Jews of his time that were anxious to see a physical kingdom or He is referring to an innate spiritual Kingdom, which archaic Jews and modern Christians can embrace in their lives immediately. Just as the Neo-Platonists sought ascension, Christians can seek the Kingdom of God in their souls. To Waite, trumps likely symbolize a path of ascent into an inner Kingdom that Jesus offers in most Biblical examples.
Thanks for the quote Mary... As usual he leaves me awaiting a more complete explaination. Again, Waite leads me to dig deeper.
Patrick