The Illustrated Key to the Tarot

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Illustrated Key to the Tarot

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

L. W. De Laurence presents a rectified, fully illustrated guide to Tarot symbolism, bridging occult tradition and practical divination. This work rescues the cards from charlatanism, offering profound mystical interpretations for both newcomers and seasoned practitioners seeking higher spiritual insight.

Summary up to 500 words

In *The Illustrated Key to the Tarot*, L. W. De Laurence presents a rigorous defense of the Tarot as a high form of symbolism rather than a mere tool for fortune-telling. Published in 1918, the work is structured into three distinct parts: historical antiquities, the doctrine behind the veil, and practical divinatory methods. De Laurence begins by critiquing previous expositors who falsely attributed Egyptian, Indian, or Chinese origins to the cards. Instead, he argues for a secret tradition potentially rooted in the Albigensian sects or Rosicrucian mysteries, suggesting that the Tower card, for instance, may typify the destruction of Papal Rome. The core of the book rectifies the meanings of the Major Arcana, interpreting them through a lens of grace and mystical transformation. De Laurence redefines The Hanged Man not as martyrdom, but as a symbol of resurrection and the relationship between the Divine and the Universe. Similarly, Death is presented not as a grim reaper but as a mystical transformation and a passage from lower to higher states of being. The Star represents the Great Mother communicating truth, while Temperance illustrates the harmonization of psychic and material natures. The Tower signifies the ruin of a house built on falsehood, and The Fool serves as the starting point for the journey of the spirit. Throughout the text, De Laurence surveys contemporary occult works by figures such as Eliphas Lévi, Papus, and Stanislas de Guaita. He acknowledges their contributions but often critiques their historical inaccuracies and reliance on fantasy, such as the claim that the Tarot is the 'Bible of Bibles' or its Egyptian origins. He emphasizes that true Tarot symbolism speaks a language accessible only to those willing to look beyond superficial interpretations. The book concludes by introducing a simplified, universal method of reading cards, aiming to replace the cumbrous systems found in larger handbooks. Ultimately, De Laurence asserts that the wisdom of God, often perceived as foolishness by the world, is concealed within these symbols, waiting to be unveiled by those with the capacity for higher insight.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/l-w-de-laurence_illustrated-key-to-the-tarot.epub

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Categories

• Occult
• Tarot
• Divination