Emblematic Freemasonry, Building Guilds and Hermetic Schools: Foundations of Freemasonry Series

Arthur Edward Waite, a notable member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and co-creator of a well-known tarot deck, explores intellectual movements in Europe that predated the formation of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717. He delves into topics such as alchemy, Kabbalah, and the Rosicrucian fraternity, while also analyzing the contributions of Elias Ashmole. Waite presents a critical perspective, arguing against the notion that these influences shaped the symbols and direction of Masonry.