Teheuti
Added for clarification: Based on an earlier poll of people's preferences, this is a study group focusing on Waite's intentions for the RWS deck based on what he wrote in Pictorial Key to the Tarot, beginning with Part II where he explains his core philosophy regarding the "Secret Tradition." Other books by Waite (and works he specifically references) will be consulted for additional information about his terminology and intent.
Here's the first two sentences (the sentences & paragraphs are very long), which I've numbered for easy reference. I suggest that everyone tries summarizing what Waite says in their own words as it becomes very clear in this way what we understand and what we don't. Feel free to refer to Part 1 and other works by Waite to help elucidate the material.
excogitate: 1. to devise, invent, or contrive
2. to think out in detail
(from: Latin: excogitat - 'found by process of thought')
Craft Masonry: This system of three degrees is sometimes called The Symbolic Degrees, consisting of: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft Degree, Master Mason. This is the core of Masonry.
Here's the first two sentences (the sentences & paragraphs are very long), which I've numbered for easy reference. I suggest that everyone tries summarizing what Waite says in their own words as it becomes very clear in this way what we understand and what we don't. Feel free to refer to Part 1 and other works by Waite to help elucidate the material.
PART II - "The Doctrine Behind the Veil - 1: The Tarot and Secret Tradition"
1."The Tarot embodies symbolical presentations of universal ideas, behind which lie all the implicits of the human mind, and it is in this sense that they contain secret doctrine, which is the realization by the few of truths imbedded in the consciousness of all, though they have not passed into express recognition by ordinary men.
2. "The theory is that this doctrine has always existed—that is to say, has been excogitated in the consciousness of an elect minority; that it has been perpetuated in secrecy from one to another and has been recorded in secret literatures, like those of Alchemy and Kabalism; that it is contained also in those Instituted Mysteries of which Rosicrucianism offers an example near to our hand in the past, and Craft Masonry a living summary, or general memorial, for those who can interpret its real meaning."
pp 59-60.
excogitate: 1. to devise, invent, or contrive
2. to think out in detail
(from: Latin: excogitat - 'found by process of thought')
Craft Masonry: This system of three degrees is sometimes called The Symbolic Degrees, consisting of: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft Degree, Master Mason. This is the core of Masonry.