Chapter XIX (part 2)

Librarian of the Arsenal. Has published an occult manuscript upon the Tarot, blending with it his personal reflections upon astrology in-- L'Homme Rouge des Tuileries (1854). ELIPHAS LEVI. Amongst contemporary Masters of Occultism, he had the greatest knowledge of the Tarot. His work Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie (1861, 2 vols., 8vo.) is based upon the keys of the Tarot. Eliphas Levi had a most romantic life, and died in 1870, leaving a son (I believe). STANISLAS DE GUAITA. Contemporary Kabbalistic scholar. He made several applications of the Tarot to the Kabbalah. We have given one extract of them already. Consult also, Au Seuil du Mystère (1886), and Le Serpent de la Genèse . JOSÉPHIN PÉLADAN. A clever novelist and eminent Kabbalist. He often wrote upon the Tarot in his works (1885-1889). "THE PLATONIST" (1888). Review of American Occultism. It contained a poor study upon the application of the Tarot to horoscopy. This essay has been reproduced in the Theosophical Publications . Small pamphlets called "Siftings," No. 14 (London 1888) (7, Duke Street). F. CH. BARLET. One of the most learned and most highly-esteemed authorities amongst French Occultists. The summary of one of his works on the Tarot Initiatique (1889) is quoted in extenso, page 253. OSWALD WIRTH has studied the astronomical Tarot (see Chapter XVI.), and has carefully reproduced the twenty-two symbolical figures, according to the most recent information obtainable upon Symbolism (1889). E. POIREL. Occultist. Editor of the Tarot d'Oswald Wirth (1889). ELY STAR. An author known by his interesting work upon Astrology, the Mystères de l'Horoscope (Dentu, 1888). It contains a chapter upon the Tarot. H. P. BLAVATSKY. This author, rendered eminent by her works upon Theosophy, mentions the Tarot in her books ( Isis Unveiled and the Secret Doctrine ), but very superficially and without any synthetic basis. CH. DE SIVRY. A very talented occultist, chiefly known by his works upon music. To his kindness we owe the summary of a Tarot Bohémien entitled-- Extract from the sacred book of the Opâchti tribe, the primitive family, which adored Otchâvâtri representing the only God Otchawatra. This tribe lived at the foot of the Himalaya. This book describes the symbolism of the twenty-two arcana, according to the Gypsies, with interesting details upon esoterism. MATHERS, an English author, has recently published a short account of the Tarot, which contains nothing very original: it is rather a summary of the principal authors who have studied the question. It is chiefly written as an aid to fortune-telling by cards. This closes the list of authors whose books we have heard of, and who have alluded to the Tarot or used its keys . We may have omitted some of them, if so we must beg them to excuse us.