Arthur Edward Waite was a British mystic, novelist, and scholar best remembered for his contribution to the development of the Rider-Waite tarot deck. Waite, who was born in London in 1857, belonged to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret group that practiced ceremonial magic. He was also a prolific author, writing extensively on mysticism, spirituality, and the occult.
Waite commissioned artist Pamela Colman Smith in 1909 to create a new tarot deck that would be more accessible and user-friendly than prior decks. The Rider-Waite deck, which included clear and detailed pictures on each card, was quickly accepted by the increasing community of tarot lovers. The deck is still one of the most popular tarot decks today, and it is sometimes referred to as the standard or classic tarot deck.
Waite was a well-known person in the tarot and occult worlds, and his work continues to impact how tarot is studied and utilized. He died in 1942, yet his influence as one of the forefathers of modern tarot lives on.
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