“Wisdom fears no thing, but still bows humbly to its own source, with its deeper understanding, loves all things, for it has seen the beauty, the tenderness, and the sweetness which underlie Life's mystery” –Manly P. Hall |
Welcome to the April issue of The New Journal of the Philosophical Research Society.While working on illustrations for Manly Hall’s magnum opus, The Secret Teachings of All Ages, J. Augustus Knapp became interested in designing his own tarot deck, and asked Hall to create the unique meditational symbols which are included upon each card. Hall never explained the symbols, and people who possessed the deck were advised to “discover their meanings through thoughtful contemplation, thus unlocking the true significance of the deck.” Although Knapp first published the deck in 1929 as The Revised New Art Tarot Cards, because of Hall’s contribution, they soon became known as The Knapp-Hall tarot. The deck is a synthesis of Manly Hall’s calm advice about the symbolism of each arcanum, and Knapp’s delightful imagery. While working on illustrations for Manly Hall’s magnum opus, The Secret Teachings of All Ages, J. Augustus Knapp became interested in designing his own tarot deck, and asked Hall to create the unique meditational symbols which are included upon each card. Hall never explained the symbols, and people who possessed the deck were advised to “discover their meanings through thoughtful contemplation, thus unlocking the true significance of the deck.” Although Knapp first published the deck in 1929 as The Revised New Art Tarot Cards, because of Hall’s contribution, they soon became known as The Knapp-Hall tarot. The deck is a synthesis of Manly Hall’s calm advice about the symbolism of each arcanum, and Knapp’s delightful imagery. Soon after Knapp’s tarot was published, Hall wrote – “For hundreds of years numerous students of mysticism have pondered upon the secrets of the Tarot. They have grown wise for their efforts. The Tarot cards are simply a stimulus to creative imagination and analogy. They invite us to use every atom of knowledge we have in the interpretation of their cryptic riddles. If we accept the invitation and apply all our resourcefulness to the task, we shall probably be pleasantly surprised to discover that we know a great deal more about the mysteries of life than we ourselves realized. Of course, we may think that the cards revealed it and that from the little pieces of pasteboard we gathered the priceless facts. If this is what we choose to believe, it is of little importance. The fact remains that we have made new applications of thought. This alone is important.” This issue completes a full year of the new journal of the Philosophical Research Society. I’m proud and grateful to have been part of the amazing team which has made the journal possible, and thankful for all our talented contributing writers. If we have managed to encourage you, our faithful readers, to find the new applications of thought Hall hoped for, then our adventure has been a huge success. Thank you for supporting the New Journal of the PRS! Please continue supporting us now – the journal only exists because of your contributions. |
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Soon after Knapp’s tarot was published, Hall wrote – “For hundreds of years numerous students of mysticism have pondered upon the secrets of the Tarot. They have grown wise for their efforts. The Tarot cards are simply a stimulus to creative imagination and analogy. They invite us to use every atom of knowledge we have in the interpretation of their cryptic riddles. If we accept the invitation and apply all our resourcefulness to the task, we shall probably be pleasantly surprised to discover that we know a great deal more about the mysteries of life than we ourselves realized. Of course, we may think that the cards revealed it and that from the little pieces of pasteboard we gathered the priceless facts. If this is what we choose to believe, it is of little importance. The fact remains that we have made new applications of thought. This alone is important.”
This issue completes a full year of the new journal of the Philosophical Research Society. I’m proud and grateful to have been part of the amazing team which has made the journal possible, and thankful for all our talented contributing writers. If we have managed to encourage you, our faithful readers, to find the new applications of thought Hall hoped for, then our adventure has been a huge success. Thank you for supporting the New Journal of the PRS! Please continue supporting us now – the journal only exists because of your contributions.
This issue completes a full year of the new journal of the Philosophical Research Society. I’m proud and grateful to have been part of the amazing team which has made the journal possible, and thankful for all our talented contributing writers. If we have managed to encourage you, our faithful readers, to find the new applications of thought Hall hoped for, then our adventure has been a huge success. Thank you for supporting the New Journal of the PRS! Please continue supporting us now – the journal only exists because of your contributions.
Arcanum XVII and the Order of the Trumps
By Michael Samu Éliphas Lévi’s Kabbalistic Tarot
By Kirk Elser The American Renaissance Tarot
By Mark Storer Poet's Page: The Earth Is Just a Little Place
Featuring Jim Willis |
Tarot Symbolism – Le Pape
By Manly P. Hall The Hermetic Tarot of the Golden Dawn
By Ike Baker The Ultimate Tarot Novel
By Thea Wirsching |
View archive of previous issues
The New PRS Journal is published with the support of: Michael J. Pearce (editor), Michelle Song (design), David Orr (banner design), Kelly Carmena & Matthew Taylor (copyediting), & supporters like you.