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The Equinox #3.05
The Book of Thoth
The Thoth Tarot Deck (or "Crowley Deck" as it is more widely known) is one of the most popular decks in current use. It is also one of the most original interpretations of the tarot, incorporating astrological, numerological, and Qabalistic symbolism. While there are many other useful guides to this famous tarot deck, there are no others which explain the deck in its creator's own words. The Book of Thoth has been used for many years by students of the occult for study of the tarot and as a key to all Western mystery traditions. As such, this book is on the short list of must-have textbooks for modern students of the tarot and esoteric studies.
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 1944
431 people are currently reading
6238 people want to read
About the author
Aleister Crowley
880 books1,884 followersAleister Crowley was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, novelist, mountaineer, and painter. He founded the religion of Thelema, proclaiming himself as the prophet destined to guide humanity into the Æon of Horus in the early 20th century. A prolific writer, Crowley published extensively throughout his life.
Born Edward Alexander Crowley in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, he was raised in a wealthy family adhering to the fundamentalist Christian Plymouth Brethren faith. Crowley rejected his religious upbringing, developing an interest in Western esotericism. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, focusing on mountaineering and poetry, and published several works during this period. In 1898, he joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, receiving training in ceremonial magic from Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers and Allan Bennett. His travels took him to Mexico for mountaineering with Oscar Eckenstein and to India, where he studied Hindu and Buddhist practices.
In 1904, during a honeymoon in Cairo with his wife Rose Edith Kelly, Crowley claimed to have received "The Book of the Law" from a supernatural entity named Aiwass. This text became the foundation of Thelema, announcing the onset of the Æon of Horus and introducing the central tenet: "Do what thou wilt." Crowley emphasized that individuals should align with their True Will through ceremonial magic.
After an unsuccessful expedition to Kanchenjunga in 1905 and further travels in India and China, Crowley returned to Britain. There, he co-founded the esoteric order A∴A∴ with George Cecil Jones in 1907 to promote Thelema. In 1912, he joined the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), eventually leading its British branch and reformulating it according to Thelemic principles. Crowley spent World War I in the United States, engaging in painting and writing pro-German propaganda, which biographers later suggested was a cover for British intelligence activities.
In 1920, Crowley established the Abbey of Thelema, a religious commune in Cefalù, Sicily. His libertine lifestyle attracted negative attention from the British press, leading to his expulsion by the Italian government in 1923. He spent subsequent years in France, Germany, and England, continuing to promote Thelema until his death in 1947.
Crowley's notoriety stemmed from his recreational drug use, bisexuality, and criticism of societal norms. Despite controversy, he significantly influenced Western esotericism and the 1960s counterculture, and remains a central figure in Thelema.
Born Edward Alexander Crowley in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, he was raised in a wealthy family adhering to the fundamentalist Christian Plymouth Brethren faith. Crowley rejected his religious upbringing, developing an interest in Western esotericism. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, focusing on mountaineering and poetry, and published several works during this period. In 1898, he joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, receiving training in ceremonial magic from Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers and Allan Bennett. His travels took him to Mexico for mountaineering with Oscar Eckenstein and to India, where he studied Hindu and Buddhist practices.
In 1904, during a honeymoon in Cairo with his wife Rose Edith Kelly, Crowley claimed to have received "The Book of the Law" from a supernatural entity named Aiwass. This text became the foundation of Thelema, announcing the onset of the Æon of Horus and introducing the central tenet: "Do what thou wilt." Crowley emphasized that individuals should align with their True Will through ceremonial magic.
After an unsuccessful expedition to Kanchenjunga in 1905 and further travels in India and China, Crowley returned to Britain. There, he co-founded the esoteric order A∴A∴ with George Cecil Jones in 1907 to promote Thelema. In 1912, he joined the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), eventually leading its British branch and reformulating it according to Thelemic principles. Crowley spent World War I in the United States, engaging in painting and writing pro-German propaganda, which biographers later suggested was a cover for British intelligence activities.
In 1920, Crowley established the Abbey of Thelema, a religious commune in Cefalù, Sicily. His libertine lifestyle attracted negative attention from the British press, leading to his expulsion by the Italian government in 1923. He spent subsequent years in France, Germany, and England, continuing to promote Thelema until his death in 1947.
Crowley's notoriety stemmed from his recreational drug use, bisexuality, and criticism of societal norms. Despite controversy, he significantly influenced Western esotericism and the 1960s counterculture, and remains a central figure in Thelema.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
January 7, 2009
The Book of Thoth is as much a manual for using the deck as it is a primary initiation into Hermetic philosophy and mindfulness. This is an encyclopedic volume. The deck itself, besides working as the elemental and zodiacal symbol association system of popular tradition, functions simultaneously as a Qabalistic Tree of Life and Taoist I Ching. The creation and perfection of this deck was a grand scholarly undertaking by Crowley, and while I am sure that he could have expanded this volume tenfold if he so chose, I am glad he didn't, as the complexity of symbolic associations that he presents seemingly from memory are so far-ranging and multifaceted that a reader might rightly wonder how such a comprehensive view of existence could be possible, how such a system could ever be taken up so thoroughly by a human mind.
That said, its actually damn readable, and surely useful to any student of philosophy, mythology, tarot, comparative literature, or the occult.
That said, its actually damn readable, and surely useful to any student of philosophy, mythology, tarot, comparative literature, or the occult.
July 18, 2017
A fascinating book, exquisitely presented and illustrated, and beautifully written in the drawing room English of a bygone age. It presents the true tarot, which originated in Ancient Egypt, and survived in Greek and Hindu mythology. But ultimately it is just so much mumbo-jumbo, a quest for meaning in a bottomless pit of privileged hedonism. Some say it contains secret and ancient mysteries, others that it is an evil book inspired by Satan; I think it is just the vain ramblings of a sad old man who was unable to connect with the true meaning of life, a meaning that is made available to every newborn child, and to which adults can connect via self-sacrifice and love for our fellows. But I'm going to keep it because it looks cool on my bookshelf, and I'm fascinated despite myself by the vacuous patterns.
August 10, 2011
An essential companion to the Thoth tarot deck, it is the most complete, lucid, helpful manual to the tarot that I have found. However, I myself am starting to lean toward the I Ching for 'divination' purposes.
March 31, 2019
Frankly, this was too much book for me. I'm merely an amateur tarot enthusiast, by no means a acolyte of "divination". So Crowley's masterwork thesis here, that tarot, Qabbalah, astrology, numerology, I Ching, and the Egyptian pantheon are all connected and mutually reflective isn't what I would call "useful" to someone who wants to read the cards.
That said, even with my rudimentary experience, I can definitely get the sense from this book that Crowley really really knew what he was talking about and had designed the Thoth deck with a level of sophistication beyond anything I was expecting. The book is useful for getting a sense of his psychology, to know how he felt about the e.g. Queen of Swords and how that was both similar to different from scholars in other times using different decks.
So I can't say the book was the most practical addition to my tarot library, but it was nonetheless very well written and hints at the wide supernatural context from which the Thoth deck came.
That said, even with my rudimentary experience, I can definitely get the sense from this book that Crowley really really knew what he was talking about and had designed the Thoth deck with a level of sophistication beyond anything I was expecting. The book is useful for getting a sense of his psychology, to know how he felt about the e.g. Queen of Swords and how that was both similar to different from scholars in other times using different decks.
So I can't say the book was the most practical addition to my tarot library, but it was nonetheless very well written and hints at the wide supernatural context from which the Thoth deck came.
July 5, 2015
Absolutely vital (along with The Book of The Law and 777) for using the Thoth Tarot. The Beast can be a bit cryptic at times, but his books are well worth the effort. He gives you a lot of information that Waite holds back. (Waite seems to have scrambled his Tarot a bit for the unwashed masses, too - are his Kings really Princes? There's things on a couple of them that hint at that. RWS is still a great classic deck, but if you want to learn occult Tarot, go with Crowley.)
December 2, 2010
Aleister Crowley's and Frieda Harris's (the actual artist behind the paintings) Thoth Deck is the only Tarot deck that might be called intoxicatingly beautiful. To my eye, it is the only Tarot that isn't ugly, though maybe none or few will agree with me there. I think it so outshines all others there's little point in purchasing or using any other. The cards are very large: that's because they are as crowded with imagery as any Victorian parlor ever was with bric-a-brac. The bric-a-brac of the Thoth Deck however is in exquisite taste. To comprehend it fully, Aleister Crowley's The Book of Thoth is essential. Fortunately, the book is itself Crowley's masterpiece.
The Thoth Deck, like any Tarot deck, can simply be picked up by a determined, would-be divinator, and learned and used well. That may be the best way. But it's a way for the few: most of us need (for think we need) a guide. The Book of Thoth is the best book on the Tarot I've read. The only drawback is that, on a few points, it is only applicable to the Thoth Deck. Its value as an introduction and reference to the most important concepts in the so-called Western Tradition of magic makes this drawback pale to insignificance.
It condenses the best of Crowley's thought into one short book, a very dense book—when I call a book dense it's a complement: I mean either dense with information or beauty and The Book of Thoth possesses both. Crowley is a master of English prose. It's a slightly stilted, quite pretentious prose, but still masterful and a pleasure to read. That it was written toward the end of Crowley's life is all to the good. He had in old age finally though reluctantly abandoned his vaunted and odious notion of magick as "The method of science, the aim of religion": a marvelous example of vanity and futility. Crowley had evoked and conversed with who knows how many spirits, and only in his last works does he refuse to deny his own experience: no small thing for an erudite Victorian, and old-fashioned Englishman whose heart always lived in the 19th century. Here the ludicrous Positivism that had become such a caricature of itself by 1900, when Max Planck unbeknownst to the world at large killed it forever, is gone at last. Crowley now no longer believed he had all the answers, that all the answers were knowable. That there is an Answer. You must read between the lines to see this, true, as he'd lost none of his endearing arrogance. Was it a relief to him, I wonder? ... to admit the reality of his lived reality? I hope so. He had for example reneged on his earlier opinion regarding the Holy Guardian Angel—a high-flown name for a well-known entity called variously the Agathos Daimon (Socrates consulted his daimon daily: are you smarter or wiser than Socrates?), the Paredros (basically, supernatural assistant), and nowadays to Catholics and Angelolaters alike simply as Guardian Angels. It was, he said, the height of blasphemy to regard the "HGA" as merely a sort of Higher Self (and what does "Higher Self" even mean, hmmm?). In short, he had finally gained a measure of common sense, almost of humility though it doesn't show through the attitude, and the sensibleness shows amply in this book, which is straightforward, to the point and aburst with information and even wisdom. There are very few books on the "occult" of which that might be said.
The book is long on theory, short on praxis, admittedly. For that you must---an extreme misfortune---consult the bloated volumes of The Golden Dawn, compiled by Israel Regardie: that is, if you want to practice the Tarot like a Ceremonial Magician. Israel Regardie was not a stylist of the English language: none of the members of the Golden Dawn were, at least not the ones who wrote the lore of their magical society. William Butler Yeats and Arthur Machen were masters of English: but they didn't write anything found in those musty tomes that I know of. Even if you don't want to practice like a Ceremonial Magician I must admit that much of the lore invented and added to the mythology of the Tarot ("myth" here in the usual sense of the word: a variety of fiction) from the mid 18th century through the time of The Book of Thoth's publishing is useful. It isn't necessary for divination, but it is necessary for the understanding of most books of magic published in English in the last centuries.
But this is Crowley's book, and though he must be taken always with two or three grains of salt, the only magical writer who has equaled him since is Andrew Chumbley. Chumbley actually understood his Latin and Greek, and though Crowley's poetry is serviceable, even good, Chumbley's is pure ecstasy and orgasm: unique. Crowley's Greek is bad: his Hebrew is nonexistent. Fortunately we are not subjected to any Hebrew prose of Crowley's (even a mediocre classicist---like me---will groan and giggle at the dismal Greek of, e.g., his Ritual of the Star Ruby): thank Kraken he restricts himself to Qabalistic letter mysticism, the "Tree of Life", etc.
The Hermetic Qabala truly does have its own validity, however: it has accrued this over the centuries and it seems quite powerful, though I make little use of it myself I confess. Of this species of Qabalistic lore Crowley is a past master: it is an integral part of all his magick and of his Tarot. People say any sufficiently complex and consistent symbol set will serve adequately as a magical tool (a Chaos Magician invoking Mister Spock to ace a computer programming exam is proof a simple and silly symbol set will do in a pinch). The Qabala (not to be confused with Christian Cabala, must less Jewish Kabbalah) has the virtue of being the West's most complicated and also dead serious such system. It does also have the virtues of elegance and beauty: no small virtues, those. You'll learn from The Book of Thoth all of it you'll ever need to know in order to read the Tarot---any Tarot---in the fashion and as well as any Very Serious Magician™ around. Though as I said, you can read it any way you want: this book will still help. To be fair, Crowley himself (unlike his latterday devotees) had a gigantic sense of humor: but to get the jokes it helps if you know Plato, among others. I confess I don't get all the jokes, but at least I usually spot them (I think).
The Book of Thoth is Aleister Crowley's best work (his medium-length poem "Hymn to Pan" is incomparable too, I must confess. They say to you have to spend money to make money: to learn from this book, you will need to have already learned much of the "canon", as folk like Harold Bloom call it. But you're a bookish person, you're here at Goodreads after all: you're up to the task. The Book of Thoth will replay you in spades (or rather, in Swords).
The Thoth Deck, like any Tarot deck, can simply be picked up by a determined, would-be divinator, and learned and used well. That may be the best way. But it's a way for the few: most of us need (for think we need) a guide. The Book of Thoth is the best book on the Tarot I've read. The only drawback is that, on a few points, it is only applicable to the Thoth Deck. Its value as an introduction and reference to the most important concepts in the so-called Western Tradition of magic makes this drawback pale to insignificance.
It condenses the best of Crowley's thought into one short book, a very dense book—when I call a book dense it's a complement: I mean either dense with information or beauty and The Book of Thoth possesses both. Crowley is a master of English prose. It's a slightly stilted, quite pretentious prose, but still masterful and a pleasure to read. That it was written toward the end of Crowley's life is all to the good. He had in old age finally though reluctantly abandoned his vaunted and odious notion of magick as "The method of science, the aim of religion": a marvelous example of vanity and futility. Crowley had evoked and conversed with who knows how many spirits, and only in his last works does he refuse to deny his own experience: no small thing for an erudite Victorian, and old-fashioned Englishman whose heart always lived in the 19th century. Here the ludicrous Positivism that had become such a caricature of itself by 1900, when Max Planck unbeknownst to the world at large killed it forever, is gone at last. Crowley now no longer believed he had all the answers, that all the answers were knowable. That there is an Answer. You must read between the lines to see this, true, as he'd lost none of his endearing arrogance. Was it a relief to him, I wonder? ... to admit the reality of his lived reality? I hope so. He had for example reneged on his earlier opinion regarding the Holy Guardian Angel—a high-flown name for a well-known entity called variously the Agathos Daimon (Socrates consulted his daimon daily: are you smarter or wiser than Socrates?), the Paredros (basically, supernatural assistant), and nowadays to Catholics and Angelolaters alike simply as Guardian Angels. It was, he said, the height of blasphemy to regard the "HGA" as merely a sort of Higher Self (and what does "Higher Self" even mean, hmmm?). In short, he had finally gained a measure of common sense, almost of humility though it doesn't show through the attitude, and the sensibleness shows amply in this book, which is straightforward, to the point and aburst with information and even wisdom. There are very few books on the "occult" of which that might be said.
The book is long on theory, short on praxis, admittedly. For that you must---an extreme misfortune---consult the bloated volumes of The Golden Dawn, compiled by Israel Regardie: that is, if you want to practice the Tarot like a Ceremonial Magician. Israel Regardie was not a stylist of the English language: none of the members of the Golden Dawn were, at least not the ones who wrote the lore of their magical society. William Butler Yeats and Arthur Machen were masters of English: but they didn't write anything found in those musty tomes that I know of. Even if you don't want to practice like a Ceremonial Magician I must admit that much of the lore invented and added to the mythology of the Tarot ("myth" here in the usual sense of the word: a variety of fiction) from the mid 18th century through the time of The Book of Thoth's publishing is useful. It isn't necessary for divination, but it is necessary for the understanding of most books of magic published in English in the last centuries.
But this is Crowley's book, and though he must be taken always with two or three grains of salt, the only magical writer who has equaled him since is Andrew Chumbley. Chumbley actually understood his Latin and Greek, and though Crowley's poetry is serviceable, even good, Chumbley's is pure ecstasy and orgasm: unique. Crowley's Greek is bad: his Hebrew is nonexistent. Fortunately we are not subjected to any Hebrew prose of Crowley's (even a mediocre classicist---like me---will groan and giggle at the dismal Greek of, e.g., his Ritual of the Star Ruby): thank Kraken he restricts himself to Qabalistic letter mysticism, the "Tree of Life", etc.
The Hermetic Qabala truly does have its own validity, however: it has accrued this over the centuries and it seems quite powerful, though I make little use of it myself I confess. Of this species of Qabalistic lore Crowley is a past master: it is an integral part of all his magick and of his Tarot. People say any sufficiently complex and consistent symbol set will serve adequately as a magical tool (a Chaos Magician invoking Mister Spock to ace a computer programming exam is proof a simple and silly symbol set will do in a pinch). The Qabala (not to be confused with Christian Cabala, must less Jewish Kabbalah) has the virtue of being the West's most complicated and also dead serious such system. It does also have the virtues of elegance and beauty: no small virtues, those. You'll learn from The Book of Thoth all of it you'll ever need to know in order to read the Tarot---any Tarot---in the fashion and as well as any Very Serious Magician™ around. Though as I said, you can read it any way you want: this book will still help. To be fair, Crowley himself (unlike his latterday devotees) had a gigantic sense of humor: but to get the jokes it helps if you know Plato, among others. I confess I don't get all the jokes, but at least I usually spot them (I think).
The Book of Thoth is Aleister Crowley's best work (his medium-length poem "Hymn to Pan" is incomparable too, I must confess. They say to you have to spend money to make money: to learn from this book, you will need to have already learned much of the "canon", as folk like Harold Bloom call it. But you're a bookish person, you're here at Goodreads after all: you're up to the task. The Book of Thoth will replay you in spades (or rather, in Swords).
December 3, 2015
The definitive, scholarly, tome for understanding any Tarot deck, particularly the relationship between Tarot and Kabbalah and most precisely the Crowley-Thoth deck.
Within that framework it provides insights and connection between the Tarot of the Egyptians; the Tree of Life, the Sephirot, the I-Ching, Astrology, Elements and Indian philosophies (the last as helping to explain some basic concepts around nothingness).
While the history of the Tarot is left open, not so much as to debate as to being pointless, much of the history of the interpretation and meaning of the Tarot is explored.
At base, this is a philosophical work hewn, then whittled, with [sometimes] excruciating detail. I would not call it unapproachable, but it is a commitment to try and follow each thread – but it is rewarding and the writing is entertaining because of Crowley’s infectious enthusiasm, if not for his language.
The first part of the book is that historical and philosophical explanation, then part two “The Atu (keys or Trumps)” are explored at depth. The Fool, for example, is over 16 pages long (though it is the longest) – and that doesn’t cover an appendix at the end of the section of the twenty-two.
Part three is on the Court Cards; most of a page for each, and each page is stitched with references that add much more.
Part four is “The Small Cards” – again, about a page each, with embedded detail launching to other sources. All of this is directly in the context of the Sephirot.
The back fifth of the book are plates, or images of each card in the Thoth deck (black and white with four to a page). There is also a section on “The Behavior of the Tarot”. It is essentially a guide to interacting with the cards with very specific instructions on how to shuffle and pull cards, and how to ask questions with internal dialog included.
The last appendix is filled with very detailed tables and diagrams that are key to most everything in the rest of the book. There are some color plates of cards here too.
Doesn’t sound like much when distilled into a handful of paragraphs, but this is a deep book nonetheless. I would recommend Andrea Green’s book, “Kabbalah & Tarot, a Step-Up Guide for Everyone” as a preparatory read prior to this one, at least. One might start with using this book as a card guide then exploring the deeper sections as a general understanding of the context is gained.
For myself, I did an initial cover to cover read; gleaning as much, if little, as I could. Then – after reading a few other beginner books, Andrea Green’s book and many internet sources – walked through the book again; trying to absorb more. As an aside, I recommend getting a print copy versus a kindle version as you'll often be flipping from front to back with a marker or two within. Hardcopies can be had on eBay for 20-30 US (unless you want one of the 200 original 1944 signed editions - that will cost you three grand). Paperback on Amazon is about 18 bucks, less if used, of course.
It will be a longer process of learning for myself, but this is a primary source of information for anyone. Most other sources pull directly from exactly this, or pieces of the sources Crowley used, and translated with his own [very qualified] eye, so, while there is other data out there, this beast is vital to your Tarot journey.
Within that framework it provides insights and connection between the Tarot of the Egyptians; the Tree of Life, the Sephirot, the I-Ching, Astrology, Elements and Indian philosophies (the last as helping to explain some basic concepts around nothingness).
While the history of the Tarot is left open, not so much as to debate as to being pointless, much of the history of the interpretation and meaning of the Tarot is explored.
At base, this is a philosophical work hewn, then whittled, with [sometimes] excruciating detail. I would not call it unapproachable, but it is a commitment to try and follow each thread – but it is rewarding and the writing is entertaining because of Crowley’s infectious enthusiasm, if not for his language.
The first part of the book is that historical and philosophical explanation, then part two “The Atu (keys or Trumps)” are explored at depth. The Fool, for example, is over 16 pages long (though it is the longest) – and that doesn’t cover an appendix at the end of the section of the twenty-two.
Part three is on the Court Cards; most of a page for each, and each page is stitched with references that add much more.
Part four is “The Small Cards” – again, about a page each, with embedded detail launching to other sources. All of this is directly in the context of the Sephirot.
The back fifth of the book are plates, or images of each card in the Thoth deck (black and white with four to a page). There is also a section on “The Behavior of the Tarot”. It is essentially a guide to interacting with the cards with very specific instructions on how to shuffle and pull cards, and how to ask questions with internal dialog included.
The last appendix is filled with very detailed tables and diagrams that are key to most everything in the rest of the book. There are some color plates of cards here too.
Doesn’t sound like much when distilled into a handful of paragraphs, but this is a deep book nonetheless. I would recommend Andrea Green’s book, “Kabbalah & Tarot, a Step-Up Guide for Everyone” as a preparatory read prior to this one, at least. One might start with using this book as a card guide then exploring the deeper sections as a general understanding of the context is gained.
For myself, I did an initial cover to cover read; gleaning as much, if little, as I could. Then – after reading a few other beginner books, Andrea Green’s book and many internet sources – walked through the book again; trying to absorb more. As an aside, I recommend getting a print copy versus a kindle version as you'll often be flipping from front to back with a marker or two within. Hardcopies can be had on eBay for 20-30 US (unless you want one of the 200 original 1944 signed editions - that will cost you three grand). Paperback on Amazon is about 18 bucks, less if used, of course.
It will be a longer process of learning for myself, but this is a primary source of information for anyone. Most other sources pull directly from exactly this, or pieces of the sources Crowley used, and translated with his own [very qualified] eye, so, while there is other data out there, this beast is vital to your Tarot journey.
December 20, 2007
So the book of Thoth is the companion book to Crowley's Tarot deck, a prognosticator of a rather intense nature, I'm told. From What I garnered from Crowley's writing style, he tends to be very cryptic. Like most mystics, he shrouds his intent behind allegories and clues and outright denial. This is to inspire the reader to actually "sweat it out" a little bit as well as provide a sort of qualifications test.
There is some really cool shit though in this novel. Crowley exposes the framework for the Tarot based on the Kabbalist "Tree of Life" With this, he translates the Tree homo-morphically onto the Tao te Ching, which I found pretty impressive.
A good example of Crowley's blatant obfuscation may be told anecdotally. Upon reading the book, I was struck by the Hebrew Term "Yod Hesoth" which meant - according to Crowley - something akin to 'bearer of light' or 'light bringer' So when I uttered those words to someone who spoke hebrew, she covered her ears and said 'don't say that!' When I asked why she merely whimpered, "satan!" So, Yod Hesoth, to Lucifer (which does meant 'bearer of light' to old Scratch. There you go.
There is some really cool shit though in this novel. Crowley exposes the framework for the Tarot based on the Kabbalist "Tree of Life" With this, he translates the Tree homo-morphically onto the Tao te Ching, which I found pretty impressive.
A good example of Crowley's blatant obfuscation may be told anecdotally. Upon reading the book, I was struck by the Hebrew Term "Yod Hesoth" which meant - according to Crowley - something akin to 'bearer of light' or 'light bringer' So when I uttered those words to someone who spoke hebrew, she covered her ears and said 'don't say that!' When I asked why she merely whimpered, "satan!" So, Yod Hesoth, to Lucifer (which does meant 'bearer of light' to old Scratch. There you go.
July 21, 2008
One day when I was in The Hobbit Habit, my late and greatly lamented independent bookshop, a deck of Crowley Tarot cards threw themselves off a shelf at me. I decided that any printed material that was that desirous of a place on my bookshelf should have a chance, so I bought the cards and a copy of this book. I enjoyed the references to the I Ching, and spent quite a bit of time with both the I Ching and the Tarot, trying to see how they fit together. I feel I derived a greater understanding of both systems through doing this.
However. I hunted through a lot of mumbo-jumbo in this book to come up with the good bits. I am not a big Crowley fan, but I still have the deck and use it from time to time. I wrote down the relevant information from the book, and put this book on a shelf where it has sat for many years. It is worth checking out Crowley to see how a person goes about constructing his own religion or cult or whatever kind of wacko group he came up with. I revere the Ching and admire the Tarot, but Crowley? Not so much.
However. I hunted through a lot of mumbo-jumbo in this book to come up with the good bits. I am not a big Crowley fan, but I still have the deck and use it from time to time. I wrote down the relevant information from the book, and put this book on a shelf where it has sat for many years. It is worth checking out Crowley to see how a person goes about constructing his own religion or cult or whatever kind of wacko group he came up with. I revere the Ching and admire the Tarot, but Crowley? Not so much.
April 2, 2024
До одного палацу ведуть чотири брами; підлога того палацу викладена сріблом і золотом; лазурит і яшма там, і всі рідкісні пахощі: жасмин і троянда, й емблеми смерті. Нехай увійде він в усі чотири брами: одночасно або по черзі, нехай ступить на підлогу палацу. Чи не потоне він?
Алістер Кровлі “Книга Закону”
Переклад Олени Твердохліб за редакцією Лілії Полякової
Постійно шукати, прислухуватись до слів Голосу. Валити ідолів минувшини, нести Книгу Закону до тих хто її потребує, та чи потребують усі? Кожному свій уділ, чим гірший він, в своєму барвистому плащі від строгих лацканів брата? Голос казав – Пийте хмільне вино і вино пінисте і вдягайте тіло в пишне вбрання і робіть все це, як того жадає душа ваша і не бійтесь, хай будуть прикраси ваші світильниками в Череві Світу.
Абрахам Ян Хосебр “Тетраморфеус. Liber E. Еутаната”
Вперше я прочитав “Книгу Закону” років зо десять тому.
Тоді я ще не був знайомий із Таро, але зацікавився особою Алістера Кровлі і передивившись кілька різносортних документалок, вирішив почитати власне його роботи.
Перша емоція, яка виникає в будь-якого читача вихованого в християнській парадигмі це абсолютний шок. Чого тільки вартують останні сторінки третьої частини “Книги Закону” (хто знає, той знає).
Але окрім творця Телеми, Кровлі ще й був одним із найпотужніших синтезаторів та компіляторів всіх можливих світових магічних та символічних систем. Результатом його багаторічних досліджень та співпраці з талановитою Фрідою Гарріс (вже звичним став той факт, що дві найпопулярніші колоди намальовані Жінками) стала без перебільшень, найскладніша колода Таро в історії людства. Кровлі назвав її “Книгою Тота” усвідомлюючи, що це не перша така назва, бо першим був Етейла, та й загалом, колод, що будуються довкола єгипетської символіки зараз можна знайти багато.
Унікальним здобутком Кровлі стало поєдання Телеми, Єгипту, Греції, Ренесансу, Ї Цзін, Астрології, Кабали та Церемоніальної Магії в одній колоді. Тобто, вивчивши її, можна вивчити всю Західну Магічну традиції. Він не шукав легких шляхів, описи арканів у книзі дуже часто амбівалентні і біполярні. Відразу кидається в око, що це та ж таки система Золотого Світанку, але перероблена.
В текстах раптово багато Джеймса Джорджа Фрейзера (автора культового антропологічного трактату “Золота Гілля”), багато цитат з художніх книг, наприклад всюди проступає любов Кровлі до Рабле і Шекспіра. Звір цитує Біблію і закони фізики.
Про самі ілюстрації варто говорити окремо. Коли я вперше побачив цю колоду, то навіть трохи злякався, на стільки потужною вона виявилася. Кольори скомпоновані таким чином, що відразу викликають емоцію карти, навіть якщо людина не знає англійської і не може прочитати підписи. А це вже ознака магічної роботи. Наступний важливий аспект – гіпердеталізація. На цих картах так багато всього, вони просто перенасичені символами, які все ж гармонійно співіснують. Далеко не всі з них описані в тексті.
Тим не менш, структура книги така, що Кровлі час від часу повертається то до одного то до іншого Ату і доповнює їх зміст.
Тепер же прийшов час похвалити українське видання. Бо тут ідеально майже все, починаючи від великоформатної добротної книжки, з бездоганним друком і закінчуючи коментарями і таблицями.
Коментарі Лілії Полякової дуже лаконічні і змістовні інколи це навіть коментарі до коментарів самого Кровлі, котрий спеціально пише наче з туману і тут на підмогу читачу приходить коментаторка. Пояснюється численна гра слів, каламбури і жарти, котрими наповнив свою книгу Кровлі. Не обійшлося і без пояснень численних міфологічних персонажів та атрибутів. Додатків до книги багато, тут і мнемонічний вірш і зручні таблиці і астрологічні відповідності. Цілих три Древа Життя з відповідниками, Кадуцей, різні пентаграми. А у кінці – Книга Закону.
В поціновувачів високої складної літератури на полицях вже ось як кілька років стоїть українське видання Джойсового “Улісса”, тепер така можливість з’явилась і в шанувальників езотерики і Таро, бо “Книга Тота” Алістера Кровлі, це один із найскладніших і найцікавіших текстів в цьому жанрі.
P.S. Прочитати книгу варто хоча б задля того, що вона може слугувати путівником до найпершого тарологічного роману в українській літературі – “Тетраморфеуса”.
Я-Маг та Екзорцист. Я - вісь колеса та куб у колі. «Прийдіть до мене - безглузда фраза, адже це я той, хто йде.
О, пророче! Твоя воля заслабка для вивчення того, що написано.
Алістер Кровлі “Книга Закону”
Переклад Олени Твердохліб за редакцією Лілії Полякової
Алістер Кровлі “Книга Закону”
Переклад Олени Твердохліб за редакцією Лілії Полякової
Постійно шукати, прислухуватись до слів Голосу. Валити ідолів минувшини, нести Книгу Закону до тих хто її потребує, та чи потребують усі? Кожному свій уділ, чим гірший він, в своєму барвистому плащі від строгих лацканів брата? Голос казав – Пийте хмільне вино і вино пінисте і вдягайте тіло в пишне вбрання і робіть все це, як того жадає душа ваша і не бійтесь, хай будуть прикраси ваші світильниками в Череві Світу.
Абрахам Ян Хосебр “Тетраморфеус. Liber E. Еутаната”
Вперше я прочитав “Книгу Закону” років зо десять тому.
Тоді я ще не був знайомий із Таро, але зацікавився особою Алістера Кровлі і передивившись кілька різносортних документалок, вирішив почитати власне його роботи.
Перша емоція, яка виникає в будь-якого читача вихованого в християнській парадигмі це абсолютний шок. Чого тільки вартують останні сторінки третьої частини “Книги Закону” (хто знає, той знає).
Але окрім творця Телеми, Кровлі ще й був одним із найпотужніших синтезаторів та компіляторів всіх можливих світових магічних та символічних систем. Результатом його багаторічних досліджень та співпраці з талановитою Фрідою Гарріс (вже звичним став той факт, що дві найпопулярніші колоди намальовані Жінками) стала без перебільшень, найскладніша колода Таро в історії людства. Кровлі назвав її “Книгою Тота” усвідомлюючи, що це не перша така назва, бо першим був Етейла, та й загалом, колод, що будуються довкола єгипетської символіки зараз можна знайти багато.
Унікальним здобутком Кровлі стало поєдання Телеми, Єгипту, Греції, Ренесансу, Ї Цзін, Астрології, Кабали та Церемоніальної Магії в одній колоді. Тобто, вивчивши її, можна вивчити всю Західну Магічну традиції. Він не шукав легких шляхів, описи арканів у книзі дуже часто амбівалентні і біполярні. Відразу кидається в око, що це та ж таки система Золотого Світанку, але перероблена.
В текстах раптово багато Джеймса Джорджа Фрейзера (автора культового антропологічного трактату “Золота Гілля”), багато цитат з художніх книг, наприклад всюди проступає любов Кровлі до Рабле і Шекспіра. Звір цитує Біблію і закони фізики.
Про самі ілюстрації варто говорити окремо. Коли я вперше побачив цю колоду, то навіть трохи злякався, на стільки потужною вона виявилася. Кольори скомпоновані таким чином, що відразу викликають емоцію карти, навіть якщо людина не знає англійської і не може прочитати підписи. А це вже ознака магічної роботи. Наступний важливий аспект – гіпердеталізація. На цих картах так багато всього, вони просто перенасичені символами, які все ж гармонійно співіснують. Далеко не всі з них описані в тексті.
Тим не менш, структура книги така, що Кровлі час від часу повертається то до одного то до іншого Ату і доповнює їх зміст.
Тепер же прийшов час похвалити українське видання. Бо тут ідеально майже все, починаючи від великоформатної добротної книжки, з бездоганним друком і закінчуючи коментарями і таблицями.
Коментарі Лілії Полякової дуже лаконічні і змістовні інколи це навіть коментарі до коментарів самого Кровлі, котрий спеціально пише наче з туману і тут на підмогу читачу приходить коментаторка. Пояснюється численна гра слів, каламбури і жарти, котрими наповнив свою книгу Кровлі. Не обійшлося і без пояснень численних міфологічних персонажів та атрибутів. Додатків до книги багато, тут і мнемонічний вірш і зручні таблиці і астрологічні відповідності. Цілих три Древа Життя з відповідниками, Кадуцей, різні пентаграми. А у кінці – Книга Закону.
В поціновувачів високої складної літератури на полицях вже ось як кілька років стоїть українське видання Джойсового “Улісса”, тепер така можливість з’явилась і в шанувальників езотерики і Таро, бо “Книга Тота” Алістера Кровлі, це один із найскладніших і найцікавіших текстів в цьому жанрі.
P.S. Прочитати книгу варто хоча б задля того, що вона може слугувати путівником до найпершого тарологічного роману в українській літературі – “Тетраморфеуса”.
Я-Маг та Екзорцист. Я - вісь колеса та куб у колі. «Прийдіть до мене - безглузда фраза, адже це я той, хто йде.
О, пророче! Твоя воля заслабка для вивчення того, що написано.
Алістер Кровлі “Книга Закону”
Переклад Олени Твердохліб за редакцією Лілії Полякової
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August 27, 2020hur greppar man ens detta? hur kunde jag vara så dum att lägga till en spirituell kris till min redan gnagande existentiella kris.
October 14, 2009
There is nothing short about this essay. Interesting ideas, some very crazy ideas as well. If you are intested in the connection between tarot, Jewish mysticism and the occult then its an informative read, although not an easy read.
May 22, 2022
419-The Book of Thoth-Aleister Crowley-Occult-1944
Barack
2022/05/22
The Book of Thoth was first published in 1944. It is a classic in the field and is used by anyone who wants to learn about the Crowley Tarot. This is the definitive study of Egyptian tarot cards, regarded as the key to understanding Western occultism.
Aleister Crowley, born in 1875 at Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, died in 1947. Studied at Malvern College, Tonbridge School, and Eastbourne College. He is an occultist, ritual magician, and novelist. He founded the Thelema religion, claiming to be the prophet of Ion entrusted with guiding mankind into Horus in the early 20th century. In 1898, he joined the Hermetic Order of the mysterious Golden Dawn, where he was trained in ritual magic. He claims to have been in contact with a supernatural entity named Aiwass in Cairo, Egypt, who provided him with The Book of the Law, a sacred text that served as the basis for Thelema. Announcing the beginning of the Æon of Horus, the book proclaims that its followers should "do what you want" and seek to align with their true will through magical practice.
Crowley gained widespread notoriety during his lifetime as a recreational drug addict, bisexual, and individualistic social critic. Crowley remained a hugely influential figure in Western mysticism and the counterculture of the 1960s and continues to be considered the prophet of Thelema.
Thoth Tarot Deck is a divination tarot deck drawn by Frieda Harris at the direction of Aleister Crowley. Crowley called the deck The Book of Thoth and wrote a book of it in 1944 that was intended to be used with the deck. It consists of 78 cards divided into two groups. It has 22 main cards and 56 side cards.
Planet (English: planet; Latin: Planeta ), usually refers to a celestial body that does not emit light by itself and orbits a star. Its orbital direction is often the same as the rotation direction of the star it orbits (from west to east). Generally speaking, the planet needs to have a certain mass, and the mass of the planet must be large enough (relative to the moon) and approximately spherical so that it cannot undergo nuclear fusion reactions like stars.
Historically, planets were named because their positions (relative to the stars) were not fixed in the sky, as if they were walking across the sky. The five planets visible to the naked eye in the solar system, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Jupiter, have been discovered by humans as early as prehistory. After the invention of the telescope and the discovery of gravity, human beings discovered Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (excluded from the ranks of planets after 2006, and reclassified as Pluto-like objects in 2008, a type of dwarf planet) ).
Tree of Life, also known in Hebrew: Etz haChayim ( עץ החיים ), is a mystical symbol used in Judaism and is part of Kabbalah, the Jewish philosophical tradition. The Tree of Life is used to describe the path to God (in Kabbalistic literature, often referred to as YHWH, or "the four-letter name of God"), and the way God created the world from nothing (English: Ex nihilo ). Kabbalists used the tree of life as a schematic diagram of creation, thereby developing the concept of creation into a full model of reality. It is believed that the Kabbalah Tree of Life is equivalent to the Tree of Life mentioned in the Hebrew Bible Genesis. According to Genesis Chapter 2 verses 8-9, the tree of life is located in the center of the Garden of Eden. The tree of life consists of 10 particles (Sephira, plural Sephiroth) and 22 paths.
The ten particles of the tree of life are:
Ⅰ Kether, Crown, Crown
Ⅱ Chochmah, Wisdom, Wisdom
Ⅲ Binah (English: Binah), understanding, Understanding
Ⅳ Chesed, Mercy, Mercy
V Geburah, Severity or Strength, Severity / Fortitude
VI Tiphareth (English: Tiphareth ), beauty or balance, Beauty / Balance
VII Netzach, Victory, Victory
VIII Hod, grand, Splendour
IX Yesod, the Foundation, the Foundation
X Malkuth, the Kingdom, the Kingdom
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Hebrew: עֵץ הַד ַּ עַת טוֹב וָרָע , Hebrew pronunciation: [ ʕesˤ hadaʕaθ tˤɔv waraʕ ], also translated as the tree of knowledge of good and evil, the tree of knowledge or the tree of knowledge of good and evil), according to the Old Testament Genesis record in the Bible, Jehovah God placed a man (called Adam) and a woman (called Eve) in the Garden of Eden. There were various trees in the Garden of Eden, and there were two trees, one was the "Tree of Life" and the other was the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil". God commanded that they could use the fruit of all the trees in the garden for food, except the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God commanded them not to eat because on the day they ate it they would surely die. Later, Eve was lured by the serpent (Satan) and ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and let Adam eat it. The two human ancestors were then expelled from the Garden of Eden by God, and the serpent was cursed. (Genesis 3:1-24)
Divination steps
1. Shuffle:
Before each guess, the interrogator must perform a shuffling action, mixing the cards at will. First, put the tarot cards face down and stack them in your hand. Concentrate, don't think about anything, obey your own will, take a drop from the middle of the stack, and place it on the top of the stack. Repeat the same action several times, as many times as you will. Next, place the cards on a flat surface (the cards face down), spread out the cards in a circle, and start shuffling the cards clockwise with both hands. When shuffling the cards, mentally narrate the questions you are about to speculate and think about the cards you are about to take. Listen to your inner voice and you will feel when you can stop; at this point, slowly gather the cards (still in a clockwise fashion), return them to a stack, and place them sideways. In addition, there are some rules of speculation that require the person asking the question to concentrate on his own and meditate on his own question. At this point, you just need to keep your mind clear; when to stop shuffling the deck is up to the person who asks.
2. Cut cards:
After shuffling the cards, fold the cards and place them horizontally, and the requester cuts the cards. (If the inquirer is a fortune-teller, the fortune-teller will cut the cards.) First, ask the card-cutters to concentrate on picking up a stack of cards according to their own will from the top of the stack (absolutely must not be excluded), and put the stack of cards is placed below the original stack (that is, close to the direction of the soothsayer) and becomes two stacks. Then, take another stack from the top of the second stack and place it on top of the first stack (ie away from the soothsayer). Have three stacks of cards in front of you. Next, it is up to the soothsayer to stack the cards back. First, pick up the first stack, put it on top of the second stack, and then put the stacked cards on top of the original third stack to restore it to a stack of cards. Finally, turn the horizontal cards to vertical (the cards are always facing down). Note: If speculating for others, the rotation direction of the soothsayer is counter-clockwise. If you're speculating for yourself, rotate the card 90 degrees clockwise. If you get it wrong, the meaning of the entire board will be completely reversed, so be careful.
3. Card selection:
Choose a deck of cards based on the question the asker wants to ask and let the asker draw cards.
4. Card array:
According to the determined card array, place the cards selected by the inquirer in order. In the process of placing the cards into position, each card must be kept face down. The cards that are not selected by the inquirer should also be kept upright and face down, and they should be stacked and put aside. Note: The tarot card array has undergone historical precipitation, and it is generally used as a modern card array of 1-7 cards, 7-40 cards are the original improved card array, and more than 40 cards are the original card array. Tarot card arrays are generally divided into 5 categories, timing card arrays, status card arrays, selection card arrays, mixed card arrays, and fortune card arrays. The simple classification is divided into specific card arrays and general use card arrays. 1-time series card arrays mainly include: the Holy Triangle and Arrow of Time. 2 The state-type card arrays mainly include: four elements and four dimensions. 3 The main types of card arrays are two-to-one card arrays, and three-to-one card arrays. 4 The main types of mixed card arrays are hexagram array and Celtic cross array. 5. The fortune-type card arrays mainly include Sirius card array, divination method card array seven days a week, monthly luck card array, and annual luck card array. The general use of the card array means that it can be used in most situations, such as the Holy Triangle card array, which refers to the use of speculative methods in special fields such as love, marriage, and money.
5. Opening:
Open the cards in the deck in turn (do not reverse the direction of the turn).
6. Interpretation:
Whether speculating for oneself or for others, the fortune teller first feels the overall feeling and meaning of the card type before solving the card; Do a full analysis.
Table of Contents
PART ONE: THE THEORY OF THE TAROT
I. The Contents of the Tarot
II. The Tarot and the Holy Qabalah
III. The Tarot and the Universe
PART TWO: THE ATU (KEYS OR TRUMPS)
0. The Fool
I. to XXI. The Juggler
PART THREE: THE COURT CARDS
General Remarks
General Characteristics of the Four Dignitaries
Summarized description of
the Sixteen Court Cards
PART IV. THE SMALL CARDS
The Four Aces
The Four Twos
The Four Threes
O The Fool The Fool
In traditional tarot cards, this card represents the "foolish man", that is, a pure and wise man. This card indicates that if we can have a pure heart to believe in our dreams, then we can carry out our dreams and move forward. Therefore, this card also contains the meaning of solving problems and enlightening the lost.
Keywords: potential, possibility, new beginning, innocence
1 Created by The Magician
This card is a metaphor for your innate ability to create and suggests your potential. However, if you want to use this ability, you need a strong will and the right purpose. If used improperly, it may also lead to dire consequences!!
Keywords: knowledge, power, control
2 The High Priestess Wisdom
In this world, everything can be divided into two parts, good and evil, light and dark. The priestess relies on the exercise of reason to distinguish between good and evil, light and dark, and even sin and darkness, and she can give clear instructions. The card of the priestess symbolizes an invisible emotion that is hidden in the depths of the soul and is naturally induced. It also represents the authority of women's intuition and knowledge.
Keywords: Hidden Influence, Mysterious Wisdom
3 Queen The Empress Harvest
The queen represents the feminine qualities that are full of maternal tenderness. The metaphor of motherhood is the birth of life, gestation, the harvest of the earth, and the prosperity of material things. She symbolizes happy love, abundant material, and satisfying life. Correspondingly, she also reminds people that an overly comfortable life will lead to extravagance and slackness. They should not let go of their efforts and self-motivation, otherwise, they will easily fall into the abyss of depravity.
Keywords: creativity, growth, production
4 The Emperor ruled
The emperor is the representative of the male symbol, and also has the deep and solemn image of the father. From its designation IV, it is in charge of stability and strength, implying the dominance of material society. The emperor symbolizes male will and enthusiasm, and is full of courage and action, he is the absolute ruler. On the contrary, behind the possession of power and status, the other side of self-righteousness is also reflected, and there is a metaphor of being in a high place.
Keywords: leadership, self-control
5 The Hierophant Aid
Compared with the authority of the material society represented by Emperor No. 4, what the priests represent is spiritual authority. In religion, priests symbolize law and morality, deep compassion and insight. He relieves people from troubles and guides them on the right path with his words, so this is a card that represents the awakening of human conscience and goodwill. In addition, it also symbolizes conservative morality and traditional knowledge, which can be dangerous if you ignore it.
Keywords: learning, integration, expression
6The Lovers
The card of lovers symbolizes the magnetic attraction in the relationship between the two sexes, who deeply love each other and are immersed in sweetness and happiness. Correspondingly, it also implies the confusion that appears in love, such as freedom being limited by the other party, the appearance of a third party, and so on. Therefore, love is both beautiful and cruel.
Keywords: attract, seduce
7 The Chariot Victory
This card heralds change, movement, and travel. The increased psychic abilities, personal progress, and strength shown on the cards represent the ability to do many things at once. Human beings generally have the instinct of ambition and competition, the willpower of self-motivation and self-denial, and the balance of the two will lead to victory on the road of life. If it is out of balance, the power will turn into a backlashing beast instead.
Keywords: success, change, balance
8 The Strength Will
Human beings have the courage to move forward without fear and the courage to face the problems they need to face. This is the meaning of this card. It also symbolizes strong willpower, without which human beings cannot overcome difficulties and move forward.
Keywords: discovering inner strength, courage in the face of adversity
9 The Hermit seeks
Somewhere in the wisdom of the gods will come to your head. Experience multiple experiences in life and learn how to face yourself and eliminate arrogance, possessiveness, and other negative emotions. In short, this card also has the meaning of self-exploration, saying goodbye to the past self, returning to simplicity, and finding the inner self.
Keywords: completion, contemplation, insight
10 Wheel of Fortune
Derived from the Buddhist term "reincarnation". The manifestations of life have always been cyclical and endless. What kind of cause is planted, and what kind of fruit will be born. This card also has the feeling of "fate". It only requires the inquirer to pay attention to opportunities and practice a positive attitude, so that it can affect the rotation of the wheel of life and obtain good luck, as the so-called "feng shui turns".
Keywords: change, turn of events
11 Justice Equilibrium
Contemplate the true nature of oneself in the love and affection of nature. To make one's own energy and energy become balanced and harmonious. When you make a difference, you get good results. In addition, this card also warns us that no matter when and where we must adhere to morality and justice, we must also have a tolerant mind, and we must not be slack in the slightest.
Keywords: balance, opposite nature, clarity
12 The Hanged Man Sacrifice
The Hanged Man Card represents self-seeking, self-examination, and introspection. It's a bit like radiation therapy or yoga therapy, which uses reverse thinking to solve psychological obstacles. It also shows that as long as we wait patiently, bad luck will still disappear like a physical body. "Sacrifice" is to give oneself honestly in exchange for happiness.
Keywords: wait, power of prophecy
13 Death is over
This card suggests transformation, lasting change, change, and renewal of ideology. This card also heralds - no matter what the end, as we welcome the result, it is also a new journey to a new life and purpose. The most important thing is that we have to look to the future.
Keywords: transformation, liberation, renewal
14 Temperance Purification
Self-control will help you get along with others and accomplish certain tasks together. As long as you have a balance of spirit and desire, you can succeed and get what you haven't got. What this card teaches us is that when life faces all kinds of desires in our hearts, the most important thing is how to control them properly.
Keywords: self-control, harmony, self-control
15 The Devil's Temptation
Fatal attraction always brings the entanglement of desire! The evil characteristic of entanglement is that it ignores the essence of true love, leading to tragic results. Don't just look at the appearance of everything, use your own wisdom, stick to your beliefs, and don't give up easily, so that hope will appear.
Keywords: resonance, flexibility, decision
16 The Tower Destroyed
This card indicates that a cycle in life is beginning or ending, and you are facing change and conflict. You have to be careful and adaptable, otherwise, it will be a mess. This card also hints at the crisis of destruction. It warns us not to be more than arrogant, but to be humble and restrained, and to keep our duty.
Keywords: forced change, the end of a cycle
17 Stars The Star Hope
The star card signifies avant-garde thinking, new knowledge, hopes, and ideals, and heralds the fulfillment of promises, inspiration, and prudent love. What the star wants to convey is that we can give our true love without hesitation, so as to cultivate hope and move towards a bright future.
Keywords: lighting, inspiration, supernatural energy
18 The Moon Disturbed
The moon is connected to the spiritual world of imagination and association, and because it is cloudy and sunny, it also represents "change". The message revealed by this card is to pay attention to the activities of the subconscious and to detect the ambiguity and instability of things early. Therefore, even if you are in a stable state, you must not slack off and find out the hidden enemy by intuition.
Keywords: supernatural ability, dream, deception
19The Sun The Sun Life
The light of the sun illuminates all things, giving endless vitality to life. This card is meant to express the "joy of life," and it teaches us that all joy in life comes from healthy nourishment and prosperous life. It also shows the team spirit, cooperation spirit, and extraordinary creativity of human beings. Through this card, you will find your way to the truth.
Keywords: creativity, co-working, achievement
20 Judgement Resurrection
The card of judgment tells us to discover the truth and accept new values so that we can have a new life. It alludes to the renewal and regeneration of the mind.
Keywords: update,
February 24, 2026
Presents the architecture of the tarot system quite well, connecting it to the structure of kabbalah and the Chaldean system of decans. Removed one star because of excessive conventionalism and a mistake in the direction of precession of equinoxes as a justification for his structure of aeons. The main problem with the underlying idea of Thelema is that we are not moving from Aries to Aquarius but rather from Pisces to Aquarius and then from Aquarius we move to Aeon of Ma'at (Libra). But if we are being serious: could Crowley have been ignorant of this with all his experience in esoteric societies? I have tried to solve this mystery but ultimately I think this kind of inaccuracy is unfortunate in this work: it threatens to delegitimize what is valuable here. Unless you're going to get conspiratorial and postulate that the earth moves very differently in long time-scales than what we would assume. This is an interesting subject if we delve into the possibility of esoteric writing: something that ties into Crowley's quip about using moon as a point of rotational measure, connecting to Kant's point about the strong gravity of the moon (see also: Moonchild). This ties together with the dubious, liberal-hellenistic character of over-focus on astronomy. Ultimately it is up to the reader to separate the value of the systematic working out of tarot-kabbalistic-astrological correspondence from the theological underpinnings or justify the latter with reference to codes or the like. Be that as it may, Crowley deserves much credit for revealing to the public this secret system that so enriches the study of Kabbalah. But did he reveal something even more between the lines? Is it possible that he was unaware of the standard idea of precession of the equinoxes? How come he is willing to be considered a total idiot supposedly merely for the sake of "tricks"? He also has a novel called "Moonchild": perhaps this is all part of an obscure thrust towards an extension or alteration of the Copernican Revolution by postulating a Moon-focused rotation system? This is called the "Book of Thoth" after all, the god of the Moon and also a patron of Lunar Society in Birmingham who created the Industrial Revolution that exemplifies the themes of cyclicality and automatism connected with the Moon.
January 29, 2022
An invaluable resource for anyone who wants to learn and study Crowley’s Tarot system.
September 7, 2015
Praise be to Aliester Crowley and Lady Freida Harris! From their generous talents is one of the most wonderful works of human creativity and divine imagination ever assembled. It is a book that is worthy to invoke the name of the great God, Thoth-Tahuti, for it is a storehouse of vitally preserved ancient information capable of leading you to your own divinity!
There are many who paint Crowley as a dark character, and he himself was quite happy being painted that way! This does not mean these characterizations are completely true. Remember, this book is the work of a MAGICIAN, and APPEARANCES are not to be trusted!
I took a gamble once, betting my entire life, that if I only had The Book of Thoth as my guide, I could find the way to complete happiness. I am happy to say that it worked! I am now living a life that feels like the fulfillment of Crowley's dream for the New Aeon. He offered his life's work as a prayer for the BENEVOLENT manifestation of this New Age, and that is now answered in me. So shall it be!
Beyond its very PRACTICAL applications, this book is a pleasure to read as a work of art, and as a memoir of a man sincerely trying to understand the ancient mysteries and to make them USEFUL in the modern world. It is a noble goal of which I am glad to contribute to as well.
It is my pleasure to give praise and honor to this man and his works with the divine talents of my word and tongue. I drink of my life with lust and vigor, in gratitude for your spiritual rigor, which set my Soul aright, and bore me to the Heaven Realms of pure Aeonic delight!
Well done, Master Therion!
There are many who paint Crowley as a dark character, and he himself was quite happy being painted that way! This does not mean these characterizations are completely true. Remember, this book is the work of a MAGICIAN, and APPEARANCES are not to be trusted!
I took a gamble once, betting my entire life, that if I only had The Book of Thoth as my guide, I could find the way to complete happiness. I am happy to say that it worked! I am now living a life that feels like the fulfillment of Crowley's dream for the New Aeon. He offered his life's work as a prayer for the BENEVOLENT manifestation of this New Age, and that is now answered in me. So shall it be!
Beyond its very PRACTICAL applications, this book is a pleasure to read as a work of art, and as a memoir of a man sincerely trying to understand the ancient mysteries and to make them USEFUL in the modern world. It is a noble goal of which I am glad to contribute to as well.
It is my pleasure to give praise and honor to this man and his works with the divine talents of my word and tongue. I drink of my life with lust and vigor, in gratitude for your spiritual rigor, which set my Soul aright, and bore me to the Heaven Realms of pure Aeonic delight!
Well done, Master Therion!
July 22, 2014
One of the definitive volumes about the tarot and classic Crowley. He delves into the history of the cards and their relation to Kabbalah (the Hebrew mystic code, not the fad 'sleb' thing of wearing bracelets) and the Tree Of Life. Each card gets it's own description and meaning, with the Major Arcana getting lengthy write-ups. There's also some essays which help the reader understand the secrets of the cards further. Colour plates of some of the Crowley deck (beautifully painted by Freda Harris) are included in the centre section - with black and white versions making up their own part of the book.
The writing is, of course, typically Crowleyan. He doesn't give up the secrets easily - although if you're familiar with his writings in the "Equinox" and some of his other magickal works, you may grasp some (or most, if you're an adept) of the message. I don't know that I'd recommend this book to a Crowley beginner - but if you have experience of the tarot and have read a bit more of Uncle A's stuff, this is definitely worth a look.
The writing is, of course, typically Crowleyan. He doesn't give up the secrets easily - although if you're familiar with his writings in the "Equinox" and some of his other magickal works, you may grasp some (or most, if you're an adept) of the message. I don't know that I'd recommend this book to a Crowley beginner - but if you have experience of the tarot and have read a bit more of Uncle A's stuff, this is definitely worth a look.
November 11, 2017
Crowley, the Tarot, and the occult in general have a really - and I mean, really - distorted image in popular culture. Consulting Crowley's work on the Tarot and Meditation/Yoga, as well has is reference texts has been tremendously helpful. He has helped to develop a serious - but not dogmatic - approach to the varying schools. He is a master of grasping their interrelations and connections - and understanding these connections is imperative. If you try some Crowley's exercises and follow some of his suggestions that he provides in this text (as it relates to the Tarot) and his book on Meditation (Book 4, Part 1), you will notice a change.
Fascinating stuff. It's a shame that this thinker is distorted and has such a poor image in culture. But, I guess that's partly his fault.
Fascinating stuff. It's a shame that this thinker is distorted and has such a poor image in culture. But, I guess that's partly his fault.
January 18, 2008
I read this book in my twenties when I was experimenting with dark magic. Dark magic is stupid, tarot cards are ridiculous, and all of this stuff is claptrap. Reading Crowley is more evidence of why white people shouldn't make up religions. Could anything be more soulless than a rich Brit making up stories about Egyptian symbology? Give me Richard Burton any day over Crowley. At least he kept his mysticism to himself.
September 12, 2011
Indispensable. Anyone who studies the Thoth Tarot, or perhaps any tarot, should read this. It really brings out the mythos surrounding each card into full bloom, making a living form of divination that allows and encourages further personal introspection and commentary. The connection with astrology, which is my favorite divination and study, helped me understand and associate the symbols along with planets, colors and numbers.
February 9, 2021
This is a book that I don't think I'll ever read cover to cover. I'll just skip to whatever part I need to read. It's a good reference for the tarot in general. I know that Crowley's Thoth tarot is a classic and it is probably his greatest achievement, but it just doesn't work for me. I've tried to use it but I simply can't connect with the imagery, it doesn't nourish me at all. My Scorpio moon needs darker and more sensual imagery for me to thoroughly explore the depths of my unconscious.
August 2, 2007
sooooo much goes into this book. I honestly can't remeber enough details to even give a proper reading with my Crowley cards. VERY interesting and links alllll kinds of mystical and scientific stuff!
this book is cool. i like to read tarot cards, but I don't believe in allllll kinds of mystic stuff. i like it like i like poker. Coincidences are neat...
this book is cool. i like to read tarot cards, but I don't believe in allllll kinds of mystic stuff. i like it like i like poker. Coincidences are neat...
September 2, 2016
Very difficult to read, as is most of Crowley's writing (unless maybe you're a Thelemite), but it's useful as a reference for the Tarot.
November 13, 2016
Along with the official tarot cards.
February 24, 2018
The wildest and most interesting book on tarot.
September 28, 2024
Aleister Crowley’s The Book of Thoth is as enigmatic and complex as the man himself. It’s not a casual read by any means, but for those willing to invest the time and effort, it’s a richly rewarding text that reveals the depth of Crowley’s vision and the symbolic intricacies of the Thoth Tarot. The book is a labyrinth of esoteric references—Kabbalah, astrology, alchemy, and mythology all intertwine to form Crowley’s unique interpretation of the Tarot. It’s a challenging but essential companion to anyone serious about the Thoth deck.
What makes The Book of Thoth so compelling is that Crowley isn’t merely explaining the meanings of the cards; he’s presenting an entire worldview. His insights go far beyond the usual keyword-based interpretations, delving into the spiritual, psychological, and metaphysical aspects of each image. The result is a text that feels almost alive with its own strange, chaotic energy, pulling the reader into a deeper understanding of both the cards and Crowley’s broader magical philosophy.
But this depth can also be a drawback. Crowley’s dense prose and tendency toward cryptic language make it difficult to follow, especially for those unfamiliar with his other writings or the occult systems he references. He assumes a level of familiarity with topics like the Tree of Life and the I Ching that might overwhelm newcomers. As a result, The Book of Thoth is best approached with patience and, ideally, some prior knowledge of esoteric traditions.
Despite its difficulties, this is an essential read for anyone working with the Thoth deck or wanting to understand Crowley’s take on the Tarot. The text reveals new layers with every reread, making it more of a lifelong study than a one-time manual. If you’re looking for a straightforward guide, you won’t find it here, but if you want to explore the rich, multifaceted world of the Thoth Tarot, The Book of Thoth remains one of the most profound resources available.
What makes The Book of Thoth so compelling is that Crowley isn’t merely explaining the meanings of the cards; he’s presenting an entire worldview. His insights go far beyond the usual keyword-based interpretations, delving into the spiritual, psychological, and metaphysical aspects of each image. The result is a text that feels almost alive with its own strange, chaotic energy, pulling the reader into a deeper understanding of both the cards and Crowley’s broader magical philosophy.
But this depth can also be a drawback. Crowley’s dense prose and tendency toward cryptic language make it difficult to follow, especially for those unfamiliar with his other writings or the occult systems he references. He assumes a level of familiarity with topics like the Tree of Life and the I Ching that might overwhelm newcomers. As a result, The Book of Thoth is best approached with patience and, ideally, some prior knowledge of esoteric traditions.
Despite its difficulties, this is an essential read for anyone working with the Thoth deck or wanting to understand Crowley’s take on the Tarot. The text reveals new layers with every reread, making it more of a lifelong study than a one-time manual. If you’re looking for a straightforward guide, you won’t find it here, but if you want to explore the rich, multifaceted world of the Thoth Tarot, The Book of Thoth remains one of the most profound resources available.
November 20, 2020
“Magick is the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with the Will.”
Got the new special/anniversary edition of this book to go along with my new Limited Gold Edition Aleister Crowley Deluxe Tarot: Gilded Deck & Book Set (aka Thoth Tarot) by U.S. Games.
"This new facsimile edition of The Book of Thoth is a faithful reproduction of the Samuel Weiser Inc. 1969 edition, which in turn was a facsimile of the original O.T.O. edition printed in 1944. The text is digitally restored, printed on a heavy, coated stock, and features revised color plates and black and white illustrations of the Thoth Tarot based on new photography of the original art, courtesy of the O.T.O. and The Warburg Institute. The book text block is smyth sewn, with a rounded back, and headbands. Printed endpaper reproduces the Egyptian motif from the board covers of the 1944 edition. The cover is quality cloth over boards with gold stamping on the spine, and is wrapped with a jacket which again features updated art while matching the original design. Weiser Books takes pride in the release of this new hardcover reprint on the event of our 60th anniversary in publishing."
When I first started studying Tarot about 17 years ago, I'd narrowed down my first deck to either Haindl or Thoth -- or rather, Tahuti, the original Egyptian name of the Greek Thoth. Haindl immediately "clicked" with me, and even though it was technically a "Thoth clone," the Thoth/Tahuti deck seemed to give me nonsense, so I returned it and kept Haindl.
Fast forward 17 years to now after I've studied way more historical and scholar-researched Tarot texts (there's unfortunately a lot of ill-researched Tarot books out there now, message me if you want a list of the good ones), including The Hermetic Tarot and Robert Wang's The Qabalistic Tarot: A Textbook of Mystical Philosophy. I decided to give Crowley's deck another go after reading and understanding way more correspondences now that I did when I first started.
As a companion to Thoth/Tahuti, I personally didn't find this book that helpful. Crowley tries to explain all the cards, but he admits to not fully understanding some of them, and most of the descriptions are merely about how he envisioned them, which Lady Frieda Harris so artfully put into physical form as these cards. I found Robert Wang's The Qabalistic Tarot to be a much better companion because it's WAY more in-depth than Crowley's attempt to explain all the layers of Western Mystery Traditions (Hermetic philosophy, elements, astrology, Qabalah, Gematria, etc) that are skillfully depicted in the deck.
The main reasons to read Crowley's book is for learning about the ideas behind his deck and the historical context of the time and place this all occured in his life, the controversial figure having been in The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, writing the Holy Books of Thelema, etc. It's also just an interesting piece of history to have in a serious Tarot student's library.
Got the new special/anniversary edition of this book to go along with my new Limited Gold Edition Aleister Crowley Deluxe Tarot: Gilded Deck & Book Set (aka Thoth Tarot) by U.S. Games.
"This new facsimile edition of The Book of Thoth is a faithful reproduction of the Samuel Weiser Inc. 1969 edition, which in turn was a facsimile of the original O.T.O. edition printed in 1944. The text is digitally restored, printed on a heavy, coated stock, and features revised color plates and black and white illustrations of the Thoth Tarot based on new photography of the original art, courtesy of the O.T.O. and The Warburg Institute. The book text block is smyth sewn, with a rounded back, and headbands. Printed endpaper reproduces the Egyptian motif from the board covers of the 1944 edition. The cover is quality cloth over boards with gold stamping on the spine, and is wrapped with a jacket which again features updated art while matching the original design. Weiser Books takes pride in the release of this new hardcover reprint on the event of our 60th anniversary in publishing."
When I first started studying Tarot about 17 years ago, I'd narrowed down my first deck to either Haindl or Thoth -- or rather, Tahuti, the original Egyptian name of the Greek Thoth. Haindl immediately "clicked" with me, and even though it was technically a "Thoth clone," the Thoth/Tahuti deck seemed to give me nonsense, so I returned it and kept Haindl.
Fast forward 17 years to now after I've studied way more historical and scholar-researched Tarot texts (there's unfortunately a lot of ill-researched Tarot books out there now, message me if you want a list of the good ones), including The Hermetic Tarot and Robert Wang's The Qabalistic Tarot: A Textbook of Mystical Philosophy. I decided to give Crowley's deck another go after reading and understanding way more correspondences now that I did when I first started.
As a companion to Thoth/Tahuti, I personally didn't find this book that helpful. Crowley tries to explain all the cards, but he admits to not fully understanding some of them, and most of the descriptions are merely about how he envisioned them, which Lady Frieda Harris so artfully put into physical form as these cards. I found Robert Wang's The Qabalistic Tarot to be a much better companion because it's WAY more in-depth than Crowley's attempt to explain all the layers of Western Mystery Traditions (Hermetic philosophy, elements, astrology, Qabalah, Gematria, etc) that are skillfully depicted in the deck.
The main reasons to read Crowley's book is for learning about the ideas behind his deck and the historical context of the time and place this all occured in his life, the controversial figure having been in The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, writing the Holy Books of Thelema, etc. It's also just an interesting piece of history to have in a serious Tarot student's library.
May 2, 2021
Usually I don't follow and like so much the incredible exoteric work made by Crowley, because sometimes he changed/ reverse the symbols, sometimes he reveal it the real nature, and usually is too much mentalistic or confused for me. I think it's a limitation of mine but in general I prefer older or less cryptic authors like Gareth Knight. But this book and the deck of tarot cards it's completely Great, It's a monumental work to guide the began to discover a piece of a Great Opera.
He connect Eliphas Levi's work with Wirth, Eteilla , Court Gebelin, Papus, Dion Fortune and reveal it a little piece of their secrets. Sometimes give me rage because he remand me to read other books of him and in my personal taste about this kind of research I prefer to read once big complete book.
He connect Eliphas Levi's work with Wirth, Eteilla , Court Gebelin, Papus, Dion Fortune and reveal it a little piece of their secrets. Sometimes give me rage because he remand me to read other books of him and in my personal taste about this kind of research I prefer to read once big complete book.
June 15, 2022
A work of incredible syncretism, it references everything from ancient religious rites and folklore to sociology and modern physics. Crowly is more lucid than expected but in the end he's blinded by apophenia and bound by incredible horniness. I'm fortunate enough to own an early edition of the deck itself, if you look for hidden sexual references you'll find them everywhere, although that may be apophenia on my part.
I Would still recommend, interesting read.
A lot of good metaphor for dealing with the creative process "pure will unassuaged of purpose, delivered from the lust of result, is every way perfect"
Regarding this edition (weiser books mass paperback) : the reproductions of the cards are horrible, nigh unreadable, and weirdly placed
I Would still recommend, interesting read.
A lot of good metaphor for dealing with the creative process "pure will unassuaged of purpose, delivered from the lust of result, is every way perfect"
Regarding this edition (weiser books mass paperback) : the reproductions of the cards are horrible, nigh unreadable, and weirdly placed
February 1, 2024
Kitabın çevirisi çok iyi değildi ama galiba tüm Crowley çevirilerinde benzer anlam bozuklukları ve eksik kısımlar var. Belki de çeviri için dikkate aldıkları kaynak metinler sıkıntılıdır, bilmiyorum.
Sonuç olarak bu kitabı okurken bir yandan elimdeki Thoth Tarot Destesi ve Klasik Rider Waite Destesi ile her bilgiyi karşılaştırmaya çalıştım. Elinizde Thoth destesi yoksa bu kitabı okumanın da bir anlamı olmayacaktır. Kitabın İngilizce pdf'inde kartların görselleri de var, ona bakabilirsiniz.
Crowley'yi anlamak için hem tarot hem astroloji hem de numeroloji gibi çok çeşitli ilimleri bilmek gerekiyor. Aksi halde konuya uzak bir insan tarafından okunduğunda, saçma bulunacaktır.
"Her erkek ve her kadın bir yıldızdır." sf 103
"İçinizdeki veya dışınızdaki hiçbir şeyden etkilenmeyin." sf 233
Sonuç olarak bu kitabı okurken bir yandan elimdeki Thoth Tarot Destesi ve Klasik Rider Waite Destesi ile her bilgiyi karşılaştırmaya çalıştım. Elinizde Thoth destesi yoksa bu kitabı okumanın da bir anlamı olmayacaktır. Kitabın İngilizce pdf'inde kartların görselleri de var, ona bakabilirsiniz.
Crowley'yi anlamak için hem tarot hem astroloji hem de numeroloji gibi çok çeşitli ilimleri bilmek gerekiyor. Aksi halde konuya uzak bir insan tarafından okunduğunda, saçma bulunacaktır.
"Her erkek ve her kadın bir yıldızdır." sf 103
"İçinizdeki veya dışınızdaki hiçbir şeyden etkilenmeyin." sf 233
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