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The Tarot of the Magicians: A Guide to the Symbolism and Application of the Wirth Tarot Deck by its Designer Oswald Wirth
In 1889, the occultist Oswald Wirth completed a first set of designs for the twenty-two Major Arcana cards of the Tarot. Combining imagery and symbolism from Alchemy, Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, and from the magical heritage of Egypt and Chaldea, Wirth also added details—such as the ascription of each card to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet—taken from Éliphas Lévi and Stanislas de Guaita, Wirth's mentor.
The deck made an immediate impact on occult scholars of the time and influenced no less a person than A.E. Waite, whose famous Rider–Waite deck appeared in 1910. Seventeen years later, in 1927, Wirth issued a detailed, encyclopedic survey of the tarot, its symbolism and divinatory uses, under the title Tarot des imagiers du Moyen Age, which contained improved designs of the Major Arcana cards.
This important work is here translated into English for the first time, offering all tarot enthusiasts and students of the occult an in-depth and authoritative analysis of one of the most beautiful and evocative of all modern tarot decks.
The deck made an immediate impact on occult scholars of the time and influenced no less a person than A.E. Waite, whose famous Rider–Waite deck appeared in 1910. Seventeen years later, in 1927, Wirth issued a detailed, encyclopedic survey of the tarot, its symbolism and divinatory uses, under the title Tarot des imagiers du Moyen Age, which contained improved designs of the Major Arcana cards.
This important work is here translated into English for the first time, offering all tarot enthusiasts and students of the occult an in-depth and authoritative analysis of one of the most beautiful and evocative of all modern tarot decks.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1927
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About the author
Oswald Wirth
167 books15 followersJoseph Paul Oswald Wirth was a Swiss occultist, artist and author. He studied esotericism and symbolism with Stanislas De Guaita and in 1889 he created, under the guidance of de Guaita, a cartomantic Tarot consisting only of the twenty-two Major Arcana. Known as "Les 22 Arcanes du Tarot Kabbalistique", it followed the designs of the Tarot de Marseille closely but introduced several alterations, incorporating extant occult symbolism into the cards. The Wirth/de Guaita deck is significant in the history of the tarot for being the first in a long line of occult, cartomantic, and initiatory decks.
His interests also included freemasonry and astrology. He wrote many books in French regarding freemasonry, most importantly a set of three volumes explaining freemasonry's first three degrees.
Wirth is best known as the author of Le Tarot des imagiers du Moyen-Age, translated and published in English as The Tarot of the Magicians.
On January 28, 1884, Wirth was initiated in the regular Scottish Rite Masonic Lodge La Bienfaisance Châlonnaise affiliated to the Grand Orient of France. In 1889, he joined the Scottish Rite Travail et les Vrais Amis Fidèles where he became Grand Master . In 1898, the latter lodge was admitted to the Grand Lodge of France.
His interests also included freemasonry and astrology. He wrote many books in French regarding freemasonry, most importantly a set of three volumes explaining freemasonry's first three degrees.
Wirth is best known as the author of Le Tarot des imagiers du Moyen-Age, translated and published in English as The Tarot of the Magicians.
On January 28, 1884, Wirth was initiated in the regular Scottish Rite Masonic Lodge La Bienfaisance Châlonnaise affiliated to the Grand Orient of France. In 1889, he joined the Scottish Rite Travail et les Vrais Amis Fidèles where he became Grand Master . In 1898, the latter lodge was admitted to the Grand Lodge of France.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 2, 2012
This is an excellent and in-depth book on the symbolism of the Tarot, in particular the views of Oswald Wirth. Not only does Wirth expand upon various ways to view and interpret the Tarot, qabalistic, astrological, alchemical, etc. he also attempts to clarify the importance of using symbols and not just words to communicate with. True to his philosophy, this book is also heavily laden with supporting symbols and diagrams that give further depth and richness to his text. While I do not agree with all of the qabalistic attributions given it is a worthwhile read and a great addition to my library.
February 18, 2017
A never ending resource and one of the most valuable Tarot books in my library.
May 2, 2021
if you are searching something about tarots, read this book.
It's completely different by other tarot books. Wirth guide you like a real Great Master and he introduce you in to yourself, in your own inside symbols.
Eat the pomegranade and walk trough the light.
It's completely different by other tarot books. Wirth guide you like a real Great Master and he introduce you in to yourself, in your own inside symbols.
Eat the pomegranade and walk trough the light.
August 21, 2021
I have not finished this book, it went way over my head and I hope I manage to try again.
Read
November 17, 2020È un viaggio alquanto interessante attraverso simboli antichissimi che probabilmente nei tarocchi sono stati trasposti da opere ancora più antiche.
August 2, 2023
This is one of my favorite books on Tarot. I originally read it 30 years ago, when it was first published in translation. It is, at first, very much a condensation of the musings of Papus in his "Tarot of the Bohemians". But, additionally, we have the speculations of an experienced Occultist & Freemason (Wirth was one of the founders of the Philalethes Society; the premier Masonic research organiation in the world). I try to read this book once every couple of years.
With this book, you must temporarily forget all the esoteric &/or Qabalistic attributes & correspondences you've already learned regarding Tarot. This book is a strong wind of fresh air, that will help you stay flexible regarding Tarot symbolism, as well as the Magicial implications and applications of these wonderful cards. Wirth is of the "Continental", Martinist schools (specifically the "Kabbalistic Order of the Rose Cross" of which he was very much a founder), following & layering upon the work of Eliphas Levi & Papus; thus his initial attributions are quite different from those with which most English-language readers would likely be familiar. Remember; if there were only one interpretation of the Tarot, it would be bound as a book, not a deck of individual cards/ideas.
An important note is that the B.O.T.A. Tarot of Paul Foster Case is a reconciliation between the the esotericism of Wirth with the symbolism of A.E. Waite.
Additional books to read in relation to this are:
Transcendental Magic, by Eliphas Levi (trans, A.E. Waite)
Tarot of the Bohemians, by Papus
The Sacred Tarot, by C.C. Zain
With this book, you must temporarily forget all the esoteric &/or Qabalistic attributes & correspondences you've already learned regarding Tarot. This book is a strong wind of fresh air, that will help you stay flexible regarding Tarot symbolism, as well as the Magicial implications and applications of these wonderful cards. Wirth is of the "Continental", Martinist schools (specifically the "Kabbalistic Order of the Rose Cross" of which he was very much a founder), following & layering upon the work of Eliphas Levi & Papus; thus his initial attributions are quite different from those with which most English-language readers would likely be familiar. Remember; if there were only one interpretation of the Tarot, it would be bound as a book, not a deck of individual cards/ideas.
An important note is that the B.O.T.A. Tarot of Paul Foster Case is a reconciliation between the the esotericism of Wirth with the symbolism of A.E. Waite.
Additional books to read in relation to this are:
Transcendental Magic, by Eliphas Levi (trans, A.E. Waite)
Tarot of the Bohemians, by Papus
The Sacred Tarot, by C.C. Zain
January 2, 2022
My expectations were different for this book. I expected the author to expand on all the 78 cards of the tarot and their meaning. Instead the author focused on the first 22 cards (the major arcana) and their symbolism.
The author is heavily influenced by the jewish mysticism and inserts the jewish alphabet, the kabbalah and sephiroth in the interpretation. The author’s theory seems off to me, compared with modern interpretations.
Even when the author tries to connect the tarot with astrology there’s a lot that doesn’t vibe with me. The connections seem far fetched and cannot be utilized in a practical way.
It seems that this book has not aged well and could be read only for historical reasons. It still contains a lot of mysticism that I’m sure will be useful for the scholar in you, but for me it didn’t seem practical enough for divination reasons.
The author is heavily influenced by the jewish mysticism and inserts the jewish alphabet, the kabbalah and sephiroth in the interpretation. The author’s theory seems off to me, compared with modern interpretations.
Even when the author tries to connect the tarot with astrology there’s a lot that doesn’t vibe with me. The connections seem far fetched and cannot be utilized in a practical way.
It seems that this book has not aged well and could be read only for historical reasons. It still contains a lot of mysticism that I’m sure will be useful for the scholar in you, but for me it didn’t seem practical enough for divination reasons.
February 29, 2012
Wirth isn't a favorite either...
February 20, 2015
I really enjoyed the concepts, but found them difficult to implement. Given the subjectivity in viewing the Tarot however, this may still be effective for other readers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews