Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot

[ConjureWitchery]

I have always used the Rider Waite Tarot. However, Spirit is showing me that it is time for me, personally, to move into a deeper deck. The deck I'm being shown to use is the Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot. I was watching YouTube videos on reading and interpreting the Thoth Tarot and knew instantaneously that this deck would be challenging.

Does anyone here utilize the Thoth Tarot? How did you begin with it?

One thing that I'm interested in learning is the Opening of the Key Spread. I've always despised reversed cards and considering the back of the Thoth Tarot is the Rose Cross and would be inverted if I did reversed, it suits me.

Also, the artwork by Lady Freida Harris is just gorgeous, IMO.

Any advice for a new Thoth beginner?

FWIW, I am also going to be getting The Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley and Tarot: Mirror of the Soul by Gerd Zeigler. Any reviews on those books?

[Tana]

FWIW, I am also going to be getting The Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley and Tarot: Mirror of the Soul by Gerd Zeigler. Any reviews on those books?

I have both.
Crowley's book might not be, what you think it is and Ziegler's is good to get to work with the Tarot. It's pretty basic.

I recommend Hajo Banzhaf's 'The Crowley Tarot'.
You can save the money on the other two and you can use this one from basic to more elaborate insights, whatever you need atm.

[ConjureWitchery]

I have both.
Crowley's book might not be, what you think it is and Ziegler's is good to get to work with the Tarot. It's pretty basic.

I heard that Ziegler's was good to get started with.

What would you say are the pro's and con's of The Book of Thoth?

I recommend Hajo Banzhaf's 'The Crowley Tarot'.
You can save the money on the other two and you can use this one from basic to more elaborate insights, whatever you need atm.

Never heard of that book before. Looked it up and will take it into consideration.

Thanks, Tana!

[Micheál]

I have always used the Rider Waite Tarot. However, Spirit is showing me that it is time for me, personally, to move into a deeper deck. The deck I'm being shown to use is the Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot. I was watching YouTube videos on reading and interpreting the Thoth Tarot and knew instantaneously that this deck would be challenging.

Does anyone here utilize the Thoth Tarot? How did you begin with it?

One thing that I'm interested in learning is the Opening of the Key Spread. I've always despised reversed cards and considering the back of the Thoth Tarot is the Rose Cross and would be inverted if I did reversed, it suits me.

Also, the artwork by Lady Freida Harris is just gorgeous, IMO.

Any advice for a new Thoth beginner?

FWIW, I am also going to be getting The Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley and Tarot: Mirror of the Soul by Gerd Zeigler. Any reviews on those books?

I also use the Thoth deck. I began like many with the Rider Waite. A.E Waite and Crowley both co-created decks closely after the ones they used in the Golden Dawn, so there should be some amount of familiarity, but Crowley changed a few blinds, as well as established others to coincide with the "New Aeon," and the Book of the Law. The Thoth deck pretty much is The Book of the Law captured in images, but many people from many walks benefit from it.

Crowley's The Book of Thoth I'd say is essential eventually, but many do find it(and Crowley's other works) confusing and hard to follow. Others don't, but anyway, a much better recommendation would be Lon Milo Duquette's Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot. It is a brilliant read, and explains a lot.

[ConjureWitchery]

The Thoth deck pretty much is The Book of the Law captured in images, but many people from many walks benefit from it.

Now, I've never heard it put that way. I reckon I will need to get that book as well!

Crowley's The Book of Thoth I'd say is essential eventually, but many do find it(and Crowley's other works) confusing and hard to follow. Others don't, but anyway, a much better recommendation would be Lon Milo Duquette's Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot. It is a brilliant read, and explains a lot.

I have read that Crowley does tend to ramble. However, Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot is one of the next few books on my list after the original purchase, which will take place in a few weeks.

[Micheál]

Now, I've never heard it put that way. I reckon I will need to get that book as well!

That's another thing that's in riddles lol. If you would like to check it out though, I'd recommend another book of Crowley's called The Law is for All, or just checking out his published interpretations http://aumha.org/arcane/ccxx.htm This is all related to Thelema of course, but may be helpful to anyone wanting to research the Thoth Tarot further. The Book of the Law can be found in many places http://www.sacred-texts.com/oto/engccxx.htm and an understanding of the background wouldn't hurt either http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.ph...ook_of_the_Law

I have read that Crowley does tend to ramble. However, Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot is one of the next few books on my list after the original purchase, which will take place in a few weeks.

Nice, well that would probably be the best recommendation in my opinion, and will do a good job explaining all of the other stuff above as well

[Etheric1]

I have always used the Rider Waite Tarot. However, Spirit is showing me that it is time for me, personally, to move into a deeper deck. The deck I'm being shown to use is the Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot. I was watching YouTube videos on reading and interpreting the Thoth Tarot and knew instantaneously that this deck would be challenging.

Does anyone here utilize the Thoth Tarot? How did you begin with it?

One thing that I'm interested in learning is the Opening of the Key Spread. I've always despised reversed cards and considering the back of the Thoth Tarot is the Rose Cross and would be inverted if I did reversed, it suits me.

Also, the artwork by Lady Freida Harris is just gorgeous, IMO.

Any advice for a new Thoth beginner?

FWIW, I am also going to be getting The Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley and Tarot: Mirror of the Soul by Gerd Zeigler. Any reviews on those books?

I started with the Osho Zen Tarot, which I think is beautiful. However, I switched to the Thoth deck and found that for me it is MUCH more powerful. But get a book about that deck (there are several) to go along with it to learn it in detail. I think it's a great deck. But it does take a bit to learn I think, and that's worthwhile.

Edit: I'll echo the recommendation on Lon Milo Duquette: I've found ALL his books to be great, and very readable.

[ConjureWitchery]

Nice, well that would probably be the best recommendation in my opinion, and will do a good job explaining all of the other stuff above as well

You're awesome! I've bookmarked your post for future references. Thanks!

[Micheál]

You're awesome! I've bookmarked your post for future references. Thanks!

You're welcome!

[Phaedric]

Does anyone here utilize the Thoth Tarot? How did you begin with it?

Any advice for a new Thoth beginner?

FWIW, I am also going to be getting The Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley and Tarot: Mirror of the Soul by Gerd Zeigler. Any reviews on those books?

I've been using the Thoth deck for readings and study for 4 decades now. You will find that it rewards every minute of time you spend with it. The Book of Thoth is similarly rewarding, but you really need a grounding in some of Crowley's other work to get the most out of it. The DuQuette book is kind of an approachable reduction of the BoT and the Banzhaf books are worthwhile. Zeigler isn't highly regarded, and I can vouch for that assessment. Some of the best resources are on-line. The Tryskelion website uses Thoth in its Tarot section, and Tarot Eon has a tutorial titled "How to Read with the Opening of the Key and Still Keep Your Sanity" (I can relate to that observation, too ) James Wasserman has also put up, for free, the Golden Dawn's Liber T, which Crowley first released in his Equinox periodical. Good luck!