The Book of Thoth: (Egyptian Tarot)

By Aleister Crowley and The Master Therion

Book Overview

The occult classic study of the tarot and as a key to all Western mystery traditions.

Used for many years by students of the occult for study of the tarot and as a key to all Western mystery traditions, The Book of Thoth is on the short list of must-have textbooks for modern students of the tarot and esoteric studies.

"The Tarot is a pictorial representation of the Forces of Nature as conceived by the Ancients according to a conventional symbolism. At first sight one would suppose this arrangement to be arbitrary, but it is not. It is necessitated by the structure of the universe, and in particular of the Solar System, as symbolized by the Holy Qabalah."--Aleister Crowley

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. The Thoth Tarot codifies a wealth of wisdom and traditional lore in a suite of 78 miniature paintings of deceptive simplicity.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877282684
• ISBN13: 9780877282686
• Release Date: June 1974
• Publisher: Weiser Books
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

The Universe in a deck of cards...

Brilliant! Eloquent and detailed exposition on the symbols of the Thoth Tarot deck, and the Universe itself. Not only an invaluable resouce for those studying magick and the occult but also those in the fields of anthropology, psychology and theology (Christian mystics may find the discussions of the Fool, The Hanged Man and Death in particular interesting.) Familiar (and not-so familiar) symbols are discussed in-depth, revealing their origins, and true nature. Contains detailed and tables of correspondences including the Qabala, I-Ching, Planets, Astrology etc An absolute "MUST HAVE" for students of Magick and the Tarot Can not reccomend this book highly enough.

Not for Tarot Readers

This book is a good book for those who are working their way on the Tree of Life. It explains, in a lot of detail, why the symbols are the way they are. Crowley uses the Scientific method to get his point across and uses alot of mathematics to describe his formulas, so be prepared to think about what you are reading. Also, keep in mind, he was writing at the begining of this century. This is not an easy read, however, but once you understand some of the basics, you realize how the tarot fits into all of this. This book is not for normal tarot readers in search of how to read tarot, but it can help you along those lines if you pay close attention to the work. This book is more along the lines of self-discovery. This is described as that each card correlates in some way to the Tree of Life and that it shows it's true nature through the cards, thus allows the reader to work with the Tree of Life via the Tarot. You do not need the tarot to work on the Tree of Life, but it helps. Kind of like sign posts on the way to the Kether.If you are interested in evolution of the soul and enlightenment, this book will help. (It also might help with your mathematical skills! :) ) Keep an open mind, and genuinely think about everything that Crowley is saying, and you will reap alot of information from this book. This is a definite MUST READ for those who are searching for enlightenment!

The definitive treatise on the Qabalistic Tarot

The Book of Thoth is Aleister Crowley's masterwork on the Qabalistic symbology of the Tarot. Written and published in the latter years of his life, this book synthesizes and crystalizes his thought and philosophy on the Qabalah and Thelema in one neat package. Rarely was his writing so down to earth and engaging as in this book. As such, this might perhaps be the best Crowley book for the beginner. His discussions of the root mythos surrounding the symbology of each of the 22 Major Arcana cards is as enlightening as it is entertaining, and the overview of the Qabalistic meaning attributed to the 56 Lesser Arcana is nothing less than an authoritative primer on the Qabalah. Highly recommended.