thoth courts

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 09 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

isthmus nekoi	09 Jan 2003
Does anyone know where I could get a breakdown of Thoth's courts? It's a great enough departure from Rider-Waite to puzzle me! Thanks in advance :)

Macavity	09 Jan 2003
Hmmm, the book of thoth? ;) But (at the risk of repetition) now that I am moving onto (hopefully) something a bit more advanced, I gained a lot from: http://www.llewellynjournal.com/article/387/ Plus there's (presumably) all the references at the end of the article too :) Macavity P.S. The bit that fascinated me is the section on use of minor cards to obtain enhanced or substitute court card DIVINATION meanings - all derived from the Tree of Life - cunning indeed! :D

Keslynn	09 Jan 2003
I haven't looked at The Book of Thoth because I've heard it's a little difficult to get through. I intend to read it when I delve more into my Thoth. The book I have read though is The Tarot Handbook by Angeles Arrien. I highly recommend. She gives good clear expanations of the symbolism and the card meanings. Admittedly, she isn't connected with the creation of the deck as Crowley is. But it's great for beginners and explains the courts pretty well. :) Kes

firemaiden	10 Jan 2003
I don't know why everyone says the Book of Thoth is difficult to get through. It is intelligent, and uses words some people don't learn 'til college. If you are intelligent enough to write posts on this forum, I think you will be excited by it. Everything you need is on line, it is totally fascinating. Here is the link: http://www.angelfire.com/celeb/Crowley/thoth/courts.html

firemaiden	10 Jan 2003
Although I posted the link directly to the courts, you might find it easier to understand Crowley if you read his introduction. He builds upon what he wrote before as he goes along, so if you are missing something, likely he explained it earlier. You can also read the Akron Hajo Banzhaf Book -- The Crowley Tarot. (Mine is in German, so it is definitely harder for me to get through than the Book of Thoth, at least I found B of T in English!.) This said, his character descriptions for each court card a very vivid! Definitely worth the read.

isthmus nekoi	10 Jan 2003
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. Wow, the Llewellyn article is really lucid; this one's being saved to the hard drive! Also, it seems the Book of Thoth has gotten a bad rep; I've heard so many negative things about it. Thanks for bringing it up again, and for the helpful link. It doesn't seem as dense as ppl have led me to believe - plus no one can beat the poststructuralists in terms of dense language :P Argh, which reminds me, lots of readings I have to catch up on...........!

firemaiden	10 Jan 2003
Noone can beat the post-structuralists--- yeah, and what about the ...um...whatever Derrida is...oh yeah -- the deconstructionists...that's what made me leave grad school...well, that's right, that was the point, the people on this forum are all extraordinarily literate, and Crowley is just brilliant, literate, and incredibly stimulating reading. (except for those weird incantations or verse, whatever they are...spells or something, I just skip that part).

isthmus nekoi	13 Jan 2003
:P I haven't had the (mis)fortune of reading Derrida yet, but I expect I shall in the future. Oh, I've nothing against the poststructuralists, but there's only so much of them you can take before you have to ask: "you've made your point. SO WHAT?" Also, all these 'thou's and 'mayst's etc etc are highly amusing. There's something about the seriousness of the deck that makes it have a sense of humour.

AmounrA	13 Jan 2003
I would just add to the comments concerning the book of thoth. It is not a difficult read and really is the only book needed in relation to the deck. For those who have not read Crowley and only have what you have heard to go on..I would urge you to give this ol'master a read. Its rarely mentioned that Crowley had a great sense of humour, and his work is always entertaining and profound. His autohagiography " the confessions of Aleister Crowley" , must rate as one of the best books ever written.[ no kidding:-)]

Kitty	13 Jan 2003
I have both Keywords for the Crowley Tarot and the other book by the same author - purple cover......oh dear the name is escaping me - by author Hanz Ban...? Seem to have left my brain at home today - if you search under my name in the books/media section you should find where I have discussed these books before recommended them.....:)

Kitty	13 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Macavity Hmmm, the book of thoth? ;) But (at the risk of repetition) now that I am moving onto (hopefully) something a bit more advanced, I gained a lot from: http://www.llewellynjournal.com/article/387/ Plus there's (presumably) all the references at the end of the article too :) Macavity P.S. The bit that fascinated me is the section on use of minor cards to obtain enhanced or substitute court card DIVINATION meanings - all derived from the Tree of Life - cunning indeed! :D Oh thank for the link - interesting reading - I have just posted a reading regarding relationship with the outcome card Queen of Cups (thoth) - the article says marriage - ^$%$%!! :)

jema	14 Jan 2003
first of all - firemaiden, thanks for an excellent link:) here is one link i use sometimes when i am stumped on a card from thoth: http://www.geocities.com/Paris/2110/ and i want to chime in and say that the book of thoth really ain't that hard to read. just skip the preface and jump straight to the cards and it is easy to understand.

firemaiden	14 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Kitty oh dear the name is escaping me - by author Hanz Ban...? Seem to have left my brain at home today - Akron Hajo Banzhaf

isthmus nekoi	15 Jan 2003
Oh, thanks for another website! 'Tis much appreciated since it's too bloody cold in Toronto right now for leisurely walks to the library! (Will check out the books when winter thaws ^_~) And yeah, AmounrA... I always perceived Crowley as a bit of a trickster (maybe b/c I associate him w/Andrew Danger and Tool) :)

firemaiden	17 Jan 2003
...Bit of a trickster? That's nothing, there are some very grand conspiracy theories on the web that say he enslaved Hitler...

isthmus nekoi	20 Jan 2003
:P OK, "bit of a trickster" may be a bit of an understatement!

firemaiden	20 Jan 2003
Understatement is a wonderful It is my favorite figure of speech. Way to go! Anyhow, many grandiose powers being ascribed to him doesn't make them true.... I think he sounds hilarious, like a big overgrown teenager, thumbing his nose at mom.

isthmus nekoi	23 Jan 2003
^_^ One of these days I'm going to have to read up on why he was called the wickedest man alive...

AmounrA	23 Jan 2003
I think the tag, 'wickedest man..' came about because he was ahead of his time. He still lived in an era where christian morals held sway, the newspapers where never going to let a loud occultist genius, who didn't play by the rules, gain respectabilty..far to dangerous...and so he was branded a satanist. Sadly this image persists.

isthmus nekoi	24 Jan 2003
Just to clarify... I wasn't trying to perpetuate the 'satanist' myth there!

The thoth courts thread was originally posted on 09 Jan 2003 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.