Thoth

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

craghopper	20 Nov 2003
Hi everyone! I have always been tempted by the Thot deck but never bought one. No reason other than when starting out I never really got anything more abstract than the Tavanglion (if I have spelled that correctly). I have been looking at a deck recently in Waterstones and although I still love the imagery still would find them difficult to relate too. I am sure this post is liable to get a load of replies so I guess I must be missing something...

jmd	20 Nov 2003
I presume you are referring to the Crowley/Harris Thoth deck, rather than the earlier Eteilla based Thoth. In many ways, Frieda Harris took the Art of Tarot to a new height with the deck - for that alone, it is worth having. Also, Crowley wisely - in my view - decided to maintain the earlier numeration (though renaming a number of cards), with Justice at eight, and Strength at eleven. The deck, especially if used in conjunction with studying various 20th century esoteric ventures, is quite useful...

craghopper	20 Nov 2003
Thanks jmd! I knew I shouldn't have said 2this post is liable to get loads of replies"...hehehe!

Mimers	20 Nov 2003
Hi Craghopper, I enjoy this deck simply for it's beauty. I am not familiar with all the esoteric meanings implied in this deck, yet still find in wonderful to read with. I have the small US Games version and the large MG Muller version. I love this deck. Mimi

firestorm	20 Nov 2003
This deck caught my eye from day one and almost 30 decks later, is still one of my two main reading decks. You won't regret owning this one.

Kiama	20 Nov 2003
I used to hate this deck, but when I began to get interested in Crowley and his writings I began to understand the deck a little better. I think it is best accompanied, as JMD has so righly said, with a study of esoteric practices, though mainly Crowley's own brand of magick and mysticism: Thelema. The Thoth deck contains alot of Crowley's views on the world, which I think is most apparant in his Strength card which he re-named 'Lust', to coincide with his view of the 'ideal woman': The Whore if Babylon. She's not a whore in the normal sense of the word, but instead is a woman complete within herself, who is open to her sexuality. I wouldn't have understood the Thoth's Lust card properly if I hadn't understood Crowley. This deck is truly deep, and every time I look at it I find something new. I highly recommend it, especially if you're looking for something deep and a bit different. Kiama

The Thoth thread was originally posted on 20 Nov 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.