tarotica
firemaiden said:Help! Are there any hardcore Crowley students out? I need to know what the magic symbols mean on the handles of the seven swords. They have very curious shapes, and are screaming *SYMBOL**SYMBOL**SYMBOL* He doesn't say anything about them in the Book of Thoth (I've noticed he doesn't give away much of the cards secrets).
In fact, he tells a great deal. Often, what seems to be his hesitancy to reveal "secrets" is just the reader's lack of knowledge operating in an arrogantly whiny fashion. "Book of Thoth" is presently being read by many people who have not even the basic education, about much of anything, to read it as it was intended to be read. That's why Duquette published an idiot's guide, to try to make things kinder and gentler---and much dumber.
See, the thing is, you SHOULD readily recognize those planetary symbols on the sword handles. They are part of a very basic occult language used in the presentation of Thoth cards. If you don't get this, you can't blame Crowley, for he does in fact provide a considerable amount of information, in "Book of Thoth" itself, that explains even these basics as he has chosen to use them. For example, refer to page 275 of BoT and you should see a clear answer to your question. If you don't see the clear answer, then Thoth may not be for you. It is not in any way an easy deck, but it was not designed to be nearly as difficult as many people seem to need to make it out to be.