Le Fanu
Yes, closrapexa. Nothing to add. That's it in a nutshell. I have nothing to add (not that I am any expert).
It's difficult but I had my own shameless procedure that really worked for me but it might rile the purists. I did this. In order;
1. Just love the deck; respond to colours, angularity and swooping rhythms
2. that keywords book. I know, I know, but it really helped me get a grip on the basic concept of each card. Started a Thoth notebook divided up a page per card
3. Then I read DuQuette which, even so, I found difficult and required the first of many leaps of the imagination.
4. Then I read Micheal Snuffin; the Thoth Companion, which compliments DuQuette nicely
5. Then (and only then) did I attempt Crowley's Book of Thoth and - you know what? - it wasn't as difficult for me as everyone had been suggesting. I write in my copy, underline/highlight etc. I've read it three time cover to cover and now regularly dip in.
6. Only then (incredibly) did I start reading with the deck. I discovered it was a superb reading deck. (Others might not want to wait that long but then I'm like that)
7. My studies continue. Last year I bought a new notebook (5 pages per card!) and copied everything up. You see, it is hard work!
8. Now I'm reading the book to the Rosetta Tarot which continues to enlighten me.
After all of this, you might want to buy and use the Rosetta Tarot. It's a fabulous deck and true to the Thoth while also being fabulous itself...
Just for the record, I make a distinction between Thoth-based (i.e Via, Magickal, Liber T etc) and "Thothy". Thothy suggests something lighter, like the Sun & Moon (apparently)
And (also for the record) astrology and planets and exaltations and stuff still defeat me. There is much I don't understand and probably never will. You just have to say "Ok, aparently that's true" and move on...I have to resign myself to the fact that I probably don't have the type of brain required.
It's difficult but I had my own shameless procedure that really worked for me but it might rile the purists. I did this. In order;
1. Just love the deck; respond to colours, angularity and swooping rhythms
2. that keywords book. I know, I know, but it really helped me get a grip on the basic concept of each card. Started a Thoth notebook divided up a page per card
3. Then I read DuQuette which, even so, I found difficult and required the first of many leaps of the imagination.
4. Then I read Micheal Snuffin; the Thoth Companion, which compliments DuQuette nicely
5. Then (and only then) did I attempt Crowley's Book of Thoth and - you know what? - it wasn't as difficult for me as everyone had been suggesting. I write in my copy, underline/highlight etc. I've read it three time cover to cover and now regularly dip in.
6. Only then (incredibly) did I start reading with the deck. I discovered it was a superb reading deck. (Others might not want to wait that long but then I'm like that)
7. My studies continue. Last year I bought a new notebook (5 pages per card!) and copied everything up. You see, it is hard work!
8. Now I'm reading the book to the Rosetta Tarot which continues to enlighten me.
After all of this, you might want to buy and use the Rosetta Tarot. It's a fabulous deck and true to the Thoth while also being fabulous itself...
Just for the record, I make a distinction between Thoth-based (i.e Via, Magickal, Liber T etc) and "Thothy". Thothy suggests something lighter, like the Sun & Moon (apparently)
And (also for the record) astrology and planets and exaltations and stuff still defeat me. There is much I don't understand and probably never will. You just have to say "Ok, aparently that's true" and move on...I have to resign myself to the fact that I probably don't have the type of brain required.