Gregory said:
But the cards themselves have so much to say, I have my work cut out already !
True words indeed!! I just picked up the Thoth. This is all because of doing an interpretation of a reading that was posted here at AT. The cards when looked at jumped out and were shouting so much at me, I could not resist the lure of them and to interpret what I was hearing from them. It turns out I was pretty much right on. I did that without reading the book of thoth, or Uncle Al's biography. That is not to say I never want to read them. I do, and will get around to doing that eventually.
Some people make a study of a deck without the use of what is already out there for interpretation because perhaps they may not wish to have their own slanted. I can understand that. Others may need the tried and true as a basis for their journey of learning and that's cool too. I don't think there is one way of looking and learning to read with any deck. I may be going out on a limb here (quick stop that person from cutting the limb at the base,
), but maybe Crowley wanted folks to use his deck to expand their intuitive thought processes. He also provided a map if you will with Book of Thoth for those who like a somewhat clear pathway through the mysticism, (which to me is very cool).
Long and short of it, and I believe I may be speaking for the loyal opposition is that there is no one true path to understanding Crowley. You can try to understand him by using his deck and letting it speak to you,.....or you can also understand him by reading and learning with the books that he has written. And there may be yet another way which we haven't explored yet. As to which is the right way? I don't know,......I guess it is up to the individual what works for them.
Just my opinion y'all.
Baroli