The Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot

The Thoth Tarot is available in three versions: this one printed by AGMuller, and two others by U.S. Games Systems; the smaller one has normal colors, but the larger one (same size as this deck) has a greenish cast, as if it were printed on the kind of paper used for dollar bills. Some may prefer it - maybe it's more restful to gaze upon, like a billiard table - but I prefer the deeper, brilliant colors of this deck.By all accounts, Crowley and Arthur Edward Waite (designer of the Rider deck) despised each other. Tarot decks until then were primarily "Marseilles-type," that is, the pip cards depicted the requisite number of their suit objects (wands, swords, etc.) similar to ordinary decks of playing cards. Waite added scenes to the numbered cards in his deck, many of which were copied from the Renaissance-era Sola-Busca deck (a Tarocchi deck, not strictly a Tarot deck). Crowley, of course, had no use for this innovation, making his deck a modern version of the Marseilles. However, Waite's deck caught on with the public to the point that most decks published since then are based on his designs.Crowley's deck, painted by Lady Freida Harris, features vibrant, explosive images. Typically, one color dominates a card's pallette, giving a specific, definite mood. Crowley evidently intended to discourage spontaneous interpretations of the cards by adding titles that tend to force the reader in a particular direction. The presence of keywords, to me, signifies a certain contempt on the part of the deck's creator to the user, as if they want to rub in your face that they are the authorities, and you are a dilettante incapable of learning the cards' significance without a mnemonic. Crowley, in particular, is especially annoying in this area, changing many cards' names; for example, calling the Strength card "Lust;" which may have meant something to him, but is irrelevant to everyone else. I was able to remedy this by removing the edges with an office paper cutter, and finishing the cards with a rounded corner punch, available at any craft store that sells scrapbooking supplies. My deck is now borderless, without the distracting titles.Nevertheless, many of the cards are startlingly beautiful and powerful. I recommend this edition over the similarly-colored, but smaller U.S. Games Systems version, as the larger size allows Harris' striking images to achieve their full potential. On the other hand, shuffling this deck is a challenge for anyone with small hands, although removing the edges renders the deck closer to normal size. Regardless of these considerations, no collection of Tarot decks is complete without this one, and as it is currently out of print, the remaining copies will undoubtedly become more difficult to obtain in the future.

This is by far my favorite Tarot deck, and I have tried many. Each card is colorfull and well drawn, not to mention packed with symbolism. This assists in interpreting each card, as there is always someplace else on each card to study and gain enlightenment from. It is usefull for beginners and masters, altough the Book of Thoth, the book of explanations for the deck, is really a little too complicated for beginners. There are lots of other books explaining the Thoth deck out there that aren't quite so complicated. If you are used to reading the traditional Rider Waite deck, you might have a difficult time, because the symbolism of each card is far different than Waites, and the minors are strictly symbolic, instead of having a scene depicted on them like the Rider-Waite deck does. Furthermore, you do not have to be a Thelemite or a practitioner of ceremonial magic to use this deck comfortably. I am a Pagan, and still find this deck effective.

The Crowley Thoth deck is among the most powerfully symbolic decks that incorporate many fields and practices. This pictoral superiority of this decks over the Waite,and other similar decks makes it a perfect deck for just beyond the beginner and lasts throughout a lifetime. It is a visibly powerful deck and just holding it makes one feel more in touch with there inner energies. Although you can see some of Crowley's sarcasm in the deck, it is a beautiful deck for all purposes.