The Tarot of Thoth: A Blazing Star of Occult Wisdom
O ye seekers of the Hidden, hearken unto the call of the Tarot of Thoth, a sacred vessel forged in the fires of the Æon of Horus! This is no mere deck of cards, no plaything for the idle; it is a map of the cosmos, a key to the Great Work, a mirror of the soul’s eternal dance with the Infinite. Born of my communion with the divine and the artistry of Lady Frieda Harris, the Tarot of Thoth is a monument to the Mysteries, a beacon for those who dare to Do what thou wilt and claim their starry birthright. Let us unveil its glory, and proclaim its truth to the world!
The Genesis of a Sacred Work
In the year 1938, when the stars aligned under the aegis of Nuit, I, Aleister Crowley, joined forces with the visionary Lady Frieda Harris, a priestess of the arts whose brush wove the threads of eternity. What began as a modest endeavor—to refine the symbols of the Tarot in the tradition of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn—became a five-year odyssey, from 1938 to 1943, a labor of love under Will. The Tarot of Thoth, comprising 78 cards, was not merely a revision but a revelation, a radical reweaving of the esoteric tapestry. Lady Harris, with her unrelenting devotion, insisted on a complete transformation, infusing each card with the radiance of Thelemic philosophy, Kabbalah, astrology, alchemy, and the myths of ancient Egypt. Thus was born a coloda that stands as a pinnacle of occult wisdom, a tool for prophecy, meditation, and magickal practice.
The Structure of the Divine Alphabet
The Tarot of Thoth is a sacred alphabet, a hieroglyphic codex of 78 cards divided into two grand arcs: the 22 Major Arcana, the Atu or trumps, which are the keys to the soul’s journey, and the 56 Minor Arcana, the elemental forces shaped by the four suits—Wands, Cups, Swords, and Disks. Unlike the vulgar decks of yore, where Minor Arcana were mere emblems, in Thoth each card is a cosmos unto itself, adorned with symbols that speak to the adept in the language of the stars. The Major Arcana—such as The Fool (0, Aleph), The High Priestess (II, Gimel), and The Lovers (VI, also named The Brothers)—bear new names and meanings, reflecting the Thelemic truth that Every man and every woman is a star. The suits, too, are transformed: Wands blaze with the fire of Will, Cups overflow with the waters of Love, Swords cut through the illusions of the mind, and Disks ground the spirit in the earth of manifestation.
The Symbolism of the Æon
Each card of the Tarot of Thoth is a portal, a sigil of power woven with the threads of Kabbalah, astrology, and the mysteries of Egypt. Consider the Three of Cups, the Lord of Abundance, corresponding to Binah, the Great Mother, and Mercury in Cancer. Its chalices, shaped as pomegranates, spill their bounty into a lotus rising from the dark sea of the unconscious, a symbol of spiritual fertility and the ecstasy of fulfilled Will. Or behold the Three of Disks, the Lord of Works, ruled by Mars in Capricorn, where a pyramid viewed from above reveals the alchemical trinity of Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt—the very essence of creation. These are not mere images but invocations, crafted to awaken the adept to the Law: Love is the law, love under will.
The Tarot of Thoth draws upon the wisdom of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, yet it transcends its origins, for I, Crowley, infused it with the revelation of The Book of the Law. The Rose and Cross adorn its back, a sigil of the union of the divine and the human. Unlike the Rider-Waite deck, which clings to narrative simplicity, Thoth demands mastery, for its symbols are a labyrinth that only the initiated may navigate. Its complexity is its strength, a challenge to the aspirant to rise above the profane and claim the Gnosis.
The Book of Thoth: A Testament of Truth
In 1944, under the pseudonym The Master Therion, I unveiled The Book of Thoth: A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians, published on the vernal equinox, a sacred moment when the Æon of Horus was ascendant. This tome, a cornerstone of occult literature, elucidates the philosophy and practice of the Tarot of Thoth. With only 200 signed copies printed, it was a treasure for the elect, yet its wisdom has since spread, making the deck one of the most revered in the world. The book is no mere manual; it is a grimoire, a guide to divination, meditation, and the Great Work, revealing how the cards encode the laws of the universe.
A Call to the Aspirant
O ye who would wield the Tarot of Thoth, know that it is no toy for the idle! It is a sword for the warrior, a chalice for the priest, a mirror for the mage. Its creation was a rite, its use a sacrament. To the novice, it may seem daunting, for its symbols are deep and its meanings manifold. Yet to those who persevere, it offers the keys to the City of the Pyramids, a path to the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. As Lady Harris wrote, let this Tarot be a map for “the bold navigators of the New Æon,” guiding them through the Great Sea of Understanding.
Seek ye the Tarot of Thoth for prophecy, for meditation, for the awakening of the Will. Study its cards, ponder its symbols, and let the voice of Aiwass speak through them. For in their depths lies the truth of Thelema: There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt. Embrace this deck, O aspirant, and become a star in the firmament of Nuit!
Love is the law, love under will.
