Thoth tarot deck

Cover of the Thoth tarot deck box.

The Thoth Tarot (/ˌtoʊt ˈtæroʊ/) is a divinatory tarot deck painted by Lady Frieda Harris according to instructions from Aleister Crowley. Crowley referred to this deck as The Book of Thoth, and also wrote a book of that title intended for use with the deck.

Background

Crowley originally intended the Thoth deck to be a six-month project aimed at updating the traditional pictorial symbolism of the tarot. However, due to increased scope the project eventually spanned five years, between 1938 and 1943 and both artists died before publication in 1969 by Ordo Templi Orientis. Crowley and Harris painted some of the cards as many as eight times. The current edition of the U.S. Games Systems deck has two prototypes by Lady Harris but then rejected by Crowley. In 1977 Harris' paintings were rephotographed for a second edition and further revisions followed in 1986 and 1996.

Symbolism

The illustrations of the deck feature symbolism based upon Crowley's incorporation of imagery from many disparate disciplines, including science and philosophy and various occult systems (as described in detail in his Book of Thoth).

Differences from Rider Waite Tarot

Order and names of trumps

Crowley renamed several of the trumps, and also re-arranged the astrological and Hebrew alphabet correspondences of some cards, in accordance with his earlier book, Liber AL vel Legis (The Book of the Law):

All these old letters of my Book are aright; but צ is not the Star. (AL I:57)

Names of court cards

A Thoth tarot deck.

Crowley altered the names of all the court cards apart from the Queen in the Thoth deck, which can cause some confusion for people used to the more common decks. The typical corresponding names are as follows:

Titles and attributions of the Wands Suit

Titles and attributions of the Cups Suit

Titles and attributions of the Swords Suit

Titles and attributions of the Disks Suit

References

• Duquette, Lon Milo (2003). Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot. Weiser Books.
• Wasserman, James. Instructions for Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot Deck, included in the U.S. Games Systems publication of the deck.
• Aleister Crowley (June 1974). The Book of Thoth: A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians, Being the Equinox Volume III No. V. Illustrated by Frieda Harris. Samuel Weiser, Inc. p. 308. ISBN 978-0877282686. 
• Bill Butler (1975). Dictionary of the Tarot. Schocken Books. p. 250. ISBN 978-0805205596. 
• Gerd Ziegler (January 1, 1988). Tarot: Mirror of the Soul: Handbook for the Aleister Crowley Tarot. Weiser Books. p. 208. ISBN 978-0877286837.