Aleister Crowley cards. Thoth Tarot Cards

Tarot card readings are very popular and are popular in predicting the future and revealing various situations. There are many different decks, each of which is interesting in its own way and deserves attention. Among them are the Thoth Tarot cards, which are an effective magical tool. They are used for prediction, finding answers to questions, meditation and spiritual practices. They are readily used in their work by professional masters and ordinary Tarot lovers. The Thoth Tarot deck gained its popularity due to the ease of working with it and the fact that it never fails.

The Thoth Tarot deck has gained popularity due to the ease of working with it.

What is the Thoth Tarot

Aleister Crowley's Tarot, or as they are also called the Thoth Tarot, appeared at the beginning of the twentieth century. The authors of these mysterious Tarots are the occultist Aleister Crowley and the artist Frieda Harris. There are many secrets and legends around the name Alistair. His worldview explains the Masonic, Kabbalistic and occult symbolism of these cards. Their symbolism is multifaceted and includes knowledge of Kabbalah, astrology and mystical symbols of different countries. They are full of secret symbols of Celtic and Egyptian mythology, which have a special interpretation. Each lasso has a certain color, which, when interpreting cards, affects its meaning. The coloring of the Arcana is quite unique, and it has not been used anywhere before.

A special feature of the Crowley Tarot is that only the meaning of the Thoth Tarot cards in the upright position is used for prediction. On an intuitive level, they figure out the rest of the interpretation of the cards. That is why fortune telling on the Thoth Tarot must be thoughtful, and the master must not only know the Tarot well, but also the secrets of the magical sciences.

Major Arcana

Before telling fortunes using occult cards, you should definitely get acquainted with the holy book of Thoth. To work with them, you will need to study the Thoth Tarot and the meaning of the cards. Getting to know them must begin with the major Arcana. The structure of this deck is not broken; it contains twenty-two major Arcana. The Arcana themselves have undergone changes. “Justice” and “Strength” swapped places. Instead of the Judgment card, the Eon card appeared, symbolizing the end of the old era and the beginning of a new stage of development. Many different small details have been added to the image of each Arcana, and each card received its own interpretation. That is why the meaning of Thoth may differ from traditional ones.

The meaning of the major Arcana

When using Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot cards, it is necessary to pay special attention to the meaning of the Major Arcana:

Jester. Represents gullibility, carefreeness, lightness and a warm relationship with a partner. There is also illegibility and naivety. Problems may arise that will be underestimated. The jester indicates a lack of professional qualities. During this period, all new acquaintances will remain at the level of flirting and fleeting romance.
Mag. Positive card. Success in exams, negotiations and new endeavors. Changes for the better will begin to occur in matters of the heart. But only for this, the fortuneteller will have to take the first step himself. Businessmen will be able to successfully develop their business. People who have struggled with the disease for a long time will recover.
Priestess. Tells a person that he should rely on his intuition and knowledge of psychology. It is one of the strongest cards. Represents harmony, potential and wisdom. A person receives pleasure from everything he does. He has good material well-being and financial condition. There is complete harmony in your relationship with your partner.
Empress. Predicts career growth. In union with a loved one, a new round of development will begin, and an addition to the family can be expected.
Emperor. A person needs to pull himself together and take control of the situation. To achieve success at work, you need to purposefully move forward and not turn anywhere. In union with your loved one, no trials are scary.
Hierophant. Indicates the correct direction. During this period, the trust of partners increases and love blossoms.
Lovers. It says that a person enjoys working and communicating with employees. Lovers will follow the call of their hearts and in union with their beloved there will be harmony.
Chariot. Success awaits in all matters. There will be a rebirth and revival in feelings with your loved one.
Regulation. The time has come to receive a reward for your efforts, and in an alliance with a partner you need to rely on your head, not your heart.
Hermit. Change of place of work and transfer of your affairs. Loneliness awaits a person.

It is necessary to pay special attention to the meaning of the Major Arcana

And also do not forget that there are other cards, namely:

Fortune. In all spheres of life, a person needs to rely on fate.
Lust. Success awaits you in your work, and a hurricane of passions rages in matters of the heart. But the Star card speaks of dishonest methods in professional activities.
Hanged. Symbolizes lack of work, or problems in professional activities. A crisis may begin in matters of the heart.
Death. Retirement or dismissal from work. Parting with a loved one.
Art. The person was able to find a balance between work, and harmony and peace reign in the family.
Devil. The fortuneteller uses forbidden techniques. An alliance with a partner is built on mutual hatred.
Tower. Change of activity and final severance of communication with a lover.
Moon. All decisions made will help in moving up the career ladder. A person will have to struggle with jealousy and fear of losing a loved one.
Sun. Symbolizes happiness in all areas of life. But the Universe card represents the joys of life.
Eon. The time has come for changes in professional activities. The fortuneteller can expect a new love or the birth of a long-awaited child.

Minor Arcana

In the layouts, the minor Arcana of the Thoth Tarot complement and influence the interpretation. They can direct fortune telling in a different direction. The Thoth deck has the following minor Arcana:

Wands. They are the element of Fire and represent creative and strong energy.
Cups. Represent the element of water. They represent love, feelings, joy and disappointments.
Swords. They are the element of air and personify high spiritual development, understanding of the subtle world, and intelligence.

In the gallery you can see images of the Thoth Tarot. You can do absolutely any layout on the Thoth Tarot. Fortune telling with Thoth Tarot cards will bring pleasure to any master. With them, beginners will be able to master the secrets of fortune telling, hone their skills to perfection and become professional interpreters.

One of the most popular decks today is the brainchild of the famous occultist and mystifier Aleister Crowley - the Thoth Tarot. The meaning of the cards in this deck differs in many ways from the classics to which Rider-Waite followers are accustomed, however, the cards themselves are filled with such deep symbolism that it would be an unforgivable mistake to ignore their study. The deck has a huge number of fans, but at the same time a large number of haters, just like the controversial personality of the author of the creation. Even if you are not attracted to Crowley's system, it is still worth getting to know. This is exactly what we will do now, and who knows - maybe these unusual cards will replenish your personal collection after our review?

History of the deck

The story of Aleister Crowley's Tarot of Thoth, of course, should begin with a brief biography of the author himself. The name of this unusual person is still shrouded in so many legends that it is sometimes simply impossible to separate real facts from fiction. “Beast 666” - this is what Crowley is often called in the occult community, was born in 1875 into a deeply religious family. However, already in his youth, the future occultist was distinguished by a skeptical view of Christian morality, and from 1897 he became interested in literature on alchemy, magic, and mysticism. In 1898, Crowley joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and from 1900 began to practice ceremonial magic. All adherents of the Order who underwent the initiation ritual were required to draw their own Tarot deck - it was then that the first sketches of the Thoth Tarot cards appeared.

But how did the deck, which is admired by millions of esotericists today, see the light of day? The artist Lady Frieda Harris, who was a member of the secret society of co-Masons, had a huge influence on this. Initially, no one even thought about the creative tandem of Harris and Crowley, however, fate itself decided everything for them. In 1937, Crowley, through his acquaintances, began to look for an artist who would take on the task of redrawing his maps. For some reason, two candidates did not show up for the scheduled meeting, and then Alistair’s friend invited his friend, Frieda Harris. The artist’s meeting with Crowley not only moved the work on the deck off the ground, but also gave it a completely different vector.

The fact is that initially Aleister Crowley’s Tarot of Thoth should have looked like just a redrawing of one of the Golden Dawn decks - this is exactly what Beast 666 wanted to accomplish in a couple of months. But Frieda Harris was so fascinated by the Tarot system that she insisted on creating completely new signature cards from scratch under Crowley's guidance. The occultist himself resisted this for a long time, until the artist offered him a profitable option: she would become his student and pay him for teaching her magic, and at the same time draw new, original images of the Arcana under his strict guidance. As a result, work on the deck took five whole years - from 1938 to 1943.

It’s paradoxical, but true: a full-fledged edition of the deck was published after the death of the authors. During their lifetime, only exhibitions were held with canvases depicting the future Arcana, and about two hundred test copies of cards were produced, printed in two colors: the images of the cards were blue, and the backs were red. The first edition of the full-color deck was published in 1969 by Samuel Weiser. Subsequent editions of the deck were handled by U.S. Games Systems" and "A.G. Muller."

Key features of the deck

Aleister Crowley's Tarot of Thoth has a number of key features. This is a unique tradition that does not overlap with any existing decks. Despite the fact that Crowley himself was an adept of the Golden Dawn, the cards he developed can only be attributed to this school with great reserve. From the classics, the only ones left here are, perhaps, the suits, and even those do not completely repeat the traditional names: we see the usual Wands (Fire), Swords (Air), Cups (Water), and instead of Pentacles - Disks (Earth).

Court cards also do not follow the traditional structure. Crowley's place of Pages was taken by Princesses, the place of Knights by Princes, Kings were replaced by Knights, and only Queens remained in their rightful place. It is precisely this structure of the Tarot “court” that was developed by Mathers, one of the founders of the Order of the Golden Dawn. Crowley believed that it was the correct one, in contrast to that proposed by Waite.

Some Major Arcana of the Thoth Tarot have received different names. Thus, for example, Justice became Regulation, Temperance became Art, Judgment became Aeon, Peace became the Universe, and Strength became Desire (Lust). The need for such a replacement is perfectly explained in the Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley himself. If you wish, you can read more about this replacement.

In terms of the numbering of the Major Arcana, Power (Lust) occupies eleventh place in Crowley's deck, and Regulation (Justice) is in eighth place. The Jester opens the deck and is numbered 0. All other SAs take their traditional places. The Minor Arcana do not have plot details.

Deck symbolism

Firstly, the card images include a variety of alchemical, esoteric, kabbalistic and astrological symbols. Secondly, the color palette of the Arcana was also not chosen by chance: Frieda Harris used a special four-part color scale developed by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. There is not a single accident in these cards, and absolutely every little thing has its own meaning: the Arcana background, the figures depicted, the colors, signs, symbols, images. All this together gives a very deep Tarot deck, which needs to be studied thoughtfully and for a long time.

All the Minor Arcana correspond to the decades of the Zodiac signs, the Senior Arcana have their own astrological or elemental correspondences, the Princesses and Aces rule the astrological quadrants - you can read more about all this in the book of the greatest occultist and mystifier. And even the correspondences that are not written on the cards are very easy to calculate, understanding the very system built by the Master. Clear astrological references expand the range of possible meanings of Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot cards and allow you to calculate time intervals, which makes predictive work with this deck more convenient, flexible and detailed.

Major Arcana Tarot of Thoth

The interpretation of Crowley's Tarot cards differs significantly from the classics. Let's look at this using the example of three arbitrary cards.

Fool

On the classic map, we usually see a tramp with a bundle on his back, walking towards the edge of a cliff. There is a dog next to him, which either bites his leg, warning him of danger, or accompanies him in this unpredictable adventure. In the Thoth Tarot Gallery the Fool is completely different. He stands with both feet in the air, thereby personifying the air element. The character of the card itself combines several archetypes at once: this is the pagan Green Man, personifying spring, and Parsifal, who set off on a journey for the Holy Grail, and the Egyptian Harpocrates - the god of silence, and Dionysus - the god of inspiration, the forces of nature and ecstasy. On the other hand, the Dove and Butterfly depicted on the card clearly hint that our Fool is none other than the Holy Spirit himself. If we take a closer look, we will see on the map a Tiger biting the Fool’s leg, a Crocodile, a solar disk covering the character’s genitals, spiral turns and many other multi-valued symbols. Do you agree that Crowley's Fool is not at all as simple as the classic one?

Moderation

The next Major Arcana, which I personally completely admire, is Art, which replaced the classical Temperance.

If the classic card has, let’s say, an “angelic spirit,” then in Aleister Crowley’s Tarot of Thoth the fourteenth Arcana is very alchemical and magical. The plot of the Arcana describes the continuation of the story that began in the Lovers card - it depicts the alchemical wedding of two opposites. In Art, we see the merging of the characters of the sixth Arcana into a single androgynous figure. From the woman’s side, a man’s hand is reaching out, and from the man’s side, a woman’s hand. If on the Lovers card the eagle was white and the lion was red, in Art they changed their color: now the lion became white and the eagle red. The androgyne's dress of rich green color is an alchemical symbol of plants and their growth, and the main task of alchemists is to elevate minerals to the level of plant life. The main theme of the plot is the alchemical process in which two opposites are mixed in a cauldron - Fire and Water. A multi-colored glow rises from the cauldron, which becomes the edging of the clothing of the central character. This “rainbow” is the result of the whole process, the very “philosopher’s stone” that alchemists have been trying to create for many years.

Last Judgment

Another completely reworked Major Arcana that I would like to note is the Aeon, which replaced the Last Judgment.

An aeon is the same as an era. Crowley argued that in 1904 a new era began - the eon of Horus, which replaced the era of Osiris. If the symbol of the era of Osiris was an Angel blowing a trumpet, then the new time should have been reflected on the map with a new illustration. On the twentieth Arcana in Aleister Crowley's Thoth deck, the body of the starry sky goddess Nut is depicted, a fireball symbolizing her husband named Hadit, and the god Horus, represented by his two hypostases: this is the huge child Hor-pa-krat and Ra-Hore-Khut, seated on a throne with a phoenix staff in his hand.

Need I say that none of the Major Arcana in the Thoth Tarot repeats the classical meaning? And if there are parallels, they always have additional symbolism.

Minor Arcana Tarot of Thoth

The Minor Arcana, as I said, are not depicted in the deck, but the striking color palettes, symbolism added by Frieda Harris, as well as astrological correspondences allow you to understand the main meaning of the cards, provided, of course, that you have at least superficially studied Kabbalah and astrology .

Let's look at one card of each suit.

2 of Wands

It would seem that these are just two fire rods (dorje) crossed with each other, but look at the energy that literally bursts out of this card! If we look at the astrological correspondences, we see that the Two of Wands is Mars in Aries. Mars is the ruler of this zodiac sign, which means that the energy of the card is balanced, but at the same time active, strong, and dominant. It’s not for nothing that this card is called Power.

7 Discs, called Failure

The blue-black tones of the map, dried tree branches, lead disks (fake coins) - all this creates a feeling of some kind of hopelessness, withering, rotting, stagnation. And if you take into account the correspondence of the card - Saturn in Taurus - it will immediately become clear that nothing good can be expected with the appearance of this Minor Arcana.

3 of Cups (Abundance)

To make sure that other number cards can be read intuitively, let's take a look at the Three of Cups, whose name is Abundance.

Magnificent cups resembling bunches of grapes are filled with living water from golden buds. The clear surface of the water and the light background of the map clearly indicate stability. Astrological correspondence - Mercury in Cancer. The Sephira corresponding to the card is Binah. She is very “feminine” and symbolizes nourishment, fertility, and understanding. Even without getting into all the astrological and Kabbalistic jungle, from just one drawing of the card it is quite possible to guess what this numerical Arcana means.

For a complete understanding of the numerical cards of Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot, let's briefly look at the suit of Swords.

9 of Swords (Cruelty)

Nine sharpened daggers, from which drops of blood flow, disturbing geometric wings-pinwheels in the background, drops of poison flowing down the wall - the picture, even at first glance, is very unpleasant. And if we remember that Swords is the mind, the Kabbalistic sephira of the card is the most conflicting Yesod, and Mars in Gemini is a complete nightmare, then we will immediately guess that the meaning of the card will be directly related to primitive unconscious instincts, sadism, psychopathy and fanaticism.

Court cards of the Thoth Tarot

The Court cards in Aleister Crowley's deck are excellent examples of sixteen socionic personality types. You can read more about this on forums dedicated to the study and development of the Thoth Tarot. Of course, in addition to the character and behavior of a person, these cards can describe events, but the main emphasis is placed on a certain typology and hexagrams of the eastern teachings of the I Ching - in the book of Crowley himself you can learn more about this correspondence.

It is enough just to look closely at the images of Princesses, Princes, Knights and Queens to understand how accurately the elements and personality type are conveyed in the illustrations of the talented Lady Harris.

Fiery, impulsive, creative, sexy Wands

Sensual, romantic, understanding, dreamy, with excellent intuition Cups

Witty, intellectually developed, logical, calculating, and sometimes conflicting Swords

Practical, concerned with earthly affairs, hardworking Disks

What an amazing royal court!

Features of the interpretation of Thoth Tarot cards

As I already said, classical interpretations will not be suitable for the deck of the great mystifier - the meanings of most cards are very different from the traditional interpretation. And another important difference is the absence of inverted cards. Each Arcana can show its “shadow side”, but it needs to be identified solely by neighboring cards and the general mood of the layout. This is why the deck is considered difficult for beginners.

What questions is the deck suitable for addressing?

Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot is a universal deck, so absolutely any questions can be considered on it. Another thing is that she sometimes “answers” in such detail that it becomes simply surprising.

Who is the card data suitable for?

Aleister Crowley's Tarot cards are definitely worth purchasing for those who prefer thoughtful design of the deck, and also love to delve into all sorts of correspondences. The deck is simply a “must have” for those who engage not only in fortune telling, but also in magical rituals, as well as for all students of astrology, Kabbalah, and other esoteric sciences. Beginners who want to “quickly” learn the maps and start working right away will find it a bit difficult. However, if you are not in a hurry and want to get a universal, multi-faceted working tool, you can start with it.

Literature to familiarize yourself with the deck

I personally recommend not even opening the MBK that comes with the deck, and also leaving aside all books on this deck, except those authored by Oleg Telemsky and Lon Milo Duquette. If you decide to buy the Tarot of Thoth, immediately purchase a manual for it from the greatest beast called “The Book of Thoth”, the best translation is Anna Blaze. By the way, the translator’s LiveJournal also contains a whole storehouse of useful materials on the topic. In a word, study - and over time you will understand how amazing the cards are in your hands.

Tarot Thoth is a unique deck that is suitable for professionals who love and know how to work with Tarot cards. The deck was created by a madman, whose name is entangled in a web of legends and rumors. His brainchild together with Frieda Harris still excites people’s consciousness.

In the article:

Tarot of Thoth - great arcana

In the modern world there are a large number of decks. This:

Tarot of Baphomet;
etc.

This list could go on for a very long time. But the Thoth Tarot stands out among them all. It has become popular due to the fact that it is pleasant and convenient to work with, it is not difficult to establish contact, the cards never fail and fully describe the current situation.

Before you start working with the deck, be sure to familiarize yourself with the holy book of Thoth and the features of this magical attribute. Of course, you'll need a card interpretation if you want to work with this deck. You should start getting acquainted with the major arcana.

0 Fool

1 2 3

The card indicates lightness, carefreeness, absolute trust, and enjoyment of the partner. At the same time, a certain naivety and promiscuity in relationships are possible; a person is probably not able to think everything through to the end. This will be the beginning of some difficulties that will not be fully appreciated.

If a person is sick, this card speaks of complete recovery, getting rid of the disease. It seems to you that you are absolutely safe, but you shouldn’t be too trusting and it’s time to start controlling your attitude towards the world around you and the situation in which you find yourself.

1 Mage (Magus)

A very positive card that speaks of stable relationships and joint development. You are able to compromise; you can show cunning and professionalism in time. A good prediction for businessmen - you will be able to develop and increase your wealth. For those who are sick, the card indicates a speedy recovery.

2 Priestess (Priestess)

In any deck, the priestess, and sometimes she is called the “pope,” is considered one of the most powerful cards. She is a symbol of wisdom, immense potential, harmony. Sometimes symbolizes a woman who strives to satisfy all her needs.

The card symbolizes not only moral pleasure, but also great financial status, good health, resources that you can spend on anything.

3 Empress (Empress)

Unlike the previous card, the empress does not indicate a specific woman, but speaks of the human qualities of representatives of both sexes. She is a symbol of love, fidelity, virtue, financial growth, gaining new knowledge, femininity, and sensitivity. It also indicates relief from illnesses. The person on whom the card falls is capable of caring for others, giving knowledge and love.

4 Emperor

4 5 6 7

The card is the personification of power, clear order, energetic power, and prosperity. The person on whom the card falls has considerable influence and dominates in many situations. If a person does not suppress aggression in himself, then he will become not just a leader, but also a tyrant whose goal is to subjugate others. Regarding health, the Emperor speaks of negative dynamics and the appearance of illness.

5 Hierophant

The word itself " hierophant" means "sage", which suggests that this card symbolizes wisdom, awareness of the truth. Sometimes it indicates a person who has supernatural powers.

The card speaks of intellectual affinity, great potential, experience, flexibility and undoubted leadership qualities. Such a person knows how to plan his work, performs his duties efficiently, for which he receives a good reward.

6 Lovers

This is the main symbol of the union of two loving souls who are connected by real, sincere feelings. At the same time, they have absolute compatibility, they can cooperate, trust each other, and care. In relation to work, the card speaks of good profits, the appearance of conscientious workers, and a profitable deal.

7 Chariot

The Book of Thoth presents this card not just as the beginning of some path (journey), but as the beginning of spiritual growth, a new page in life. In almost any scenario, the Chariot symbolizes rapid movement towards a common goal, but for a partnership scenario it will have a negative meaning.

In addition, the chariot speaks of personality, successful development, and doing what you love. If a person is sick, only a dropped Chariot is a sign of a speedy recovery.

8 Adjustment

8 9 10 11

A symbol of balance that has been or will be achieved by a person. Symbolizes harmony, trust in a partner, balance. Most likely, this person adheres to a materialistic approach to life, able to remain calm and confident in any life situation.

He does everything to maintain his stable position in society, in the work sphere, and in relationships with his loved one.

9 Hermit

The very name of the card indicates that this person does not want to make contact with anyone. Sometimes this speaks of selfishness, isolation, but also of independence. A positive feature of such a person is the ability to take responsibility and not shift the burden of his problems onto the shoulders of others. Often this indicates losses, depression, or the end of any friendly or working relationship.

10 Fortune

Financial luck and well-being, harmonious relationships with others, love, physical pleasure, positive attitude. The person who gets this card will be lucky in everything. He will have good health, a constant source of stable income, fun and joy in life.

11 Lust/Lust (Lust)

It is worth noting that this card is especially dangerous for representatives of the fair sex, as it focuses attention on unbridled energy and harsh temperament, which is inherent in a person who has lost control of the situation.

If a woman is initially very strong energetically, then for her this may mean the presence of various quarrels, scandals, an excess of negative emotions, a break in affection, emotional incontinence, aggression, which will result in financial losses and a narrowing of the circle of trusted persons.

Cards will have a negative impact on human health. But for those whose energy level is very low (most often this interpretation is suitable for men), the Lust card that falls out will be a symbol of the beginning of something good, a rise in energy, a surge of strength.

12 Hanged Man

12 13 14 15

The card indicates that it is really very difficult for a person at the moment. In any scenario, it is positioned as negative, symbolizing a break in attachments, depression, pessimism, bankruptcy, failures in all areas of life, and deteriorating health.

13 Death

The main meaning is confrontation, a breakdown in relationships, dissatisfaction with business partners, complete despair, uncertainty about the future, the completion of a cycle. This may mean the end of one stage in life and the imminent beginning of the next. Sometimes it is a harbinger of deteriorating health or a serious conflict at work.

14 Art

The symbol is a synthesis of completely different directions, personalities, approaches, things, actions. Represents art, love, kindness, trust between people, creative unity, creativity. The card portends good business development, making a profit, recovery, and the emergence of new acquaintances.

15 Devil

It is the devil who is the manifestation of the human “I”. He personifies absolute selfishness in relation to everything. This is a complete disregard for the interests and desires of others, meanness, dependence, envy, anger, fraud, intrigue, dishonesty towards business partners, and serious illness.

16 Tower

16 17 18

Only by completely destroying everything old can you give birth to something new. This is the principle that guides this card. She speaks of getting rid of the shackles that have tormented you for many years, the complete destruction of former priorities and principles; such a change can be accompanied by depression, aggression, and scandals.

Probably the collapse of some plans, crisis, dismissal, poor health, but despite the fact that this card speaks of losses, it indicates that life gives you a chance to say goodbye to everything that has burdened you and start life anew.

17 Star

This is rightfully one of the most positive cards in the entire deck. She talks about euphoria, love joys, ease of perception, high hopes that will be placed on people (these hopes will come true).

You will enjoy what you do. However, sometimes it pays to be less dreamy and have a more materialistic approach to things in order for your hopes to be realized.

18 Moon

In the Tota Tarot, the Moon signifies a strong fear of change, obsession, and a difficult period in work and personal relationships. Perhaps even infidelity to your partner. At the moment you are going through a rather difficult period of life, accompanied by depression, uncertainty, fraud and poor health. However, this period must be passed in order to realize the plan.

19 Sun

19 20 21

This is a bright flash of emotional activity, which can be both positive and negative. But in most cases, this card is still negative. She is the personification of restraint, nervous breakdowns, anger, and dissatisfaction with the current course of events.

20 Aeon

You are standing at the beginning of a new path, a new stage. The card is sometimes interpreted as recovery from illness. You will probably be able to change your perception and learn something new.

21 Universe

This card is rightfully considered the most powerful in the entire Thoth deck. This is not surprising, because the Universe is considered a symbol of absolute harmony in everything, complete enjoyment of love, relationships, work. The person who receives this card is absolutely confident in himself and in the implementation of his plans. The card prophesies the implementation of all business ideas, self-sufficiency and excellent health.

Wands - the meaning of the Thoth Tarot cards

Wands are a symbol of Fire, representing vigorous energy and creativity.

Queen has very strong energy power. This is a passionate woman who can control the situation.
Knight- a person with unbalanced, very powerful impulsive energy. A positive card only for those who suffer from a lack of their own strength. The card can also be a harbinger of a scandal.
Princess- you will be able to overcome your fear, become more effective and joyful.
Prince- you are closer to your goal, your activity will be extremely fruitful, but avoid excessive incontinence.
Ace- learning something new.
Deuce- possession of information, some emotional stress, dissatisfaction with oneself and something in one’s life.
Troika- virtue, caring for loved ones, creative development, success in business.
Four- completion of what was started, conflict-free life, transition to a new level of development.
Five- struggle with circumstances, with people. It is likely that the outcome will be positive.
Six- victory, achieving success in everything at any cost.
Seven- valor, courage, successful deal, development.
Eight- speed, rapid development of events. Positive outcome of events in everything. However, minor health problems are possible.
Nine- accumulation of strength, you will become more confident and understand what exactly you want from life.
Ten- you will have to face serious problems in the work sphere. The main meaning of the card is suppression, which means a likely negative influence on you from the outside.

Queen Knight Princess Prince Ace
Deuce Troika Four Five Six
Seven Eight Nine Ten

Sensual cups from Aleister Crowley's deck

Queen Knight Princess Prince Ace
Deuce Troika Four Five Six
Seven Eight Nine Ten

Cups are the element of water, which is responsible for feelings, love, pleasure, disappointment and joy.

Queen- everything around is unclear, but it’s impossible to piss you off. Unfortunately, you are in a limbo situation and the immediate prospects are not yet clear.
Knight- the person has outstanding leadership qualities, he has many friends who are ready to support him. The card prophesies conscious progress towards the goal.
Princess prophesies optimism, a wedding, getting rid of fears, the negative side is naivety and gullibility.
Prince- depression, lethargy, melancholy.
Ace- good, love.
Deuce- love, virtue.
Troika- abundance, fertility, development, appearance of offspring.
Four- luxury, welfare, satisfaction of needs.
Five- disappointment, lack of feelings, negative emotions.
Six- pleasure, libido, sexuality, orgy.
Seven- may mean obedience to imposed negative patterns of behavior or excessive presence of bad habits.
Eight- lethargy, idleness, laziness and depression.
Nine- happiness, security, pleasure and peace.
Ten- saturation. The card is moderately negative and indicates that something is starting to bore you and you need to do something to refresh your emotions and feelings.

Swords - interpretation according to Crowley

1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
11

The Thoth Tarot deck of cards was created by the famous esotericist from Great Britain Aleister Crowley and artist Frieda Harris. Frida was very keen to create something new and unusual in the field of Tarot. For this purpose, she specially signed up as Crowley’s student and paid him a salary for teaching magic. In terms of time, the “Tarot of Thoth” was created over a period of 5 years. In this material we will look at the meaning of the Thoth Tarot cards and the features of this deck.

Distinctive features of the Thoth Tarot cards

“Tarot of Thoth” is of great importance for tarot readers, it has become one of the most frequently used Tarots, and is in 2nd place, losing 1st to the classic version of the Rider White deck.

The creator of the deck, Aleister Crowley, said about his brainchild that it is an “occult encyclopedia” with knowledge that will be enough for humanity for the next two thousand years.

The detailed meaning of this deck is revealed in the “Book of Thoth” - Crowley’s last creation, which combines all the knowledge acquired by the esotericist in the process of his esoteric activities.

When working with the Thoth Tarot, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the position of the cards, their mutual combination, interpretation and symbolism are closely intertwined with the ancient teachings of Kabbalah and the concept of the Tree of Life. Therefore, when performing a layout on these cards, they take into account not only standard indicators, but also correlate the symbolism of the arcana with the Sephiroth, the signs of the Hebrew alphabet.

In the “Tarot of Thoth”, just like in the traditional deck, there is a division into arcana:

Atu - are, the group is represented by 22 cards.

The names and positions of the arcana are very similar to the classic version of the deck, but there were some copyright changes.

For example, the deck starts with the zero arcan “Fool” (in a traditional deck it is in last place in the row of High cards).
The fourth Atu has the double name “Lovers” or “Brothers”.
The Arcana “Justice” (called “Adjustment”) and “Strength” have swapped places.
The 10th lasso is no longer called “Wheel of Fortune”, but simply “Fortune”.
The 14th lasso is found under the name “Arts”, and not “Moderation”.
And the 21st arcana of the Elder group is called “The Universe”.

As for the Minor Arcana, in the Thoth Tarot, they, by analogy with other decks, are divided into 4 suits and are represented by 56 cards. But there are also changes here:

the suit of Coins (Pentacles) became the suit of Disks, it correlates with the earth element;
changes also affected the figure cards; “Queen” and “Knight” appeared here, as well as “Princess” and “Prince”.

Please note that the "Tarot of Thoth" is a very deep and difficult to understand work, which can only be used by tarot readers with very extensive experience. This option is in no way suitable for beginners in the field of fortune telling.

Tarot Thoth meaning of the Major Arcana

. Indicates the presence of original potential, and also tells about creative chaos and carelessness. Start from scratch, time for creative rest, a huge number of ideas. In personal life, it speaks of the blossoming of feelings, flirting.

. It will tell about activity, some kind of push, cunning and determination, successful passing of exams. Speaks of attraction and charm between partners, as well as awareness of one’s integrity.

. A manifestation of the Higher Self, a symbol of wisdom, female intuition. The card will tell you about the psychological activity and talent of the artist. Partners are strongly attached to each other.

. Talks about growth, creative activity. Old relationships come back to life, it's time for sensuality.

. Tells about pragmatism, stability, perfectionism. In love - relationships that have been tested by time.

. The questioner seeks the truth and has extensive life experience. Harmonious love relationships.

. They talk about union, love, sincerity. The man loves his job. Predicts marriage, peace.

. The fortuneteller wants to leave, he is looking for adventure. He will talk about working for himself, starting a new relationship.

. Tells about clarity, objectivity, consequences, a balanced life. The relationship between partners is more business than love.

. A period of solitude, thoughts about the eternity of existence. The emergence of mature ideas. The relationship is serious and mature.

. It's time for change, for progress. A person finds his recognition. Relationships can be either happy or karmic, fatal.

. The name speaks for itself. It tells about love of life, strength, passion, desire to work, commitment. Indicates a strong union, sexual incontinence.

. The questioner does not know which of the two options to choose. He has to work hard, there is no success. In love: a time of crisis, partners walk in a vicious circle.

. Talks about parting, the natural end of something, fear of life, giving up something (this could be a relationship, professional activity, and so on). Death of feelings.

. An indicator of balance of power, harmony, relaxation, getting rid of pathologies. Various conflicts at work are resolved, a person harmoniously combines work with leisure. Relationships are harmonious, equal, based on deep connection.

. He will tell you about the nature of instincts, intemperance, greed, the desire to rule, and various temptations. Describes a person associated with corruption, forbidden actions. In love: passionate relationships, the presence of love contracts. Relationships can be karmic.

. The person suddenly realizes something. Talks about a breakthrough, uprising, blows of fate. Promises loss of job and money. Old beliefs are destroyed. In love: the need for separation, getting rid of unnecessary relationships.

. The card is an indicator of good prospects, hope, faith in improvement, harmony. He will tell you about promising projects and a brilliant career. Man understands universal laws well and observes them. In love: a promising relationship, plans for the future.

. Fear of taking an important step. A person feels defenseless, suffers from nightmares, memories of the past, and is afraid of performing. Arkan speaks of instability at work, as well as dangerous love affairs.

. It portends a happy period of life, a person enjoys its benefits, is in a wonderful mood, and develops himself. In career: overcoming difficulties, engaging in creativity. In love: joyful moments, time for new beginnings, reconciliation.

. Something begins now, a person discovers himself, improves spiritually, moves in the right direction. A time of inspiration, old relationships move to a new level, Aeon foretells the birth of children.

. The completion of something, the questioner will be in the right place at the right time, he is satisfied with life. Work that gives pleasure, goals are achieved. In love: lovers reconcile, sex plays a big role in their relationship. Meeting a like-minded person, your “soul mate.”

This was a description of only the Elder Atu from the Thoth Tarot deck. And you can find out the meaning of the Minor Arcana in the following video material

Tarot Thoth is one of the most mystical and deep decks, which was born thanks to Aleister Crowley and Frieda Harris, an artist who embodied the idea of a genius. This Tarot is woven from many esoteric symbols taken by the author from the mythology of the ancient Egyptians and Celts. Crowley left instructions for this in The Book of Thoth, which became his last work.

Features of Tarot Thoth fortune telling

In general, the deck corresponds to English traditions and echoes the classic Rider-Waite Tarot. Both authors share the same logic for creating structure, but upon closer examination, Crowley's work reveals many distinctive features.

The Strength and Justice cards returned to their places, becoming the 11th and 8th arcana, respectively.
Some Major Arcana have changed their usual names. Lovers were renamed Brothers, Power became Lust, The World became the Universe, etc.
The Suit of Pentacles changed its name to Disks. Thus, Crowley wanted to emphasize its connection with the element of earth, which during the Middle Ages was represented as a flat disk.
The first ten Minor Arcana of each suit lack plots. However, the cards are complemented by a complex series of different symbols that resonate with suit and rank. For the first time, captions have been added for deeper understanding. For example, 2 cups became Love, 6 swords - Science, 4 wands - Completion, etc.
The court cards have also undergone changes. Now the hierarchy is built according to the following scheme: Princess, Prince, Queen, Knight.

Major Arcana

The images of the Major Arcana, unlike the Minor Arcana, are drawn in more detail. Their interpretation is given in traditional meanings, but various symbols give them many new facets.

For example, all Major Arcana are associated with either zodiac signs or planets. Thus, Regulation (Justice) is astrologically associated with the sign of Libra, which emphasizes the need to find the optimal balance, balanced decisions and control of emotions. The hermit corresponds to the constellation Virgo, which is responsible for the search for meaning, depth and self-sufficiency.

The Arcana Brothers (Lovers), Aeon (Judgment) and Art (Temperance) underwent the most changes. Let's look at the example of the 14th Arcana. Art represents the pinnacle of harmony and unity, which is metaphorically depicted on the card. The masculine and feminine have come together to show the conscious merging of opposites. This symbolizes overcoming contradictions (a reference to the opposition between the conscious and unconscious components of the psyche), healing and the establishment of harmony. Indicates the need to accept all of one’s sides without dividing into positive and negative, and to perceive oneself as a whole person.

Preparing for fortune telling

To seriously work with such a deep and wise deck at home, superficial knowledge of the Tarot is not enough. Undoubtedly, you will receive an answer to the question, but you will not see the half-tones, half-hints that the deck points to. Therefore, before fortune telling, it is advisable to study the structure of the Thoth Tarot, delve into Crowley’s philosophy and obtain the “Book of Thoth”.

There are a few simple points to prepare for fortune telling:

Choose a time and place so that no one will disturb you or disrupt your mood.
Formulate the question as precisely as possible so as not to receive a double answer. For example, if you want to know about someone's feelings towards you, do not ask: “Does he like me or not?” Ask the Tarot how this person feels about you.
Shuffle the deck.
Lay out the cards according to a pre-designated pattern. If there is none, and you need to get an answer to one question, it is recommended to post from one to three Tarots. With a large number, you can get confused in the details.

How to read layouts and interpret dropped cards

The Thoth Tarot is a classic deck in which the system is built in accordance with the suit and rank of the card. Understanding the structure is enough at first. Here's a short diagram.

Ace – a new beginning, the emergence of an idea, opportunity, initial impulse.
Two - division of a single impulse into two parts, dilemma, choice, emergence of new people.
Three - the first result, small victories, ideas become embodied.
Four – stability, stable rules, long-established forms of interaction.
Five – conflicts, clashes with external circumstances.
Six – harmonization, significant success in business.
Seven - an internal crisis, a search for guidelines, the ability to rely only on yourself.
Eight – consolidation of the result of the efforts made.
Nine is the result of actions, reaping the fruits, there is no turning back.
Tens - the end of the road, strength and inspiration have been exhausted, the need to choose a new goal.

Regarding the suits, everything is also simple. Swords symbolize the intellect and mental sphere, wands symbolize willpower and desire, cups symbolize emotional and sensory perception, and pentacles symbolize the material and resource sphere.

For example, knowing that the Ace is the beginning of a new cycle, and cups are the sensual sphere, we conclude that the Ace of Cups means revival in emotional life. Perhaps thanks to a new romantic interest.

☞ Video story

A good way to get to know the Thoth Tarot, in addition to studying literature, is to meditate on the cards. This helps to penetrate deeper into the design of the deck, to feel the space of the Arcana. You can take one card a day for meditation and devote a few minutes to it. To do this, place the card in front of you and look at it carefully. Look at every detail. What's happening on the map? What would you do if you were in this space? Feel what emotions the environment evokes. What might the symbols shown here mean? This practice is useful not only for working through the Thoth Tarot, it is useful for getting acquainted with any new deck.

The Thoth deck is characterized by an interweaving of Kabbalistic, esoteric and astrological correspondences, so some minimal knowledge in these areas will be useful when studying it.

At first, interpret the cards by analogy with the classic Rider-Waite Tarot, adjusted for the features of some Arcana. This is useful for remembering classical values. As your immersion in Crowley's creation deepens, do not forget that the deck has a lot of shades and the depth of symbols is incomparable to any other. Think of it as a separate system to which you need to find your own approach.

The Thoth Tarot is not just a reworking of old traditions to suit modern trends, it is a unique development of Aleister Crowley, incorporating all his knowledge of esotericism, mythology and history. It is difficult for a beginner to use such a deck, but if you decide to master it, you will acquire truly extensive encyclopedic knowledge.