Book of Thoth
From Tarotpedia
This page covers the "Book of Thoth" by Aleister Crowley. See also the page Thoth, which is the disambiguation page regarding the respective works by Aleister Crowley and by Etteilla both entitled "Book of Thoth", and regarding the Book of Thoth Etteilla Tarot deck published by Lo Scarabeo.
Contents |
[edit] Title
The Book of Thoth: A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians, being The Equinox, Volume III, No. V
[edit] Author
[edit] Publication details
[edit] date of publication
1977
[edit] publisher
U.S. Games
[edit] Description
Aleister Crowley's baroque, brilliant Book of Thoth is the book he wrote to accompany the Crowley-Harris Thoth Tarot and is one of the masterworks of 20th century occult literature. Drawing heavily upon the precepts of the Golden Dawn's Book "T" and correcting what he perceives to be errors, Crowley uses the book to explain his complex and considered theory of Tarot including Qabalah, Astrology, Alchemy, mythology, and of course his own Thelema. The language is often dense and frequently hilarious, rewarding repeated reading and intensive study.
[edit] Author's comments
"The Masters who had watched, guided, and chastised the author of this present volume, had in store the reward of his labours. They introduced to him a skilled artist, Frieda Harris, who, though she had little or no previous knowledge of the Tarot, possessed in her own right the Essential Spirit of the book. Together they bent their energies to the formidable task of preparing the 78 cards of the Book of Thoth.
His original idea had been to execute a pack after the tradition of the Mediaeval Editors, corrected in the light of the descriptions given in The Equinox I, vii and viii. But she found technical difficulties, such as introducing "10 rayed Angelic hands" all over the place, producing a grotesque effect; and she also observed that his teaching, in the course of his explanations went far higher and deeper than any-thing in any accessible models. She accordingly forced him---the laziest man in three continents!---to undertake what is to all intent an original work, including the latest discoveries in modern science, mathematics, philosophy, and anthropology; in a word, to reproduce the whole of his Magical Mind pictorially on the skeleton of the ancient Qabalistic tradition. He accepted this colossal burden; it renewed his energy and his enthusiasm.
Yet the burden was sore: the anticipated three months' work extended to five years. Her success as his interpreter surpasses belief. She had to work from his very rough sketches, often from mere descriptions, or from reading between the lines of the old packs. She devoted her genius to the Work. With incredible rapidity she picked up the rhythm, and with inexhaustible patience submitted to the corrections of the fanatical slave-driver that she had invoked, often painting the same card as many as eight times until it measured up to his Vanadium Steel yardstick!
May the passionate "love under will" which she has stored in this Treasury of Truth and Beauty flow forth from the Splendour and Strength of her work to enlighten the world; may this Tarot serve as a chart for the bold seamen of the New Aeon, to guide them across the Great Sea of Understanding to the City of the Pyramids!
The accompanying booklet was dashed off by Aleister Crowley, without help from parents. Its perusal may be omitted with advantage."
[edit] Reviews
- Villa Revak Review
- Aeclectic Tarot Review by Bonnie Cehovet
- Tarot Passages Review by Michele Jackson
- Dealtime review
[edit] See also
- Crowley-Harris Thoth Tarot
- Thoth Tarot - disambiguation page
- Aleister Crowley
- Frieda Harris
