Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot: New Edition

The Thoth Tarot is not the most user friendly deck. This book does a great job of breaking down the esoterica in a way that is logical and understandable (as much as anything related to Crowley can be). Several charts and graphs laying the data out clearly, as well. It would have been nice if all the charts had been included at the end of the book in one easily referenced appendix rather than scattered throughout the text, but that's a problem easily solved by post-it notes.

This was a fantastic (and essential) supplement to Crowley's book. Although the Book of Thoth was jam-packed with knowledge, there were definitely a lot of holes to fill for someone who isn't a member of mystery schools, or privy to the genesis of the deck. DuQuette pretty much answers all the questions I had about the cards and Tarot in general, right down to the meaning of the colorful Rose Cross on the back of the cards. He even reveals certain astrological trends in the cards that I only discovered on my own, after much time working with the cards (because they weren't mentioned in the Book of Thoth). Basically, before he gets into the specifics about the Tarot cards (in Part 2), he provides an extensive overview of useful introductory material you should know -- this is all information that DuQuette himself wished he knew at the beginning of his study of the deck that would’ve expedited his learning; and it will do the same for you. (Part 1: “Little bits of things you should know...”, Chap. 0-11, p.0-70) This includes insights into Crowley, the Book of the Law, the Vision and The Voice, Frieda Harris's artistic process, the strange “4 scales of color”, the Hermetic Rose Cross, and how all of that relates to the cards & understanding their full meaning. This material isn't tedious- it's all interesting and the chapters are short. Last I very much enjoyed his aesthetically appealing layout for the card descriptions (includes card images!) -- as opposed to Crowley's standard essay format. -Paul C.

This was a gift for a friend, but I have it as well. Very informative and the perfect companion book for the Thoth deck.

As someone who has owned the Thoth deck and Crowley’s Book Of Thoth for over twenty years, this text has become somewhat of a skeleton key to his and Lady Harris’ deck for me. Many of the more difficult if not inscrutable aspects of the deck and Crowley’s decisions are explained with a clarity unmatched in anything I’ve read on the subject. Lon not only provides helpful information on much of the “inside baseball” of the idiosyncrasies of the deck but also provides some of the most clear writing on some of the attributions and concepts that are foundational to communing and interpreting the cards for oneself. The sections on the Tree Of Life and the Hermetic Cross were some of the most manageable, clear and illustrative I have ever read and I walked away less perplexed yet still full of awe than other texts on the same subjects, which often left me feeling confused and frustrated. Crowley’s Book Of Thoth is much less daunting of a read and Harris and Crowley deck feels so much more familiar and welcoming than ever before. I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone truly interested in building a relationship to this material. Many reviewers critique the amount of space dedicated to the interpretations, which is understandable but not really what this book is entirely about. It helps one to think about this deck and to understand its mechanics and structure. If one is mostly looking for spreads and prepared interpretations I recommend Banzhaf and Theler’s book—however I think this book belongs on any serious students shelf.

I started reading this when I was almost done reading The Book of Thoth. Admittedly, I did not have trouble following or understanding Crowley except for the times when you are obviously not meant to understand (which is quite often). Most people seem to be bewildered by the first part talking theory but I found it to be chock full of qabalistic gold. Anyway, I recommend at least trying to read Crowley himself before resorting to the training wheels in the form of this book. If you're going to read this first then just read the first few chapters which are mainly background history, then start reading The Book of Thoth and let this accompany it on the side. Read Crowley's descriptions of the cards, pretending as if that is the only information you will ever get; this will force you to get the most out of his at-times enigmatic writing style. When he says something confusing, stop and really think about it. THEN jump over to Duquette and let him spell out the parts you didn't get. I can see how this book could become a crutch since Lon is such an expert and clearly deeply understands the mysteries at play, you find yourself identifying with his sentiments without forming your own. Make sure to leave room for your own interpretations. Other than that, I would say this book is indispensable.

Getting to know Crowley's Thoth tarot means getting to know the same occult lores Crowley knew: Qabalah, Astrology, Hermeticism. Then there's color theory and some general semiotics in the mix. Add to that Crowley's enjoyment of being generally obtuse, and you might think you'll never be able to hack it. Mr. DuQuette provides an overview of those major theories, bringing each back in as we visit each card. The book is, admittedly, of limited use as something to just read and put down, just as Mr. DuQuette describes the Book of Thoth, but as a reference to go back to again and again as you start trying to understand the tool you're working with, it's invaluable.

Classic piece. Excellent. Not very approachoable for a newbie like me. I had to cross reference with other texts and go back to Aleister's time again to understand all these obscure references.

This is DuQuette at his best. The back cover of the paperback says it best. "...a man who knows his subject from the inside out and...can write clearly and gracefully." This is a well-thought-out guide that presents everything you need to know to understand Crowley's context as well as the organization of the cards themselves and their processes. I highly recommend it.

Guide essentiel pour accompagner le tarot de thot

Très beau livre .bien expliquer

Imprescindible para leer dicho Tarot. Complemento con otro libro al respecto que está en español.

Livro muito bom e didático.

Easy to understand and very informative.