Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52457 in Books
• Published on: 2003-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Customer Reviews

Thank you!
> I just want to say, you must be one very good teacher! In reading the
> opening Chapters to the Thoth Tarot book before the descriptions of cards,
> you truly have brought clarity to me in relation to A.C., R.C., Qabalah, and the Tarot. Too, the card descriptions are very informative and educational.

The master of understanding!
Lon Milo DuQuette is a treasure house of information and understands the works of Crowley and the Thoth tarot as if he had personally known the man himself. His writing style simplifies understanding of what can be a convoluted and confusing account laid out by Crowley and others of the rites of Thelema as well as the connections with Thoth tarot and the Kaballah .
After reading Lon's penetrating view of Thelema and Crowley's works it leaves one open to understand, as much as one is able, the reasons and methodology when using the Thoth tarot for divination.

A Clear Presentation of a Difficult Subject
Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot
The Thoth Tarot envisioned by master mystic Aleister Crowley and executed by artist Lady Frieda Harris is one of the more difficult, if not the most difficult decks to comprehend. This work by prolific magick and Tarot author, Lon Milo DuQuette, stands out from all other attempts to make this wonderful deck accessible to those who have not made an extensive study of Ceremonial Magick and Crowley's extensive body of work. While Crowley's writings on this deck obviously remain the benchmark, they are generally less than comprehensible for the non-specialist.

DuQuette begins with a through overview of the underpinnings of Ceremonial Magick, Crowley and the history of this deck. While these seventy some odd pages may seem like a long road to reach Part II where the cards themselves are covered, I believe that it is essential for the non-specialist to effectively use this deck.

DuQuette's almost conversational writing style is easy follow and makes the reader feel like they are being taught directly by this Certified Tarot Grand Master and high initiate in Crowley's OTO. Far too many books on the Thoth either fail to rise above the level of the "Little White Book" that comes with every deck or they are so technical and so academic that they are harder to get through than Crowley's own works.

Beyond the spectacular images of the Thoth, the least comprehensible part for the newcomer are the rearrangement of the attributions of the Majors, the renaming of several and the alternate system (to the Waite-Smith) of the Court cards. DuQuette does an outstanding bit of work in explaining these difference clearly and precisely. The diagrams that accompany the text that explains why "...Tzaddi is not the Star", make this often complex topic highly accessible.

If you are new to the Tarot and have been attracted to this amazing images of this deck or if you are an experience Tarot reader but have little or no acquaintance with Ceremonial Magick, I give this work my highest recommendation. Even for an experienced Tarotist and magician as myself, this is a book worth reading.

I do have one complaint about this book, but it is one that I have with a great many books on occult subjects: there is no Index. I know indexing a work this long is not a trivial nor inexpensive task, but makes the work far more useful as a reference. The Glossary, End Notes and Bibliography, however are excellent.

DISCLAIMER: The author of this review has had the very great honor of being a student of Lon Milo DuQuette. Lon also makes very flattering reference to this author in the reviewed work.