Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23662 in Books
• Published on: 2003-11
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Customer Reviews

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.

Erudite, thorough -- worth your money to say the least.
There are those who "claim to know" the tarot, and there are those who "know" the tarot. Mr.DuQuette's comprehensive, exploratory journey of Crowley's "Thoth Tarot", bring the reader not only to a greater understanding of the subject, but make light of such an eccentrically written text. Obviously, any reader of Aleister Crowley's work is aware of his immense linguistic ability, and the difficulties that come with understanding such esoteric manuscripts. Mr.DuQuette is quite the "beacon of light", bringing forth interpretation to the ever-so-enigmatic wonder of such an illustrious work. As an authoritative figure of occult studies, with half a century of expertise under his belt, his elucidation is all-inclusive in: thorough biographic detail, ample notes, and a glossary of terms found through-out the volume. Whether naive beginner or seasoned occult guru, Mr.DuQuette's book is indeed a modern companion to Crowley's past prose.