Aleister Crowley and the Book of Thoth
Another kind of Tarot: Aleister Crowley and the Book of Thoth
Nowadays, thousands of Tarot decks exist (including my own, illustrated by Dima Blue), but you may not be aware that it's not just the illustrations that are different. Most Tarot decks are inspired by the famous Rider-Waite deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith , which was first published in 1910 and is the most well-known deck throughout most of the world. But not all Tarot cards were inspired by it. Let’s talk about one of these alternative decks, the Thoth Deck, called the Book of Thoth by its creator, Aleister Crowley.
Born in England in 1875, Crowley grew up in a very religious household, but began questioning Christianity early on. This wasn't the only way he went against the grain; in fact, Crowley was a true rebel, living a libertine life without many rules, and without regard even for laws of the time, such as those against sexual relations between men in his native country. He became so notorious in fact that he was even deported from Italy in the 1920’s for debauchery and many came to see him as evil or a Satanist. Even when he wasn't doing something controversial, Crowley was at the very least unconventional. For example, in addition to his other interests, he was an accomplished mountain climber, and possibly a spy!
Despite his reputation, Crowley wasn’t involved with the devil. His notion of spirituality was complex and multifaceted. In 1896, he had the first of what he called mystical experiences. It began his passion and fascination with the occult. He joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn – an occult group whose members also included Waite and Colman Smith who later left and founded the Holy Order of the Golden Dawn. Endlessly fascinated by religions and the esoteric, and influenced by mystical experiences he and his wife had while in Egypt in the early 1900’s, Crowley developed Thelema, a religion that still exists today.
In 1938, Crowley and illustrator Lady Frieda Harris began work on the Book of Thoth. Crowley used symbols and new names that corresponded to his beliefs (for example the card many know as “Strength” is “Lust” in this deck; “Temperance” is “Art”). The deck was finished in 1943, but neither Crowley (who died in 1947) nor Harris (who died in 1962) would live to see it commercially published. It was first made available to the public in 1969, and has been used and talked about among Tarot aficionados ever since.
The Book of Thoth is a controversial deck. Some are intrigued by its complex illustrations. A poster on this Tarot forum even explained how, for them, the illustrations clarify readings. But many others, including myself, I have to admit, feel that the cards have a slightly heavier energy about them. This doesn’t mean that they are “evil” objects, of course; as we’ve been over before, it’s not the cards that have power- they merely suggest interpretations to the reader. It’s just that some of us readers find it hard to wade through the Thoth deck’s particular vibe.
Regardless of what I think, if the idea of the Book of Thoth intrigues you, why not check it out for yourself? After all, choosing a Tarot deck is a completely personal thing. And whatever you might think about Crowley and the Book of Thoth, at the very least, you have to say they’re interesting!
You can learn more about the Thoth Tarot here, or buy yourself a set in your local cosmic shop or if you don’t have one go online. There are also a lot of books and websites dedicated to Crowley and his beliefs that you could check out, and many of his works are available for free online.
Have fun with it!