part0005

I invoke thee, I A O, that thou wilt send H R U, the great Angel that is set over the operations of this Secret Wisdom, to lay his hand invisibly upon these consecrated cards of art, that thereby we may obtain true knowledge of hidden things, to the glory of thine ineffable Name. Amen. [2]

The Thoth Tarot is a complex deck designed by a complex man and illustrated in a complex style by a complex woman over a period of five years during which raged a second world war. It illustrates a complex philosophy, a unique political and psychological perspective, a new religion, wide-ranging mysticism and decades of magical practice. It was created towards the end of the complex life lived during a complex time and written about by the author, Aleister Crowley, in a complex manner.

In this book, I aim to distil that complexity in the clearest way possible from a study of the deck and its use over thirty-five years. I have also drawn upon my own experience where it parallels Crowley’s life and magick, such as travelling in Egypt or performing the Sacred Magick of Abramelin the Mage.

Where applicable, I have used personal studies of Crowley’s original manuscripts, diaries and journals held in archives around the world. These reveal a wealth of additional sources through unpublished writings such as the Invocation of Hoor (1904) and unmentioned side-notes or annotation. Together, these materials place his life and work into a fuller context.

There are already several significant biographies of Crowley, which I will reference and suggest in order of personal preference. There are several academic works on his place in society and his politics, which I will also reference. I do not present in this book a fully detailed account of his life, in favour of these existing biographies, but rather highlight aspects of his life and work which are most significant to his Tarot.

I feel it is important to attempt a basic understanding of Crowley’s Thelemic philosophy, and apply this whilst interpreting the deck, rather than remove him from the very deck he designed. To that end, we will look at Thelema, the Aeons, and ancient Egyptian myth as we unpack the deck. We may also find ourselves in the upper echelons of eschatology and mathematics, as much as we delve into the depths of sexual magick and kabbalah. Strap yourselves in!

You are about to discover that the secrets of the Thoth Tarot are the secrets of a complex and powerful magick - a magick that can be used on your table in every reading - and one that can change the way you see and act in the world.

We will first take a brief look at the tarot itself and Crowley’s thoughts on the deck and divination in general.