The Aleister Crowley Tarot

[smw]

1 hour ago, Aeon418 said:

 

That's a great observation @smw. 🙂

 

This fits perfectly with the Path of Beth and the Magus card being the Intelligence of Transparency. Quoting Paul Foster Case:

 

 

Now consider Liber AL, III:10, but try think symbolic and not literal.

1 hour ago, Aeon418 said:

Look at the Magus card in the Aleister Crowley Tarot deck and think about "locked glass" and the idea of the Fixed Mercury or the conscious awareness of the True Will. The Stele of Revealing is a symbol of the Will of the Aeon and a visible object of worship that manifests again further down the Tree of Life on the 31st Path of Shin (Spirit) between the spheres of Hod (Mercury) and Malkuth (the World). This symbolism points to the clear transmission of the Word of Divinity to the World through the channel of the mind. 

 

Too late 🤭 It is already imprinted on my mind that  'locked glass' is a literal prophecy of the coming tech world. 'miraculous colour shall come back to it day after day .Close it in locked glass for a  proof to the world."  A computer screen and virtual reality.

 

Though looking at the Magus card, it's like peering through a window (Heh) at the figure of the Magus within a glass diamond, flashing light and juggling items, which  distract from the open facet behind him. 

[Aeon418]

Atu III - The Empress.

 

Quote

Beauty, display thine Empire! Truth above Thought’s reach: the wholeness of the world is Love.

 

This card is so universal I'm not sure I can do it justice in a single post, but I will give it a shot. But be warned, while this card seems so simple, it is in reality a paradox and a contraction of potentially mind bending proportions. 😵 

 

It's hard to know where to begin with this card, but the simplest idea comes through the corresponding Hebrew letter - Daleth. This letter means a door, a gate, or a portal. This door is at the back of both of the Thoth and the A.C. Tarot cards. The door marks a transition threshold from one state to another. The easiest way to understand this transition is the difference between the pre-natal and post-natal mother and child. In the pre-natal stage the mother and child are essentially one being. But in the post-natal stage there are two distinct beings. The door represents both sides of that divide. Obviously, all of us have crossed that threshold and exist as seemingly individual beings. But the underlying message of the Empress is that there is no such thing as individual existence because everything is connected to everything else. This is why the Empress represents the spiritual ideal of (re)-Union with the Womb of the Great Mother.

 

 

Quote

And I believe in one Earth, the Mother of us all, and in one Womb wherein all men are begotten, and wherein they shall rest, Mystery of Mystery, in Her name BABALON.

 

In both cards the Empress sits on a throne. The Empress and the back of her throne obstruct our view of whatever lies behind her. This suggests that we must unite with and pass through her to experience that which is beyond individual existence. On the Thoth card I get a sense that Harris was trying for a 3-in-1 symbol. In one sense it is a veil of flowing water. In another sense it is the mother-of-pearl interior of an Oyster shell. While in another sense it is a three peaked summit of a mountain. The latter symbolism seems to have been replicated on the A.C. Tarot card, with a suggestion of waters flowing downwards. The three-peaked mountain is a symbol of the topmost spheres on the Tree of Life and the source of everything. The mountain also links back to the goddess Babalon through the numerical value of her being 156, which is also the value of Zion (TzIVN) the Holy Mountain. Interestingly this symbolism links to cards IV and XV, which feature the Himalayan Ram and the Markhor Goat.

 

The crowns on both cards are different. On the Thoth card he orb on the Crown of the Priestess has changed colour, suggesting spirit entering into matter. The Crown of Hathor that she wears has been linked to the Pesesh-kef, which was ritual implement used in a ceremony that allowed the dead to live in the afterlife. Paradoxically, some scholars speculate that this was based on a tool used to cut the umbilical chord of a new born. This emphasises the transition motif. The A.C. Tarot card features a four segmented crown with an orb on top. This could represent spirit crowning matter or spiriting entering into matter.

 

The postures of the two Empresses are different. In the past I have heard criticism of the awkwardness of the Thoth's Empress. But this is due to her sitting in the pose of the Hebrew letter Lamed ( ל ) which is the middle letter of Daleth (DLTh) associated with Atu VIII - Adjustment and Libra ruled by Venus. Among many things this suggest Natural Law, in contrast to the terrestrial law of the Emperor. It also points to the harmony and balance inherent in natural beauty and organic growth.

 

The A.C. Tarot's Empress seems to replicate this idea of poise and balance in a different way. Below the girdle her legs point to the left, while the sweep of her dress flows to the right. I get the impression of the downward flow of a river with the little swirls that run down the side of the skirt, while simultaneously seeing the slopes of a mountain rising up from the hem. The colour orange is the complementary shade opposite blue on the colour wheel. I'm also wondering if there is a nod towards the 4th chapter of the Book of Lies that corresponds to the Empress/Daleth and is  titled, Peaches.

 

The Thoth's Empress faces to her left to complement the Emperor who faces to his right. In contrast to this the A.C. Tarot's Empress faces directly forward, as does the sign of Aries on her girdle. In magical symbolism the Girdle is the Venusian weapon of attraction. The sign of Aries initiates the zodiacal year, just as alchemical Sulphur (Atu IV) energizes alchemical Salt. The symbol of the latter is a circle with a horizontal line through it. Salt is symbolic of receptive wholeness and completion. Both descriptions of the Thoth and A.C. cards indicate that the arms of the Empress make the symbol of Salt, although the Thoth card is more complicated. With her right hand the Empress makes part of the ritual sign of Puella - the Girl. While with her right arm she is making part of the sign of Mater Triumphans (Triumphant Mother) that simulates the cradling of a baby. This points the doctrine that says; "Beyond the Abyss, contradiction is Unity. We see the same paradox motif of the Priestess card. Despite being a virgin she makes with her arms the the sexually receptive sign of Mullier - the Woman. Contradictions piled on contradictions designed to point the way to the transcendence of the rational, reasoning mind that sees only separation and division.

 

The Pelican on the A.C. Tarot card is quite clearly a pelican. Even Angeles Arrien could not try to claim it was an "ugly duckling" as she did with Harris's err.. Swan-ican. The Pelican has traditionally been associated Jesus Christ because of the self sacrifice theme. But Crowley is adamant that self sacrifice is a misconception of nature because we are not seeing the whole picture. If reality is a unified wholeness, how can one part of that wholeness sacrifice itself for another part? Is the mother who would sacrifice anything for the sake of her children denying herself? Or she really affirming herself in the truest way she possibly could? This is why it is said in Liber 418 that Motherhood is the symbol of the (spiritual) Masters. After passing through the Gate of Heaven behind the Empress, why do the Masters re-enter the world as guides and teachers? Is it a sign of their great self sacrifice and compassion? Or is it sign that they see everything as a Unity that includes all the other people in the world?! How could any Master worth their Salt leave the world for nirvana, while that same world is identical with their SELF. To the Master, Samsara is Nirvana.  

 

On the Thoth Tarot the pelican has 24 feathers. Snuffin claims this points to the 24th path and Atu XIII - Death. Is the Universal Life in anyway diminished by being cut up into individual lives? The pelican on the A.C. Tarot has 6 feathers on its wing. 6 is the macrocosm and it is also the mystic number of Binah, the Great Mother. The four chicks might then be the four elements of Malkuth the Daughter.

 

In connection with this symbol Crowley refers to the 5th degree of O.T.O. Initiates of this grade are concerned with the social welfare of the order. One might legitimately ask how can anyone do their True Will if their primary concern is the welfare other people? Is this not a sacrifice? But the True Will is inherently relational. The circumstances of one's life are the Matrix (Latin for Womb) through which the True Self can be expressed. The True Will can have no meaning outside of that relationship. This connection of everything is suggested by the long green hair of the Empress that extends from the Crown to the green earth at the bottom of the card.

 

On the A.C. Tarot the eagle-shield has become a literal eagle. I wonder if this is based on the new attribution of the four Kerubim.

 

Bull = Vir the Man.

Lion = Puer the Son

Angel = Mullier the Woman.

Eagle = Puella the Daughter.

 

Setting the Daughter to the throne of the Mother is the Great Work of uniting the individual soul with the Universal Life. The eagle looks back at the Empress and reminds me of a line from the 8th Aethyr. 

 

Quote

And unto him that understandeth at last do I deliver the secrets of truth in such wise that the least of the little children of the light may run to the knees of the mother and be brought to understand.

 

Tania Ahsan does not mention the green rose at the bottom of the A.C. Tarot card. But on the Thoth Tarot it is called the "Secret Rose" by Crowley. This rose sits atop the same green mound seen on the Sun card. The same card that features the girdle of the zodiac. Maybe this is pointing to potential of growth we all share children of the Great Mother, if only we can begin to realize the connection of all things and the Agape (love) that binds the universe into One.

 

I'm going to stop here, but I feel as if I've only scratched the surface of this incredibly deep card.  

Edited July 22, 2023 by Aeon418
Typo

[Aeon418]

Atu IV - The Emperor.

 

This card is much simpler than the Empress. Although, like the Empress, the new A.C. Tarot Emperor faces forward. The pointed crown and the pointed beard give the impression of two interlocking triangles creating a hexagram.

 

The Emperor is the card of Aries, which is ruled by Mars with the Sun exalted. Looking at the Thoth and A.C. Tarot cards side by side, I get a much more martial vibe from the former, while the latter seems to emphasise the the solar aspect. This could suggest that the process underway in the Thoth image has reached completion and balance in the A.C. Tarot card. But both Emperor's still sit the posture of Alchemical Sulphur (triangle above a cross), suggesting fiery and invigorating energy.

 

The tunic of the Thoth's Emperor features industrious bees, pointing to activity and ordered work. But I can't quite make out the repeating symbol on the tunic of the A.C. Tarot's Emperor. Putting my neck on the line, I'm going to say it's a hawk, which suggests the establishment of the reign of Horus, the Crowned and Conquering Child on earth.

 

One big difference between the two cards is the ray of light on the Thoth card that descends from the top left corner. To me it seems significant that the ray illuminates only one of the Rams and part of the Lamb. To me this suggests the "gentle heat" mentioned in the Emerald Tablet.

 

Quote

"Separate that spirituous earth from the dense or crude earth by means of a gentle heat, with much attention."

"In great measure it ascends from the earth up to heaven, and descends again, new born, on the earth, and the superior and the inferior are increased in power."

 

Controlled energy is needed to perform the Great Work. Too much Ram energy and those guys are going to start butting heads. But too much Lamb and the fire goes out and nothing gets done. The gentle heat is Love. This is why the Emperor traditionally looks towards the Empress / Venus. Through this gentle heat the Emperor is able to refine himself and rise to greater heights. This refinement simultaneously precipitates an influx of regenerative spiritual light - LVX.

 

The eagle eyed might spot a similarity with Atu XVII - The Star. But in card XVII the process seems to be the other way around. The Goddess pours water on her own head, while simultaneously pouring water on the juncture between the sea and the land. It's almost as if cards IV and XVII were two different perspectives on one process. Many of the seeming "editorial errors" in the Book of Thoth, begin to make sense when you're able to wrap your head around this loop in the zodiac.

 

I'm not sure if there's any great significance in the direction the Lamb faces on the two versions of the card. But lets indulge the idea and see where it goes. On the Thoth card the Lamb looks towards the shield. The double head eagle has the fiery wings of the Phoenix, which was reborn through fire. Perhaps this points to the regeneration of I.N.R.I.. According to biblical tradition this is an acronym of IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDÆORVM - Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. But an alchemical reinterpretation of this acronym is Inge Natura Renovatur Integra - All Nature is Renewed by Fire. Perhaps the Lamb looking in the opposite direction on the A.C. Tarot card is a way of saying that this renewal is complete. Perhaps this can be seen as a natural growth beyond the confines of the authority of Paternalistic religion and the doctrine of Vicarious Atonement, towards a reborn humanity that is ready and able to assume the throne of power and responsibility that are part of parcel of an increased awareness of humankinds inherent divinity. The divine right of Kings is reborn as "Every man and every woman is a star."

Edited July 23, 2023 by Aeon418

[Aeon418]

Atu V - The Hierophant.

 

There are some significant differences between the Thoth and A.C. Tarot cards. But before that a few quibbles about the new card design. I don't like the look of the baby in the pentagram. The small child on the Thoth card looks much better in my opinion. The elephants seriously need some tusks. And finally, the Eagle (?) in the top left of the card looks like a Woodpecker. 😲

 

One thing I really do like about the new card design is the increased emphasis on the flame-like nature of the Hierophant's vestments. It really does bring out the close connection between this card and Atu XVI - The Tower. More on that later. I also like the increased clarity of the tri-coloured Sceptre of the Three Aeons. The colours are barely visible on the original Thoth card. However the sceptre has been moved to the left hand, which means the new Hierophant no longer makes the inverted benediction with his "sinister" left hand. But the sinister "sting in the tail" still finds its way in the new design.

 

The biggest design change is the window behind the Hierophant. I had to sit with the new card for a while before it began to make sense. I could be wrong, but my initial gut reaction was that the 12 panes of the window represented the 12 signs of the zodiac. This is the macrocosm that the Hierophant unites with the microcosm in his role as the Pontifex or "bridge-maker" between heaven and earth. This is consistent with the Hebrew letter attribution of Vau - the nail - that unites the divided parts of the universe.

 

But what nailed it for me was when I placed the signs of the zodiac in each of the window panes. It does not really matter whether you go left to right or vice versa, but going top to bottom you end up with the zodiac aligned in three columns of Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable signs.

 

A crudely formatted example:

 

Cardinal - Fixed - Mutable

 

Aries --- Taurus --- Gemini

 

Cancer --- Leo --- Virgo

 

Libra --- Scorpio --- Sagittarius 

 

Capricorn - Aquarius - Pisces

 

If you look closely at the card you will see that the top point of the hexagram touches the 2nd window pane corresponding to Taurus. This is the sign attributed to the Hierophant card. However the headdress of the Hierophant points to the 8th pane corresponding to Scorpio. Taurus and Scorpio sit opposite each other on the wheel of the zodiac. Their associated Hebrew letters are Vau and Nun. Flip them around and they spell NU, the shortened form of Nuit, the star goddess of the macrocosm.

 

But it goes further than that. There are traditional links to the Hierophant card and the subject of alchemy. The goal of alchemy is usually described as the Fixing of the Volatile. This is associated with the sign of Taurus because it is the most stable of the fixed signs. But the ever changing Moon is exalted in Taurus. These polar opposites are united by Venus (Love) who rules Taurus. (This is part of the reason why the Lunar-Venusian Scarlet Woman appears on card V and also why the volatile serpent is fixed with 9 nails on the Thoth card.)

 

However the sting in the tail is that before the Volatile can be Fixed, the Fixed must first be Volatized. This is accomplished by the darkly destructive sign of Scorpio, ruled by Mars with Pluto exalted. Yikes! 😱 This is where the destructive Martial connection comes in. Card V is 5, the number of Mars and the fifth sphere of Geburah. The Hierophant also sits of the 16th path of the Tree of life. 16 = XVI - The Tower, the card of Mars on which Pluto - Rex Infernus-  appears as the fire belching mouth of Dis.

 

The Hierophant declares the Word of the New Aeon that destroys the previously fixed order of the Old Aeon. In this respect he is "Le feu du ciel," the Fire from Heaven that destroys the old Tower, while simultaneously ushering forth the Word that will be enshrined in the new House of God. The ground plan of that new structure is symbolised by the new position of the 4 Kerubim, the 4 fixed signs of the zodiac, in the corners of the Hierophant card.

 

Another change between the A.C. Tarot card and the Thoth is in the pentagrams and hexagram. In trying to clarify the hexagram, the artist of the A.C. Tarot card has obscured the inverted pentagram visible on the Thoth card. Traditionally this symbol is seen as a "sinister" omen of evil. But in reality it only represents the descent of spirit into matter. Unfortunately the descent of spirit into matter can cause a lot of turmoil as it is Volatized by the new influx of energy. (In this context see Crowley's description of the minor 5's in the Book of Thoth, and why they must not be thought of as evil.) This is why Crowley directs our attention to the legend of Pasiphae in his description of the Hierophant card. Pasiphae mated with the Cretan Bull and conceived the Minotaur - Asterion - the starry one. While King Minos, who refused to sacrifice the same bull, was cursed to ejaculate scorpions. Now there's a sting in the tail! In the same passage Crowley mentions Shaivism and Christianity. Shiva dances on the bodies of his devotees, while even Christ got "nailed" before his ascension to heaven.

 

Finally, Atu V is inspired by a verse from Liber LXV. Chapter 5, verse 5. All the 5's again!

 

Quote

5. Now is the Pillar established in the Void; now is Asi fulfilled of Asar; now is Hoor let down into the Animal Soul of Things like a fiery star that falleth upon the darkness of the earth.

 

Asi and Asar are Isis and Osiris. These are represented on Atu 5 by the Scarlet Woman and the Hierophant. They are also the green and yellow rings of the sceptre. Hoor is Horus, the fiery star that falls into the animal soul. In qabalah this is the Nephesh, or the Lunar subconscious part of the soul. Note where the inverted pentagram touches the Scarlet Woman. In symbolic language this describes how the Aeon of Horus will first manifest in the lunar-subconscious part of humanity, causing a lot of turmoil and upheaval until it is fully birthed in the world. (See Atu XX) This is why the same fiery star is synonymous with the destructive, fiery star of Wormwood described in Revelation, chp.8. 

 

No wonder Crowley says the Hierophant is having a very secret joke at somebody's expense. 😄💥   

[Aeon418]

Atu VI - The Lovers.

 

Even though it is almost a like-for-like redraw, this is one of the more cutesy cards in the A.C. Tarot deck. Crowley refers to this card as the "creation of the world" because it represents the emergence of duality out of the primordial and unknowable unity. As a consequence this a card of choices and decisions, but also contradictions and indecision. 

 

The hooded figure in the background of both the Thoth and A.C. cards combines the symbolism of a mountain or a pyramid. Mountains and high places are traditionally associated with the realm of the gods. But the mountain is also the emblem of the alchemical Great Work and the aspiration needed to climb it. In this respect the hooded figure represents the universe itself as the Great Alchemist preparing the instruments of the Royal Art.

 

In trying to emphasise the fact that the hooded figure is indeed the Hermit of Atu IX, the artist of the A.C. Tarot has obscured one of the more hidden aspects of this card and its relationship to the sphere of Binah and the Great Mother. One of the titles of this feminine sphere is the "Outer Robe of Glory." Looking at the Thoth card the Hermit is clothed in a pink-mauve robe with a distinctive "hood" that is meant to represent the female Yoni. Looking back at the A.C. Tarot card, I wonder if an ovarian theme is being implied with the scroll and the peculiar shape of the hands.

 

In both cards Cupid or Eros descends upon the "hood" and provides the inspiration towards Union that characterises the universe of complementary opposites. The word "Thelema" is inscribed upon the quiver to symbolise the divine purpose behind the Opus.

 

The scrolls on the two cards are different. I think I prefer the mobius loop on the Thoth card, with the two hands being thrust through it to symbolise the divine unity seeking to manifest and experience itself through the medium of separation and individual existence.

 

Quote

 

28. None, breathed the light, faint & faery, of the stars, and two.

29.	For I am divided for love’s sake, for the chance of union.

30. This is the creation of the world, that the pain of division is as nothing, and the joy of dissolution all.

 

 

I can't think of any deep reason behind the switching of the positions of Eve and Lilith on the A.C. Tarot card. They represent a single unity that has been separated into "this and that" by the individual mind that exemplifies the cutting action of the Sword that 'painfully' divides reality into individual pieces. (3 of Swords - Sorrow) The arch of swords points to the unitary consciousness that must be realized to return to Eden.

 

The crown of the Queen's differs between the two cards. On the Thoth card the Queen wears the crown of the Empress, while of the A.C. Tarot card she wears a more conventional silver crown. It's not a huge change, but I think I would have preserved the inferred link between the Empress and the Emperor. Also the Queen's chalice is now marked with 3 spots instead of a dove. 

 

The wings of the Orphic egg are little different on the new card. According to the Book of Thoth they are "tinged with crimson." According to Liber 777, crimson is the colour of Binah in the king colour scale, where it represents blood. This is the life energy of the individual life that is ultimately one with the Universal Life. From the Great Mother we emerge, and to that same source we return upon completion of the Great Work. (Atu VII - The Chariot).

[gregory]

37 minutes ago, Aeon418 said:

I can't think of any deep reason behind the switching of the positions of Eve and Lilith on the A.C. Tarot card.

 

Remember the artist was just given Crowley's orders - did he specify which way round they were (I have none of my books with me...) She hadn't seen the cards.

[Aeon418]

1 hour ago, gregory said:

Remember the artist was just given Crowley's orders - did he specify which way round they were (I have none of my books with me...) She hadn't seen the cards.

 

In the Book of Thoth, Crowley quotes his vision of a completely different Lovers card from Liber 418. Cain/Abel stands in the middle, flanked by Eve on his right and a figure "somewhat like the Hindoo Kali" on his left. Crowley's description of the actual Thoth card does not specify. It merely says that they "stand behind." Maybe this is the justification for the swap.

 

The section of the accompanying booklet to the Aleister Crowley Tarot (p.12) titled, "A Modern Interpretation," is open to interpretation itself. To me it reads like a bit of hyperbole that does not preclude the artist using the Thoth deck as a basis for her reinterpretation. In fact, some of the designs are so similar that I find it very hard to believe that Paula Zorite never looked at the Harris paintings for guidance or inspiration.

 

Beyond that I'm unaware of any "original descriptions" of the Thoth Tarot cards. Crowley made a few rough sketches of some of the cards and gave Harris a lot of verbal instruction along with rough notes, but beyond that Harris had to rely on early drafts of the Book of Thoth, the descriptions of the Tarot in the Equinox, volume 1, nos. VII & VIII, and her own researches into the designs of older Tarot decks. Crowley (writing under the pseudonym Soror I.W.E.) basically admits as much in the Bibliographical Note to the Book of Thoth.

[gregory]

Fair enough. Just asking as I have nothing here to look things up in ! 

[Aeon418]

45 minutes ago, gregory said:

Fair enough. Just asking as I have nothing here to look things up in ! 

 

It has just occurred to me that the placements of Eve and Lilith might be the same in both cards. Looking again at the winged figure on the left of the A.C. Tarot card, I'm beginning to suspect it may actually be a representation of Inanna / Ishtar and by extension - Lilith. It may be an expression of the idea that deities of older religions are absorbed into newer religions, but their significance is changed in the process. In this context it is a goddess of an ancient culture being cast in the role of a demonic figure because it can't be re-purposed in the mould of wife or mother as represented by Eve.  

[Aeon418]

Atu VII - The Chariot.

 

This card is a bit of a departure from its Thoth Tarot counterpart. Starting with the Charioteer himself, he is no longer seated in a meditation posture. He seems to be reclining in a pose that is vaguely suggestive of the letters L.V.X. Note the cook of the arm (V) and the crossed legs (X). This is the Latin word Lux - Light, and is a possible nod to Crowley's comment that this card represents light in darkness. Like the Thoth card, the Charioteer has his vizor down because he is NEMO - No Man - and has passed beyond the personal self. He seems to be totally focused on the Grail. His personal life has been poured into the Cup, which is shown by one half of the sign of Cancer. "His only function is to bear the Holy Grail." 

 

The standard / flag that flies above the Chariot could also be interpreted as a pennant to show that this Knight-errant has the "favour of a lady." The Grail Quest is pursued to bring honour to Her. That lady is Binah, the Great Sea, also called Babalon by Crowley. (Babalon = 156)

 

Quote

Here is Wisdom. Let Him that hath Understanding count the Number of Our Lady; for it is the Number of a Woman; and Her Number is

An Hundred and Fifty and Six.

 

If this high and noble calling (True Will) is forgotten or ignored, then the fiery energy that powers the red wheels of the Chariot will become engines of destruction, motivated by nothing more than petty whims and personal desires. "Thou hast no right but to do thy will." 

 

The Great Sea of Binah is shown in the background of the card with a reflection of the Moon, which rules the sign of Cancer. This is the sea of universal life from which the Charioteer set forth on the Grail Quest of individual existence. Once that Great Work is complete the Charioteer returns and pours his personal life back into sea. Or out of fear and selfishness, retreats into the crab-shell of ego and withholds the prize, thereby betraying his Oath to Our Lady. The Chariot in the A.C. Tarot card has a suggestion of a old style horse drawn hearse with a coffin at the bottom. But the starry canopy above suggests the true source from which the Chariot emerged in the first place. The 21 spirals that curl their way down the the four pillars might indicate AHIH, Eheieh, the godname of Kether. This is the godhead manifesting as individuality and its eventual return upon completion of the Great Work - ABRAHADABRA. It's interesting to note the influence of the Moon here as ruler of flux and reflux.

 

I can't make up my mind if the Charioteer has 10 or 11 stars on his armour. The Thoth card has 10 stars to indicate the realm of Assiah, the lowest of the four qabalistic realms. It is the world of "action" in which we live and in which events can occur from an individual perspective. But 11 stars might be a link to the words of the star goddess Nuit in the Book of the Law.

 

Quote

My number is 11, as all their numbers who are of us.

 

11 is 5 + 6 and represents the union of the microcosm and the macrocosm. The Charioteer is ultimately one and the same as the starry universe. But this must be reflected in his noble deeds and actions in the world. His noble purpose and Knightly oath is the Word of the True Will that he incarnated to carry out. And all in service to the greater cause of Our Lady.

 

Just like the Thoth card, the four beasts have counter-changed attributes to show the elemental balancing that is required to pull the Chariot on a Willed course. Each of the beasts is yoked to the Chariot by the strictest bonds of self-discipline that allows the Charioteer to remain focused on the Holy Grail. (As a side note the letter Cheth (8) attributed to this card means "fence." But it can also mean "beast." See card XI where the 8 headed Beast has also been reigned through "love under will.")

 

The ground over which the Chariot is drawn has been worn into the Path of Tradition. This is said to be one of the classical meanings of card VII. The word tradition comes from the Latin "tradere," which means to hand over or to deliver. This can be seen has the Charioteer delivering the Grail that has been won on the quest in the world of manifest actions. It can also be the Master who returns to the world as the Enlightenment Warrior, bearing the Cup of spiritual Understanding that is freely offered to any and all who wish to drink and recover the Memory of their own divine Grail Quest. 

[Aeon418]

VIII - Adjustment

 

To my eye the differences between the A.C. Tarot and Thoth cards are superficial. Even the addition of the Uraeus Serpent on the new card isn't a big deal. The 'hooded cobra" as lord of life and death was already suggested on the Thoth card by the twin feathers of Maat.

 

Overall both cards still depict the process of cosmic adjustment, with each individual being the pivot on which the entire universe is balanced. But this is no mere mechanical act. The mask implies mystery in the way things will ultimately work out. The ballet dancer is 'en pointe' in a great performance and a work of art and life. 

 

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely Players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His Acts being seven ages.

 

The only question is whether one plays one's part, whatever that may be.

 

Human concepts of justice and fairness are still implied by this card. But win or lose, they are still minor acts in a greater cosmic play.    

[Aeon418]

IX - The Hermit

 

The major difference between the A.C. Tarot and Thoth cards is the overall brightness of the image. The Hermit's lamp now fully illuminates the field of wheat in the A.C. Tarot card. But this was already implied in the Thoth Tarot card, where illumination provided by the lamp is a function of the Hermit's adoration of the cosmic egg. This is an inwardly directed spiritual process that sheds light into the material world. In the language of Qabalah this is the Yod of IHVH fully manifesting in the material world of Heh-final. Or as Crowley describes it: The awakening of the Eld of the All-Father and the rescue of the Virgin of the World from her virginity. This is definitely a fertile card.

 

The Hermit himself is slightly different. The A.C. Tarot card features a more recognizable bearded ancient. Although the beard itself looks like one of those fake Santa Clause beards. However, the 'stuck on' aspect draws attention to it, which I'm guessing is meant to indicate the action of the inner creative divine will being the source of the light in the lamp. This is turn is derived from the Hermit's one pointed focus on the Orphic egg. As Tania Ahsan rightly points out in her description of the card, this is an inner illumination and not one of looking outwards into the material world. If the Hermit were to 'turn back' the light would go out and he would be plunged into darkness. This mirrors the mistake of Orpheus who looked back into Hades, only to see Eurydice instantly vanish.

 

Despite the fact that Cerberus is represented on the new card, Tania Ahsan does not mention him at all. One interpretation is that he represents the unconscious tendencies of the mind that make it habitually focus outwards on external appearances. This is why we are unable to see the "light that pervades all parts of the Universe equally."        

Edited October 22, 2023 by Aeon418
Typo

[smw]

On 10/22/2023 at 6:27 PM, Aeon418 said:

IX - The Hermit

Despite the fact that Cerberus is represented on the new card, Tania Ahsan does not mention him at all.      

I have just realised that an obvious association of Cerberus is that of the Triple Goddess Hecate, standing at the cross roads of life & death at the entrance of the Underworld.

 

The 3 faces of the Divine feminine, Maiden, Mother & Crone, the macro reflection of the  embodied life stages of women - virginal, fertile, and old wise Women. 
 

This dark Goddess aspect of the Mother may be unexpected. Not all feminine qualities, which are in all of us - are necessarily sweetness and light.

 

I have been looking up the Sumerian Goddess Ianna, fascinating…she  does seem to be represented on the AC Tarot Lover’s card. The wings are pretty similar to depictations.
 

Apparently, she can also be associated with Hekate, in her dual powers over both above and below realms. A Goddess that is consort, mother and seeker😀

[Aeon418]

2 hours ago, smw said:

I have just realised that an obvious association of Cerberus is that of the Triple Goddess Hecate, standing at the cross roads of life & death at the entrance of the Underworld.

 

Thank you for contributing @smw. 

 

This thread is mainly aimed at the differences between the Thoth and A.C. Tarot decks. Perhaps further exploration of the symbolism of Cerberus would be more appropriate in a recent thread dedicated specifically to the Hermit card.

 

 https://www.thetarotforum.com/forums/topic/15456-atu-ix-orpheus/ 

 

[smw]

1 hour ago, Aeon418 said:

 

Thank you for contributing @smw. 

 

This thread is mainly aimed at the differences between the Thoth and A.C. Tarot decks. Perhaps further exploration of the symbolism of Cerberus would be more appropriate in a recent thread dedicated specifically to the Hermit card.

 

 https://www.thetarotforum.com/forums/topic/15456-atu-ix-orpheus/ 

 

Ah, yes, sorry! I’ll take a look at that.
 

Edited October 25, 2023 by smw

[Aeon418]

37 minutes ago, smw said:

Ah, yes, sorry! I’ll take a look at that.

 

I've just updated the thread with a significant connection that you might find useful.

[smw]

36 minutes ago, Aeon418 said:

 

I've just updated the thread with a significant connection that you might find useful.

 

Thank you! 

 

I have not had time for a proper read - but I love the myth of Orpheus & Eurydice. 
 

 

[Aeon418]

Browsing Amazon (UK) today I noticed there are two different listings for the Aleister Crowley Tarot. One is labelled "Arcturus Oracle Kits" and is priced at £16.77. While the other one is labelled "Sirius Oracle Kits" and is priced at £21.19. 

 

Arturus -  The Aleister Crowley Tarot Book & Card Deck: Includes a 78-Card Deck and a 128-Page Illustrated Book (Arcturus Oracle Kits): Amazon.co.uk: Ahsan, Tania, Crowley, Aleister, Zorite, Paula, Morgan, Mogg: 9781398820432: Books

 

Sirius - The Aleister Crowley Tarot Book & Card Deck: Includes a 78-Card Deck and a 128-Page Illustrated Book (Sirius Oracle Kits): Amazon.co.uk: Ahsan, Tania, Crowley, Aleister, Zorite, Paula, Morgan, Mogg: 9781398825833: Books

 

Apart from the price they look identical. So what gives? My copy is the Arcturus one and is roughly the same price I paid for it.

[gregory]

Mine is the Arcturus too. $16.95 CDN. But they look the same.... And I cannot find ANY listing for the publisher of the pricier one - Sirius Entertainment. Only ones that closed down ages ago.

 

OH. BUT - on the Open Library website, "Arcturus" is listed as one of Sirius Entertainments authors.... But everywhere one goes, it comes up only for graphic novels.

 

I'd say - guys - buy the Arcturus copy and save money !

Edited May 26, 2024 by gregory

[Aeon418]

56 minutes ago, gregory said:

Mine is the Arcturus too. $16.95 CDN. But they look the same.... And I cannot find ANY listing for the publisher of the pricier one - Sirius Entertainment. Only ones that closed down ages ago.

 

That's interesting. I was wondering if Sirius/Arcturus were just different trading names for the same company. I thought the Sirius version might be a North American import because of the higher price. But I believe you purchased your copy in Canada? So that blows that theory out of the water.

 

The images of the cards and the companion booklet on the Sirius listing look slightly different to my Arcturus edition. The picture of the cards where the printed border goes all the way to the edge of the card looks like a promotional graphic mock up to me. It's not an actual deck. I have not seen single example of any physical cards looking like that.

 

And the image scans of the booklet look a little different too. The picture that shows the section on the Fool card begins with a quotation from the Book of Thoth. But in the actual booklet that I have the quotation has been replaced by a selection of those ubiquitously awful keywords. Maybe the image on the Sirius listing is a pre-production graphic that never went to press. I've seen several flip-throughs of the booklet, and they all match the Arcturus one I have.         

[gregory]

I did indeed - in an actual physical store there. Imports were my first thought too. I didn't look as thoroughly as you did at the book. I wonder if it's a knockoff. I hope not...

[Aeon418]

37 minutes ago, gregory said:

I did indeed - in an actual physical store there. Imports were my first thought too. I didn't look as thoroughly as you did at the book. I wonder if it's a knockoff. I hope not...

 

I don't think it's a knock off. Almost every YouTube review / flip-through video I've seen features the Arcturus edition. But after a search I managed to find one with the Sirius edition. The cards look exactly the same and have the white border. Plus the Sirius booklet also has keywords as well. 

 

Amazon USA and Canada only seem to stock the Sirius edition, which would suggest the Sirius listing on Amazon UK is an import. But the Arcturus edition was published a little earlier than the Sirius. Could it be that you actually bought a UK import in Canada? My box has £19.99 printed on the back, which means it was meant for the UK market. How about yours? 

 

Plus the publisher's imprint inside the booklet for Arcturus Publishing Limited is a London address.

[gregory]

My box has no price on it at all, but yes, the Arcturus address is London. MAYBE before the Sirius one came out, Indigo (the BIG bookstore chain over there where I bought it) got a request for it and ordered a few ?]

Wait. 

 

Well well. 

 

They are only selling the Arcturus one by the DETAILS, but it shows the Sirius number:

 

https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-aleister-crowley-tarot-book-card-deck-includes-a-78-card-deck-and-a-128-page-illustrated-book/9781398825833.html?

 

AND - I just remembered - I wasn't going to buy it at all, but when I did - it was because it was in their hugely discounted section - where you sometimes get AMAZING deals. Clearly I did; it is now $32.95 CDN (+tax, of course....)

 

I might ask Arcturus. ETA I have done !

Edited May 27, 2024 by gregory

[Aeon418]

5 hours ago, gregory said:

Clearly I did; it is now $32.95 CDN (+tax, of course....)

 

Crikey! I bet you could buy a large Thoth for that! Although I think the £16 something quid I paid was very reasonable considering the very nice (and sturdy) presentation box the cards come in. I've paid more for cards that came in flimsy boxes that looked like a cheap and cheerful afterthought.    

[gregory]

Oh sure - I've not even any quarrel with the current price, these days - it just seems odd. Books in Canada are very expensive compared with the UK.