Getting started with tarot through Thoth

[tarotnottaken]

The only decks I've seen that match the beauty of Lady Freida Harris's drawings are those of M.M. Meleen. https://www.tabulamundi.com/

 

And, I suppose, Salvador Dali's magnificent deck. I may get Meleen's Telos 777 deck down the road...

[Rose Lalonde]

15 minutes ago, Angband said:

The only decks I've seen that match the beauty of Lady Freida Harris's drawings are those of M.M. Meleen. https://www.tabulamundi.com/

Agreed. After working with the Thoth for a few years, I got Tabula Mundi in 2016, and it's been my main reading deck since, although I do read with the beautiful, original Thoth sometimes. Tabula Mundi, and Meleen's Book M that was written for it, made what the Thoth is communicating clearer to me. For one thing, the way TM uses symbols from the majors on the minor cards that share the same astrological correspondences is genius.  And all with original art. This is a case of a deck creator who knows the Thoth deeply, and loves it. It's 'sacrilege', but for my own purposes, Tabula Mundi exceeded the original.

Edited October 28, 2024 by Rose Lalonde
typo

[tarotnottaken]

Does anyone here have experience with this series of books? https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Thoth-Tarot-VOL-Universe/dp/1983270393

 

[Aeon418]

16 hours ago, Angband said:

Does anyone here have experience with this series of books? https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Thoth-Tarot-VOL-Universe/dp/1983270393

 

 

I posted mini reviews of all three books earlier this year.

 

Book review: Secrets of the Thoth Tarot by Marcus Katz - Thoth - Tarot, Tea, & Me - A Tarot Reader's Community

 

[Nemia]

I totally agree - working with M.M. Meleen's decks deepened my understanding of and appreciation for the Thoth. 

 

I started my tarot journey with the Thoth, and it's still among my top decks. The Tabula Mundi is amazing, and the Telos - wow. I'll write about it when I have a little time window. 

 

My advice for a new reader would be: the Thoth is an amazing work of art, a coherent, powerful system of magic, and a truthful reading deck. It's also a great teacher. Everything you want to know is hidden within the images of the deck. 

 

Let the Thoth lead you. Over time, you'll discover the beauty of astrology, kabbalah and alchemy, and everything will make sense. I could never understand the kabbalah on its own, but working with the Thoth, it clicked for me many years ago, and now it has become so important to me. 

 

DuQuette is IMHO the best beginner's book, it's lucid and he doesn't distort the message of the cards. 

 

the wonderful thing about the Thoth: even before you know anything about the system of correspondences that keeps the whole thing together, it gives truthful, poignant readings. 

Edited November 11, 2024 by Nemia

[Deian]

On 10/20/2024 at 4:34 AM, Angband said:

Thank you both for your helpful comments, I appreciate it. I wasn't sure how active this forum was bit it seems like it's a good place to be based on how fast I got responses. 🙂 I'll add Snuffin's The Thoth Companion and The Crowley Tarot Handbook to my cart as well. And with all that, I think I'll be set for a while.

 

I just realized there's an introductions section, so I'll go post there shortly. However, there are some other questions that I have that I might as well drop in here:

1. I'm curious about the RWS's popularity compared to the Thoth "tradition," for lack of a better term. I'm under the assumption it's because RWS came decades prior and includes less abstruse imagery, but I'd like to hear others' opinions. What would it take for the Thoth deck to gain in popularity? Or has it grown in recent years?
2. What drew you to the Thoth deck originally? For me, it's primarily the breathtaking art. I've spent several hours scanning probably well over a hundred tarot decks online and in stores and nothing has spoken to me like Lady Freida Harris's artwork has. It's just mesmerizing and the design of the cards is magnificent. I've also heard that this deck is particularly good for self-readings, meditation, self-exploration, and similar endeavors, all of which are my main reasons for getting interested in tarot.
3. Is there any other advice that you have for a brand new tarot reader when it comes to the Thoth tradition of tarot in particular before I dive in?

I know nothing about astrology, numerology, qabalah, hermeticism, esotericism, occultism, The Golden Dawn, or anything like that, so this is going to be quite the journey indeed.

 

Thanks!

 

1. I'm curious about the RWS's popularity compared to the Thoth "tradition," for lack of a better term.
Well, that was the first mass market deck that came out with book how to read it in English... Even though the book was contradicting itself. Also first deck that came from member of G.D. as far as I know.
Crowley didn't stay very long in G.D. and had problems in most of the orders... Had problems with Mathers later on as well...

So why it became so popular... Because it was easily available and somewhere deep people senses there is more to it and worth exploring.

 

2. What drew you to the Thoth deck originally?
Long time ago someone told me I needed to read Crowley to understand Western metaphysical traditions... They were right I guess, although outside of his view to I Ching there is very little I agree on in his material now. Also it was pretty, compared to other decks. Yet I have seen prettier ones, by now.

 

3.Is there any other advice that you have for a brand new tarot reader when it comes to the Thoth tradition of tarot in particular before I dive in?

Hmm... Yes, if you dive deep enough into it and it stops making sense at some point try William G. Gray work.

 

[tarotnottaken]

On 11/12/2024 at 5:51 AM, Deian said:

 

Yet I have seen prettier ones, by now.

 

Which decks do you think are prettier than the Thoth?

[alethian]

My favorite books for Thoth deck study is, 

 

1. The Crowley Tarot by Akron-Hajo Banzhaf

2. Key Words for the Crowley Tarot by Banzhaf & Theler

3. The Thoth Tarot, Astrology, & Other Selected Writings by Phyllis Seckler