Thoth Tarot

[Jahsorgasma]

I've never used the Thoth Deck before just the rider waite illustration and the marsielles deck. I was shopping in a mystical store one day and I was about to purchase the Thoth Deck. The store clerk asked me if I was sure I wanted to purchase the deck. She said the requires someone experienced that knows what they are doing? Is this true? I just started recently but something drew me to want to buy them but the store clerk made me a bit insecure about it. What you think she meant?

[FindYourSovereignty]

18 minutes ago, Jahsorgasma said:

I've never used the Thoth Deck before just the rider waite illustration and the marsielles deck. I was shopping in a mystical store one day and I was about to purchase the Thoth Deck. The store clerk asked me if I was sure I wanted to purchase the deck. She said the requires someone experienced that knows what they are doing? Is this true? I just started recently but something drew me to want to buy them but the store clerk made me a bit insecure about it. What you think she meant?

No idea, but I am curious now as I have a Thoth deck arriving tomorrow. 

[53rdspirit]

I seriously think the clerk was just being too "mystical" for her own good. The Crowley Thoth is filled with symbols of the kabbalah, magical correspondences, and such and is usually considered a deck unto it's own system, (e.g., not Rider-Waite or TdM, etc.). No reason why you can't learn the system and then "know what your're doing" right? I have several of the old Thoth decks and none of them have ever done me harm or anything...they just sit there in their boxes waiting to be read like any other deck. 🙂  If you're drawn to it, buy it, I say. 😄 

Edited February 11, 2020 by 53rdspirit

[Rose Lalonde]

She probably just meant that some of the cards have a different meanings than the RWS most people encounter first. There's also the fact that the Thoth has the astrological symbols from the Golden Dawn Society on the cards, while the RWS is less in your face, with hints here and there like the Venus symbol on the Empress. But both Waite and Crowley were GDS members and learned those correspondences, so the two decks actually had a lot in common at the start. Like siblings. But they added their individual interpretations, and the artists had different illustration styles, so some cards aren't alike in the end. 

 

You may find that the main difference is in speaking with others. The majority of Thoth readers I see talking about the deck online are interested in discussing those astrological correspondences along with others that went into the creation of the deck. Things like hermetic Qabalah and alchemy. On the flip ride, there are many RWS readers who don't include correspondences. 

 

All of that said, you can read with any deck in whatever way you want to read with it. There are no police. 🙂  -- I do include astrology, Qabalah etc in readings, but I don't think it means you have to. If you want a Thoth, I say get a Thoth, and then read with it in the way that seems best to you. 

 

--- Hah, I pretty much said what @53rdspirit said, but I didn't see that post until I was done typing mine. 

Edited February 11, 2020 by Rose Lalonde

[Flaxen]

34 minutes ago, Rose Lalonde said:

If you want a Thoth, I say get a Thoth, and then read with it in the way that seems best to you. 

Absolutely this! The Thoth was the 2nd deck I bought as the art really spoke to me. It is certainly possible to get decent readings straight out of the box. Over time, your readings will deepen especially if you do delve into the aspects @Rose Lalonde mentions. It is well worth spending time with this deck. 

[AeonHorus]

Thoth was my first deck!

It's a beautiful deck, yes there is a lot to learn as in what went on behind creating it, but to buy it and start reading with it. 

Let's just say... If I could then no reason why anyone else couldn't lol.

On 2/12/2020 at 3:05 AM, 53rdspirit said:

I seriously think the clerk was just being too "mystical" for her own good. 

Too true 🤣

 

On 2/12/2020 at 12:52 AM, Jahsorgasma said:

and the marsielles deck

If you understand the Marseille deck then you are 3/4 the way there. Crowley based much of the deck on the old system. 

As a younger man I was taught to do some reading on many systems and other stuff such like. Then devise your own way based upon what you like and then make it your own. Magick is acquired and crafted in your heart and mind, with a little help and inspiration from the universe great things can be achieved.

[katrinka]

On 2/11/2020 at 1:05 PM, 53rdspirit said:

I seriously think the clerk was just being too "mystical" for her own good. The Crowley Thoth is filled with symbols of the kabbalah, magical correspondences, and such and is usually considered a deck unto it's own system, (e.g., not Rider-Waite or TdM, etc.). No reason why you can't learn the system and then "know what your're doing" right? I have several of the old Thoth decks and none of them have ever done me harm or anything...they just sit there in their boxes waiting to be read like any other deck. 🙂  If you're drawn to it, buy it, I say. 😄 

Absolutely this. How is anyone supposed to get the "required experience" from something ELSE? It's like saying you need experience with cats in order to train dogs, or you need to learn to drive a car before you can ride a bike. In some ways, "beginner's mind" can be an advantage - there's less danger of hubris.

 

It sounds like Mystical Clerk was pretending to be privy to the evil secrets of "the wickedest man on earth." 😄 I can understand the motive: retail clerks have near-zero power, they're badly underpaid, bored out of their skulls and often verbally abused, so sometimes they want to mess with the customers a little. But it's utter BS.

People who want to start with Thoth should do so. It will give them a much more solid foundation than a bad theme deck featuring Spongebob or what-have-you.

[AeonHorus]

10 hours ago, katrinka said:

It will give them a much more solid foundation than a bad theme deck featuring Spongebob or what-have-you.

Hahaha BRILLIANT! 🤣

[pacificwaters]

I agree with what everyone has posted. And I too would say, if you felt inclined to buy the Thoth, just go ahead and buy it. 🙂 You never know what would click for you. Be also prepared to learn a lot since the Thoth has layers of information within it.

 

But then, I would also applaud the sales clerk. Thoth is a system which often intimidates new comers since as I often feel it is in a different league of its own. That she just asked him/her to "think before buying" is a good sign IMHO. Compared to times when clerks are solely engaged in increasing sales, irrespective of whether it benefits the end user, these are a rare breed.

[katrinka]

8 minutes ago, pacificwaters said:

But then, I would also applaud the sales clerk. Thoth is a system which often intimidates new comers since as I often feel it is in a different league of its own. That she just asked him/her to "think before buying" is a good sign IMHO. Compared to times when clerks are solely engaged in increasing sales, irrespective of whether it benefits the end user, these are a rare breed.

Fair enough. 

IT'S A big PROJECT that can take YEARS out of your life, and most of us won't do all that, but it's OK. I may never MASTER it. But I can READ it.
We can tell people if they'll get the job,  if their partner is cheating, etc. But if you get a Thoth and flake off and don't study it, it's not the Thoth's fault. 

Thoth gives what you put into it. 
Learn the bare bones of it, and you can read the bare bones, Take it a little further with paths and whatnot, and it all becomes kind of genius.
It's a really cool deck that meets you on your own level. And that's pretty exceptional!

 

[pacificwaters]

4 minutes ago, katrinka said:

IT'S A big PROJECT that can take YEARS out of your life, and most of us won't do all that, but it's OK.

Absolutely yes. I think you worded it correctly!!

[AeonHorus]

2 hours ago, pacificwaters said:

But then, I would also applaud the sales clerk. Thoth is a system which often intimidates new comers since as I often feel it is in a different league of its own. That she just asked him/her to "think before buying" is a good sign IMHO. Compared to times when clerks are solely engaged in increasing sales, irrespective of whether it benefits the end user, these are a rare breed.

Valid point!

[AeonHorus]

1 hour ago, katrinka said:

Fair enough. 

IT'S A big PROJECT that can take YEARS out of your life, and most of us won't do all that, but it's OK. I may never MASTER it. But I can READ it.
We can tell people if they'll get the job,  if their partner is cheating, etc. But if you get a Thoth and flake off and don't study it, it's not the Thoth's fault. 

Thoth gives what you put into it. 
Learn the bare bones of it, and you can read the bare bones, Take it a little further with paths and whatnot, and it all becomes kind of genius.
It's a really cool deck that meets you on your own level. And that's pretty exceptional!

WoW....

That's the first nice thing I think I've heard you say 😉 

[gregory]

1 hour ago, AeonHorus said:

WoW....

That's the first nice thing I think I've heard you say 😉 

 

But - that's rather harsh. Blunt - yes. To the point, yes. But far from ALWAYS not nice.  

[AeonHorus]

54 minutes ago, gregory said:

But - that's rather harsh. Blunt - yes. To the point, yes. But far from ALWAYS not nice

Aw c'mon I'm only joking lol

[gregory]

45 minutes ago, AeonHorus said:

Aw c'mon I'm only joking lol

 

I know.   But katrinka gets a lot more stick than she deserves. She sure as hell deserves some of it, but....  

 

 

[Raggydoll]

1 minute ago, gregory said:

 

I know.   But katrinka gets a lot more stick than she deserves. She sure as hell deserves some of it, but....  

 

 

That’s right. And she doesn’t regret a thing 😋💗

 

 

[AeonHorus]

Hahahaaa 

[katrinka]

8 hours ago, gregory said:

 

But - that's rather harsh. Blunt - yes. To the point, yes. But far from ALWAYS not nice.  

Thanks.

Maybe I need to try harder? 😈