Book of Thoth
Book of Thoth is an expression used in different esoteric contexts and does not always identify the same work. In connection with Crowley, it usually means The Book of Thoth, published in 1944 to explain his tarot with Frieda Harris. Identifying author, date and edition avoids confusing modern books with stories of lost Egyptian wisdom.
Background and development
Before Crowley, the idea of tarot as a symbolic book connected with Egypt already circulated among European authors. Etteilla’s bibliography includes works using that name. This is a history of interpretations and publications; the title alone does not establish an ancient origin for the contents.
Contribution and distinctions
Crowley’s book develops his interpretation of the trumps and their esoteric correspondences. Harris’s paintings form the project’s visual dimension. Read text and image together, without attributing all the artistic work to the writer or assuming that his correspondences apply to every deck.
An example to explore
Choose one card and locate its section. First note what the author says, then which details you can recognise in the image. If comparing Art with Rider’s Temperance, keep the names, scenes and interpretations of each system separate.
Further reading
If an edition is advertised as a Book of Thoth, check who wrote it and whether it contains an essay, instructions or a deck. This simple step avoids mixing up different works. Follow the links to learn about Crowley and the Thoth tarot before comparing their symbols with other readings.