Thoth Tarot
The Thoth tarot combines Aleister Crowley’s esoteric proposal with Frieda Harris’s paintings in a deck of 78 cards. Its colours, geometric forms and correspondences give it an identity distinct from Rider-Waite-Smith and Marseille. Its name evokes Egyptian inspiration within a twentieth-century creation.
Background and development
Harris and Crowley worked on the project from the late 1930s into the early 1940s. Crowley’s explanatory book, The Book of Thoth, was published in 1944. The paintings, the book and commercial card editions should be distinguished when telling its history and acknowledging both creators.
Contribution and distinctions
Some trumps have different names: Temperance becomes Art and Judgement becomes The Aeon. The court figures are Knight, Queen, Prince and Princess. These names deserve attention: the rank and function of a Rider Knight should not automatically be transferred to a Thoth Knight.
An example to explore
To begin, observe one card without memorising every correspondence. Describe its forms, tensions and colours, then consult the relevant passage in the book. With Art, for example, you might explore how different elements combine. This symbolic proposal becomes more precise when connected with a particular question.
Further reading
Thoth can be studied gradually and used for everyday questions too. Its esoteric associations broaden a reading but do not guarantee greater accuracy. The links below offer comparisons with other decks; check each tool’s introduction to see which cards it uses.