MsShootingStar Healthy Self-Improving Introvert
Interesting post. I had actually bought myself a Thoth deck a while back and never got into actually figuring out their meanings… any suggestions as to which books I should use for Thoth specifically? I know there is a “Thoth tarot” book but I tend to find myself LOST as a beginner with the explanations they give.
Thanks for the info!
budgallant Is enjoying the new changes to 43things. Looking good.
Books
If you’re finding the small book that comes with the deck is not enough to start with, you could try something like Tarot: Mirror of the Soul: Handbook for the Aleister Crowley Tarot, which is available here:
Tarot: Mirror of the Soul: Handbook for the Aleister Crowley Tarot
There are multiple levels of meaning, as well… The Book of Thoth would be the somewhat definitive companion to the deck, as it was written by Crowley himself for that purpose. Likely, though, you will find it very confusing and complex without a background in western hermeticism. Also, it deals primarily with meanings on a macrocosmic and mystical level, rather than providing you definitions you’d utilize easily for everyday questions. The book I mentioned above seems to give more practical interpretations, basing itself on Crowley’s material, but putting it into an easier to understand format.
Really, though, the most important thing with tarot is to find what each card means specifically to you… This is something that can only be done through use, and is perfected with time. I see no really problem with you trying to ponder out the meanings through meditation on the imagery of the cards, or with the small booklet that came with the deck, and just coming to your own understanding. In a way, everyone’s tarot is different, though generally the basic idea is similar enough that people can normally agree on general interpretations.
The most important thing (in nearly every new endeavor), is beginning… Even if you feel unprepared. Without action, you will lack the framework required for useful study. I.E. You could read tarot books for 10 years, without ever using them, and someone who is blindly reading tarot for a week going by intuition may actually have a better grasp of it.
Even if you start with one-card readings, you’ll be leaps ahead by doing, rather than simply reading. Once you’ve started doing, the learning becomes more relevant to the mind, and is better grasped and retained.
Hope that helps a bit. Feel free to follow up with me, or through email at budgallant@gmail.com
