Thoth deck?
gomi no sensei
Craig Magie <ez00...@peseta.ucdavis.edu> wrote:
> I am the first to admit that my knowledge of tarot is extremey
>limited. I recently sterted browsing this newsgroup, and without getting
>involved in the squabbles that seem to be going on here, I have a question.
sounds like a plan; squabbles seem fairly de rigeur, so staying out of them
is a wise thing to do.
> My friend who introduced me to tarot used the Alexander Crowley
>Thoth deck.
heh. that's an amusing interpretation of 'aleister.'
>So, naturally, when I decided to get my own deck, I went
>with what was familiar and got the same. I enjoy the artwork and my deck
>seems to work well for me, although I admit I have trouble interpreting
>it because my knowledge of the symbology is so superficial. My question
>is this: do some of you out there genuinely think that this is a bad
>deck, or is it merely a tool in your personal battles with one another?
>I would appreciate anyone's insights. Thanks.
i wouldn't know from 'personal battles'; i find other objects -- heavy,
blunt ones -- much more efficient than a deck of cards, if ever i find
myself in combat.
but as to the thoth deck's effectiveness, i can say the following:
people tend to feel somewhat extreme about it, either pro or con. personally,
i have a strong disinclination to handle one. an old SO was rather vocal
as to her inability to *touch* one, and my current SO merely says that it
'feels icky.' on the other hand, several people have a fine time with it,
and even find it useful above all other decks. i know of no other deck
that produces these reactions on such short acquaintance, and it is my
contention (warning: subjective, somewhat goofy touchy-feely new age
crap begins here) that thoth decks are imbued with some*thing* from their
ordo templi orientis origins (and yes, i know this statement has logical
and inner-consistency holes one could drive a large truck through), whereas
most other decks are just prettily decorated cardboard until specifically
imbued with energy from an end user. some people, like myself and the
abovementioned SOs, find these beasties unpalatable, whereas other are able
to either ignore them entirely or work with them. if you feel this deck
works well for you, go ahead; if you're having a hard time with the
symbolism and nothing comes to you readily in a reading, you might consider
switching decks. YMMV.
hope this helps somewhat,
heckler
--
this week only! a sale on tyrannical dry wall at home despot!
-dave debry
Jess Karlin
> i know of no other deck
> that produces these reactions on such short acquaintance,
Well that must mean it's the product of Satan himself, huh?
> and it is my contention (warning: subjective, somewhat
> goofy touchy-feely new age crap begins here)
Somewhat?
> that thoth decks are imbued with some*thing* from their
> ordo templi orientis origins
Great! That's what I read this group for-is this kind of rigorous
appreciation for intelligent analysis.
OK, so what would that 'thing' be? Explain the 'thing' that the OTO imbues
the deck with-you all know this procedure right? Stuart Kaplan ships each
lot of Thoth decks over to OTO so-who? Paul Hume or someone-can imbue the
deck with that 'thing'.
> (and yes, i know this statement has logical
> and inner-consistency holes one could drive a large truck through),
Then why not keep silent?
> whereas
> most other decks are just prettily decorated cardboard
> until specifically imbued with energy from an end user.
My Thoth deck came with a self-imbuing applicator but then I have one of
the first ones made back in '78 or '79. I think they stopped including
those about the time they shrunk the deck and started putting the three
Magi in.
> some people, like myself and the
> abovementioned SOs, find these beasties unpalatable,
Unpalatable in what way? What beasties would that be? Explain. If you are
going to defame the deck with nonsense at least be specific.
> whereas other are able to either ignore them entirely or work
> with them. if you feel this deck works well for you, go ahead;
> if you're having a hard time with the
> symbolism and nothing comes to you readily in a reading,
> you might consider switching decks.
Or trying bridge next.
> hope this helps somewhat,
> heckler
It did. A good laugh is always a nice way to start the day.
r3winter
Paul Hume
> My friend who introduced me to tarot used the Alexander Crowley
>Thoth deck.
gns> heh. that's an amusing interpretation of 'aleister.'
You know Alexander was his given, middle name, yes? One of the several reasons
trotted out for his choice of Aleister as a use name in later life was because
he hated the nicknames Alec and Alex (presumably used by either or both his mom
and his despised uncle).
gns> acquaintance, and it is my
gns> contention (warning: subjective, somewhat goofy touchy-feely new age
gns> crap begins here) that thoth decks are imbued with
gns> some*thing* from their
gns> ordo templi orientis origins (and yes, i know this
gns> statement has logical
gns> and inner-consistency holes one could drive a
gns> large truck through), whereas
Leaving aside whether the OTO egregore is the driver behind this effect,
or even the universality of the statement, I will chime in that the Thoth
deck is imbued, card by card, with serious magical and analytical use of
the symbols involved, and that those symbols are based not only on the
traditional "wisdom" of magick and the qabala, but specifically with the
energy/egregore/whatsis loosely categorized as the "93 Current," or the
energies of the "Aeon." People's mileage on that topic vary even more widely
(my own is still pretty good, thanks (g)) - given that I really do (at least on
alternate weeks) believe that the principles of Thelema are part of the
regeneration of the species, it is not surprising that I agree that the deck is
- to use a touchy-feely term - transformative. Not the only one with that
quality (the Cicero deck (New Golden Dawn Ritual Tarot), Sallie Glassman's New
Orleans Voodoo Tarot, even Waite/Coleman-Smith, all share that quality, to name
a few, IMO) but definitely in the same class, and in many ways a class by
itself.
Paul