The cards were painted by Lady Frieda Harris according to instructions from the occult scholar, Aleister Crowley. The magnificent art deco work contains kabalistic and astrological attributions described in Aleister Crowley’s Book of Thoth. The stunning art deco artwork of the Thoth is rich in Egyptian symbolism. To each of the twenty-two Major Trumps of the tarot is assigned, by tradition, a Hebrew letter and a path on the Tree of Life, as well as an astrological sign, element, or planet. The deck also reflects Crowley’s interest in alchemy and magic. Crowley Thoth Tarot has attracted a worldwide following, both for its striking beauty and for its complex depiction of occult knowledge. Since its initial publication in 1969, the deck has never been out of print. Included with the deck is a booklet of instruction, which contains two essays by Lady Frieda Harris and a commentary by Stuart R. Kaplan. Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot has been named one of the Top Ten Tarot Decks of All Time by Aeclectic Tarot.
Specs
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- Size Card Size 3.75" x 5.5"
- Language EN
- Author Aleister Crowley
- Artist Lady Frieda Harris
Author
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley, original name Edward Alexander Crowley, (born October 12, 1875, Royal Leamington Spa, England—died December 1, 1947, Hastings), British occultist, writer, and mountaineer, who was a practitioner of “magick” (as he spelled it) He was denounced in his own time for his decadent lifestyle and had few followers, but he became a cult figure after his death.
Artist
Lady Frieda Harris
Lady Frieda Harris, wife of British Parliament Member, Sir Percy Alfred Harris, was 60 years old when she was commissioned by occultist Aleister Crowley to create designs for a deck of Tarot Cards. "The Thoth Deck" was to reflect Crowley's revisions of the traditional names and numbering schemes of the Tarot as well as Thelema, Crowlely's personal interpretations of ancient and contemporary esoteric teachings. Harris was not only an accomplished artist, she was already a member of a theosophical society known as the Co-Masonry. Soon after meeting Crowley in 1937, she became his disciple and started working on Tarot designs. The Tarot project was supposed to take 3 months but expanded into a huge, 5 year undertaking. During these 5 years, Harris worked with bombs literally dropping around her home, creating up to 8 versions of some of cards until the design was right. Harris set up (and ultimately funded) a series of shows of her works as well as a limited edition of 200 decks of the cards. That was the only time The Thoth deck would be published in either her or Crowley's lifetimes.
Crowley took great pride in Harris' designs, heaping her with praise but also claiming the majority role in their creation. For all her flamboyant airs (dying her hair red at age 61, writing esoteric verse under the name "Jesus Chutney") Harris shunned the spotlight and kept her work on the Thoth Deck anonymous, making Crowley's claims of ownership that much more effective. While Crowley acted as editor and supplied Harris with lists of symbols and colors, the ultimate honors go to Harris. Her color-drenched Art Deco interpretations clarify and augment Crowley's
