Thoth Deck - Anyone Use?

[morerain]

What do people think of the Thoth deck? The images in Thoth have my curiosity piqued. I'm relatively new at tarot reading but I think I'm starting to pick it up... The meanings and possible interpretations of the cards and such. Using Rider-Waite (easiest for me to read); Morgan Greer (love cup images! Especially Two of Cups) I feel A resonance/connection with this deck) and Gilded Tarot (images feel more intense and powerful - except more difficult to read).

So, how does the Thoth deck compare to other decks you've used?
Is it easier or harder to read this deck?
What is your advice to a "newbie"?
Should I stick to one deck for now? Will using different decks from one day to the next confuse me?

Thanks.

 

[coyoteblack]

Hello Morerain

Generally tarot is broken into three separate schools the most popular by far is RWS style, regular pictures on every card and such, The French Marseilles with numbered pips and pictures on the majors. And court cards. And last but not least is the Thoth with cubism artwork and very kabbalah intensive.
The Thoth is really awesome for all the hidden pictures and symbols on it and can really make your sub conscience leap forward. Also great when “path working"

 

[Le Fanu]

Does anyone use the Thoth?

This'll probably get moved to the Thoth section where very few people will see it.

I (personally) think it would be nice to have a "newbie" Thoth post in general "Tarot Decks". People who would never venture into the Thoth forum might see it and be inspired.

This deck is wonderful. It will keep you satisfied and wanting more your whole life. Of course, I love other decks too. All manner of decks. I could list all my favourites. The Thoth is merely one.

But it may well be the one I go back to the most, the one that infuriates and enchants me the most. The one I most want to get to the bottom of and can never quite manage it.

 

[morerain]

Thanks for responding ( both of you). I'll check out the other forums. Interesting what you said about the kaballah connection. I've taken a recent interest in this school so using this deck could prove useful and insightful for me.

 

[Carla]

I've been doing a One Deck Wonder (kind of like a 'total immersion' in one deck exclusively for a self-selected period of time) with Thoth. It's certainly worthy of the effort.

 

[Richard]

In a nutshell: The Thoth is essentially the Rider-Waite after it has come out of the closet. Waite tried to retain continuity with the traditional decks, such as the Marseille and Sola Busca. However, he was mostly concerned with the Tarot symbolism created/discovered by certain fin de siecle magical societes, as was Crowley. Crowley broke with tradition and came up with the Thoth.

 

[Sibylline]

Does anyone use the Thoth?
But it may well be the one I go back to the most, the one that infuriates and enchants me the most. The one I most want to get to the bottom of and can never quite manage it.

I'm with Fanu on this aspect of the Thoth. I love my Thoth, but I need to be ready to do some mental gymnastics when reading on it, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on my mood.

I learned on Thoth, but have also migrated to the RWS. All I can say is that it's...different...especially with his court cards. When I need Kings in my readings, I use an RWS deck.

Get yourself a good book on it that helps explain the imagery which can sometimes be esoteric...like why the heck is the Strength card called "Lust", and why is she sitting on a beast with all those different heads. DuQuette's "Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot" is a real goldmine.

Crowley did publish his own book, but I'll leave that for others to discuss because, when I tried to read it, I sat there with my head cocked to the side like a confused puppy...

 

[Juliana]

I agree with the idea that the Thoth is a deck that will keep you intrigued for life. I once had delusions if sitting down with the deck and a good study book and "figuring the deck out" once and for all. I've long since given up on that aspiration. Now it is a deck that I go to for a period of time, study closely, and then move away from only to come back again later.

I know I may never figure out all the countless layers of the Thoth, and that is discouraging, but also very gratifying. I know that I can always learn more, which keeps me coming back and keeps me curious. Every piece of the Thoth deck was thoroughly planned; every symbol carefully chosen, every color intentionally selected, every card image scrutinized. There is just so much packed into each card. So much exploring to do.

I highly recommend giving it a try. Don't expect to understand it all now, but just enjoy the journey. All that said, my favorite Thoth deck is actually a Thoth-clone. I love Crowley's deck, but the Liber T just speaks to me more.

 

[Tarotwolf]

I have fourteen versions of the Thoth, including the Sangreal, and absolutely love its history and artwork. However, I don't use it! One of the reasons is simply because keywords are printed on the cards. In this deck it just seems to constrict my interpretations, especially with the 7 of disks. I see this card in terms of the RWS image and meaning. Several other cards put up similar roadblocks.

I want to work with this deck so I've come up with a solution. Trim the borders! I know a lot of others here trim their decks, but it's always felt a bit sacrilegious. However, I think it's going to be the only way for me to get past my blockage. I saw where Tarot Oracle on Youtube trimmed his Thoth and it looked incredible. So, I ordered a large copy of the deck from Amazon last week just for this purpose (I can't seem to "deface" any of the Thoth decks I already have, I guess it's the collector in me). We'll see how it goes!

 

[faithh_01]

Looking for my first Thoth

Thank you for starting this post. I have been working with RWS versions of tarot for about 8 years now and have been thinking about making the move to a Thoth deck. Particularly I’m' looking at Vision Quest Tarot. I love Native American culture, goes well with my North Dakota heritage and study of ancestral path tarot, but I am a bit worried I will be frustrated with a Thoth deck without "action" pictures for the minor arcana.