nyx*
Hi all,
Since we've seem to discuss off and on the difficulties of picking up and digging into the Thoth deck for those who, like myself, do not have the benefit of having already studied Western occult traditions, I thought it would be good to address that issue with the Thoth deck in mind, but stepping away from the Book of Thoth for the moment. I think if we discuss different roads to approaching the Thoth deck and the BoT apart from just beating our heads against Crowley's works, it would help those of us not in the know about his way of doing things to catch up on our basic Western occult knowledge and hopefully give us a better appreciation for Crowley and the BoT.
Obviously astrology and Qabalah were important factors in the creation of the cards and it's reasonable to assume that they are important to the understanding and use of them as well (although they aren't the only important elements since this is, after all, a tarot deck). The LWB that came with my large white-boxed deck has a suggested reading list, which I found to be a really good idea and I'm working on collecting those books for my reference. I've got a fair amount of Crowley at home (I've always loved just reading his pretty, pretty words) but zip from anyone else on Western mystical practices. I'm planning on taking an astrology course sooner or later (depending on the teacher's availability) but as a bibliomaniac I feel it is my sacred duty to keep a stash of quality reference books around me, too.
My question to all the other Thoth users, at any and all levels of practice, is what books not specifically about the Thoth have been most helpful to you in understanding concepts in the Thoth or what books have you previously studied that you now find to have been a good foundation for working with the Thoth? I find myself going back through the Book of the Law and the Book of Lies to reacquaint myself with the general Crowley mindset, but I also think it's important to spread the reading around to other authors just to keep things lively for me. What books on astrology, Qabalah, magick, or any other related topic do you feel are the most helpful in understanding all the elements that are present in this deck?
And yes, I'm asking as much out of my own ignorance as anything else.
I've got to start somewhere. . .
nyx*
Since we've seem to discuss off and on the difficulties of picking up and digging into the Thoth deck for those who, like myself, do not have the benefit of having already studied Western occult traditions, I thought it would be good to address that issue with the Thoth deck in mind, but stepping away from the Book of Thoth for the moment. I think if we discuss different roads to approaching the Thoth deck and the BoT apart from just beating our heads against Crowley's works, it would help those of us not in the know about his way of doing things to catch up on our basic Western occult knowledge and hopefully give us a better appreciation for Crowley and the BoT.
Obviously astrology and Qabalah were important factors in the creation of the cards and it's reasonable to assume that they are important to the understanding and use of them as well (although they aren't the only important elements since this is, after all, a tarot deck). The LWB that came with my large white-boxed deck has a suggested reading list, which I found to be a really good idea and I'm working on collecting those books for my reference. I've got a fair amount of Crowley at home (I've always loved just reading his pretty, pretty words) but zip from anyone else on Western mystical practices. I'm planning on taking an astrology course sooner or later (depending on the teacher's availability) but as a bibliomaniac I feel it is my sacred duty to keep a stash of quality reference books around me, too.
My question to all the other Thoth users, at any and all levels of practice, is what books not specifically about the Thoth have been most helpful to you in understanding concepts in the Thoth or what books have you previously studied that you now find to have been a good foundation for working with the Thoth? I find myself going back through the Book of the Law and the Book of Lies to reacquaint myself with the general Crowley mindset, but I also think it's important to spread the reading around to other authors just to keep things lively for me. What books on astrology, Qabalah, magick, or any other related topic do you feel are the most helpful in understanding all the elements that are present in this deck?
And yes, I'm asking as much out of my own ignorance as anything else.
I've got to start somewhere. . .nyx*
