Lon Milo book "Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot:" has arrive today from US book seller. It took 2 weeks, but looks worth the wait.
For any one who read this book already, how did you find it?
I think it's the best introductory text available, and I am indebted to it for "bringing me into the fold," so to speak. It gives general background on the deck, its philosophy and structure. It also, very importantly, gives an introduction about the rudiments of Qabalah. I still refer to it now and then, especially as there are sections in it that I have never seen duplicated elsewhere (like the important chapter on the Rosy Cross).
Go through it slowly, though. Although the material is presented in a deceptively fun and approachable way, it is far from easy. It took me about six months of study just to get a handle on knowing what I
didn't know, and branch out from it. The deck only really began to make sense to me at all after working with another DuQuette book,
Chicken Qabalah, but if you're just starting out on
Understanding it should keep you busy for a while.
I recommend you download Crowley's
Book of Thoth. It's free and serves as an important point of reference.