Thoth Tarot facts for kids
The Thoth Tarot is a special set of tarot cards. It was designed by Aleister Crowley and beautifully painted by Lady Frieda Harris. Crowley also wrote a book called The Book of Thoth in 1944 to help people understand and use these cards.
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Creating the Thoth Tarot Deck
Originally, Aleister Crowley planned for the Thoth Tarot deck to be a quick project. He wanted to update the pictures and symbols found in older tarot decks. But the project grew much bigger than he expected! It ended up taking five years to complete, from 1938 to 1943.
Unique Symbols and Meanings
The pictures on the Thoth Tarot cards are full of unique symbols. These symbols come from many different areas of knowledge. Crowley included ideas from science, philosophy, and various ancient traditions. He explained all these meanings in his book, The Book of Thoth.
Different Editions of the Deck
Over the years, the Thoth Tarot deck has been printed in several different editions. Each edition might have small changes or unique features. Here are some of the main versions:
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Main Differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sangreal | Simpson Printing Company | This was the very first printed version. It used blue ink on the front and red ink on the back. | |
| A1 | 1967 | Llewellyn | This was the first version printed in color, but it had a few small printing errors. |
| A2 | 1969 | Llewellyn | This edition fixed the printing mistakes from the A1 version. |
| B | 1969 | Weiser | This version included an extra white card. |
| C (Green) | 1978 | U.S. Games Systems | This edition added a special black hexagram card and borders around the card art. |
| D (Blue) | 1978 | U.S. Games Systems | This version had three different designs for the Magus card. |
How Thoth Tarot Differs from Other Decks
The Thoth Tarot deck has some interesting differences compared to other popular tarot decks, like the Rider–Waite Tarot. These differences include the names of some cards and their order.
Major Arcana Card Names
Crowley changed the names of several cards in the Major Arcana (the main cards) to better fit his ideas. Here's how some of them compare:
| Rider–Waite Card Name | Thoth Tarot Card Name |
|---|---|
| I: The Magician | I: The Magus |
| II: The High Priestess | II: The Priestess |
| X: Wheel of Fortune | X: Fortune |
| XI: Justice | VIII: Adjustment |
| XIV: Temperance | XIV: Art |
| XX: Judgement | XX: The Æon |
| XXI: The World | XXI: The Universe |
Court Card Names
The names of the "court cards" (like King, Queen, Knight, Page) are also different in the Thoth Tarot. This can sometimes be a bit confusing if you are used to other decks. Here's a comparison:
| Traditional Court Card Name | Thoth Deck Court Card Name |
|---|---|
| King | Knight |
| Queen | Queen |
| Knight | Prince |
| Page | Princess |
The Minor Arcana Cards
Like most tarot decks, the Thoth Tarot also includes "Minor Arcana" cards. These cards are divided into four suits, similar to playing cards. Each suit represents a different aspect of life or type of energy. The Thoth deck gives unique names and meanings to these cards, reflecting Crowley's detailed system.
Preserving the Original Artwork
The original paintings for the Thoth Tarot deck were created by Lady Frieda Harris on watercolor paper. Over time, the materials used to back the paintings caused some damage, like discoloration. The artwork also needed cleaning and repairs for small tears.
A special project was started to preserve these important paintings. This involved carefully cleaning them, removing the old backing, and replacing it with new, acid-free materials. The goal was to protect the artwork for future generations. This restoration work was finished in 2011. Today, the paintings are kept safe at the Warburg Institute.
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