What is Thoth Tarot?
The Thoth Tarot is an esoteric tarot deck painted by Lady Frieda Harris for Aleister Crowley between 1938 and 1943. Unlike conventional tarot decks designed for divination or popular use, the deck draws upon a wide range of esoteric systems, including ceremonial magic, astrology, alchemy, the Book of Thoth in Egyptian mythology, and the religious philosophy of Thelema, which Crowley founded. The 78-card deck is distinguished by its dense symbolic complexity, vibrant geometric artwork, and its explicit function as a tool for spiritual initiation and magical practice, not merely fortune-telling.
Crowley renamed several of the trumps compared to earlier arrangements, and also re-arranged the numerical, astrological and Hebrew alphabet correspondences of 4 trumps compared to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn’s inner order deck. Notable renamings include Strength as “Lust,” Temperance as “Art,” and Judgment as “Aeon.” Court cards follow the Golden Dawn structure: Knight, Queen, Prince, and Princess.
Origins & Lineage
Crowley originally intended the Thoth deck to be a six-month project aimed at updating the traditional pictorial symbolism of the tarot. However, due to increased scope, the project eventually spanned five years, between 1938 and 1943. Aleister Crowley (1875–1947), a former member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and founder of Thelema, conceived the deck as an encyclopedia of his occult philosophy. Lady Frieda Harris (1877–1962), an aristocrat and artist, was introduced to the project in 1937 when Bax invited Frieda Harris after two artists did not show up for an appointment. She was then aged 60.
By Crowley’s own admission, the deck was originally intended to be traditional but Harris encouraged him to commit his occult, magical, spiritual and scientific views to the project. Harris studied projective geometry under Rudolf Steiner’s teachings, influencing the deck’s abstract, geometric visual language. She painted over 1,200 preliminary sketches before arriving at the final 78 images.
The publication date is recorded as the vernal equinox of 1944 (an Ixviii Sol in 0° 0’ 0" Aries, March 21, 1944 e. v. 5:29 p.m.) and was originally published in an edition limited to 200 numbered and signed copies of Crowley’s companion book, The Book of Thoth. The Book of Thoth was published in 1944 in a 200 copy limited edition, but neither Crowley or Harris lived to see the deck itself printed. The deck was first published in 1969 by Ordo Templi Orientis, 22 years after Crowley’s death and 7 years after Harris’s.
How It’s Practiced
The Thoth Tarot is used both for divination and as a meditative, initiatory tool within ceremonial magic and Western esoteric traditions. Readings with the deck often employ the system of elemental dignities—cards are not reversed, but their meanings shift based on the elemental relationships (fire, water, air, earth) of neighboring cards. Opposite elements weaken a card; similar elements strengthen it.
A traditional spread associated with the deck is the 15-card Golden Dawn layout, which examines a question across five triads representing past influences, present conditions, possible outcomes, hidden factors, and final resolution. “Crowley had been interested in Tarot since his involvement with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn; indeed, one of the tasks of Golden Dawn membership was to create one’s own tarot deck based on traditional images and magical, qabalistic, and astrological information,” according to Lon Milo Duquette, author of the definitive Understanding Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot.
Because it is known for its rich symbolic complexity and integration of Hermetic Qabalah, readers typically spend time in contemplative study of each card’s astrological, Kabbalistic, alchemical, and mythological layers. The deck is less intuitive than the Rider-Waite-Smith and requires patience and study to interpret accurately.
Thoth Tarot Today
The Thoth Tarot remains one of the most widely used esoteric decks in the world. It is a standard tool in Thelemic and ceremonial magic communities, taught in workshops, online courses, and esoteric schools. Readers encounter it in tarot communities, occult bookstores, and increasingly in contemporary spiritual retreats that incorporate Jungian psychology, depth work, and Western mysticism.
Numerous companion texts exist beyond Crowley’s original Book of Thoth (1944), including Lon Milo DuQuette’s Understanding Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot (2003), which offers a more accessible entry point. The deck is commercially available in multiple editions, from pocket-size to large format, and has never been out of print since 1969.
Common Misconceptions
The Thoth Tarot is often misunderstood as “dark” or dangerous due to Crowley’s controversial reputation. In reality, the deck presents a balanced cosmology; it is neither inherently benevolent nor malevolent. Its symbolism is philosophically neutral, reflecting the full spectrum of human and cosmic forces.
Another misconception is that the deck can be read intuitively like the Rider-Waite-Smith. While intuition plays a role, the Thoth system is architecturally precise, and its meanings are anchored in specific Kabbalistic, astrological, and alchemical correspondences. “Winging it” often leads to shallow or inaccurate interpretations.
Finally, the deck is sometimes called the “Crowley Tarot,” erasing Lady Frieda Harris’s contribution. Harris sent Crowley a regular stipend throughout the project. She also used her society contacts to find financial backers for the exhibition of the paintings, the catalogues, and for the publication of the Tarot deck. The Thoth Tarot is a genuine collaboration, with Harris translating and expanding Crowley’s vision through her artistic genius.
How to Begin
Begin by obtaining the deck and Crowley’s The Book of Thoth (1944), though be prepared for dense, challenging prose. For a more accessible introduction, read Lon Milo DuQuette’s Understanding Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot (2003), which contextualizes Crowley’s worldview and breaks down the symbolism systematically.
Pull a single card daily and study its imagery before consulting the text. Notice geometric patterns, color relationships, and symbolic motifs. Keep a journal documenting your observations and how the cards manifest in your life. As you grow comfortable, experiment with simple three-card spreads (past-present-future) before advancing to the Golden Dawn spread.
Study the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, basic astrology, and the four elements, as these form the scaffolding of the deck’s meaning. Approach the Thoth Tarot as a long-term practice, not a quick skill to acquire. Many readers spend years deepening their relationship with this deck.