Thoth tarot deck
The Thoth Tarot is a divinatory tarot deck painted by Lady Frieda Harris according to instructions from Aleister Crowley. Crowley referred to this deck as The Book of Thoth, and also wrote a 1944 book of that title intended for use with the deck.
Background
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 and both artists died before publication in 1969 by Ordo Templi Orientis.Symbolism
The illustrations of the deck feature symbolism based upon Crowley's incorporation of imagery from many disparate disciplines, including science and philosophy and various occult systems.''Differences from Rider Waite Tarot
Order and names of trumps
Crowley renamed several of the trumps as compared to the Rider-Waite tarot deck and earlier arrangements, and also re-arranged the astrological and Hebrew alphabet correspondences of some cards, in accordance with his earlier book, Liber AL vel Legis :| Rider-Waite card | Thoth equivalent |
| I: The Magician | I: The Magus |
| II: The High Priestess | II: The Priestess |
| VIII: Strength | XI: Lust |
| 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 |
Names of court cards
Crowley altered the names of all the court cards which can cause some confusion for people used to the more common decks. The typical corresponding names are as follows:| Traditional Court Card Name | Thoth Deck Court Card Name |
| King | Knight |
| Queen | Queen |
| Knight | Prince |
| Page | Princess |