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The Thoth Companion: The Key to the True Symbolic Meaning of the Thoth Tarot
Aleister Crowley's Thoth tarot―one of the most respected yet enigmatic tarot decks of all time―offers rich rewards for those who can penetrate its complex symbolism. Written by ceremonial magician and tarot expert Michael Osiris Snuffin, The Thoth Companion is the key to understanding the true symbolic meaning of the Thoth deck. This comprehensive reference work examines all seventy-eight cards within the context of Thelema, Qabala, and ceremonial magic―the spiritual foundations upon which the deck was built. These detailed interpretations reveal valuable insights, significant correspondences, and Crowley's encoded secrets. Once you've mastered the meaning behind this legendary deck, The Thoth Companion shows you how to use the Thoth tarot for divination, meditation, developing intuition, and pathworking. Straightforward and user-friendly, this guide also includes a glossary, bibliography, index, and an extensive appendix featuring correspondence tables.
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2007
28 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Michael Osiris Snuffin
6 books22 followersI have always had a passion for the written word, learning to read early and often. I got involved with my high school and college newspapers, writing opinion pieces and working on layout and design. I published my first magazine article at seventeen, and continued to write and publish articles through college. I graduated from The Evergreen State College in 1993, earning a BA in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in media and communications; there I studied media propaganda, literary journalism, and political science/economics.
In 1996 I started the research on tarot symbolism that eventually became my first book, The Thoth Companion. I also started giving public lectures and writing articles on the tarot and related subjects. When I began preparing my manuscript for submission, I discovered The Chicago Manual of Style, the bible of many book editors, and I developed an interest in editing. I realized I had a knack for editing work after helping Brandy Williams prepare her popular book, Practical Magic for Beginners, for submission to Llewellyn Publications in 2004.
While I had already taken a year of classes at North Seattle Community College to explore a possible career as a math teacher, my interest in numbers soon gave way to working with words. I eagerly enrolled in the Editing Certification Program at the University of Washington, which I completed in 2006. Unfortunately, after publishing and promoting The Thoth Companion in 2007-08, a medical accident left me with some serious health issues to deal with, delaying my debut as an professional editor for a couple of years.
I overcame those challenges and started preparing my second book, Conjuring Spirits: A Manual of Goetic and Enochian Sorcery, for release in 2010. During the publication process I also picked up a few clients, which led to more editing projects and opportunities. I truly enjoy editing work, and look forward to helping more authors and publishers make good books better.
In 2020, I published two more books: The Complete Conjuring Spirits, an expanded and revised edition of Conjuring Spirits; and Introduction to Romantic Satanism, An overview of the 19th century artistic and political movement that redefined Satan as a heroic rebel against tyranny, oppression, and injustice.
In my leisure time I enjoy reading books, researching, and writing. Particular topics of interest include cosmology, esotericism, Egyptology, symbolism, and linguistics. I have a large library, and I often browse used bookstores looking for new books of interest. I currently live in Tacoma, WA.
In 1996 I started the research on tarot symbolism that eventually became my first book, The Thoth Companion. I also started giving public lectures and writing articles on the tarot and related subjects. When I began preparing my manuscript for submission, I discovered The Chicago Manual of Style, the bible of many book editors, and I developed an interest in editing. I realized I had a knack for editing work after helping Brandy Williams prepare her popular book, Practical Magic for Beginners, for submission to Llewellyn Publications in 2004.
While I had already taken a year of classes at North Seattle Community College to explore a possible career as a math teacher, my interest in numbers soon gave way to working with words. I eagerly enrolled in the Editing Certification Program at the University of Washington, which I completed in 2006. Unfortunately, after publishing and promoting The Thoth Companion in 2007-08, a medical accident left me with some serious health issues to deal with, delaying my debut as an professional editor for a couple of years.
I overcame those challenges and started preparing my second book, Conjuring Spirits: A Manual of Goetic and Enochian Sorcery, for release in 2010. During the publication process I also picked up a few clients, which led to more editing projects and opportunities. I truly enjoy editing work, and look forward to helping more authors and publishers make good books better.
In 2020, I published two more books: The Complete Conjuring Spirits, an expanded and revised edition of Conjuring Spirits; and Introduction to Romantic Satanism, An overview of the 19th century artistic and political movement that redefined Satan as a heroic rebel against tyranny, oppression, and injustice.
In my leisure time I enjoy reading books, researching, and writing. Particular topics of interest include cosmology, esotericism, Egyptology, symbolism, and linguistics. I have a large library, and I often browse used bookstores looking for new books of interest. I currently live in Tacoma, WA.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 11, 2011
I wrote this book.
February 6, 2017
it's an excellent intermediate book for those that are wanting to study the Thoth but not quite ready to deal with the Thoth Essay by Crowley. the writing is a little dry on occasion, you do need to have some background information in both Astrology and Kabbalah to have this book to be the most useful for you.
November 26, 2023
Very informative
This is a very informative book that provides a good deal of information about the symbology of the Thoth tarot. While information about divinatory meanings is a bit lacking, the amount of information given about the symbols of the cards definitely makes up for it. Well worth the read.
This is a very informative book that provides a good deal of information about the symbology of the Thoth tarot. While information about divinatory meanings is a bit lacking, the amount of information given about the symbols of the cards definitely makes up for it. Well worth the read.
February 23, 2009
This is a concise reference work, condensing Aleister Crowley's insights into the Thoth Tarot deck, designed by Crowley and painted by Lady Frieda Harris. It is not intended for beginners to the Tarot, but rather for those who have worked with it at some level and are ready to explore the specific symbol-system of one of the most evocative decks available.
The book’s aim, as Frater Osiris states in his introduction, is “to explore the symbolism of the Thoth tarot and provide a comprehensive analysis of the deck” (p. XII). In this, it must be seen as quite successful. The analysis, particularly of the 22 Trump Cards is exhaustive of the meanings and symbols hidden by the creator(s) on the cards, often drawing the viewer’s attention to minutiae that would otherwise be missed. His analysis of the beams of light seen crossing the Hermit card, for example, brings out meaning where one might never have thought to seek it – and yet in precisely the place an Expressionist painter or set designer would have deliberately placed it.
The book’s aim, as Frater Osiris states in his introduction, is “to explore the symbolism of the Thoth tarot and provide a comprehensive analysis of the deck” (p. XII). In this, it must be seen as quite successful. The analysis, particularly of the 22 Trump Cards is exhaustive of the meanings and symbols hidden by the creator(s) on the cards, often drawing the viewer’s attention to minutiae that would otherwise be missed. His analysis of the beams of light seen crossing the Hermit card, for example, brings out meaning where one might never have thought to seek it – and yet in precisely the place an Expressionist painter or set designer would have deliberately placed it.
August 12, 2016
This is a good book for an in depth resource on the Thoth tarot deck. It discusses Crowley's use of symbolism in the deck, and what each symbol stands for, which is helpful if you want to get to know the cards better. It is not by any means, the be all, and end all when it comes to tarot books, but it's better than a lot of the other ones that I've had my hands on. It's pretty basic, and I'd recommend this to a fellow tarot reader.
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January 21, 2011This book is quite accessible for a beginning or intermediate reader. From here, Aleister Crowley's definitive "The Book of Thoth" is the next step on the journey to understanding.
July 25, 2011
An invaluable listing of Thoth tarot card descriptions, with associated elements and description of cards. To be used reference-style.
October 31, 2015
A good book to learn about the Thelemic and magical aspects of Aleister Crowley's Book of Thoth.
Well worth purchasing
Well worth purchasing
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews