Magickal Tarot
by Anthony Clark

This tarot deck is currently available only in a deck-and-book set, but the edition which I have was available for purchase at one time as a deck only, so I don't have the book to review, just the cards.  Anthony Clark designed this unique and different tarot as a new interpretation of the Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris.

The designs are bright and modern in style, with primary colors and white borders and backgrounds.  They have an open airy feel to them because of the white space behind the designs.
 
The Major Arcana have the standard Crowley Thoth-Style titling and order, which means each card actually has two titles.  It's hard to describe, so I'll list them below and you can see how they relate.  The number is first, followed by the traditional title, and then the name which I think is the Golden Dawn ceremonial title.  There's no explanation, or even mention, of these second names in the little white booklet.  Titles are:
 
0 -- The Fool -- unnamed
1 -- The Magus -- The Law of Reason
2 -- The High Priestess -- Priestess of the Silver Star
3 -- The Empress -- Daughter of the Mighty Ones
4 -- The Emperor -- Son of the Morning
5 -- The Hierophant -- Magus of the Eternal Gods
6 -- The Lovers -- Children of the Voice Divine
7 -- The Chariot -- Lord of the Triumph of Light
8 -- Adjustment -- Daughter of the Flaming Sword
9 -- The Hermit -- unnamed
10 -- Fortune -- unnamed
11 -- Lust for Life -- Daughter of the Lord of Truth
12 -- The Hanged Man -- Spirit of the Mighty Waters
13 -- Death -- unnamed
14 -- Art -- Daughter of the Reconcilers
15 -- The Devil -- unnamed
16 -- The Blasted Tower -- Lord of the Hosts of the Mighty
17 -- The Star -- Daughter of the Firmament
18 -- The Moon - Flux & Reflux
19 -- The Sun -- Fire of the World
20 -- The Aeon -- MidHeaven
21 -- The Universe -- unnamed
 
As you can see, consistent with Crowley Thoth style, there are no Justice or Strength cards.  Although it appears that their replacements would follow the Justice 8, Strength 11 ordering.
 
The Minor Arcana also follow Crowley's lead.  The suits are Wands, Cups, Swords and Disks.  Court Cards are Knight, Queen, Prince and Princess.  There are not full scenes on the numbered cards, but I'm not sure I'd call them pip cards either.  All of these cards also have ceremonial names.  All of the Aces are the Root of the Powers of Earth (Air, Fire Water) and the numbered cards are all "Lord of....." which ever keyword describes the card.  The court cards have similarly complicated ceremonial names.
 
The cards themselves are standard in size and are printed on thin, flexible stock so they are comfortable to handle and shuffle.  For some reason the deck feels heavier in the hands than usual, perhaps this is due to the coating.  The edges are buffed to a smooth finish.  The little white booklet which comes with the deck is a fairly nice one for what it's worth; it lists the divinatory meanings of all the cards, followed by 4 spreads, one of which is the Celtic Cross.  None of them are Crowley's 15-card spread which usually accompanies Thoth-style decks.
 
I think this deck would be best purchased with the set, because I think I'd have gotten a lot more out of it with the book.  However, I think anyone well-versed in using the Thoth deck would find this an enjoyable alternative.  It works on the same theme so there would be little adjustment to the new deck.  It would not be easy for beginners to use.  Collectors will enjoy the fresh look of the art, which is well-done.
 
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also by Anthony Clark, with Elizabeth Josephine Gill
Servants of the Light Tarot

Review Copyright 1999 by Gina M. Pace
 
Magickal Tarot by Anthony Clark, 1986
published by Aquarian Press, ISBN 8085030564