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