Customer Reviews

The Book of Thoth

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An Etteilla deck belongs in the collection of every serious collector. There are only three or four Etteilla design decks in print. This deck represents one of better designs as it is much superior to the Ancient Esoteric Tarot. With its moody brown tones and tongues-of-flame filigree borders, the art of is deck captures the dark and bloody times of French history during which Etteilla lived. The Etteilla deck goes beyond the common place Rider Waite decks in its more frequent references to biblical characters. To this point several of the cards in this deck capture the apocalyptic ?wheel in a wheel? vision of Ezekiel. While many tarot card collectors scoff at the Etteilla deck, the reader should bear in mind that Etteilla predates the designers of the Rider Waite deck. I recommend that the serious collector obtain a copy of either this deck the older Grand Egyptian Etteilla deck published by the small French publisher, Grimaud.

I first have to say that this tarot deck grabs you at an gut level and knocks your socks off. I literally couldn't put the deck down - and still don't want to. You immediately feel the vibe that this deck has its roots deeply entwined in the origins of tarot, which it does. I have so many decks of tarot cards, and have been reading cards for about 30 years, but this deck humbles me. The order of the trumps is not what one would expect, and the meanings clearly are influenced by numerical position as is related by the Tree of Life. As an example, one major difference is The Fool "Foile" is number 78! The Fool is the very last card in the deck, in a position of Beginning, as opposed to being the first card that begins the Journey! Most all decks show the Fool as the first card. Yes, Endings do lead to Beginnings, but this is not the same. I feel this structure shows us that once we've "learned/experienced" our Journeys, we realize just how much we do not know, and therefore acknowledge/embrace being a Fool at the End of our Journey, as we move onto our next Journey) .

The colors are compelling - A Sepia background decorated with Carnelian reds, Golden Yellows, and Greens ranging from Fern to Turquoise. Off-the Hook!!

This deck will be a challenge to learn - for me, anyway. I would like a Mary K. Greer or Rachel Pollock to challenge this particular deck, and write a book on this particular version, the Etteilla version of the Book of Thoth Tarot.

If you are a serious student of the Tarot, these are a must have!

Blessed Be
Jez

This Tarot was interesting, but not exactly what we were looking for in a Medieval Tarot-themed deck. The minor arcana were especially disappointing.