The Golden Dawn Magical System: A Complete Tarot Set [Paperback]

Chic Cicero (Author), Sandra Tabatha Cicero (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 8, 1997

Encouraged by Israel Regardie, this tarot deck was created by an active member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The traditional tarot imagery is combined with descriptions given in the Golden Dawn initiation ceremonies. Each card shows the proper Hebrew letter, planetary and zodiacal symbols, and the colour scales of the Four Worlds of the Quabalah throughout the Minor Arcana. Suitable for both divination and ritual work, this deck has a companion book providing a card by card analysis of the deck's intricate symbolism. The layout sheet will help to guide the readings and meditations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero are Senior Adepts of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.  They share an enthusiasm for the esoteric arts.  They live in Florida with their cat, Lealah, where they work and practice magic.



Sandra Tabatha Cicero is a Senior Adept of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts.  

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications; Book and Access edition (November 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567181341
• ISBN-13: 978-1567181340
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,119,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most authentic golden dawn deck around, October 21, 2002

By 

Uri Raz (Israel) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Golden Dawn Magical Tarot (Paperback)

Though I have some reservations regarding this deck's art, this deck's strength is in it's adherence to the descriptions of the golden dawn inner order deck descriptions in Book T, the initiation rituals, and Hodos Chamelionis.

Wang's deck intentional lack in certain details in the minor arcana, e.g. the astrological signs and the court cards' 'jewelery', and in it's colours, diverges from the intructions given in Book T. Having seen a few Whare Ra pips, which lack the astrological signs, possibly this divergence has some basis in previous G.D. decks.


------ Additional note, July 7th 2011 ------

Some of the court cards in this deck face forward. The Opening of the Key requires all court cards to face, even slightly, either left or right.

The court cards reproduced from Westcott's papers in The Golden Dawn Court Cards (Golden Dawn Studies No 5) by Darcy Kuntz conform to that demand, e.g. the princess of cups faces slightly to the right as indicated by the contour of her face and only the left ear being visible. Those drawings are in agreements with those given in "Key to Tarot divination", AFAIK written by Westcott as well (there are two notes signed S.A. - Sapere Aude was Westcott's moto).

I hope future editions of the deck would correct this issue.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference, February 4, 2002

By 

"firerizing" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golden Dawn Magical Tarot (Paperback)

Though the ideals and principles of this group are unique to put it nicely, I do like the tarot card parallels and definitions provided by them in their book. The book falls apart rather easily, so be careful not to snap the binding by opening it too far. The definitions are extremely simplified, so if you are looking for an in depth meaning to any of the cards, look elsewhere. However, I use astrology and tarot together and found this to be my handy dandy reference guide when my memory fails me on a card's parallel. It's rather small, can fit nicely into a purse or bag of goodies.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous Colors, April 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Golden Dawn Magical Tarot (Paperback)

This deck of cards really speak. The colors are really gorgeous. The images are just right, and the art work is really fine, if not as suave as the Crowley deck. But that's neither here nor there. This is an excellent tarot deck, perfect for Golden Dawn cabalistic magical work and all-round divination. The colors alone are worth the deck; they really strike strong emotional cords. The little book that comes with the deck is very fine too. It's got all that is basically needed, and shows some interesting spreads, although a few more might have been given.