u/Tesseranomikon

My use of notebooks is strictly esoteric. Everyone knows what a grimoire is. Nowadays, they make special notebooks for grimoires that look like ancient, magical books. This is meant to be impressive, but I don't need that. I want to sit in a café, take out my notebook and pen, and spend a couple of hours without drawing unnecessary attention from those around me. So an ordinary notebook works just fine. I had a simple notebook where I kept my notes and research. When it ran out, I decided to get a new one. I needed a book with blank pages. There wasn't one, but there was a book with black pages. I thought it would be fun, so I bought ballpoint pens with white ink. They are expensive, and for one book I used up ten such pens. The book with black pages attracts too much attention, so I also got another ordinary notebook where I write more text and various working notes. I needed a small notebook as a pocket one. In it, I write down methods and reference information that I use. This includes analytical geomancy, binary hyperstructures and spaces, alchemical metaphors, schemas, and diagrams. I really need these notebooks, and I use them constantly. I use a 'Moonman' fountain pen with black ink. That's enough for me.

I Recreated the Thoth Tarot by Hand - As Actual Cards, Not Just Illustrations.

Do you use the Thoth Tarot?

Most people know the classic deck illustrated by Frieda Harris. It’s iconic, but also often described as complex, dense, and overloaded with symbolism. Many readers are drawn to it, but not everyone finds it easy to work with.

There are other interpretations inspired by Crowley’s Book of Thoth, but they’re relatively rare. Which makes me wonder:

- Why do you personally choose the Thoth deck?

- Have you ever looked for alternative versions that stay closer to the book itself?

- Have you ever thought about creating your own?

That’s exactly what I decided to do.

I wanted to study Crowley’s system not just by reading, but by reconstructing it - card by card, directly from the source material.

At the same time, it’s impossible to ignore the influence of Frieda Harris. Her images are deeply embedded in how we imagine the Thoth system. But historically, those were paintings - exhibited as artworks, not originally used as practical cards.

Crowley himself wasn’t working with a finished “deck” in the way we do today.

So I approached it differently.

I created a version of the Thoth Tarot as functional cards from the beginning - drawn by hand, with the intention that they are used, handled, read, and tested in practice.

Not just illustrations - but working tools.

I’m curious:

- Do you use the Thoth Tarot regularly?

- Do you find it intuitive or difficult to read?

- Would you be interested in alternative visual interpretations of the system?

- Or do you feel the original Harris deck is irreplaceable?

Do you often use positional, structured spreads with a large number of cards?

This spread is popular among those who use Tarot. It combines the astrological structure of the 12 zodiac houses with cards. The spread requires a good understanding of the meanings of the 12 positions and the structure of the spread, as well as the meanings of the cards. Those who use this spread do so in their own way. There are different preferences for how the cards are laid out — clockwise or counterclockwise. Where the spread begins and where it ends. How many cards to use for each house (1 or 3). I prefer to lay out the 12 houses like a clock face. I place the 13th card on the significator. This is the final card through which all the other houses are read. The significator is always present in my spreads. I place it first.

The 12-house spread for the Queen of Clubs. The Queen of Clubs is a woman worthy of respect. She has life experience. She has seen and been through a lot.

1st house — Jack of Diamonds. Efforts and bustle concerning money and papers.

2nd house — 10 of Hearts. Heartfelt interest.

3rd house — 5 of Hearts.

4th house — King of Diamonds. An active and cheerful person.

5th house — Ace of Spades. A blow, a trouble.

6th house — 5 of Spades. Hard and thankless work.

7th house — Jack of Hearts. Heartfelt efforts.

8th house — 7 of Clubs. A meeting, a date concerning other people's affairs.

9th house — 2 of Hearts. A desire to find joy. Connection with friends.

10th house — 10 of Spades. Empty interest for oneself. Failure in self-realization. This could be an unpleasant surprise.

11th house — 9 of Spades. Weak support. News getting worse.

12th house — 7 of Hearts. A pleasant meeting, heartfelt.

Foundation card — 8 of Spades. Sad conversations, empty conversations.

In the spread, there are only two Diamond cards: the King and the Jack. This is a person and their worries. This is the main and important thing for the Queen of Clubs.

Heart cards: five of them — the 10, 5, 2, and 7. These are numbered cards. Interest, interference, connection, meeting. There is a Jack — heartfelt efforts.

Club cards: one — the 7, meaning a meeting. Only one card representing the Queen herself and her suit. It is significant if this card falls in the Queen's own zodiac house. The small number of cards of her own suit indicates that the Queen does not control the situation and is subject to circumstances.

Spade cards: as many as Hearts — the Ace, 5, 9, 10, and 8. Blow, obstacle, bad news, empty interest, empty conversation. Everything happens through talk and communication, which does not bring the Queen of Clubs pleasure — on the contrary, it disappoints and depresses her. She does not want to communicate, but she is forced to.

The 3rd-9th house axis consists of Heart cards: the 5 and the 2. This may indicate a desire to change residence, to move close by or far away. Preferably far away, but that is problematic. Communication with people touches the Queen's heart.

The Jacks are positioned along the 1st-7th house axis. For herself — concern about money; for others — heartfelt concern, emotional support.

The 5th-11th house axis is Spades. Here are children and love, support and hope. This axis is in crisis.

The 4th-10th house axis expresses the foundation, home, base in opposition to career, work, status, and reputation. Here is the only person (King of Diamonds) located in a house. If this is the Queen of Clubs' husband, she perceives him as an infantile or weak man. It would be strange if this were the Queen of Clubs' father. In general, all the inhabitants of her home are perceived by her as subordinates — those she has influence over and who depend on her. The axis indicates that home does not support work, and work does not support home.

The circle of 12 houses with one card each is a simple version of the spread. Its advanced variation involves three cards in each house and another three cards in the center, under the significator — as the result for each circle. The three cards are defined as past (what was?), present (what is?), and future (what will be?). Following this logic, the first circle (from the center) is what is. The second circle (what was?) should be laid out closer to the center, and the future circle (what will be?) should be laid out as the outermost. I simply lay out the circles outward from the center. Events move away from the significator, developing from the inner circle outward. Additional cards appear, revealing circumstances.

Thus, behind the Jack of Hearts appeared the King of Hearts, and behind him, the Ace of Diamonds. Now the Jack represents the King's heartfelt interests. Behind the King comes a letter — substantial and long-awaited. This is the 7th house of partnership.

The Queen of Clubs' profit comes through the path to the Queen of Diamonds. Our Queen's care is dedicated to her. Through this, she derives profit. All the Queens and all the Jacks have appeared in the spread, but there is no King of Clubs. A friend with a monetary interest is positioned beneath the Queen, as one who knows everything we see in the spread concerning the Queen of Clubs. It is with her that the Queen of Clubs engages in empty conversations. With the Queen of Spades, there is a connection concerning status, and moving to a new home appears to be in vain.

Much can be learned from this spread. Do you practice the 12-house spread? How often do you do it? Does your spread differ from mine in structure? In what sequence do you lay out the houses? Why that way? Are you interested in structured positional spreads?