Golden Dawn Tarot compared to the Waite, Smith and Crowley, Harris decks

Following up on my video about A.E. Waite and Aleister Crowley, I'm taking a look at their tarot decks and compare them with the cards that the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn used.
0:52 Occult societies in context
3:00 The dubious beginnings of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
6:20 How the Golden Dawn used tarot, and a historical note on Israel Regardie
9:36 Publication history of the Golden Dawn, Waite, and Crowley decks
13:00 Major Arcana
21:53 Minor Arcana, Ace - 10
34:55 Minor Arcana, Court Cards
39:40 Thoughts on patterns and keywords in the minors
Sources:
A. E. Waite: Magician of many parts, R. A. Gilbert, Wellingborough: Crucible, 1987.
Available online: archive.org/em...
Do what thou wilt: A life of Aleister Crowley, Lawrence Sutin, New York : St. Martin's Griffin, 2002.
Music is Midwinter by Airtone

[@mironalexandra4602]

I love the way you present the cards! thank you so much

[@WaterChildTarot]

Thank you! It’s tricky with 2 hands and multiple decks. I’m glad you’re finding it useful.

[@trex1570]

This content is fabulous! Thank you so much😊

[@WaterChildTarot]

Thank YOU!

[@WinterWitchTarot]

I have also struggled with the keywords; I would love to hear more about this topic. 😁👍🏻

[@Umurhan999]

A difficult thing is that the Thoth deck has different meanings for a few cards. Most notably 10 of cups has a negative meaning in Thoth, Crowley has a distressing reading of it. The Liber T Tarot of the Stars Eternal illustrates its bleakest reading, if you know you know. I think Waite refers to a bad harvest or something like that in his book about the 7 of Pentacles. He is also influenced by Etteilla a lot, you might want to also compare those decks.

[@WaterChildTarot]

Ah thank for the insights. Weird that the 10 of cups seems so negative to Crowley & so positive to Waite. Perhaps the difference between one person who saw himself a free-thinking master of secrets and the other who embraced a more traditional family life?

[@intuitivediane]

Hello found you via recommendations. I found your video very interesting. I have sub & look forward to learning more. Thank you for such an informative video

[@velvetclaw2316]

I think if you look at the astrological attributions for each card it makes more sense at getting to an internal structure. It really helps me. In terms of comparing decks .. I try not to !

[@jamesgreaves3023]

Yes the astrological attributions make more sense. I often wonder how Tarot works for the Southern Hemisphere especially in regard to ceremonial magic, as Golden Dawn teachings were clearly correlated with the Northern Hemisphere seasons.

[@BlueCrescentTarot]

This is really interesting...the bit about the odd man out sort of card/keywords that don't fit in with the other threes or fours, etc. I don't find myself bothered by that too often, but from time to time that awkwardness creeps in for me. Interested to see what you come up with in your revision/how you might "correct" those things for yourself moving forward. Thanks for sharing!

[@nancyhart576]

Another very engaging discussion. Your comparison highlights just how many variations there have been and continue to be in what we call Tarot. Nothing is really consistent, not even having a deck of 78 cards. The number of attempts by deck creators (including Etteilla, Waite, Crowley, Frankie Albano…) to “correct” or “rectify” the Tarot is amusing. All the more reason IMHO to learn to read the cards with your own voice, using whatever method and deck(s) you choose. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts about numbers.

[@Poetry-For-The-Itch-Of-It]

I have two questions: (1) What book do you recommend as an intro to the Thoth tarot? I do have a copy of the Thoth Tarot book you referenced in the Waite vs Crowley video. (2) Was the Ozzy song Mr. Crowley about Aleister Crowley?

[@WaterChildTarot]

Hello there. 1. I can't suggest any particular book about the Thoth as it isn't my jam, but the DuQuette book is the one I see recommended most often as being more accessible than Crowley's own words. Keep in mind that Crowley wasn't into tarot reading as we do it today - tarot was a tool for alchemical spiritual awakening based on his own ideas, known as Thelema. I think one has to have a curiosity about and interest in Crowley's philosophy in general in order to appreciate his tarot deck and writings on it. 2. Wikipedia says yes: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Crowley