The Book of Thoth occupies a unique position in esoteric literature - it is simultaneously a legendary Egyptian text of divine wisdom that may never have existed in physical form, and a living tradition expressed through various historical texts, most notably the Tarot. Unlike the other grimoires and sacred texts in this collection, the Book of Thoth exists primarily as an ideal, a symbolic repository of all knowledge attributed to Thoth (Egyptian: Djehuty), the ibis-headed god of wisdom, writing, magic, and the moon.
In Egyptian theology, Thoth held supreme importance as the deity of:
Inventor of hieroglyphs, scribe of the gods, recorder of divine decrees
Master of magical words of power, guardian of sacred formulas
Keeper of all learning, patron of scribes and scholars
Lunar deity, measurer of time, calculator of celestial movements
Witness at the weighing of the heart, arbiter of cosmic law
Mediator between gods and humans, guide of souls
When Greek culture encountered Egypt, Thoth was identified with Hermes, creating the syncretic figure Hermes Trismegistus ("Thrice-Great Hermes") - legendary author of the Hermetic texts including the Corpus Hermeticum and Emerald Tablet.
The most famous Egyptian story about the Book of Thoth appears in the "Tales of Setne Khamwas," a cycle of stories from Ptolemaic Egypt (c. 3rd-1st century BCE). In these tales, Prince Setne Khamwas, son of Ramesses II and a historical figure known as a scholar and magician, seeks the legendary book:
The Book was said to contain two powerful spells:
However, the Book was guarded by serpents and scorpions, and its previous possessors had all met tragic ends. When Setne finally obtained the book and read it, he gained immense magical power but also brought disaster upon himself and his family, illustrating the dangerous nature of forbidden knowledge.
While the specific "Book of Thoth" of legend may be mythical, ancient Egypt produced numerous texts attributed to Thoth or containing his wisdom:
In the Hellenistic period, the concept of Thoth's book evolved:
Beginning in the 18th century, occultists proposed that the Tarot - particularly the 22 Major Arcana cards - preserved the wisdom of the ancient Book of Thoth in pictorial form:
According to esoteric tradition (though not supported by historical evidence):
French scholar who first proposed (without evidence) that Tarot originated in ancient Egypt as "The Book of Thoth." His 1781 essay in Le Monde Primitif claimed the cards preserved Egyptian hieroglyphic wisdom. Though historically incorrect, this theory profoundly influenced all subsequent esoteric Tarot.
French occultist who systematized the correspondences between Tarot and Kabbalah, asserting:
British magical order that created an elaborate system integrating Tarot with Kabbalah, astrology, alchemy, and ceremonial magic. Their innovations included:
Former Golden Dawn member who created the most explicit "Book of Thoth" in 1944:
Crowley's Book of Thoth (the book about Tarot, not an ancient Egyptian text) remains one of the most influential works on esoteric Tarot, presenting the Thoth Tarot deck (painted by Lady Frieda Harris) with comprehensive explanations of its symbolism.
In the Hermetic tradition, the 22 Major Arcana represent stages of spiritual development:
Hebrew Letter: Aleph (א) | Element: Air
The innocent soul beginning the journey, infinite potential
Hebrew Letter: Beth (ב) | Planet: Mercury
Will, skill, the power to manifest - "As above, so below"
Hebrew Letter: Gimel (ג) | Body: Moon
Hidden knowledge, intuition, the veil between worlds
Hebrew Letter: Daleth (ד) | Planet: Venus
Abundance, creation, nature, the Divine Feminine
Hebrew Letter: Heh (ה) | Sign: Aries
Authority, structure, order, the Divine Masculine
Hebrew Letter: Vav (ו) | Sign: Taurus
Traditional wisdom, spiritual authority, esoteric teaching
Hebrew Letter: Zayin (ז) | Sign: Gemini
Choice, union of opposites, sacred marriage
Hebrew Letter: Cheth (ח) | Sign: Cancer
Victory through will, controlled power, the journey
Hebrew Letter: Teth (ט) | Sign: Leo
Courage, passion, spiritual strength overcoming base nature
Hebrew Letter: Yod (י) | Sign: Virgo
Solitude, introspection, the light of inner wisdom
Hebrew Letter: Kaph (כ) | Planet: Jupiter
Cycles, fate, the turning of cosmic law
Hebrew Letter: Lamed (ל) | Sign: Libra
Balance, karma, universal law and equilibrium
Hebrew Letter: Mem (מ) | Element: Water
Sacrifice, surrender, seeing from new perspective
Hebrew Letter: Nun (נ) | Sign: Scorpio
Transformation, ending and beginning, putrefaction and rebirth
Hebrew Letter: Samekh (ס) | Sign: Sagittarius
Alchemy, balance of opposites, the Great Work
Hebrew Letter: Ayin (ע) | Sign: Capricorn
Material bondage, shadow work, Pan/Baphomet
Hebrew Letter: Peh (פ) | Planet: Mars
Destruction of false structures, revelation, breaking through
Hebrew Letter: Tzaddi (צ) | Sign: Aquarius
Hope, inspiration, cosmic connection, Nuit
Hebrew Letter: Qoph (ק) | Sign: Pisces
Illusion, the unconscious, dreams, psychic perception
Hebrew Letter: Resh (ר) | Planet: Sun
Illumination, joy, success, conscious awareness
Hebrew Letter: Shin (ש) | Element: Fire
Rebirth, awakening, the Aeon of Horus, resurrection
Hebrew Letter: Tav (ת) | Planet: Saturn
Completion, cosmic consciousness, the dance of creation
The Book of Thoth (as Tarot) becomes a practical tool for exploring the Kabbalistic Tree of Life:
The Tarot encodes the stages of the alchemical Great Work:
Each card connects to specific celestial influences:
The Book of Thoth serves dual purposes:
Using the cards to reveal hidden knowledge, future possibilities, and present unconscious influences. The Tarot acts as mirror reflecting deeper truths.
More importantly, studying and meditating on the cards provides a complete curriculum of esoteric knowledge. Each card is a glyph encoding multiple levels of meaning - mythological, psychological, magical, and spiritual.
Though the ancient Egyptian "Book of Thoth" may be legendary, its influence is real:
The "Book of Thoth" continues to manifest in new forms:
Archaeologists and scholars continue searching for historical Egyptian texts that might have inspired the legend:
The definitive modern "Book of Thoth" - Crowley's comprehensive guide to his Thoth Tarot deck. Dense with Kabbalistic, astrological, and magical symbolism. Essential for understanding Hermetic Tarot, though challenging for beginners. Beautifully illustrated with Lady Frieda Harris's art.
Publisher: Weiser Books | ISBN: 978-0877782520
Comprehensive guide to Tarot from the founder of Builders of the Adytum. More accessible than Crowley, emphasizing Tarot as spiritual development tool. Includes detailed card meanings and meditations. Reflects Golden Dawn tradition with refinements.
Publisher: Macoy Publishing | ISBN: 978-0879478407
Scholarly overview of actual Egyptian funerary texts including Book of the Dead, Book of Gates, Book of Caverns. Essential for understanding the real Egyptian texts that inspired the Thoth legend. Shows what ancient Egyptians actually believed about divine knowledge and the afterlife.
Publisher: Cornell University Press | ISBN: 978-0801485152
Comprehensive study of Thoth in Egyptian religion from earliest times through Greco-Roman period. Shows the evolution of Thoth worship and theology. Essential background for understanding why Thoth became associated with all wisdom traditions.
Publisher: Routledge (reprint) | ISBN: 978-0415561440
Classic guide to the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, the most popular deck worldwide. Waite's Golden Dawn training shines through while making Tarot accessible to general audiences. Essential companion to understanding how Egyptian-Hermetic symbolism entered mainstream Tarot.
Publisher: Dover Publications | ISBN: 978-0486444871
Jungian analysis of Major Arcana as journey of individuation. Demonstrates how Tarot imagery expresses universal psychological archetypes. Bridges occult tradition with depth psychology, making Tarot relevant to therapeutic and spiritual growth.
Publisher: Weiser Books | ISBN: 978-0877285151
Hermetic texts attributed to Thoth-Hermes, actual "books of Thoth"
Hermetic wisdom attributed to Hermes Trismegistus (Thoth)
Kabbalistic text underlying Tarot's connection to Hebrew letters and Tree of Life
The modern expression of the Book of Thoth in card form
Egyptian god of wisdom, magic, and writing - legendary author
Greek god identified with Thoth creating Hermes Trismegistus
Alchemical stages encoded in Tarot's archetypal journey
The Tarot trumps as archetypal forces in human consciousness