The Thoth Deck Five of the major arcana are lisited here with an excerpt of their descriptions from Discoursing With The Gods. Each of the Major Arcana are described in the book in their own well developed chapter including their descrition, history and meanings. THE FOOL Might mean Yes, might mean No, depending on the question. Signifies both folly and breakthrough, innocence and wisdom, audacity and change. Ask Tarot for a follow-up clarifying card, and the meaning should become clear. Often, The Fool simply means: have courage, it's time for a change, go for it; but don't be a fool, don't be naïve: watch out for folly. In colloquial terms: make sure all your ducks are lined up and in order, your obligations satisfied, your resources ready, then make the leap. The Fool is the most powerful and complex card in the Tarot. The other 21 Atu (also called Trumps, or Major Arcana) are aspects of The Fool's archetypal adventure down the Tree of Life and back up again, from innocence to wisdom. The Fool is the first branch on The Qabalistic Tree of Life and Knowledge, connecting Kether to Chokmah. THE MAGUS A Yes card. Signifies courage, magic, power, and self-actualizing breakthrough. Also journey, pilgrimage, travel, adventure, creative action, and intuitive insight. May also indicate philosophic and scholarly exploration, especially of esoteric traditions: Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, Qabalism, Sufism, Shamanism, Buddhism, Taoism, etc. He is a pioneering and bridge-building aspirant on The Path of Knowledge, synthesizing disparate disciplines into holistic unity. He daringly goes where most do not, returning with healing and enlightening gifts; in particular, a broader and deeper vision of what it means to be human. In sum: Go for it! Crowley's Magus flies through the cosmos on winged feet. His Hebrew letter is Beth, meaning "house." The Beth letter is attributed to the planet Mercury. Mercury, as one sees in the famous statues and pictures, has winged feet because he is the messenger of the gods. Mercury is the Roman name for the Greek Hermes; and Hermes is the Greek version of the Egyptian ibis-headed god Thoth, also sometimes called Tahuti. The Magus is the second branch on The Tree, connecting Kether to Binah. The Magus is The Fool in action, having taken the leap. He juggles the elements, committed to a path. He is a magician. The essence of The Magus is creativity. He pioneers with audacity, applying intelligence to creative action. His work astounds by its sheer inventiveness. Even the Magus is impressed. He glances upward, over his right shoulder, in wonder. Like The Fool, he smiles, because life is so miraculous. The Magus is the warrior on The Path of Knowledge; bold, fearless, humble, impeccable; inspired; delighted to be a channel for the creative energies of the gods, and a messenger of their wisdom. As Hermes Trismegistus, "thrice-great," he is a healer and teacher. THE HIGH PRIESTESS A Yes card. A feminine archetype. Signifies womb of the new. Also and especially: enchantment. She is inspiration, stillness, intuitive insight. Subtle, mysterious, implicit, unfathomable, and deeply alluring. A powerful Anima figure; goddess of music, the night, the stars, the sea, feelings, and the unconscious. The High Priestess is the female counterpart of The Magus. He is yang, she is yin. In Taoism yang is fire, action, passion, and creative aggression. Yin is moist, quiet, and receptive. The Magus is the color of the sun, gold. The High Priestess is the color of the moon, silver. Like The Magus, she is naked. She is keeper of the cosmic mysteries, as soul is the gateway to spirit. She is meditative tranquility. Yet she makes the sweetest music. And with her music, she enchants. She is the enchantress. She is romantic moonlight and Pythagorean "harmony of the spheres." She is all the mysteries of womanhood. She is the Egyptian goddess Isis, who searches for, finds, and resurrects Osiris. The High Priestess is the third branch of The Tree, vertically connecting Kether to Tiphareth. She constitutes the first path, or Navitoth, on the Middle Pillar. She crosses the Abyss. (See "The Naples Arrangement.") The High Priestess sits on a simple silver throne. Like The Fool and The Magus, she faces the reader. She is the archetype of purity and virginity. Her throne is open in the front, receding into the darkness of the mysteries between and behind her legs. Crowley's intentional sexuality is subtle but unmistakable. The High Priestess contains, exhibits and embodies that ultimate mystery we call birth. THE EMPRESS A Yes card. Wife and Mother. Indicates love, nourishing, empathy, self-sacrifice, loyalty, compassion, and Nature. Another Female Archetype: symbol of Anima and Soul. May signify pregnancy – physical or spiritual. The Empress embodies the archetype Jung calls The Great Mother. Her Hebrew letter is Daleth, meaning "door." She is the door to relationships, to interpersonal communion, to marriage, birth and child-rearing. She's associated with the moon, the waters of life, the emotions of love and commitment and self-sacrifice. She sits peacefully on a watery throne. She signifies tranquility and grace. We see her in profile, facing the next card, The Emperor. The Empress is the fourth path on The Tree, horizontally connecting Chokmah and Binah. It is through her door that The High Priestess or the aspirant passes between Kether and Tiphareth. The first, second and fourth branches on The Tree – The Fool, The Magus, The Empress – all belong to the supernal triad above the Abyss. The third branch – The High Priestess – passes through the Abyss. (See "The Naples Arrangement.") The Empress is The High Priestess in new guise. She is Isis embodied as Queen, indicated by the lotus in her right hand. She is mate and consort of the male. She is not afraid of assuming responsibility; indeed, the responsibilities of mother and Queen suit her. These responsibilities bring out the best in her, as signified by the pelican at the bottom left corner, feeding four chicks from the blood of her pierced breast. In the bottom right corner is her shield with a white double-headed eagle. The Emperor has a similar shield, but in red. THE EMPEROR A Yes card. Authority, power, stability, responsibility. A father figure; possibly a husband or, more informally, a male mate. Emphasizes the importance of being organized, of putting one's house ("empire," life, career, domain) in order. Signifies rulership, completion, dominion; even wisdom. Decisive, yet flexible. The Emperor completes the transmutation of Magus and High Priestess into formal couplehood. The Emperor is the ruler of his kingdom – be it his life, his family, his business, or a confederation of states. He sits foursquare on his throne. He signifies stability, law, order and control. Four is the number of stability and completion. A chair is stable because it has four legs; same for a table. Visit the Discoursing With The Gods Blog for articles by Stefan Schindler.

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