Thoth: The Immortal bringer of wisdom
Thoth is eternal it seems even tho his work may be lost forever in the mists of time if they even existed at all? But who is he and how do we percieve this ancient God throughout the centurties since he was part of the Ancient Egyptian panteon?
Thoth is an ancient Egyptian god associated with wisdom, writing, knowledge, and the moon. Often depicted as a man with the head of an ibis or sometimes as a baboon (both animals were considered wise to the ancient Egyptians), Thoth played a crucial role as the divine scribe and record-keeper of the gods. He was believed to have invented writing and hieroglyphs, and he served as a mediator in disputes among the deities. Thoth was also closely linked to the concepts of truth, balance, and justice—embodied in the principle of Ma’at. In Egyptian mythology, he assisted in the weighing of souls in the afterlife, ensuring fairness in judgment. Revered as the patron of scholars and scribes, Thoth’s influence extended far beyond religion into philosophy, science, and magic. It still does today even if most do not recognise this.
Ancient Greece and the loss of the Book of Thoth original text
Hermes is the Greek god of travel, communication, trade, and cunning, as well as the messenger of the Olympian gods. Often depicted with winged sandals and a caduceus (a staff entwined with two serpents), Hermes was known for his speed, cleverness, and ability to move freely between the mortal world and the divine. He guided souls to the underworld, protected travelers and merchants, and symbolized eloquence and invention.
Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth share many similarities. Both are divine messengers, associated with knowledge, writing, and communication. Each serves as a mediator—Hermes between gods and humans, and Thoth among the gods themselves. They are also linked to the afterlife: Hermes as a psychopomp who guides souls, and Thoth as a scribe who records the judgment of the dead. These parallels led the Greeks in Hellenistic Egypt to identify them as counterparts, merging their qualities into the composite deity Hermes Trismegistus, revered in later mystical and philosophical traditions. This then is the link between Thoth or Egypt and the Greeks. But what of the works?
The Book of Thoth is thought to have been the source for the work Corpus Hermeticum ; a collection of 17 Greek writings whose authorship is traditionally attributed to the legendary Hellenistic figure Hermes Trismegistus, a syncretic combination of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. The treatises were originally written between c. 100 and c. 300 CE, but the collection as known today was first compiled by medieval Byzantineeditors. It was translated into Latin in the 15th century by the Italian humanistscholars Marsilio Ficino (1433–1499) and Lodovico Lazzarelli (1447–1500).
Corpus Hermeticum: first Latin edition, by Marsilio Ficino, 1471
Although the Latin word corpus is usually reserved for the entire body of extant writings related to some author or subject, the Corpus Hermeticum contains only a very small selection of extant Hermetic texts (texts attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, commonly known as Hermetica). Its individual treatises were quoted by many authors from the second and third centuries on, but the compilation as such is first attested only in the writings of the Byzantine philosopher Michael Psellus (c. 1017–1078).
Following their translation into Latin by Ficino and Lazzarelli, the Corpus Hermeticum greatly influenced the Western esoteric tradition. It was especially considered to be important during the Renaissance and the Reformation, in which Hermeticism would often function as a type of intermediate position between Christianity and paganism.[5] Hermes' perceived antiquity ensured that any writing attributed to him would take an important place in Ficino's doctrine of the prisca theologia ('ancient theology'), which affirms that a single, true theology exists that is present in all religions and that was given by God to humankind in the distant, primeval past. But how much of the original Book of Thoth survived the Greek and Latin translations and reworking?
The demonisation and heretical charges against ancient works and beliefs resulted in further degredation of the original work, but does it still live on in other forms?
While the western world was in the vice like grip of the Judo-Christian dogma and the power of the Church and the Vatican ancient texts and wisdom was considered heresy and against the word of God. Therefore once more the work of Thoth was forced undergroup, rewritten and yet more key information may well have been lost.
The Renaissance and the rebirth of wisdom
Thankfully, the mainstream western religions did lose their tight hold on the people and what they can read and understand. The Renaissance of the 15th and 16th centuries sought to return to the way of the ancients including the Greeks and Egyptians. Many ancient texts and works were rediscovered but again many were either further translated into modern language or their meanings were lost in time.
The Masonic connection
In all the old manuscript records which contain the Legend of the Craft, mention is made of Hermes as one of the founders of Freemasonry. Thus, in the Grand Lodge Manuscript, No. 1, whose date is 1583 and the statement is substantially and almost verbally the same in all the others that "The great Hermarines that was Cubys sonne, the which Cubye was Semmes sonne, that was Noes sonne. This same Hermarines was afterwards called Hernes the father of Wysdome; he found one of the two pillars of stone, and found the science written therein, and he taught it to other men."
There are two persons of the name of Hermes mentioned in sacred history. The first is the divine Hermes, called by the Romans Mercury. Among the Egyptians he was known as Thoth. Diodorus Siculus describes him as the Secretary of Osiris; he is commonly supposed to have been the son of Mizraim, and Cumberland says that he was the same as Osiris. There is, however, much confusion among the mythologists concerning his attributes.
The second was Hermes Trismegistus or the Thrice Great, who was a celebrated Egyptian legislator, priest, and philosopher, who lived in the reign of Ninus, about the year of the world 2670. He is said to have written thirty-six books on theology and philosophy, and six upon medicine, all of which are lost. There are many traditions of him; one of which, related by Eusebius, is that he introduced hieroglyphics into Egypt. This Hermes Trismegistus, although the reality of his existence is doubtful, was claimed by the alchemists as the founder of their art, whence it is called the Hermetic Science, and whence we get in Freemasonry, Hermetic Rites and Hermetic Degrees.
The importance of The Book of Thoth and its relevance today
The Book of Thoth is one of the most legendary and enigmatic works in the history of ancient Egypt—a text said to contain the divine wisdom of the god Thoth himself, the deity of writing, knowledge, and magic. According to Egyptian mythology, the Book of Thoth held powerful secrets of the universe: the language of the gods, the mysteries of the afterlife, and the means to command the forces of nature. Only the most enlightened priests and magicians were said to be worthy—or capable—of reading it, as misuse of its contents could bring great destruction.
Over the centuries, the original Book of Thoth was lost to history. No complete text survives, and it is uncertain whether a single written book ever truly existed or whether it was a symbolic representation of Egypt’s sacred knowledge preserved in temple rituals, hieroglyphs, and oral tradition. Fragments and references appear in later writings, including Greek and Hermetic texts, which suggest that the teachings of Thoth were gradually absorbed into the broader mystical and philosophical traditions of the Mediterranean world.
In a symbolic sense, the Book of Thoth still exists today—not as a single ancient manuscript, but as an evolved tradition of wisdom passed down through Hermeticism, alchemy, and esoteric philosophy. The Corpus Hermeticum, composed in Hellenistic Egypt, was believed by early scholars to be a continuation of Thoth’s teachings under his Greek name, Hermes Trismegistus. Later works, such as Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot and other occult interpretations, revived the legend in a modern context, merging ancient Egyptian symbolism with mystical psychology and metaphysics.
In recent years, historians and Egyptologists have revisited ancient temple inscriptions, papyri, and funerary texts—such as the Book of the Dead and the Book of Breathings—in search of parallels to the mythical Book of Thoth. New analyses of late Egyptian and Demotic writings, including a collection known as The Book of Thoth (discovered in the Tebtunis temple library), have shed light on how Egyptian priests may have viewed Thoth’s wisdom as a living, evolving body of sacred knowledge. These discoveries suggest that the “Book of Thoth” was not merely a mythic artifact but a real and evolving spiritual curriculum—a guide to divine understanding that continues to inspire seekers and scholars alike.
The Thoth Book of Spells
The Thoth Book of Spells is a term often used to describe the body of ancient Egyptian magical writings and incantations attributed to the god Thoth, the divine scribe and master of knowledge, writing, and magic. While there is no single surviving text formally titled the Thoth Book of Spells, Egyptian tradition and later myth describe a collection of sacred writings—sometimes called the Book of Thoth—that contained spells capable of commanding the elements, speaking with gods and spirits, and unlocking the hidden powers of the universe.
In myth, this legendary book was said to have been written by Thoth himself and hidden within the Nile or sealed within temple vaults to prevent misuse. Those who discovered and read from it, such as the magician-prince Setne Khamwas in the Demotic tale Setne I(c. 2nd century BCE), often faced dire consequences. The story suggests that the spells in the Book were both immensely powerful and spiritually dangerous, meant only for the truly initiated—those who sought divine wisdom rather than personal gain.
In reality, Egyptian magical texts attributed to Thoth likely took many forms over the millennia. Spells for healing, protection, and transformation were inscribed on papyri, tomb walls, amulets, and coffins, many invoking Thoth’s authority as the god who “speaks the words of power.” These writings appear in collections such as the Pyramid Texts, the Coffin Texts, and later, the Book of the Dead—all of which can be seen as fragments or echoes of the mythic “Book of Spells” that bore his name.
In later centuries, particularly during the Hellenistic and Hermetic periods, Thoth’s magical legacy evolved into the figure of Hermes Trismegistus, whose writings on alchemy, astrology, and divine wisdom were seen as continuations of Thoth’s ancient teachings. In this way, the Thoth Book of Spells lives on—not as a lost scroll, but as a spiritual lineage, inspiring everything from Egyptian ritual magic to modern occult and esoteric traditions.
Thus, while the Thoth Book of Spells may never have existed as a single physical text, its spirit endures in the continuum of sacred writing—a living record of humanity’s attempt to understand, harness, and honor the creative power of divine words.
The Tarot and its links to Egypt and Thoth
Tar-ro The Royal Road
The Tarot is a deck of symbolic cards that has been used for centuries for divination, meditation, and spiritual reflection. Traditionally composed of 78 cards—22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana—the Tarot weaves together rich imagery, archetypes, and esoteric symbolism to explore the patterns of human experience. Each card represents aspects of life, consciousness, and the journey of the soul, from innocence and discovery to transformation and enlightenment.
Origins and Possible Egyptian Links
Historically, the Tarot emerged in 15th-century Europe, most likely in Italy, as a card game known as tarocchi. It was not originally intended as a mystical tool, but rather a pastime for the nobility. However, in the 18th and 19th centuries, European occultists—such as Antoine Court de Gébelin and Eliphas Lévi—proposed that the Tarot was far older, tracing its symbolic roots to ancient Egypt. Court de Gébelin, in particular, claimed that the cards preserved the secret teachings of the Egyptian god Thoth, whom he called the source of all wisdom and writing.
While modern historians find no direct evidence linking the Tarot to ancient Egyptian manuscripts, temples, or Thoth himself, the idea of such a connection profoundly influenced occult traditions. The Tarot came to be seen as a modern manifestation of the Book of Thoth—a sacred text in symbolic form, designed to convey universal truths through imagery rather than words. This idea reached its most famous expression in Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot, created with Lady Frieda Harris in the early 20th century.
Evolution of the Tarot and the creation of a divination tool using ancient wisdom
The Etteilla Tarot—sometimes called the Book of Thoth Tarot—is one of the earliest and most influential esoteric Tarot decks, created in the late 18th century by the French occultist Jean-Baptiste Alliette (1738–1791), who worked under the pseudonym Etteilla (his surname spelled backward).
Etteilla was the first known person to publish a system of Tarot divination and to design a Tarot deck specifically for occult and predictive purposes—decades before the more famous Rider–Waite or Thoth decks. While earlier decks were primarily used for gaming (tarocchi), Etteilla was among the first to assert that the Tarot originated from ancient Egyptian wisdom, connecting it to the teachings of Thoth, the Egyptian god of knowledge and magic.
Structure and Symbolism
Over time, the Tarot evolved from a simple card game into a powerful tool for introspection, spiritual growth, and divination.
In the 19th century, secret societies like the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn began to integrate astrology, numerology, and Kabbalah into Tarot interpretation.
In the 20th century, decks like the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot (1909) and Crowley’s Thoth Tarot (1944) became foundational for modern Tarot practice.
Today, Tarot has transcended religious and cultural boundaries, inspiring countless artistic reinterpretations and psychological approaches—especially influenced by Carl Jung’s archetypal theory, which views the cards as mirrors of the unconscious mind.
He popularized the idea that the Tarot was actually the Book of Thoth, a mystical text encoded in symbolic images—an idea later adopted by Hermetic and Theosophical traditions.
Etteilla’s Tarot differs significantly from the standard Tarot de Marseille or modern decks:
• He reordered the Major Arcana and renamed many of the cards to reflect his own symbolic and astrological interpretations.
• Each card included keywords for upright and reversed meanings, a practice that has continued in modern Tarot traditions.
• Etteilla associated the cards with astrology, the four elements, and creation myths, blending Biblical, Hermetic, and Egyptian imagery.
• The deck’s full title, Le Livre de Thot (“The Book of Thoth”), explicitly linked it to Egyptian esotericism.
Etteilla’s work was groundbreaking. His writings—particularly Manière de se récréer avec le jeu de cartes nommées tarots (1785)—and his deck established many conventions of Tarot divination, such as spreads, reversed card meanings, and symbolic correspondences. His ideas also laid the foundation for later occult interpretations by figures like Eliphas Lévi, Papus, and ultimately Aleister Crowley and the Golden Dawn.
Etteilla’s work was groundbreaking. His writings—particularly Manière de se récréer avec le jeu de cartes nommées tarots (1785)—and his deck established many conventions of Tarot divination, such as spreads, reversed card meanings, and symbolic correspondences. His ideas also laid the foundation for later occult interpretations by figures like Eliphas Lévi, Papus, and ultimately Aleister Crowley and the Golden Dawn.
Though less well-known to the general public today, the Etteilla Tarot represents a crucial bridge between the historical playing-card Tarots of medieval Europe and the mystical, symbolic decks of the modern era. It embodies the Enlightenment-era fascination with Egyptian wisdom, Hermeticism, and the idea that ancient knowledge survived in symbolic form.
In short, the Etteilla Tarot can be seen as the first true occult Tarot—a deck designed not for play, but for spiritual insight, prophecy, and the rediscovery of Thoth’s lost wisdom.
The Crowley connection
Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) was a British occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, and writer whose ideas profoundly influenced modern esotericism. A controversial and often misunderstood figure, Crowley founded the religious and philosophical system known as Thelema, centered on the principle: “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”
His central sacred text, The Book of the Law (Liber AL vel Legis), was written in 1904 and, according to Crowley, dictated to him in Cairo by a spiritual entity named Aiwass. The book outlines the core tenets of Thelema—emphasizing personal will, spiritual freedom, and the arrival of a new era called the Aeon of Horus.
Later in his life, Crowley collaborated with artist Lady Frieda Harris to create the Thoth Tarot, a richly symbolic and visually intricate deck that blends Egyptian mythology, astrology, Kabbalah, and alchemical imagery. Published posthumously, the Thoth Tarot serves as both a divinatory tool and a visual expression of Crowley’s Thelemic philosophy, reflecting his lifelong pursuit of mystical knowledge and self-realization.
What Is Tarot actually For?
The Tarot is not merely a fortune-telling device—it is best understood as a symbolic language for exploring the self and the unseen dynamics of life. Each card serves as a mirror of consciousness, helping readers and seekers identify patterns, emotions, and potentials in a given situation.
While some practitioners use Tarot for predictive readings, many view it as a guide—a way to access intuition, clarify choices, and gain perspective rather than to foretell fixed outcomes. The cards do not “tell the future” in a deterministic sense; instead, they reveal the currents of possibility, showing how present energies might unfold depending on one’s actions and awareness.
The Enduring Power of Tarot; keeping Thoth wisdom alive today
The enduring appeal of the Tarot lies in its universal symbolism—its ability to speak to the human psyche across cultures and centuries. Whether seen as a remnant of ancient Egyptian mystery teachings, a tool of Renaissance mysticism, or a map of the inner self, the Tarot continues to evolve as a living system of wisdom, reflection, and transformation.
In essence, the Tarot is not about predicting destiny—it is about understanding it, and learning to read the symbols of one’s own life with the same insight that the ancients once sought from Thoth, the god of wisdom and divine speech.
Just think: every time you or someone plays with a deck of cards, they are in some way channelling the work of Thoth. How's that for immortality?!
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