The Astrology Center of America, 207 Victory Lane, Bel Air, MD 21014
Tel: 410-638-7761; Toll-free (orders only): 800-475-2272
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The Hermetic Tarot

by Godfrey Dowson

The Hermetic Tarot
Price: $20.00

Number of cards in deck: 78

Measurements: 2.74 x 4.75 inches, or 69 x 120 mm.

Back of card: Black & white again, with what looks like a five-petaled rose inside a 12 pointed star. White background with an elaborate frame. The upper two corners have roses inside roses. The bottom corners have Stars of David with small Hebrew characters written around them. Does not contrast well with the front of the cards. On the street the other day I saw a large fire department decal on the back of a car. It was the same five-petaled rose as is commonly seen in the occult.

Booklet included: Yes, 72 pages, 2.55 x 4.38 inches, or 65 x 118 mm. Instructions in English.

Publisher: US Games. Printed in Italy.

Comments: The subtitle on the box says, Based upon the Esoteric Workings of the Secret Order of the Golden Dawn. Which was the same outfit that A.E. Waite & Aleister Crowley belonged to. While the art in Waite's tarot was largely the work of Pamela Coleman-Smith, the art in Crowley's tarot was his own invention. For various reasons it is hard to know exactly which of the three decks was created first, but an astute observer will find an echo of Crowley's Magician (the one Crowley eventually settled on, at any rate) in the Hermetic Magician, above. One will doubtless find other similarities among the three decks.

The presentation of tarot includes its original packaging. Take your brand-new deck, remove the cellophane from the cards and follow along. The deck starts with the major arcana, as is usual. The sixteen court cards follow, in this order: Wands, Cups, Swords, Pentacles. The order of the court is also interesting. Knights are first, followed by Queens, Kings and Princesses. Ranked from highest to lowest, this is the court's proper order, when the deck itself is male. When it is female, the first two cards are reversed: Queen, Knight, King & Prince/Princess. The Knight represents the Male essence, the Queen represents the female essence. The King is a retired (or defeated) knight, the Prince or Princess is a boy/girl in waiting. While the Knight can be replaced, the Queen seems to be queen for life.

The instructions with the deck are esoteric in nature. They give a sketch of astrological significators & show relationships between cards & occult concepts. Neither the cards, nor the instructions, are intended for casual fortune-telling.

The Astrology Center of America

207 Victory Lane, Bel Air, MD 21014
Tel: 410-638-7761; Toll-free (orders only): 800-475-2272

Tarot Home Tarot Decks Tarot Books Astrology Home E-Mail:

Established 1993, The Astrology Center of America is owned & operated by David Roell. Except where noted, this entire site (AstroAmerica.com) & its contents are Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 by William R. Roell. All rights reserved. Tarot card images are Copyright © by the copyright holder (generally the publisher).