Hermetic Tarot by Godfrey Dowson, 78 Cards
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- Primary Spiritual Use: Wisdom
- Secondary Spiritual Use: Intuition
- Element: Water
- Planet: Moon
- Zodiac: Cancer, Pisces
- Chakra: Third Eye
- Ruling Day: Monday
- Tradition: Western esoteric
- Intent: Wisdom, Intuition, Divination
Black ink, fine line, and every correspondence the Golden Dawn ever assigned to a card, printed right there on it. The Hermetic Tarot by Godfrey Dowson is a 78-card deck drawn in pen and ink from the teachings of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, with each card carrying its esoteric title and astrological attribution, and the Major Arcana carrying their Hebrew letters. It comes with an instructional booklet that explains the system.
This is not a soft deck, and it is not trying to be. It is the deck you reach for when you want tarot as the Golden Dawn taught it, as a working map of Kabbalah and astrology, and when you want the cards to teach you that map every time you lay them out.
At a glance
Key Features of the Hermetic Tarot
Golden Dawn correspondences on every card. Each card prints its Golden Dawn esoteric title and astrological attribution, and the Major Arcana carry their Hebrew letters, so studying the system and reading with it become the same act.
Pen-and-ink art in black and white. Dowson's fine line work keeps the focus on symbol rather than color, which suits meditation and serious study, and some readers color their own copies over time.
Instructional booklet included. The booklet lays out the esoteric titles and the attributions the deck uses, which gives you a working key without a shelf of Golden Dawn texts.
The particulars
Product Details
- Cards: 78-card tarot deck, black and white
- Included: instructional booklet
- Creator: Godfrey Dowson
- Publisher: U.S. Games Systems
- ISBN: 9780913866924
- Weight: about 9.6 oz
The Spiritual Significance
The Hermetic Tarot is used for divination, meditation, and Kabbalistic study in the ceremonial magic tradition of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The Golden Dawn, founded in London in 1888, assigned every tarot card a place on the Tree of Life, a Hebrew letter or astrological rulership, and an esoteric title; those attributions were set out in the order's tarot paper known as Book T. Godfrey Dowson drew this deck directly from that material, and U.S. Games Systems first published it in the late 1970s.
You can use it as a study deck, laying the Majors along the paths of the Tree of Life and the Minors by decan, and letting the printed attributions teach you the system. You can use it as a divination deck once the titles feel familiar; readers who know the Rider-Waite will recognize the structure. And you can use it in ceremonial work, choosing a card by its attribution to sit on the altar as a focus. It rewards patience, and it asks for it.
Ways to use it
What Is the Hermetic Tarot Used For?
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A daily pull
Draw one card in the morning and notice how it shows up over the day. -
Full spreads
Lay out a spread, such as past, present and future, when you want the bigger picture. -
Reading for others
Read for friends and family. -
Quick answers
Pull a single card for a yes or no, or a fast read on a question. -
Learning the cards
Work through the deck one card a day. Write what you see in the morning, note what happens during the day, and journal about it that night. -
Journaling
Write about the card you drew: what you see in it, and what it brings up. -
Shadow work
Sit with a card that unsettles you and write about why. -
Meditating on a card
Set one card where you can see it and let its imagery hold your attention. -
Altar and spellwork
Stand a card on your altar as the focus of a working, so its symbolism points your thinking where you want your life to go. -
New and full moon readings
Pull cards at the new moon to set intentions and at the full moon to see what's grown. -
Holiday readings
Do a reading for a sabbat, a birthday or the new year. -
With a pendulum
If you're not sure how you're reading a card, hold a pendulum over it to check. -
Paired with another deck
Pull an oracle card alongside a tarot spread for extra context. -
Who it suits
It suits beginners, experienced readers and art lovers, and it makes a good gift. -
A new deck
Cleanse it, go through the cards one at a time so you get used to each other, then spread the cards face down on a favorite surface and swirl them together like a lake. Every card gets turned every which way, so the deck starts out well mixed. Our guide to reading tarot walks through your first reading. -
Reversals
A reversed card doesn't always mean the opposite. Read it with the card's imagery and your intuition; sometimes it points to a blockage instead. -
Storage
Keep the cards stacked neatly in their box or a bag. A crystal on top is a nice touch.
Step by step
How To Use the Hermetic Tarot
- Start with the booklet and the Major Arcana. Learn the Hebrew letter and attribution on each trump before you try a reading.
- Cleanse the deck with frankincense or another resin incense, the traditional choice for ceremonial work, or by shuffling with your intention spoken aloud.
- Lay the 22 Majors on a sketch of the Tree of Life, one card per path, and sit with it. This single exercise teaches more than a chapter of reading.
- For divination, use the Golden Dawn's Opening of the Key or any standard spread; the printed titles will guide your interpretation.
- Choose one card a week to meditate on, reading its title and attribution aloud before you begin.
The system is precise, but your intuition still reads the cards. Let both have a voice.
Good company
Pairs Well With
- The Golden Dawn: The Original Account of the Teachings, Rites, and Ceremonies of the Hermetic Order by Israel Regardie, John Michael Greer Regardie's published Golden Dawn material, including the tarot attributions this deck is built on.
- Crowley Thoth Tarot Deck (Large Edition): 78-Card Thoth Tarot Deck (Large Edition) by Aleister Crowley, with Egyptian Symbolism, Qabalistic & Astrological Insights, Occult Knowledge, Painted by Lady Frieda Harris, Plus Booklet by Aleister Crowley the other great Golden Dawn-descended deck, for comparing how Crowley reworked the same system.
- The Book of Thoth: A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians, Being the Equinox Volume III No. V by Aleister Crowley, The Master Therion, Frieda Harris Crowley's commentary on the Golden Dawn tarot attributions, useful even if you never read with Thoth.
- Frankincense Incense Sticks by Escential Essences, 16 Sticks the traditional resin for consecrating ceremonial tools and cleansing the deck.
- Occult Guide to the Tarot by Travis McHenry a modern guide to tarot's esoteric side that bridges the booklet and the full Golden Dawn texts.
Before you buy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Hermetic Tarot and the Thoth Tarot?
The Hermetic Tarot and the Thoth Tarot both descend from the Golden Dawn's system, but the Hermetic Tarot by Godfrey Dowson stays close to the order's original attributions in black-and-white line art, while Crowley's Thoth deck reinterprets the system in full color with his own changes. Choose Hermetic for Golden Dawn study, Thoth for Thelema.
Is the Hermetic Tarot good for beginners?
The Hermetic Tarot is better suited to readers who already know tarot basics. The black-and-white art and esoteric titles assume some familiarity with the Rider-Waite structure and an interest in Kabbalah or astrology. A curious beginner can absolutely learn with it, but the booklet is a key, not a full course.
How many cards are in the Hermetic Tarot deck?
There are 78 cards in the Hermetic Tarot deck: 22 Major Arcana with Hebrew letters and 56 Minor Arcana with Golden Dawn esoteric titles and astrological attributions. It follows the standard tarot count, so any spread works, including the Golden Dawn's own Opening of the Key method.
How do I cleanse and consecrate a ceremonial tarot deck?
Cleanse a ceremonial tarot deck by passing it through resin incense smoke such as frankincense, which is the traditional choice in Golden Dawn-influenced work, then consecrate it by stating its purpose aloud. Some practitioners wrap the deck in silk between uses; a plain cloth or velvet bag works just as well.
Do I need to be in the Golden Dawn to use this deck?
No, you do not need to belong to the Golden Dawn or any order to use this deck. The attributions are printed on the cards and explained in the booklet, and Israel Regardie's published Golden Dawn material fills in the rest. The deck is a study tool open to any solitary practitioner.
Is the Hermetic Tarot in color?
No, the Hermetic Tarot is printed in black and white pen-and-ink line art. Godfrey Dowson designed it that way so the symbols and attributions stay in focus. Some readers color their own copies as a study practice, which also happens to be an old Golden Dawn tradition with hand-drawn decks.
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