General Book of the Tarot by A.E. Thierens [1930]

There have been numerous attempts to construct systems of correspondence between the Tarot and the Sephiroth of the Kabbalah. Another fertile ground for this activity is to try to match the Tarot cards with astrology. This book was one of the first to try to make this connection. Beginning with a theoretical section, it then discusses each card. Another feature of this book is a comparison of characteristics attributed to each card by some of the previous writers such as Waite and Papus.

Originally published in 1930 under the title General Book of the Tarot, it was reprinted in paperback by Newcastle in 1975 under the much more germane title Astrology of the Tarot. The Newcastle edition is long out of print but not hard to find used. More recently Kessinger has added it to their print on demand inventory under the original title.

Production notes: the original book is a bit difficult to use as a reference because it does not have running headers in the Lesser Arcana section. To remedy this, we have added descriptive titles for each of the files in that section. We have also inserted images of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck of each card for additional context. These titles and images are not in the original book.

I. The Doctrine

II. Significance of the Cards

The Greater Arcana

The Lesser Arcana

Wands

Pentacles

Cups

Swords