Newly released by The College of Thelema of Northern California
in association with The Teitan Press:
The Thoth Tarot, Astrology,
& Other Selected Writings
by
Phyllis Seckler (Soror Meral)
Edited and with an Introduction by Dr. David Shoemaker, Gregory Peters & Rorac Johnson
College of Thelema of Northern California / Teitan Press, Sacramento CA & York Beach, Maine, 2010.
Hardcover. Octavo (9 x 6 inches, approx 23.5 x 15.2cm), . xviii + 390pp.
Sewn, printed on acid-free paper. Heavy blue cloth binding, with gilt titling etc to the spine. Black and white frontispiece photo-portrait.
ISBN: 9780933429192. Edition limited to 777 numbered copies. Pictorial dustjacket. (38831) $45.00
Phyllis Seckler (1917-2004) was introduced to the teachings of Aleister Crowley in the late 1930s and became a regular participant in the activities of Agape Lodge of the Ordo Templi Orientis in California, and rose to become a Ninth Degree member of the “Sovereign Sanctuary of the Gnosis.” She was admitted to the A.’. A.’. under the tutelage of Jane Wolfe, eventually taking the now well-known “magical name” Soror Meral and was later confirmed as an Adeptus Minor by Crowley’s successor, Karl Germer. Seckler was a key figure in the reinauguration of the O.T.O. in 1969, and a few years later she founded the College of Thelema, with the intention that it would provide important background training and education for aspirants to the A.’. A.’. Although not as widely known as some of her contemporaries, Seckler played a crucial role in the history of Thelema, not only through her efforts to explore and revive Crowley’s creed, but also by training a new generation of its students.
The Thoth Tarot, Astrology & Other Selected Writings, is edited by three of Phyllis Seckler’s former students: Rorac Johnson, Gregory Peters, and David Shoemaker. It includes a biographical sketch of Phyllis Seckler drawn from her own autobiographical writings, and two of her most important essays: “The Tarot Trumps of Thoth and Psychology” – a detailed analysis of the psychological and magical symbolism of the Trumps of the Thoth deck – and “Thoth Tarot and Astrology,” a significant study of astrology and the natal chart, with special reference to the cards of the Thoth deck. Both of these essays were previously serialized in Seckler’s journal In the Continuum, but they are here presented for the first time in book form, accompanied by redrawn and corrected diagrams.
In addition to the essays the book also contains a selection of important correspondence between Seckler, Aleister Crowley, Karl Germer and Jane Wolfe. These are followed by a transcript of the last major interview conducted with Phyllis Seckler, in which she recounted the details of her introduction to Thelema and involvement with the old Agape Lodge, her subsequent participation in various Thelemic organizations, and her thoughts on developments within the Thelemic world.
Special launch-week offer.
For one week only copies sold will come with a book-plate signed by the Editors, and will be shipped free of charge (US) or at reduced rate (international).*
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