Crowley Countdown - Day 12

 "Follow thy Fortune, careless where it lead thee.

The axle moveth not: attain thou that."

-Aleister Crowley

This is one of those cards that everyone wants to get. Fortune. The Wheel of Fortune. Like a cosmic Vanna White spinning the wheel, we wait and hope that this time it's our time. 

The thing is wheels turn. What goes up, must go down. 

This again reminds us that all is change. Accept what comes around. 

That being said, this card in a reading is generally a good omen. Perhaps you are interested in seeing if the Wheel of Fortune comes up for you. Go here.

Crowley Countdown - Day 11

"Mitigate Energy with Love;

but let Love devour all things.

Worship the name ____,

foursquare, mystic, wonderful,

and the name of His House 418."

-Aleister Crowley

This card is one of those that has been renamed by Crowly, from Strength to Lust. In this case lust for life. It is the card that reminds us that each of us a purpose. It calls us to become who we truly are. Boundless creativity. The strength to be unique, to be individual, to dare to be different. This card calls to the divine artist within all of us to BE. Just BE. Life each moment in life free from the last.

Crowley Countdown - Day 10

"Let not the waters

whereon thou journeyest wet thee.

And, being come to shore,

plant thou the Vine and rejoice without shame."

-Aleister Crowley

The Hanged Man is one of the most difficult images to figure out in the tarot. It is a symbol of voluntary sacrifice yet at the same time it conveys a sense of suspended animation. The pose of the figure is that of a traitor. As that is how they were hung in the middle ages. But over time it has taken on a decidedly different meaning.

For me, in a reading, it is trying to convey the idea of looking at things from a completely different perspective. And also that of waiting. Patience and meditation. It tells us that circumstances cannot be rushed. We must wait and act when the time is right.

 

It is not death or dying. It is simply observing. Stillness. 

Perhaps you are needing to look at things from a new perspective. Tarot opens the way. Here.

Crowley Countdown - Day 9

"The Universe is Change;

every Change is the effect of an Act of Love;

all Acts of Love contain Pure Joy.

Die daily.

Death is the apex of one curve of the snake Life:

behold all Opposites as necessary complements, and rejoice."

-Aleister Crowley

 This card is probably the most feared of all, in the major arcana of the tarot. But this card does not represent physical death. The concept of death, symbolically, means change. Change in the sense of moving from one state to another. Nothing can change without what once was becoming what is now. The moment of inertia before something changes is death.

 In the earliest tarot decks this card was unnamed. That which is unnamed.

 Death is a dance in which we will all join at some point. This card reminds us to enjoy everything fully, for all things will ultimately change.

How about a reading to help point out how to best manifest change in your life? Go here.

Crowley Countdown - Day 8

"Pour thine all freely from the Vase in thy right hand,

and lose no drop.

Hath not thy left hand a vase?

Transmute all wholly into the Image of thy Will,

bringing each to its true token of Perfection.

Dissolve the Pearl in the Wine-cup;

drink, and make manifest the Virtue of that Pearl."

-Aleister Crowley

 One of my favorite cards in the Thoth deck, Art is the most alchemically symbolic of them all. To me this card symbolizes complete creativity. The perfect mixture to create the ultimate YOU.

It is the card par excellence for Artists, Poets, Writers, Musicians and all people engaged in creative works. Examine what it is that you want to create. 

A tarot reading is a great way to open up creative paths. Book one here.

Crowley Countdown - Day 7

"With thy right Eye create all for thyself,

and with the left accept all that be created otherwise."

 -Aleister Crowleye

The Devil is one of the most misunderstood cards of the tarot. The Devil is not evil. The Devil reminds us that unashamed sexuality is part of the human experience. To deny our physical desires in pursuit of spritual attainment only leads to frustration and fanaticism. 

The Devil is about the enjoyment of all things material and sensual, yet at the same time we must not become entrapped solely in the physical world and deny our spiritual and divine nature.

The Devil has become the symbol for things deemed amoral by those who espouse a puritanical outlook on life. "The devil made me do it", is a favorite way to blame an outside source on your actions, rather than accept full responsibility.

Even a deck of playing cards was once called "The Devil's Picturebook".

I leave you with some music, and a reminder that should you wish to consult "The Devil's Picturebook", I am available for online readings. Book a reading here.

Crowley Countdown - Day 6

"Break down the fortress

of thine Individual Self,

that thy Truth may spring free from the ruins."

- Aleister Crowley

Many people are afraid of this card. I suppose because it conjures up images of out of control and unpredicted circumstances. I personally, have never been frightened of receiving The Tower in a reading. For me it is a cautious warning not a prediction. Nothing ever lasts forever. When you open your psychic eye you will see the folly of putting faith into anything permanent. 

It is to a certain extent about destruction, but also the knowing that sometimes destruction is necessary for new growth to occur.

Solve et Coagula

 (Solve et Coagula, meaning "dissolve and coagulate," is a Latin phrase originating from alchemy, signifying the process of breaking down and reforming something to create something new or purified.)

Crowley Countdown - Day 5

"Pour water on thyself

thus shalt thou be a Fountain to the Universe.

Find thou thyself in every Star.

Achieve thou every possibility.

-Aleister Crowley

"Every Man & Woman is a Star"

This is one of my favorite Crowley quotes, and it comes from "The Book of the Law".

It is of course open to all kinds of interpretations. To me it is a bold declaration that each of us is completely unique. A star in our own orbit through the universe. Cultivating our uniqueness is our birthright. We all have the right to be who we are without validation. Please read Crowley's "Liber OZ" for his manifesto of human rights.

Note: In Crowley's kabbalistic system, this card is exchanged with The Emperor on the Tree of Life. The reasons for this are far too complicated to explain here. More info can be found in his "Book of Thoth". Those following these meditations explicitly will want to exchange these cards appropriately.

Crowley Countdown - Day 4

"Let the Illusion of the World pass over thee,

unheeded, as thou goest from the Midnight to the Morning."

-Aleister Crowley

 Today we meditate on the Moon card and the idea of illusion.

Illusion is something the world is dealing with on a global scale right now. More correctly, disillusion. We are starting to see the world for what it is. Uncovering corruption and throwing it in the face of those who pretend to hold power over the people. 

As Neptune, the planet of Grand Illusion, moves out of Pisces, (the moon card), and into Aries, (the Emperor card), we will start to see clearly the lies and deceit, propagated by oligarchs and oppressive governments, attacked and exposed and gradually taken down.

The idea of being awake or "woke" is being played out now. 

The fog is lifting.

Crowley Countdown - Day 3

"Give forth thy light to all without doubt;

the clouds and shadows are no matter for thee.

Make Speech and Silence,

Energy and Stillness,

twin forms of thy play."

- Aleister Crowley

In times like these, it is important to recognize our individuality. Our own sun, our own brightness. Now is the time to really burst forth and dispel the shadows of evil. Those forces that would try to contain our light. Meditate today upon your own uniqueness and your own sun. 

The music I am sharing through this series of Thoth posts is by one of my favorite neo-psych bands, “Magick Brother & Mystic Sister”. Enjoy!

Crowley Countdown - Day 2

"Be every Act an Act of Love and Worship.

Be every Act the Fiat of a God.

Be every Act a Source of radiant Glory"

-Aleister Crowley

Aleister Crowley changed the names of a number of the cards for the Thoth Tarot. 

Justice = Adjustment

Strength = Lust

Temperance = Art

Judgement = The Aeon

The World = The Universe

Also the order of the cards, their place on the Tree of Life, and some of the Hebrew letters assigned to them are changed to reflect the ideas in The Book of the Law, which is the basis for Crowley's magickal and spiritual system of Thelema.

Just to clear up any confusion. 

Enjoy your day!

And just a reminder to head to my website for much more and to make an appointment for a reading:

Mercurius Tarot

Crowley Countdown - Day 1

"Treat time and all conditions of Event as Servants of thy Will,

appointed to present the Universe to thee in the form of thy Plan. 

And: blessing and worship to the prophet of the lovely Star."

-Aleister Crowley

Today, we begin our 22 meditations of the Thoth Tarot. Each day I will start with a quote from Aleister Crowley regarding the card of the day. I will post images from the Thoth deck, but you may of course use the tarot deck of your choice.

Each day I will post a piece of music appropriate to the card. 

I wish you all a joyous Vernal Equinox.

I offer readings both online, and in person in Tomar, Portugal. Click the link below.

Mercurius Tarot

Crowley Countdown – The Thoth Tarot

Tomorrow, March 20th, the Vernal Equinox, is the beginning of the holy season for those who are adherents of Aleister Crowley`s philosophy/religion of Thelema. Starting on March 20, and for the next 22 days, a meditation is suggested for each of the tarot cards of the Major Arcana, starting with The Universe (The World) and ending with The Fool. 

The last 3 cards in the series end on April 8th, 9^th and 10^th respectively, which commemorate the days of the writing/receiving of Crowley’s holy book, “Liber AL vel Legis”, or “The Book of the Law”. This book is considered the central text of thelemic philosophy.

So, much like the counting of the Omer for the Jews starting from Passover to Shavuot and the receiving of the Torah, Thelemites count the Major Arcana of the tarot as a holy season from “The Equinox of the Gods” to the writing/receiving of The Book of the Law.

However you choose to look at it, meditating on the 22 trumps of the tarot is a great practice in my opinion. Whether or not you use the Thoth tarot for the practice, or a different set of cards, is up to you. There are no set rules for this practice, only suggestions. Here are a couple of suggestions/links to the Thelemic holy season for those who would like to learn more and in much greater detail.

Thelemic Holy Season – College & Temple of Thelema

Thelemic Holy Season -  One Reed

I leave you with John Zorn’s “The Sun” from his “Meditations on the Tarot” album. More on John Zorn in the future. Enjoy!

If you are interested in having a tarot reading, please head to my personal website at:

Mercurius Tarot

Tarot & Music - Ruth White

The tarot, the occult, and the arts intersect across many time periods. Here is a really interesting piece entitled “ 7 Trumps From the Tarot Cards” by Ruth White.

Ruth White was an American composer (1925 -2013) based in California.  She studied piano, harp and other instruments and was a pioneer in the electronic music idiom. This particular work was originally written as the music for a dance piece by choreographer Eugene Loring (1911-1982) of New York City Ballet fame. e

The piece dates from 1968 and was premiered in California.

As I was a ballet pianist for many years, Eugene Loring is a name quite familiar to me. And he is from my hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the U.S.

One of his most famous works is “Billy the Kid” with a score by Aaron Copland. He also was a choreographer with MGM studios and choreographed  for Cyd Charise and Fred Astaire.

Here is “Wheel of Fortune

If you are interested in having a tarot reading, please head to my personal website at:

Mercurius Tarot

Tarot & Music – Mort Garson

 

I feel very fortunate to have experienced the occult revival of the 1960’s and 70’s. 

The tarot truly entered popular culture. Then the “Age of Aquarius” was upon us and everywhere you looked people were “tuning in” to Astrology, I Ching, and the Tarot.

The moog synthesizer was the instrument of choice to convey psychic vibrations.

Mort Garson, a pioneer composer for the Moog, put out several albums with occult themes. His album, “The Unexplained – Electronic Musical Impressions of the Occult by Ataraxia”, is having its golden anniversary this year. I remember when it came out when I was a senior in high school. Here is the track called “Tarot”.  Enjoy

If you are interested in having a tarot reading, please head to my personal website at:

Mercurius Tarot

Mercury Retrograde

Tomorrow, March 14, Mercury begins it's retrograde motion through the skies. It isn't of course actually moving backwards. It's an optical illusion. 

But what isn't an illusion is the heightend sense of  communications gone awry, travel delays, plans changing and just general brain fog. What kind of thought disturbances are you experiencing?

Mercury rules the art of divination. One would think that we should avoid doing any sort of oracle work or tarot readings during times like these. On the contrary.

The tarot can be of great help during times of confusion to clarify situations. It is one of the best times to go within and use our intuition when intellectual thought is at its weakest.

It is also a good time to meditate and slow down. Take your time and finish up some projects. It is not the time to start something brand new. Catch up on correspondence. Interestingly enough, Mercury retrograde can bring news, emails or phone calls from people we have not heard from for awhile. This is a good time to write to old friends. Give your brain a breather and just be. 

If you are interested in having a tarot reading, please head to my personal website at

www.mercuriustarot.com

I will leave you with a wonderful piece of music by Gustav Holst, Mercury from The Planets, here played in a two-piano arrangement. 

Introduction

 

Welcome to a world where intuition speaks, symbols dance, and the unseen becomes a guide. My name is Mercurius—bohemian tarot reader, humanistic astrologer, pianist, and lifelong esoteric seeker devoted to the art of divination and knowing oneself. I am an expat American living in Tomar, Portugal.

Rooted in a love for the esoteric and the poetic, my approach to tarot is deeply intuitive, reflective, and symbolic. Each session is a journey—woven from archetypes, dreams, and the language of the soul. I draw not only from traditional tarot but from a broad tapestry of mystical traditions, music, mythology, and personal ritual.

I create a sacred, imaginative space for each reading—where story, synchronicity, and spirit meet. Whether you're seeking clarity, transformation, or simply a moment of meaningful connection, my work invites you to slow down, tune in, and explore the deeper patterns shaping your path.

This isn’t fortune-telling. It’s soul-telling.
And you’re most welcome here.

If you are interested in having a tarot reading, please head to my personal website at mercuriustarot.com