What is "The City of Pyramids"?

[Archmic]

As I do research I seem to continually run into this reference, and I can't seem to find what it is, or is suppost to be. It's actually kind of beginning to get to me. So yeah, my question is; What is the City of Pyramids? I hope some one can help.


Signed,
Archmic the unbiased Theologist.

[Durthorin]

As I do research I seem to continually run into this reference, and I can't seem to find what it is, or is suppost to be. It's actually kind of beginning to get to me. So yeah, my question is; What is the City of Pyramids? I hope some one can help.


Signed,
Archmic the unbiased Theologist.

What research? What path and tradition?

Brighid Bless, Dur

[Archmic]

While the main topic of research is Wiccan the path is kind of egyptian. I posses a Moon God Tarot deck, that is to say a Thoth Tarot deck, and was looking up the origin of the decks power, I've researched the creator and the painter, both of which are occultist but that's all they tell me of their back ground. But as I try to research the deck itself I run into The City of Pyramids. Now I know that there is a city of pyramids in egypt but the way they use it it souds like they arn't really refuring to that one. It's kinda like refuring to one of the seven heaven's in christian theology. Not very easy to find unless you know what your looking for; but to return to your question. I'm not entirly sure anymore. Tarot's arn't egyptian par-se but Thoth isn't a Wiccan god either... or am I wrong?

Signed,
Archmic the unbiased theologist

[technomage]

As I do research I seem to continually run into this reference, and I can't seem to find what it is, or is suppost to be. It's actually kind of beginning to get to me. So yeah, my question is; What is the City of Pyramids? I hope some one can help.


Signed,
Archmic the unbiased Theologist.
Hi, Archmic,

This sounds like Thelema or a neo-Kemetic reference--maybe from Crowley, maybe from someone later. The earliest thing I'm finding is an invocation by Frater Achad.

[Lady Macbeth]

While the main topic of research is Wiccan the path is kind of egyptian. I posses a Moon God Tarot deck, that is to say a Thoth Tarot deck, and was looking up the origin of the decks power, I've researched the creator and the painter, both of which are occultist but that's all they tell me of their back ground. But as I try to research the deck itself I run into The City of Pyramids. Now I know that there is a city of pyramids in egypt but the way they use it it souds like they arn't really refuring to that one. It's kinda like refuring to one of the seven heaven's in christian theology. Not very easy to find unless you know what your looking for; but to return to your question. I'm not entirly sure anymore. Tarot's arn't egyptian par-se but Thoth isn't a Wiccan god either... or am I wrong?

Signed,
Archmic the unbiased theologist

Archmic, how deep of research are you looking into? You seem to have hit a few webpages in your search that delve into much deeper aspects of magic and spirituality than most people traverse.

The easy answers out of the way:

I know of only one Thoth tarot deck in existence - it was created by Aleister Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris. He sketched and dictated designs to her that she brought to life through a series of beautiful paintings that later were photographed to create the plates for the Thoth Tarot Deck.

Crowley has an exceptionally diverse background. He pursued Truth above Religion - this led him to study the ways of a widely diverse and indepth group of magical traditions, which is reflected in his Thoth Tarot Deck.

Harris has a marginal history in the occult. Her most noted achievement is her work on the Thoth Tarot Deck - her artistic skills were how she participated in the magical world. She was a member of Co-Masonry, an offshoot of Freemasonry that allowed women equal status. Her knowledge of the occult was limited, and she learned a great deal of her later knowledge directly from Crowley.

Harris's epitaph is found in the current Book of Thoth (the book written to accompany the Thoth Tarot Deck) as both were printed after Crowley and Harris had died:

"May the passionate "love under will" which she has stored in this Treasury of Truth and Beauty flow forth from the Splendour and Strength of her work to enlighten the world; may this Tarot serve as a chart for the bold seamen of the New Aeon, to guide them across the Great Sea of Understanding to the City of the Pyramids!"

This is where your "City of the Pyramids" comes in.

The reference is most often found in Hermeticism, but can also be found in Kemetic, Qabbalah and other traditions. Without going into an expanded treatise, the City of the Pyramids is a region in the Aether on the path to Daath; it is a spiritual stopping place of crucial regard for those seeking to attain the pinnacle of enlightenment and ability in magic. All adepts must cross the Abyss and succeed in traversing the City of Pyramids if they are not to be lost on their journey.

The City of Pyramids also plays a crucial role in Crowley's Thoth Tarot Deck, which is expanded upon in further detail in The Book of Thoth. He seems to have understood that the symbolism of the cards would be lost to most, which prompted him to right the companion book.

As far as the last bit of your concerns:

Tarot aren't necessarily Egyptian - this is true. However, Crowley's Thoth Tarot has a great deal of Egyptian influence. One of his more important books, "The Book of the Law" was copied down during a visit to Cairo, in which Aiwaz, Minister to Horus, dictated the book in a manner similar to automatic writing. Crowley struggled with the information in The Book of the Law for many years, but it eventually became integrated as a founding aspect of his power.

Thoth isn't necessarily a Wiccan god. He is primarily and Egyptian god - he's the ibis-headed scribe who ranks among the hierarchy of the Egyptian pantheon. However, depending on what form of Wicca one practices, he can readily be adopted - I am currently in a Wicca 101 class that allows students free reign in choosing who their god(s) and goddess(es) are.

To fully understand the source of power for the Thoth Tarot Deck, you're going to need to explore Aleister Crowley, his teachings, his knowledge and his life. I will not even pretend to tell you that this is research that can be done in a couple of days - the creation of the Thoth Tarot alone took five years.