Is Tarot Evil, Crowley's Thoth, Christianity, and Tarot Superstitions 

So fantastic! As a Christian and someone who loves tarot, this perspective and history lesson has been comforting to me.

Wow I stumbled on this video after searching for more depth on tarot and religeon. I ran into Christian tik toks speaking of how divination is of the devil and it made me look for answers. Thank you for making this. It brought a lot to light.

I cannot explain how amazing you are ! WHat a great teacher !! you are really outstanding! No one teaches Tarot like you!

Thank you so so much for these videos! I love the Holistic Tarot and as a fellow lawyer, I really appreciate your analytical and methodical approach. As much as I want to become a proficient tarot reader, courses and books like yours also remind me to enjoy the process and take my time working with the cards and examine their origins and context.

A bit of Christian perspective on the topic - the prohibitions on occultism are considered part of the commandments banning idolatry (they are couched in a set of other commandments related to the worship of foreign gods, including the ban on shaving you mentioned which I believe is in reference to an Egyptian religious practice). In fact there are traditional forms of occultism in both Judaism and Christianity, both of which observe these commandments, but keep their work within the “proper pantheon,” so to speak. Basically the commandment is considered part of not entangling oneself with foreign gods, it’s not about keeping the church’s authority unquestioned. I’ll also explain the so-called “cherry-picking” of commandments a bit - one must first understand WHY the commandment is there, before determining whether it’s to be followed or not. Personally I keep kosher and keep a beard, etc. But as you mentioned the commandment against mixed fabrics is basically a commandment against portraying yourself as the priestly class when you’re not; today’s priesthood isn’t the sole wearer of mixed fabrics which is why that particular commandment is argued to no longer be applicable. So even though it seems that we just cherry-pick, there is a logic in it, at least in theory. Good video, subscribed. Have had a huge interest in Taoism lately. Will pick up your books.

I wish I could just climb into your mind and live there! you are brilliant in your thinking! I'm so excited to start your book!

I bought your book amongst many, it’s the best a tarot study needs,this is before I listen to this,you are special.

Just got your book a week ago and am so excited to come across these videos! I love this so much! I come from a strict baptist family and have spent my life scared of letting them really know me and my differing beliefs. I may need to point of few of them to this video if I ever let them know about my love of tarot. Thank you! Both for sharing your wisdom and for helping me feel less alone in this world. 😊

Love all your videos. You’re such a good teacher. 🌷Thank You🌻

This video lectures are abosolutely amazing! You encourage me to keep learning about this marvelous tool for self development and wisdom. Thank you so much for share your knowledge. Regards from Chile! :D

There are some beautiful decks in this video I've never seen before. ❤

Thank you for the historical background. Quite enlightening

I'm very impressed with this video. I'm very agnostic and atheist where religion is concerned. It's not like I haven't tried honestly and fervently to be religious it just was a very empty way to live. I see the universe very differently. Thank you !

Thank you for this video. I am a Christian, but a neophyte with regard to more holistic and expansive ways of viewing and interacting with the world. Thank you for your clarifications of and elaborations on concepts presented in the Holistic Tarot book.

“Crowley” rhymes with “holy”….This poem written by Aleister Crowley…. The Convert (A Hundred Years Hence) There met one eve in a sylan glade A horrible Man and a beautiful maid. "Where are you going, so meek and holy?" "I'm going to temple to worship Crowley." "Crowley is God, then? How did you know?" "Why, it's Captain Fuller that told us so." "And how do you know that Fuller was right?" "I'm afraid you're a wicked man; Good-night." While this sort of thing is styled success I shall not count failure bitterness. From the OTO-US website

Your video is so full of knowledge, I love it. I learned a lot of things that not many people reveal. I believe the others are more into New Age stuff.

Thanks a lot! I am not a radical christian, and I am vegetarian, I am into yoga and into Hinduism. But I had some concerns about tarot, as I went to some creepy tarot readings of santeras ( southamerican witchcraft practitioners who have visions while smoking) and I felt some was definetely dark there. So even if my friends always tell me to do tarot because I have a very good intuition and sometimes I simply know things, I still have some kind of fear or negative association about it. Even if I see clearly lightful and lovely people like the Gem Goddess on youtube doing it.

I appreciate how you compared Crowley's Thoth Deck with the Waite Deck with a sense of how they both were products of the environment at that historical juncture in time and also didn't put in a particular bias in your explanation. It was refreshing. Nice video. Subbed!

I once dabbled with this. I was so shocked that this stranger was able to tell me stuff I never told anyone else. That shock turned to curiosity and that curiosity lead me into buying my own deck of cards. One day a good friend from the past reached out and I offered him a reading. He said No with the simple explanation "I believe what you're saying, I just dont think people have the power to do that" and that stayed with me. I started to get closer and closer to church when suddenly it all hit me with the devil card. How on earth is that supposed to be a good thing? I used to read it as "Ohhh, if its upright it good. The spirit of rebellion. But upside down its bad." NOOOO, it's all bad. Demons are involved and after a couple truths they'll slip in a lie just like the devil did with Eve. Don't fall for that PLEASE. Run away and repent. Tell GOD you're sorry and dont believe the cards when they tell you everyone is against you. And dont simply throw them away afterwards. Burn them. I hope this reaches someone out there. I love you and want to worship the good Lord with you in heaven.

Thank you so much for this video! ❤

I love how you mentioned that being well-studied in Judeo-Christian religion actually gives you a big leg up for learning the RWS system, like that's my biggest rebuttal for people (mainly Christians) who say that tarot is evil. It's like, if you look at the imagery (in RWS), you can clearly see the Bible stories in the major arcana, as well as biblical symbology throughout. It really can be viewed as just illustrations of the esoteric knowledge that's already in the Bible.

Fantastic. Really enjoyed this.

Your intelligence is brilliant

This book has added so much to my learning experience. Being that this is the way I like to learn and study. I am working on my masters degree in clinical mental health counseling and have expanded my studying with re-exploring the tarot. I separated from the tarot for many years and while working on my degree and decided to dive back into the wonderful journey of tarot again. This book has helped me with the journey.

Anyone here who’s Christian and hasn’t had anything bad happen tell me!! I don’t want to get into something that’s not going to be good

Thank you for posting this video. You brought much insight!

This is one of my most favorite of your videos - although I love all of them too!!!!

I love benebell! The book holistic tarot was a game changer. As someone who loves non fiction books and learning it’s amazing for me. ❤️❤️❤️

My God! Your timing was perfect! Your video popped up on my phone a half hour before midnight -and my birthday - just as I was contemplating the year ahead, solar return and a 10th house Piscean profection year (after 2 years of Saturnian discipline). S: 4 Wands W:7 swords rev E: Queen of wands N: Heirophant About to light my candle: So time for full intention and concentration.

I've had my Rider-Waite deck for probably 25 years.... I've just pulled them back out a couple of months ago as I'm embarking on some deeper spiritual work. I've always been fascinated with the imagery, the connections to history, theology etc....At the moment, I'm just doing a daily pull, and its pretty spot on. Ordered your book and should be receiving today- Really anxious to get into it as well as the videos. Please continue to teach us!! and......that Azathoth deck is gorgeous - I think I want the deck if nothing else but to enjoy the imagery. thanks for all you do.... Peace & Love....

Hey Bell I love your work! The Latin however is a little wrong in this. Sciscitetur does not mean divination and Ariolos does not mean consulting. Ariolus (singular nominative form) is a noun meaning diviner or seer. Ariolos is the accusative plural form, which is the direct object of the subject. Sciscitetur is actually a passive future verb, which means “will be known” So the correct translation is “he who will be known to observe(pay heed to) diviners and dreams and auguries, lest he be wicked.” Hope that helps!

Very intelligent i love the way you speak thanks for sharing

Great video! I'm now interested in eventually going through your course. As a Christian, I think what needs to be said about Tarot in general has already been said. However, here are some things I've thought of in regards to Crowley's deck. I go to a Lutheran church where we celebrate the day he nailed his 95 theses to a wall, sing a few hymns that he wrote, and we sometimes look at and discuss some of his theological writings. Although Luther wasn't much more anti-semitic than many others at the time, his final book was anti-semitism to the most extreme. He also advocated for pretty harsh forms of law and order when people started destroying Catholic churches. My pastor has also sometimes referenced Aquinas and Calvin, but he's also pointed out many problems with them, especially Calvin. On the question of something "satanic," here's what I have to say. Myself and other Christians acknowledge that most of the outright satanism today is more in response to conservative fundamentalism, rather than anything from Jesus himself or who we believe God to be. In the Gospels, Jesus talks about the devil, one of the big things he mentions is people who will come and commit atrocities in his name. He doesn't mention people who are outright satanic. I read something from a Christian Tarot reader mentioning their discomfort with Crowley's Lust card, but I also think that same struggle can also be seen with the Devil card. Admittedly, this person's discomfort was something that Christians see as evil being depicted in a positive light. However, that's more of a personal struggle. For me, I try to forget some of the religious symbolism in cards, so I can have a more general and adaptable interpretation. I definitely like it when decks have a more neutral approach on religious symbolism and mythological figures.

Great video. Refreshing to have context put with the scripture. I learned something from this. Thankyou

That Tarot is merely a contemplative tool for self reflection seems to contradict the notion that the cards reflect internal truth. That is, unless each card can be interpreted in an infinite amount of ways. Am I wrong? Let me know.

Great Video!!! As a Christian I have been deeling with the cheery pickers for 16 years! To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. Titus 1:15‭-‬16 NKJV

Quite a interesting comparison to the Israelite Urim and Thummim and the Chinese Jiaobei.

Thank you for this video. I just had this conversation about Jesus as a psychic medium, talker to the dead, and supernatural manifestor with a friend, saying almost word for word what you relay in this video. Now, I can speak my mind AND refer my friend to this video by the expert! ❤️

Did anyone here experience a backlash from the devil when they got rid of their Tarot cards & did you also experience rewards/blessings from God when doing so?

As always, quite insightful.

I loved this video!! I can't believe I'm just finding you!! Thank you for this, I needed to see this!!!

Beautiful video!

Science is no more than the systematic interpretation of omens. Brilliant. Thanks for that!

Love this. I cannot wait to see you on stage at readers studio. You will rock it

You are intelligent with great understanding for everything. 😎🥰💃🙏🤗❤️

This is right answer ,it is not to blame tarot's card . People do wrong,bad,and they never take tarot's in their hands . I'm fed up with this superstitions, and they have so many there in the world. Alcohol is evil from devil ,cigarette's, drugs,and more. Some people said tarot's are from Devil's.

I have never needed to be shielded and protected from a Himalayan salt lamp. Does this mean that the Tarot and Himalayan salt lamps are in fact, different?

Super interesting!

I just purchased your book a couple days ago, and I wasn't sure what to make of your take on Crowley reading the first couple Pages. You mentioned that his Tarot deck is based on the "Book of Thoth." and I wondered why you didn't say "HIS Book of Thoth." This seems to be a necessary disambiguation for the very beginning of the text, although I barely made it through the first hundred pages, I wonder what else you will say about this deck. Other than that I really like your approach, and I wonder if you have read any of Alan W Anderson's work regarding divination tarot and I Ching?

Some of the imagery in classic Tarot themes are even older than Egypt. I'm not assigning that to the origin of tarot, but for example, there are reliefs of the goddess Inanna standing atop a lion (Virgo and Leo; the Queen of Heaven, later attributed just to Leo) older than carvings in Egypt of Isis atop a lion, bearing similar titles as the prior, and this imagery evolved into her being accompanied by lions. This similar imagery wound up in the Strength card. Egypt learned astrology from the Sumerians, who had an Astrolatry based religion for a while (that is, the deities were the stars themselves, and not just represented by heavenly bodies). A lot of the names and meanings associated with astrology studied in the cradle of civilization persists in current astrology. It's such a fascinating subject! There's one tale, for example, of Nimrod the Hunter bringing down the Bull of Heaven. I forget the details, but it is my opinion that the tale describes the Leonid meteor shower, and thus gave a narrative annually from the gods to the people.

I just ordered my Holistic Tarot book! Downloaded all the worksheets and set up my online folders! Feels like I'm getting ready for my 1st day of school 😁

Exactly Benebell, though the problem is due to ignorance and fundamentalism whichever hinders these practices.

The Bible was written long time before the tarot so I have hard to believe that God have told anything about tarotreading. I think it have been added later. He is also allmighty why should he be worried about tarot or readers ? I use them for personal growth and education. It's why I have tarot in English and German and also Thoth tarot. Have a nice day.

Tarot is a technology. Alike a car, a brick stone or a knive. It depends on what intention to the user. As you said. People can be wicked Thanks for sharing your knowledge ❤️😇🙏

Oracles, when not controlled by beliefs and practices, allows whatever to take over you and your experience that wants. Oracles can be be read as negative or positive in any aspect. As much as personally composed decks reference specifics of the composers, a deck can be used in another person's mythology or according to other psychology. Ancient Egypt may have had the themes of all the Tarot, but them all in only package can probably be found more directly in Cathedrals, Qabalah, and Sufism. Tenacheeshuw and Tee'aewuninuw Of Leviticus 19.26 are different than mere unlicensed therapy, but includes Baptist and Charismatic/Pentecostal priestcraft. An individual should be able to respond to all aspects of life with one's spirituality.

Bravo!

By my own logic, the laws that forbid divination my not apply to modern gentile Christian’s but that is a much more nuanced discussion that the one here. But you did do a ton of research and made a great video and I appriciate all the work. I’m just not sure if I can agree with the reasoning. From a person who used to be a Christian and isn’t sure anymore.

16:28 that was mosaic law you were quoting not Gods law. And the woman being quiet thing was the apostle Paul explaining that women should not speak in the church setting because women were to listen to the teachings. Woman was created as a helper for man. Men and women compliment each other in their masculine and feminine sense. These aren’t out of the ordinary concepts as your tone suggests.

I don't want young children running around thinking there wizard's

If you read the Book of Thoth, Crowley tells us the cards are living entities and we should use extreme caution when using them, he also recommends invocation prayer for the spirits to help with the readings, I have always believed his approach due to he was a Prophet of the new aeon, founder of the Thelemic religion, and a Magus. (I do know from personal experience that the Thoth tarot is the Real Deal)

This...this whole endeavor is simply amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

ZhangZi the compass was the one that was assisting me across the Desert point is in turn saved over seventy five oriental woman/girls.! ㊗️Lady of Heaven🉐️ ThankYou!🈷️☯️🦇Their is only Good in TAO

Is the there a specific type of Tarot Card that suits you? For me is the popular Waite-Smith Card.

There is a lot about Christian theology you do not understand, and that tangent about the Bible makes it very obvious. It surprised me since you seem pretty well informed and reasonable otherwise. In short, the old testament is not considered prescriptive but descriptive (generally speaking). Also, as an orthodox Christian, we do not see the Bible as the foundation of the faith as it was created by the Church, not the other way around. Concerning tarot, of course a deck of cards cannot be inherently evil. What makes it tricky from a Christian perspective is that wishing to know the future means that you do not trust in God on some level. But as you say, there are many ways to use it, so bottom line I would just agree with you and advocate caution when using it. Also, Alistair Cowley was objectively an evil person in my view so anything associated with him is bound to have "bad juju", regardless of the time period.

Can you or have you recorded a video on the parallels of the Judeo-Christian symbolism of the tarot cards and the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses?

The blend of threads was tested once and shown to reduce the energy of the body frequency ..... so ye understanding is lacking.

Actually The Book Of Thoth clarifies that Crowleys Thoth Tarot orginated from egypt. And the of course later transfered over to you guessed it Europe.

Can that mirrored effect of the tarot cards of the message for the person you are reading for if a person is bad can’t the energy go from The cards back into the reader and affect them in a negative way energetically??

You can think of the bible as a lesson on humility, which is the same thing as an understanding of the inadequacy of idols, which is largely also the inadequacy of the self or ego. Its all really the same thing. Every day, maybe every moment, you face basically the same choice over and over - to recognize the magnitude of what you dont know, or to assume you know enough, and the latter is the same thing as to glorify yourself. Glorifying yourself is idolotry because you are imperfect and forever separated from perfect knowledge of truth. The fear of god is a sort of half mistranslation - the other half, which should have been included in translations, is awe. Awe at the abundance and complexity of the world around you - abundance and complexity, which is fractal and multidimensional, is simplified to the word Grace. With this lens, you can understand the directives and prohibitions and stories in the bible... The whole thing, as it appears to me. The prohibition on divination is all about idolotry, but i can see how it could be used with an attitude of humility and not be destructive. However, i think its a slippery slope, and your own judgement is the danger.

actually also thought a lot about the point inside the bibel (I am also a believer and believe in God (which I think doesn´t mean that I have to pray on my bible)) ánd the point about future telling... well I think, not all people can really deal with that kind of information and maybe after hear something like this they will just change something by not doing things which needs to be done. Again the reader could read the "signs" wrong which would again change some stuff into peoples live. But in general it is not said about do not use tarot. I like to use it to deal with myself, analyse and understand what I could do better as for now I also do not feel ready to do predictions, but it is ok for me to get hints to improve and analyse the actuall situation.

Wow, the connections you made from the Bible and Christianity are just mind blowing! I can tell how much work that must have been for you to get all the links in place! Thank you for this eye-opening video! And no, Harry Potter is NOT EVIL! I can accept anything, but never that :)!

8:28 How much pawt have you been smoking ?

I would say that the books of the Bible have been written for an unusual new race of mixed race because they had a double mind. Deuteronomy was sent to these people, yet many know wisdom is understanding. Some may read articles from the Bible that are the same as other scriptures, we knowledge wisdom and bring forth Understanding .🦇

Hola, Felicitaciones .. quisiera el libro.. . Tienes el libro en Español?

Oh this video shut em down wooh.... In my Rick Flair voice, wooh!

Hi Bell, thank you for your work, it's truly appreciated!

thank you!

Still attempting, however

Late to the party. Well done lady 💜

But as per Doreen Virtue....it is like calling angels for tarot reading is dangerous. Because demons can disguise as angel and can misguide you...is it true?.....And she also stated that we don't have any right to call angel

could anybody tell me the name of the deck at 2:10 and 8:44? the one that has a black border. thanks in advance!

"If you believe Harry Potter, Veganism are evil"... WELP, not off to a good start...

The tarot is not evil and I do feel its a tool to either do bad or good things but Aleister Crowley sure was an evil man.

23:09 Jesus is the third person of the triune God. Just to fill in the blanks of your understanding.

I would recommended some books from Manly P. Hall. For good reads, and expanding the research on the occult. :)

There's a more simple way to know God. Jesus was God himself and presented himself in flesh through Jesus and his walk. Why? Because he wanted to show a more simple way to live a humble life, a peaceful life. You can dig into the depths of this world and all the knowledge and riches the world could offer you, but none of that will ever quench your thirst for more. Yeah fascinating to know more and learn about magic and all that, but what is the ultimate purpose? Do we want to feel great as magicians and scholars or do we want a better world where humans can heal from a diseased world? Jesus doings when healing people was a depiction of the power that God gives us through us believing in his mighty love, through us growing in our faith, faith in a just God, not a god of magic or material wealth. He gave life back to the death to show the possibility of being born again through Jesus in the knowledge of God, a life clean of the distorted views and expectations of this world. There's enough around in this world to know that evil exists. We can't deny poverty, famine, rape, animal cruelty, genocide, molestation, and so on. So the Bible is not here to show you tricks of magic, but to give you the wisdom of God in living a wiser life to avoid the disasters that awaits from evil lurking and working around us every second of the day. No need of tarot, reiki, crystals, to know a simple and free truth. No need to pay money to know what awaits for you, no need of rocks to enhance love or peace or whatever u want to name u need. One simple free focus, Jesus walk. Humble, of service, ego free. Real meaning of ego death, when you give the glory to the creator, and we become servants. When we learn to forgive when we have been deeply hurt. When we learn to pray for our enemies, Jesus is way bigger than a bunch of magic tricks or a deck of tarot cards. If you are trying to make money to help people, then the purpose is defeated. Real help is for free, real healing is free. And you can find it through a one on one relationship with Jesus, through a powerful heartfelt prayer. True reading the real meaning of the scriptures with the lense that the Holy spirit of God gives us. Through discernment. God bless 🙌 🙏

18:28 The latin is not the Original this is Hebrew old test, Are you ok ?

🦇☯️🗡I can not stop fighting evil.......

Some people are unfortunately evil bad without tarot's Christian's used tarot's and not all of them are good people. Some Christians are not so good and they never used tarots.

Thoth, is not Crowleys

No KJV 1611 Bible with the ye Olde English tongue?

Just like the communication boards or what most people call Ouija Boards.. the board is an inanimate object, not evil, just like the cards are just pieces of cardboard that we infuse our magic and intention into. :-)

relapsed tarot reader seeking a better and more thorough understanding of my deck, i just ordered your book and started listening to this series. a lot of the things you address at the beginning remind me of when i was starting out and struggling with tarot. i look forward to reading your book! please tell me the name of the deck at 4:39.

Sumerians invented tarot's , Egyptians.found tarot's .The Italians took the Tarot of Egyptians

substitute "Bible" for Tarot and you have all the warnings against many sermons given from church pulpits. The receiver must be grounded and discerning.

15:50 lol

It’s the cherry picking part for me.. the fact that crystals are actually praised by God in the heavenly kingdom does too.. They completely ignore that are create their own religion or cult lmao

Freud disowned Jung for his occult beliefs for info

The Tao is mysticism mythology is the best way I can imagine how to explain myself. However this is not my first shape -shift cousin. Lee Chan

What was the name of the divination used by priest?