The Book of Thoth (Tarot Trickery)
by Stephen Minch
The Effect
An A4-sized, spiral bound booklet containing 22 effects using any standard deck of Tarot cards (22 Majors and 56 Minors). Contains numerous black-and-white illustrations. 45 pages.
Cost
£13.04 + £2.02 postage and packing
from Magic Books By Post
£13.04 is the member price, otherwise the booklet costs £14.49. If you're not already a member of MBBP, just sign up for free before you place an order and you will get member prices straight away. I elected to have my order sent by second class post; if you choose first class or special delivery, then postage will obviously cost more.
Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
1-2 for the most part. Nothing particularly challenging in the sleight department.
Review
TBOT contains 22 Tarot effects; one for each card of the Major Arcana or Trumps. Each effect is cleverly named to coincide with the respective Tarot card, but does not necessarily relate directly with the card in question. I think it's a nice way to present the material. And you do get a lot of material for your money; with 22 effects to choose from, the Tarot enthusiast is bound to find a few that can be incorporated into a reading or performed as is. Personally, I have performed just a couple so far as I don't want to overdo it too quickly. I think these effects should be used sparingly.
You will require the following props if you are to perform every effect in this booklet:
Flash paper, two "talismans" (anything will do - use your imagination!), billet index, zodiac chart (a simple DIY job), miniature skull (!), soap or wax, cigarette ash, lemon juice or milk, candle, lighter, powered phenophalin in alcohol (I have no idea how easy it is to get hold of this stuff), ammonia solution, pendulum, marker, tape recorder, handkerchief, crystal ball (or a glass of water), a double-backed Tarot card and some envelopes.
That looks like a long list, but you'll only need it all if you plan on performing every effect in the booklet. Over half the effects require no props at all (except a Tarot deck!) As you can probably deduce from some of the props listed, TBOT uses a variety of tried-and-tested methods and principles that have been around for decades; principles from magic as well as mentalism. A couple of the effects also require the cards to be stacked in Si Stebbins or Eight Kings; a slight variation is required for the 8K stack to accommodate the extra court cards in a standard Tarot deck (Knight) and this is explained.
The effects make use of the following methods:
Mathematical forces, muscle reading, stacks, ideomotor movement and pseudo-psychometry. Most involve a force of some kind and perhaps some basic sleights (and I do mean basic). You will also need to know a false shuffle or two. All the effects are quite simple to perform (some are basically self-working) and most of the work will need to go into your presentation if you are to pull these effects off with any degree of convincingness (I think I just made up that word). You get the gist.
Most of the effects lend themselves to a reading. To be perfectly honest, I think people will be more interested in a personal reading than they will be in seeing a trick. Which is why I think effects with Tarot cards are more convincing than your average card trick; the querent is more likely to believe in your "powers" if you incorporate a reading into your presentation. It doesn't come across as a card trick.
The booklet ends with a short bibliography listing sources for other Tarot effects (there aren't many).
Overall
One of very few books dedicated to magic with Tarot cards, TBOT is, fortunately, an excellent collection of effects that can be performed as part of a reading or as a demonstration of the mysterious power of Tarot prior to giving a reading. However, those expecting new principles will be sorely disappointed (the book was first published in 1989); as the author himself states...
...You will find no new principles here; but the old principles that have proved themselves sure-fire over the years are decked out (if you'll pardon the pun) in a new and mysterious dress...
TBOT presents a good number of effects using well-known principles in the world of card magic and mentalism. The fact that they use Tarot cards somehow makes them more believable in the eyes of most spectators. With the appropriate presentation, these effects will prove very popular with your audience, particularly if you also give Tarot card readings. It goes without saying, but I'm going to say it anyway: don't buy this booklet if you have no interest in Tarot or, more importantly, you do not give readings. My score is aimed at the performer who uses Tarot cards and is familiar with the basic meanings behind the cards. (Traditional card meanings are beyond the scope of this booklet and not included). If this sounds like you, then TBOT comes very highly recommended indeed. Great value-for-money, too.
Score: 10/10
