The Book of Kaos - 2025 Edition
The Book of Kaos tarot deck by Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule is back in print again, in a new and revised 2025 edition, after a long hiatus. First published in 2001, this full 78 card tarot deck features dramatic, black and white line drawings with Smith-Waite style illustrated pips, and it symbolism draws on a variety of influences including Austin Osman Spare, the Western mystery tradition and the artist's unique aesthetic.
It includes alternate versions of the The Lovers (VI) and The Devil (XV) cards, bringing the total number of cards up to 80. The tarot read has the choice between The Lover and The Lovers, and between Pan and The Devil. A 40 page Little White Booklet (LWB) is also included, signed by Orryelle. The box is a 2 piece design. The cards have rounded corners and are slightly larger than the previous edition. Card Dimensions: 113 x 75 mm.
Artist's Description
'Originally titled, 'The Bohemian Tarot' - (underwhich the original Major and Minor Arcana sets were published seperately as A5 limited-edition (100 copies) folios around 1991) I redrew about half of the major arcana a decade later to form the deck into 'The BOOK of KAOS', an inter-sect-ion of ChaOrder Magick and the aeonic double current of Horus and Maat. The introduction of these added layers of esoteric symbolism do not detract, however from the deck's original appeal of directly emotive, pagan and tribal imagery.
The 2001 Limited Edition was the first time the completed BOOK of ChAOS Tarot Deck was published as a whole. The 111 copies sold within 6 months.
The change of the 'ChAOS' of that edition to the 'KAOS' of this one is for two reasons: By traditional Hebrew Qabbalistic Gematria (a system intimately related with the Tarot) KAOS = 151 = QNA, The 'Double-Wanded One' or horned hermaphrodite so prevalent in this deckÂs imagery, especially the new alternate ATU VI and ATU XV presented for the first time in this edition, showing different aspects and interpretations of these trumps. But primarily because K in the Hebrew alphabet is Kaph, the letter corresponding with ATU X, The Wheel, which is the Cross-X-roads of the Tarot Lemniscate and thus the fulcrum of the Major Arcana. Indeed the TARO itself is this ROTA or Wheel of Fate. Thus the Book of KAOS is the Holy Book (TORA) of the Wheel (ROTA): TARO, and the Gate (ATOR) Beyond (ATU XXIII)...
The AOS of the title thus also pays tribute to Austin Osman Spare,, the 'grandfather of ChAOS magick' who set this K-AOS Wheel turning - founder of the Zos Kia Cultus whose legacy is continued in Works such as this which promote Art as the prime menstruum of Magick...
(also AOS =131 =Pan, Baphomet, Truth; thus KAOS is the Wheel (K) thereof)
The Edition has two alternate versions of ARCANA XV -PAN (see below) and the HermAphroditic BAPHOMET, two alternate versions of ARCANA VI -The LOVERS and The LOVER (both below)'
Ordering
In co-operation with Orryelle, Handsome Books is now able to offer The Book of Kaos (2025 Edition), shipped from the UK. Deck price is £44. Shipping within the UK is £4.50. Shipping to Ireland is £9.65. Contact me to place an order or to request a shipping quote.
The decks are also available directly from Orryelle's site EsotErotica.art and primarily ship from Belgium. Follow Orryelle on Facebook and IG.
Additional Images
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