Egyptian Tarot Deck
Many occultists claim that the Tarot originally appeared in Egypt. The temples of the country of the sands, in their opinion, were decorated with tablets depicting deities. Each of them had its own altar, on which people placed offerings – fruits, jewelry, as well as sacrificial animals. Then all the same images migrated to paper and began to be called the Major Arcana. And now every person can communicate with the ancient gods if they understand their language. The Egyptian Tarot is a wayward deck that is similar to its predecessors, but also carries its own meaning. Behind it stands a powerful egregor, numbering millennia. It allows the masters to give accurate predictions using cards.
History of creation of the Egyptian Tarot Deck
The Egyptian Tarot deck is a whole group united by the culture of the country of sands. However, the most popular version at the moment is the work of Silvana Alasia. The artist took as a basis the prototype created by the occultist Jean-Baptiste Pitois. The first edition of the deck came in 1996. She immediately found herself loyal fans. Then the mantic system was reprinted five more times, which indicates its resounding success.
The author of the Egyptian Tarot deck also created several more similar tools. And all of them are connected with ancient civilizations. Sylvanas was able to convey another era, lifting the veil of secrecy over the life of another race. In general, Egyptian culture began to attract mystics after Napoleon Bonaparte’s journey to the pyramids. The silent sphinxes seemed to hide some kind of secret, which only the elite could unravel. Aleister Crowley was also interested in Egypt. His "Book of Thoth" was created under the impression of endless deserts.
Key features of the Egyptian Tarot
This deck clearly continues the motives of Aleister Crowley. However, there are also correspondences with the Marseille system. The Minor Arcana of the Egyptian Tarot do not have characters, which means some kind of plot. They are a set of ancient symbols and pictograms that the questioner has to decipher. The suits of the Egyptian Tarot are traditional – Cups, Swords, Wands and Pentacles. Justice is number 8 and Strength is number 11.
The Egyptian Tarot does not change the meaning of the Major Arcana. However, there is one distinguishing feature here. Some characters of the major group are present on several cards at once. They seem to be participating in a certain process, which the fortuneteller is invited to look at. The path of the hero here is directly related to the myths of Ancient Egypt about the journey of the soul. The evil god Seth is moved from the Wheel of Fortune to the Devil card. And if in the first case the character is overthrown, then in the second – it enters into full force.
It is also worth paying attention to the court Arcana. All cards of this group have their own name, correlated with the rank. Thus, you can get information about the type of activity of the person of interest. The character of the Page of Wands is introduced as the Scribe. In real life, these are writers, those who work with documents. A Knight of the same suit is a traveler, a Queen is a woman studying science, and a King is a pioneer, a creator of something new. The Arcana of the Fire element in the Egyptian Tarot carry all the same values, but with additional meanings.
In the group of Cups on the cards of the yard, the emphasis is on positive, light. For example, the Knight here is considered the messenger of the goddess Isis. And she, as you know, was responsible for motherhood, femininity. The group of Swords symbolizes destruction, destructiveness, but also knowledge. The Knight here is called the Bringer of Doom. Pentacles are traditionally responsible for work and money. The Page is called the Merchant, and the King is the Lord of the World. The Queen also has an additional meaning. In the Egyptian Tarot, she is called the Lady of Fame. And this is a reference to the manifestation in a secular society.
Style and symbolism of the deck
The Egyptian Tarot presents all the Arcana as if depicted on papyrus. The frame is a black background, on which the names of the cards and their numerical designations are written. All shades used are muted. Looking at the deck, the viewer gets the impression that he has fallen into a huge pyramid. Its walls are full of symbols, the meaning of which can only be guessed at. The clothes of the heroes, the attributes in their hands – everything is done in the same style. The author tried to take real characters as a basis in order to preserve the concept.
All these symbols provide an additional layer of information. For example, to understand the meaning of the Eight of Swords, you should pay attention to the image of a crocodile. He personified the protector god who fought evil. However, on the Arcana, the reptile is shown in a cage of blades. All this hints at the loss of strength, the ability to defend. Thus, the card symbolizes fear, the beginning of something bad. In general, the Egyptian Tarot advises to take the main meanings in the original source. And for this it is worth studying the culture of an ancient civilization through the works of scientists.
Interpretation of the Egyptian Tarot cards
As in the Marseille Tarot, the Minor Arcana of the Egyptian deck does not have its own plot. The meaning of minor cards lies in the symbols of the group, as well as in ancient signs. Wands are depicted as pharaoh’s staffs, Cups as bowls, Swords as short-bladed blades, Pentacles as orange discs. Also, most of the Egyptian Tarot cards have hieroglyphs that give additional meanings. For example, the Eye of Ra is present on the Two of Wands. This symbol tells the querent to protect plans or keep actions secret. On the Nine of Cups are depicted: the knot of Isis, the ankh and the scarab. Together they hint at the flowering of life, intense joy.
That is why a practitioner who wants to work with this deck should delve into the essence of the knowledge of the ancients. You can read books about the country that Sylvanas was inspired by, get acquainted with the main meanings of popular hieroglyphs. But for starters, the usual system of interpretation according to Rider-Waite is also suitable. In general, Arcana have similarities with the classical instrument. However, the more the fortuneteller works with the Egyptian Tarot, the more clearly he will “read” the features of the deck. All the same meanings will acquire additional sub-meanings.
What questions is the deck suitable for?
Divination on the Egyptian Tarot deck is suitable for finding answers to any questions. The priority, of course, will be the sphere of spirituality, knowledge. No wonder there were so many temples in Ancient Egypt, and the priests were considered messengers of God. You can ask for advice with what forces to work with the practice, as well as develop a connection directly with the deities. The Sun will indicate creative magic, increased activity, manifestation and glory. The Moon or the High Priestess will hint at intuition, the need to keep knowledge secret.
However, experienced masters on the Egyptian Tarot undertake to look at questions of a different plan. After all, the Pentacles are still responsible for working moments here, and the Swords are responsible for conflicts. Of course, the minor group requires the development of professional skills, otherwise the meaning of the cards is difficult to determine. But this fact can be regarded as the comprehension of a secret teaching, which will be revealed only to the elect, who are ready to go to the end.
Who are the Egyptian Tarot cards for?
Foremost, the deck will appeal to those who are interested in the culture of ancient civilizations. For example – the heritage of the Atlanteans or the Sumerians, Hyperboreans. The Egyptian Tarot turns all spreads into a walk inside the pyramids. And the fortuneteller himself takes on the role of a priest trying to find the truth. After all, this deck is a whole hologram, a miniature of great cultural value. Some masters claim that as soon as they understood the "language" of the system, they immediately refused to work with others.
Also, the Egyptian Tarot is suitable for collectors who collect unusual editions. After all, hieroglyphs are not simple writing. They carry a sacred meaning that will help a person to comprehend spiritual knowledge. However, beginners may find it difficult to read. Therefore, the deck is best suited for experienced predictors who have already studied the classical interpretation according to Waite. However, if the neophyte began the practice with the instrument in question, then he can independently find correspondence between the cards and the events in reality. Therefore, this deck should be chosen only if there is a response in the heart.