The first official Egyptian tarot deck was made in the 18th century and included themes related to the ancient history of the country. It’s not the first connection between tarot and Egypt, but it’s definitely a starting point for what would become an interesting way to read cards.
More modern Egyptian tarot decks have been developed lately, yet their themes vary a little. Today, in an amalgam of different themes, the tarot deck based on Egyptian mythology showcases some of the most beautiful representations and illustrations.
But what does it actually mean? Let’s find out how you can use this deck if you’re into ancient Egyptian history.
Theme Vs. Representation
There are two different concepts to consider if you’re interested in Egyptian tarot.
The theme is quite modern. These days, you can find traditional tarot decks in all kinds of themes. Some of them feature Harry Potter, others feature abstract designs. At the end of the day, meanings are quite similar, so choosing the right deck is a matter of personal preferences.
When choosing a deck, the overall appearance is one of the first things to pay attention to. After all, you’ll spend hours looking at these cards, so it has to be something nice that you’ll enjoy.
But then, apart from the theme, there’s also the concept of a new representation. Some of the oldest Egyptian tarot cards featured different meanings, mainly based on a unique culture.
These days, Egyptian tarot is a mix between these two worlds. The deck is based on traditional Rider Waite Smith structures, yet there are quite a few differences in the depictions. Unless you’re familiar with the classic interpretations, you may find it a bit difficult to find clues in the depictions.
Backs of the cards can’t be reversed, so reading reversals is entirely up to you. Some people don’t do it anyway, others prefer the extra layers of interpretation.
Major Arcana in Egyptian Tarot
Major Arcana cards in Egyptian tarot feature representations of all kinds of gods and goddesses, all of them associated with the Egyptian culture.
From this point of view, the classic Strength card is represented by Sekhmet. On the other hand, the High Priestess is represented by Isis. That’s why interpretations could be a bit difficult if you’re not used to Egyptian mythology.
Whether you’re new to tarot in general or new to the Egyptian deck, it pays off to become familiar with the guide too. People who are completely new to tarot may want to start with a traditional deck, only to become familiar with the traditional meanings first.
Then, there are all sorts of differences that will kick in.
The card showcasing Isis represents the goddess holding Ankh in her hand. Ankh relates to unification. It could be seen as a mix of heaven and earth, but the card also signifies mystery.
If you’re familiar with the traditional tarot, exploring the Egyptian one will bring in some differences, but overall, it’s based on the same concept.
Major Arcana cards in Egyptian tarot have an impressive attention to detail. It almost feels like the cards are talking to you, as gods and goddesses nearly come to life in these depictions.
Minor Arcana in Egyptian Tarot
Like in traditional tarot, Minor Arcana cards in Egyptian tarot showcase day to day activities and small things in life. Again, the representation of each character makes this deck unique. Given the details, it almost feels like you’re joining the people of those times in order to find guidance.
What truly matters is the actual interpretation though. And at this point, there aren’t any major differences between Egyptian tarot and the classic deck. The way these things are depicted does make the difference.
Symbolism is nearly identical, but representations are unique. This means that even if you’re familiar with traditional tarot, you’ll still need to do a bit of research and figure out where to see symbolism in the Egyptian deck.
Courts in Egyptian Tarot
The court cards aren’t to be overlooked either. The imagery will definitely entice you, but interpretations may require some guidance. Take the Princess of Cups, for instance. It’s a card about art and imagination. It could also be a card about contemplation. Daydreaming is part of the game too.
It may take a while to understand how symbolism is represented in Egyptian tarot, but once you become familiar with the main elements, everything will suddenly become more intuitive.
How to Read Egyptian Tarot
The imagery and art will most likely make the difference. If you’re already used to traditional tarot, you’ll need a bit of guidance understanding how symbols are represented. But then again, the symbolism is pretty much the same. Those who know cards by heart will find no problems whatsoever.
Even if you won’t spend a lot of time understanding the deck or becoming familiar with Egyptian gods and goddesses, you can easily read the deck because it showcases norms that every tarot reader will know about.
What makes the deck different is the different approach, which may give you some different layers of interpretation and diversify your intuition.
Since it’s definitely something else, guidance books will usually include a few details about the depictions as well, giving you a brief history lesson in terms of mythology.
In conclusion, Egyptian tarot can go in more directions. Hundreds of years ago, interpretations were slightly different. That was a time before tarot became a mainstream element. The culture is different, so the meanings were based on what made more sense back then.
In today’s society, Egyptian tarot can be seen as a theme before anything else. There’s a big difference between this theme and others though. Egyptian tarot isn’t all about different images and graphics.
You could buy a traditional tarot deck themed after Barbie, Disney or The Wizard of Oz. Just because pictures are different, it doesn’t mean interpretations change. It’s just something nice to look at. But when it comes to Egyptian tarot, you might be able to see things in a unique manner based on mythology.
