ANCIENT EGYPTIAN TAROT - Studying Clive Barrett's version

[Moongold]

A few people from time to time have spoken about their interest in a study group for Clive Barrett’s Ancient Egyptian Tarot but we have never got anything off the ground.

I thought I might kick it off by posting this thread and suggesting we get going. There is a long tradition of Egyptian Tarot decks and some of you might be interested in reading through this link http://www.meta-religion.com/Esoterism/Tarot/a_history_of_egyptian_tarot_deck.htm And this link: http://www.egyptianmyths.net/section-deities.htm is an on-line dictionary of Egyptian mythology which is useful from time to time.

Nowhere on the net could I find a complete set of scans for this deck so I have photographed all of the major arcana and we can perhaps use those to illustrate our discussions.

I suggest it might be good to begin with the major arcana. Have all of you got the companion book to the deck? It is almost essential reading.

I have found this deck to be incredibly accurate – more so than any other Tarot. I have often wondered why this is so. I have a particular interest in Isis and in Egyptian mythology, although far from expert on both.

I might leave this first post here today and see what reaction it draws and then do a search for the last two threads about the possibility of a study group and PM all those people who said they were interested.

Some of you might have wonderful ideas about how a study group could be conducted. It could be through a study of each of the cards. The Isis –Osiris myth runs through the Ancient Egyptian so it would be interesting perhaps to speak about this and other stories related to it. Clive Barrett uses elements and astrological signs as well and these also could be part of the discussions around meaning.

Not only could we discuss the iconography of each card but also individual experiences of interpretation. You might have many more ideas.

So hopefully people will flock to the call :)

Moongold


INDEX TO THE STUDY GROUP THREADS

0 Fool

II High Priestess

III Empress


V Hierophant

VI Lovers

VII Chariot

VIII Strength

IX Hermit

XII Hanged Man

XIII Death

XVI Tower

XIX Sun

[Rosanne]

Baaaa Baaaa (I am flocking to the call) Thank you Moongold I would love to part of a study group.~Rosanne

[Moongold]

Just bumping this up!

[Moongold]

One more bump!

[Moongold]

And once more :laugh: BUMP!

[annik]

It is a nice looking one. I will be around.

[SweetIsTheTruth]

This is my absolute favorite and I would LOVE to see/participate in this study.

[Mimers]

I love this deck, you will see me around as well.

[Moongold]

Well, we have a good group to start with.

Do people have any particualar ideas about what they would like to do in the Study Group and how they would like to begin?

The first eight cards of the major arcana introduce the introduce the major Gods and we could explore these in some detail as the themes recur throughout the deck.

The cards from 9 to 21 tell the story of the death and resurrection of Osiris.

To kick us off can I suggest that we commence with a study of the Majors and card O The Fool ? I would be happy to begin this to get us going and we can see how it pans out. There is a wealth of discussion in each card - so much mythology, history and iconography. As well there are the complementary systems which Barrett uses - astrology, the elements and the Cabbala.

A possibility is that each of us take reponsibilty for doing one of the first eight cards in detail and each can comment and add to the discussion for each card. There is nothing to stop us all beginning at once, together.

I think there is value in doing these cards in some kind of order because of the themes runing through them, and the first 8 cards form a natural group.

It should be a great deal of fun.

We would have a thread for each card and we could also have a thread for other resources such internet links to pages that are relevant. And also an index.

I am happy to take the administrative responsibilities if no-one else wants them.

Now these are just suggestions. If you have other suggestions or ideas it would be great to hear them.

So (being very assertive here :laugh: . I will begin with 0 Fool. If each of you want to take one of the first eight cards wch one do you want? Stake your claim here!

I suggest we head each thread as follows:

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN STUDY GROUP - 0 Fool

to make theme easy to identify.

If this sounds OK, perhaps just make a post to this thread saying which of the first eight you would like to do. Or any other comments :)

Blessings ~

Moongold

[Mimers]

I randomly chose VII from my deck, so I will do the Chariot.

Your ideas sound great to me Moongold, lets go with it.

Mimi

[Rosanne]

I would love to choose Card 111 The Empress. Your plan of action is great Moongold, I have nothing further to add that could improve it. ~Rosanne

[Jewel-ry]

Hi everyone,

I love your format Moongold :)

I have just literally acquired this deck today so would like to take part if I can. I see Mimers has already begun her post.

I choose VIII Strength if that's OK.

J.

[Sophie]

I have ordered the deck but I won't arrive for about a week - I'll join you anyway :)

As she is my soul card - despite the fact I've no idea what she looks like or which goddess she represents! - I'd like to follow the High Priestess.

[Maggie Bell]

May I join, too? If so, I'd like to take the Magician (my soul card!).

Let me know.

Maggie

[Moongold]

UPDATED LIST OF CARDS (22 May 2005)

Here is the uptodate list :)


0 Fool - Moongold
I Magician - Maggie Bell
II High Priestess -Helvetica
III Empress - Rosanne
IV Emperor - Contrascarpe
V Hierophant: Moongold
VI Lovers: MeeWah
VII Chariot - Mimers
VIII Strength - Jewel-ry
IX Hermit: Rosanne
* X Wheel of Fortune
XI Justice: Sekhem-Ma'at
XII Hanged Man: SweetIsTheTruth
XIII Death: Emily
* XIV Temperance
XV Devil: SweetIsTheTRuth
XVI Tower: SweetIsTheTruth
XVII Star: Jewel_ry
XVIII Moon: Moongold
XIX Sun: Moongold
* XX Judgement
* XXI World

* = Waiting for someone :)

[Moongold]

Helvetica - Here is a photograph of the High Priestess for you in the mean time.

[Moongold]

There is no complete set of scans for this deck as far as I can see.

I have taken photographs of all the majors. If you would like one to attach to your thread please letme know and I will email a copy to you.

They are a little clearer than the one I took for Helvetica.

Moongold

[contrascarpe]

I just love this deck. Haven't used it TOO much, but I would like to join in as well. Haven't been around much lately but hope to contribute when I can.

Dan

[Moongold]

Here are some photographs of cards which have been done already or near it. Maggie - you asked for one.

You can copy them to your PC and then upload to your thread if you want to. It adds something to the reading experience for those who don't have the deck.

Dan ~ It would be great to have your input. Would you like to do a card?

[contrascarpe]

Dan ~ It would be great to have your input. Would you like to do a card?

Sure thing, Moongold. I'll take the Emperor.

Dan

[Moongold]

Here are some of the cards which have commenced.

There is no rush with this at all

People might like to comment on each other's synopses.

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=41466

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=41536

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=41478

[MeeWah]

May be biting off more than I can chew but I would like to volunteer for VI-The Lovers.

[Moongold]

That is great MeeWah. I know you are familiar with this deck.

For everyone - here are some more images.

[Sekhem-Ma'at]

I have used this deck for years and I would like to join this study group. I can do XI Justice. Let me know if this is okay.

Senebty,
Sekhem-Ma'at

[Moongold]

That would be wonderful Sekhem-Ma'at.

Welcome and thank you :)

Moongold

[SweetIsTheTruth]

May be biting off more than I can chew but I would like to volunteer for VI-The Lovers.

Ok, I am probably biting off more than I can chew, since I have reserved The Hanged Man.

I do have a question for Moongold and anyone else involved in this study group. I know we are beginning with the majors and they have yet to be completed. Is it ok to begin claiming dibs on the minors? There are several I would like to review.

Also, are there any rules on what should be covered as we study the cards? I mean, are we going by the book, or should we add any insights we might see, that aren't found in the book?

As far as the majors, I would also like to take XVI - The Tower. As far as the minors, I would like to take the 5 & 6 of Wands, the 7 & 8 of Cups, the 5, 7 & 8 of Swords, as well as the 7 of disks. However, this is not my study group and I don't wish to rob anyone else of the right to review any of these cards either.

Any thoughts, ideas, hints or suggestions would be welcome.

[Moongold]

We have been joined by a few others - Welcome all :)

And here is an update on the card choices so far:


0 Fool - Moongold
I Magician - Maggie Bell
II High Priestess -Helvetica
III Empress - Rosanne
IV Emperor - Contrascarpe
V Hierophant - Moongold
VI Lovers: MeeWah
VII Chariot - Mimers
VIII Strength - Jewel-ry
IX Hermit
X Wheel of Fortune
XI Justice: Sekhem-Ma'at
XII Hanged Man: SweetIsTheTruth
XIII Death
XIV Temperance
XV Devil
XVI Tower: SweetIsTheTruth
XVII Star: Jewel_ry
XVIII Moon
XIX Sun
XX Judgement
XXI World

If you'd like to put up your hand for others, please do. :)

A very big welcome, SweetIsTheTruth!

[Jewel-ry]

Hi Moongold,

I would like to take Star if I can, but I probably wont post on it until the weekend.

:)

[SweetIsTheTruth]

We have been joined by a few others - Welcome all :)

And here is an update on the card choices so far:


0 Fool - Moongold
I Magician - Maggie Bell
II High Priestess -Helvetica
III Empress - Rosanne
IV Emperor - Contrascarpe
V Hierophant
VI Lovers: MeeWah
VII Chariot - Mimers
VIII Strength - Jewel-ry
IX Hermit
X Wheel of Fortune
XI Justice: Sekhem-Ma'at
XII Hanged Man: SweetIsTheTruth
XIII Death
XIV Temperance
XV Devil
XVI Tower: SweetIsTheTruth
XVII Star: Jewel_ry
XVIII Moon
XIX Sun
XX Judgement
XXI World

If you'd like to put up your hand for others, please do. :)

A very big welcome, SweetIsTheTruth!

Thanks for the welcome. You know, I am so greedy I could take more cards, but I fear two things:

1. My interpretetations won't completely jibe with this deck.
2. I don't want to be greedy and take more than others might.

[Moongold]

Hahahaha - SweetIsTheTruth! You might like to volunteer for XIV Temperance :).

[SweetIsTheTruth]

Hahahaha - SweetIsTheTruth! You might like to volunteer for XIV Temperance :).

Dang, do people in Australia ever sleep? Ok, assuming that I did, which I haven't, who's gonna take the Pope and the Hermit????

[Rosanne]

I would love to take on the Hermit, if no one has claimed the card of my Heart.!! ~Rosanne.
Oh I am so happy for MeeWah to have some minors-but I would love the 8 cups?

[SweetIsTheTruth]

I would love to take on the Hermit, if no one has claimed the card of my Heart.!! ~Rosanne.
Oh I am so happy for MeeWah to have some minors-but I would love the 8 cups? Actually, I had earlier claimed the 8 of cups, but please take it if you want it. There's enough minors to go around. I think the plan is to work through the majors first. I jumped the gun earlier when I mentioned the minors due to the excitement of this study group - sorry!

[Rosanne]

Don't be sorry SweetIs The Truth(Love the name BTW), the Minors cause me consterntion, and anyones imput is very much valued. I looked back and saw your name- silly me for not reading back. I willwait till we have gone through the Majors~Rosanne

[SweetIsTheTruth]

the Minors cause me consterntion Some of them cause me consternation as well. Some seem like Rider-Waite variants, while in others I see Thoth symbolism. (or slightly altered RW or Thoth meanings) Others seem to be based on nothing I have yet seen, although it could just be that the similarities elude me.

[Moongold]

Rosanne ~

I think it would be fine for you to take the Hermit, since you've got just one Major, the Empress.

You don't mind, do you, SweetIsTheTruth? There are many more to do. :)

[Moongold]

Here is the uptodate list :)


0 Fool - Moongold
I Magician - Maggie Bell
II High Priestess -Helvetica
III Empress - Rosanne
IV Emperor - Contrascarpe
V Hierophant: Moongold
VI Lovers: MeeWah
VII Chariot - Mimers
VIII Strength - Jewel-ry
IX Hermit: Rosanne
* X Wheel of Fortune
XI Justice: Sekhem-Ma'at
XII Hanged Man: SweetIsTheTruth
XIII Death: Emily
XIV Temperance: Mimers
XV Devil: SweetIsTheTRuth
XVI Tower: SweetIsTheTruth
XVII Star: Jewel_ry
* XVIII Moon: Moongold
XIX Sun: Moongold
XX Judgement: Aaquwaa
* XXI World

* = Waiting for someone :)

[SweetIsTheTruth]

Rosanne ~

I think it would be fine for you to take the Hermit, since you've got just one Major, the Empress.

You don't mind, do you, SweetIsTheTruth? There are many more to do. :) Do I mind? I was just worried about all of the gaps getting filled in. I love it!

[Emily]

I'd love to get to know this deck better - Can I take the Death card?

[Moongold]

Welcome Emily :). Have a look at the beginning of the thread for the guidelines about posting and so on.

MG

[SweetIsTheTruth]

Hahahaha - SweetIsTheTruth! You might like to volunteer for XIV Temperance :). How 'bout I volunteer for the XV - The Devil? I LOVE the Devil, whereas I have not an ounce of Temperance within me, so am really not qualified to discuss.

[Moongold]

Okay SweetIsTheTruth :) ...... the Devil is yours .

I have just posted V Hierophant and claim XIX Sun as mine in the absence of other claims :).

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?p=516253#post516253

[Moongold]

SwetIsTheTruth has posted the Tower here: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=41871

so it would be worth having a look.

When people do post to their reserved threads it would be good to let us know here so that we can respond :).

I did the Hierophant too at this spot: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=41971

Comments for both really welcome!

Sorry SweetIsThe Truth - I didn't realise you had posted. It has been a frantic week for me. Computer blues and launches at work.

[Moongold]

I have put hyperlinks to all the threads various people have commenced or reserved in the first post to this thread.

Some people have reserved cards but not started a thread yet. When you do, please just make a post about this at the bottom o this thread so everyone knows you've done it and can swarm to take a look. I'll then add your thread to the index.

If I have missed anything please let me know. :)

[Moongold]

Here are some more photographs of images if people would like to add them as attachments to their threads :)

[Moongold]

And some more:

[Mimers]

The Chariot is finally posted. Now I can go and explore some of the other cards others have done!

Mimi

[Jewel-ry]

I have had all of these majors laid out tonight and have had such a wonderful time exploring them and trying to get to grips with the cards already discussed and the myths that surround them.

I have also discovered this evening that many of the hebrew letter associations or astrological or sometimes both have been depicted in some fashion on lots of the cards for instance:

High Priestess - Gimel - Camel
Empress - Daleth - door
Temperance - Sagittarius - bow and (I think) arrow
Death - Scorpio - scorpion
Lovers - Zain - sword

In fact there are only two or three cards which completely have me flummoxed and for which I can find neither of the associations.

This is a great little deck with so much to explore, I just wish I had more time.

:)

[Moongold]

They are amazing observations Jewel_ry. I had no idea. This must have taken you hours to do.

Now I will have something to look for in every card. If uou wrote then down would you be able to print them all, or does that sound to lazy on my part?

No obligation at all

[Jewel-ry]

I have started a new thread with these associations here

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?p=523598#post523598

[Moongold]

Thanks jewel_ry ~

I plan to do the Moon card tonight. :)

[aaquwaa]

Hi ,
Hope its not to late to follow along. I love this deck.
aaquwaa

[Moongold]

aaqwaa ~

You are very welcome indeed!

Would you like to participate by commenting on a card? We are doing the majors at the moment.

Temperance, Judgement and Wheel of Fortune remain unclaimed. How about it? It would be wonderful to have you involved this way.

Moongold

[aaquwaa]

Thanks Moongold,,
Remember I am kinda new to this. :)
I'll do the Judgement card if its still open.
Aaquwaa

[Mimers]

Moongold, could I take Temperance?

[Moongold]

Of course Mimi - great!

And thanks aaqwaa, too :)

[Moongold]

Here (http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?p=531251#post531251) is a new thread on XVIII Moon.

I have also created, atthe suggestion of Moonbow* and Sulis, a new Index thread which will keep everything together.

That is here (http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=42911)

How are you all going with your cards? :)

[Moongold]

And Emily has just added XVIII Death - here (http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=41864) :)

Thanks Emily!

[Moongold]

Sophie has just added the High Priestess here (http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?p=538168#post538168). :).

[Moongold]

We have nearly reached the end of the Major Arcana now. We are waiting on aaquwaa with XXXJudgement and MeeWah with VI Lovers.

Also the XXI World and X Wheel of Fortune have not been done. I will do X Wheel of Fortune as it is my Year Card at present and I have not paid much attention to it. Would anyone like to volunteer for XXI World?

[Moongold]

Now that we are reaching the end of one aspect of the study of the Major Arcana it might be good to do a reflective exercise of some kind.

One idea I had was for each of us to choose a Major Arcana image and speak to yourself as child about the qualities of the God/s within the image and what they bring to the world.

Try to relate it to the world you lived in. Perhaps imagine yourself in a real life situation being visited byt the God/s and being given some gentle advice about what to do. It can be humorous, serious. long or short.

It may relate to that tennis team you didn't make, or that little brother that you couldn't stand, or the Parish Priest who used to rattle on on Sundays. Or it could provide some strategies you could have employed to get A grades - anything like that.

It might be fun and valuable to look at the Egyptian Gods through the eyes of an innocent child. What do you think? I think I would choose VII Chariot for example.

If you have another idea, that would be terrific as well.

Kate

[Moongold]

As I wrote the above I remembered a colleague who used to hate this kind of introspective exercise. I tried doing it myself and it is actually quite difficult LOL.

Perhaps am alternative would be to choose three cards from ths major arcana and do a sentence to summarize each one's meaning for the contemporary world we live in.


I just chose three at random right now:

IV Empress : Mother Earth makes her gifts and beauty available to all of us if we want them, even at the most barren of times..

XXI World : Each human being is one seed and our journey is always of potential as well as achievement

IX Hermit None of us is ever truly alone, despite the cult of individualism and Maggie Thatcher's horrific little gem of social analysis.

[aaquwaa]

Hi Moongold,
Judgements up. Sorry to be so slow.
Aaquwaa

[Jewel-ry]

Just to let you all know I havn't been around much for the last couple of weeks but I still intend doing Star - hopefully in the next couple of days.

Look forward to reading all the added posts too!

:)

[Jewel-ry]

Star is now posted

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=43586

[contrascarpe]

Sorry everyone, but I have been rather out of it lately.

Still planning on doing the Emperor here, hopefully this weekend sometime.

Dan

[Moongold]

Have just added XVII Star and XX Judgement to the overall index (http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?p=531197#post531197) of threads.

Thanks Contrascarpe. Look forward to seeing it. Think of yourself in that role - soon :).

[SweetIsTheTruth]

I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, nor have I forgotten about this study. The Hanged Man is done and can be found here:

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?p=511273#post511273

[Moongold]

SweetIsTheTruth's post just brought the Study Group back to mind. It has been quite inactive for a little while.

I am actually taking a break from active participation in Aeclectic for some time. I will visit for study but not post very often.

If anyone in the group would like to pick up responsibility for co-ordinating things, that would be wonderful.

If you look at early posts in this thread you can see I have started to create an index.

Perhaps the Moderators could add this to the commencement of the thread?

Many thanks for your participation up to now. Hope someone else does pick this up and run with it :).

Kate

[SweetIsTheTruth]

Hi everyone. I don't know the reasons for Moongold's break from the website of the study group. However, I have no doubts at all her reasons are sound and such a break is necessary. I hope we all support her in her decision and wish her well. I am open to suggestions from anyone else as to how it might be best to proceed here. I know my entry for the Devil is due and plan to get to work on it soon. Are there any trumps left beyond the Devil? If not, should we proceed forward on the pips? I think it would be best if we mutually decide how best to proceed until Moongold returns. I am anxious to hear of anyone's suggestions.

[Moongold]

Hi SweetIsTheTruth and others

Sorry if I sounded mysterious.

I have some pressing personal business to attend to and am very tired, although well. Also I realised after the conference that I need to spend some time reflecting and focusing on what I've learned - feel a strong need to do this, in fact.

I am extremely busy at work as well and there are not enough hours in the day to do every thing that needs to be done.

I love Aeclectic and many of the people in the community, and owe it a huge amount. Most of what I know about Tarot was learned here. Over the next couple of months, I am going to take some deep breaths and look at where I am currently. I'm on the home stretch to my second Saturn Return and some of you will know what that means.

I will be still be around, but not so active.

Many bright blessings to you all! Please, please continue with the Study Group.

Moongold

[aaquwaa]

Moongold,
I will so miss all your wonderful posts, you are a dear soul. Take however long you need, and I know you have all our thoughts and blessings. :)

Sweetisthetruth and group,
I too want to continue our study on this gorgeous deck. I don't care how we proceed, however the group wants to do this is fine with me. I will be on vacation for a couple of weeks. I don't know if we want cards assigned or just do card studies, I love all the previous posts. I miss our group.
aaquwaa