Ancient Egyptian Tarot
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Jan 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| maya |
06 Jan 2004 |
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I recently came across the ancient egyptian tarot.
It seems to be a very deep and outstanding deck.
does anybody have experience in readings with this deck?
would you like to share some of your highlights?
especially your clues to the symbols would be of my interest.
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| FourLeafClover |
07 Jan 2004 |
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There are several Egyptian decks, but I think I have the one you're talking about. It's a Clive Barrett deck, anyway. I love this one because the imagery is so clear (and so very beautiful). The people on the cards have a very familliar quality to them. Despite being dressed as ancient Egpytians, they act and express themselves in ways that can still be understood. I particularly love the three of cups. Three people, cozy (despite being naked!) curled up and chatting until the small hours. So warm and lovely.
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| maya |
08 Jan 2004 |
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thank you for your replies.
i understand that most people in the thread talk more about their likes or dislikes of the deck but about their adventures of reading the deck and sharing these informations.
please, tell me more about those kinds of things.
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| Cerulean |
10 Jan 2004 |
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This is a sensible deck to learn about Egyptian ideas--I found in history classes and books, the Egyptian culture was interesting, but static, linear and geared toward the afterlife. A few books on archeological findings showed that actual daily life could be rather harsh and grinding for the average person. But this is a good tarot, I believe, to start learning.
I don't find it mysterious at all, it reads to me like a charming taste of history. I find it well-done and the book explains the symbolism for this deck in a sensible, calm way. I actually don't use it as a reading tarot, it is a good browsing deck and has a well-done, enjoyable book.
A few years ago, I was just curiously starting to learn names and attributions of gods and goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, because their ideas and stories did flow into other cultures, (Etruscan, Greek) so I found this deck and book gave me a nice starting point.
For example, I picked the card Sekhmet, looked up the meaning and found the lion-headed goddess association with the Rider Waite Strength a charming interpretation. Then I looked up on the net or in a book the name Sekhmet:
And a link like this would come up:
Sekhhttp://www.thekeep.org/~kunoichi/kunoichi/themestream/sekhmet.html
For poetry class or my journal, I might write a little about what I read, because I enjoy mythology and folktale themes.
That's the best I can come up with.
Take care and hope you enjoy the deck,
Mari H.
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| Macavity |
10 Jan 2004 |
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Not a lot more one can say? But hey... I might still remark on the immense efforts the author makes to bring the deck to the standards of the Thoth tarot? The best feature is an easy association of the scene on the minors with the Thoth keywords. Other nice things are Qabalistic colours - Even better matches than the Thoth? And finally C.B. didn't put the correspondance info (Hebrew, Astrological attributes etc.) ON the cards themselves - Hurrah! So, if you don't like that stuff, you needn't use it. For me, it proved an invaluable stepping stone to the Thoth deck itself, while retaining it's own function as very much a favourite deck in it's own right. Unlike many AE decks, the hieroglyphics and so many other details are pretty authentic too... :D
Macavity
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| Thea Lynx |
11 Jan 2004 |
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Hello Maya,
I just finished working with the Ancient Egyptian a few weeks ago - I am trying to work with each of the decks in my collection at least once before sorting through the ones that really grab me. This deck was a lovely surprise. After I bought it, I had some doubts - especially since many of the figures and scenes are quite small (as opposed to some like the Morgan Greer) but once I started with it, it was crystal clear. It is definitely in my "want to work with this one again and again" group. I hope you enjoy this deck as much as I do.
Thea
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| maya |
11 Jan 2004 |
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dear Mari_Hoshizaki,
you wrote:
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This is a sensible deck to learn about Egyptian ideas--I found in history classes and books, the Egyptian culture was interesting, but static, linear and geared toward the afterlife. A few books on archeological findings showed that actual daily life could be rather harsh and grinding for the average person. But this is a good tarot, I believe, to start learning.
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well, maybe I misunderstand you but the ancient egyptian life was not about ideas. It was one of the most sophisticated systems of knowledge and wisdom in the old world.
They had been far more advanced as we are in our time.
And so I am heading for keys to unlock the doors.
dear Macavity,
you seem to enjoy the deck much more than Mari_Hoshizaki.
do you think it is an instinctive attempt of restoration of the ancient path of egypt?
dear Thea Lynx,
thanks for empowering me.
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| Cerulean |
11 Jan 2004 |
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I hope that my appreciative, but differing take on the Clive Barrett deck wasn't too out there for your questions.
Ahh...you've hit on the wonderful difference. I appreciate your delight in embracing Egyptian studies. From people like myself--I enjoy looking backwards at the history and art, but the culture doesn't seem truly 'alive' to me when I just look at the Barrett deck. That makes me more of a casual student who just likes the art, not as you.
If you don't mind an alternative suggestion, I found a very beautiful take on Egyptian culture and wisdom in the Book of Doors. Your ideas of finding keys to unlock wisdom might be matched in this oracle deck--so it might be of interest to you:
http://www.spiritone.com/~filipas/Masquerade/Reviews/doors.html
I found this a beautiful set and sometimes when I want to express poetry from a historical context, I use this deck to express concepts and ideas that might be in keeping with the beautiful and historical culture.
I've enjoyed looking at the Egyptian poetry and art--there's many beautiful concepts in how they conceived of ritual prayers to Ra and the different gates and realms that he passes through. The Egyptians of course had a sense of poetry, color and many rich things-- but to me, overall, they represent concepts of the past that historians have delighted and wondered about for centuries, since Biblical times.
That's just my opinion. I hope you don't mind my suggested alternative take on the Book of Doors. You may find all you need in the Barrett deck and not be like me at all.
Best wishes,
Mari H
P.S. If you browse the archives, you may find I enjoy Laura Tuan's Egyptian Tarocco for the art and Lo Scarabeo's Egyptian style deck with book with art by Sylvana Alasia. Those decks will just
take some stylistic symbols and ideas from ancient Egyptian culture, does not really delve into it as the Book of Doors.
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| maya |
11 Jan 2004 |
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Dear Mari_Hoshizaki,
I thank you for giving me information on the »The Book of Doors«.
It is not that I would not accept different point of views.
I just was not sure if I´d understand what you´re saying and
secondly to me the egyptians were great masters of wisdom.
I think everybody concerned about life and
its open questions is on the right track.
It doesn´t matter what track as long as we are
dancing in the light.
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This is most star·tling·ly depicted in the music of charles ives
and his work: THE UNANSWERED QUESTION.
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The Ancient Egyptian Tarot thread was originally posted on 06 Jan 2004 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.
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