Egyptian Tarot

The association between tarot and Egypt was born in the 18th century through the writings of Antoine Court de Gébelin, who claimed in 1781 that tarot would be the sacred book of Egyptian priests. Etteilla developed this idea by creating a deck said to be inspired by the 'Book of Thoth.' Although Egyptologists have refuted this direct lineage, the Egyptian imaginary has deeply rooted itself in cartomancy. The 19th century saw the flourishing of several Egyptian tarots, including the Grand Etteilla known as 'Egyptian,' which substitutes pharaonic deities for medieval figures. The oldest editions belong to the public domain.

It retains the structure of 78 cards, with 22 majors representing deities or mythological scenes — Isis for the High Priestess, Osiris for Judgment, Thoth for the Magician — and 56 minors with sometimes renamed colors. The reading relies on the correspondences between Egyptian archetypes and major human themes: death and rebirth, love and power, knowledge and mystery. The interpreter enriches each card with the mythology associated with the deity, for rich narrative readings.

It transports the consultation into a mythical and solemn temporality, inviting one to consider situations through eternal cycles inherent to Egyptian cosmology. For those sensitive to ancient civilizations, it offers a coherent symbolic framework. Its evocative images stimulate imagination and intuition. It powerfully speaks of transitions, mourning, and new beginnings.