Tarot Baraja Egipcia

Several cultures and influences have been combined in this curious Tarot pack from Mexico which carries the name of Franco Mora Ruiz on the leaflet. The trump cards betray Egyptian influence but also have letters from the English and Hebrew alphabets and suggested meanings in Spanish down one side. They do not have traditional titles. The minor cards have miniature English and Italo-Spanish cards, Zodiac signs, Egyptian elements, chess pieces, etc., with suggested meanings on up to four sides. Knights for the English cards and queens for the Italo-Spanish cards have had to be invented and do not really match the other courts. These minor cards all have grey backgrounds, while the trumps are more colourful. An image of a sphinx can be found on the reverse (double-ended), on the wrapper and on the box. Stamped on the box are the words “HECHO EN MEXICO BY GRAN MAGO “FATY” • See the box

Above: Tarot Baraja Egipcia published by Franco Mora Ruiz, Mexico, c1975. Made in Mexico by Gran Mago “Faty”. 78 cards + 2 blank cards + leaflet in Spanish, in wrapper + tuck box. Size: 62 x 96 mm.

It's curious that the stamp on the box seems to mix Spanish and English ("HECHO EN MEXICO BY ...."). Closer inspection shows that many other foreign elements are mixed together in the pack. For instance, the leaflet authored by Franco Mora Ruiz explains that to aid the beginner suggested interpretations are printed around the sides of the cards. But for the more advanced or proficient occultist there is also a wide range of kabbalistic and other equivalences including chess pieces, zodiac signs, English and Spanish-suited cards, Hebrew letters, etc. interspersed within the designs in order to create more layers of meaning. The author notes that "the Major Arcana retain their originality, providing ample scope for the study of the Kabbalah" presumably so that this creative fusion of symbolic systems enriches the tarot experience. After describing a number of ways to spread the cards, the author concludes by saying "Having lived a good past is having a good present and a victorious future" and wishes success in using the pack. The pack is a good example of a resurgence of Egyptian-themed tarot decks in the 1970s which mixed esoteric and occult symbols with alternative spiritualities and which coincided with the rise of the New Age movement. The so-called 'Egyptian tarot' derives from the earlier 18th century writings of Eliphas Levi, Court de Gébelin and others, which in the 1970s saw a revival of interest and commercial output.

Reference

Kaplan, Stuart R. The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Vol. I. New York, NY, USA: U.S. Games Systems, Inc.; 1978. p.236.