The Egyptian Cartouche Cards

 

Background

Cartouche is a French word which means oblong box and refers to the shape found around the images of important priests discovered in some ancient Egyptian temples.  Murry Hope, an English lady and practitioner of Egyptian magic, invented the Cartouche system in 1983. She and Jed Collard formed Ostaris Publications and published the first 3,000 decks that same year. In 1984, Collard sent some sample cards to St. Martin's Press and they immediately responded with an offer for the worldwide rights to print and distribute them, but wanted Hope to expand the small instruction booklet into a large book which she did. St. Martin's Press then doubled the size of the cards and produced the expanded booklet in a hardback format as "The Way of
Cartouche."

 

Description of Cartouche

The Cartouche deck comprises twenty five cards which each have a number and an image. Those cards which portray a god, goddess or element have in addition a set of hieroglyphics which describe that image and encapsulate its power. The image on each card may have a fixed or mobile nature. For example, Nephthys is a goddess shown on card number seven. She is represented by an image of a cup or container and the ka hieroglyphic (representing the personal life force) appears in the top right hand corner of the card. As Nephthys means psychic receptivity and that which I slightly obscure and fluid she consequently has a mobile nature.

 

The Deck

Cartouche card meanings correspond with those of the Major Arcanum of the conventional Tarot
pack. For example, Buckle of Isis is the equivalent of The Empress. There are also correspondences
with the Runes (there are commonly twenty five Runes ).
 
 
No 1 : Osiris (Ausar)

God of the underworld, resurrection, responsibility, stability, spirituality. Father Figure. Stability, Wisdom, Honesty, Justice, Respect for those older and wiser, Philosophical matters, Responsibility

• Spiritual strength in times of need.

• Rely upon your own judgement.

• A degree of security and a stability.

• Success through practical efforts and self-discipline.

• Take responsibility for your spiritual growth and the direction your life takes.

• Take responsibility for your decisions

 
No 2 : Isis (Auset)

Wife/sister of Osiris, patroness of mothers, embodiment of maternal love and care, goddess of magic. Compassion, Esoteric Arts, Perseverance, Maternal Love, Nurturing

• Help from the other side is at hand.

• The issue in question should be persevered with and nurtured,  not pushed forward too quickly

• Trust your intuition for something may be hidden from view at this point.

• Psychic and spiritual development.

• A period of going within to plant seeds for the next stage of your life.

• A time of retreat to absorb lessons learnt on a physical level.

• People involved in the welfare of others ie the caring professions.

 

No 3 : Horus (Heru)

Son of Osiris and Isis, avenger of the slain Osiris, defender of the family. Patron of Families & Homes. Courage, Creativity, Balance, The Arts, Beauty, Family.

• Strong healing energies for conditions affecting the physical body.
• Family situations, family loyalty, reliability and devotion.
• A good omen for those who feel they have been unfairly treated.
• Personal charm and charisma.

 

No 4 : Bast

Daughter of Osiris and Isis, overseer of orgies, sexuality, sensuality, psychological health. Patroness of Cats, Happiness, Intuition, Protection, Success, Devotion, Mental Healing, Generosity, Caution

• Mental worries will soon pass and be replaced with happiness thus bringing with it good health.
• Also stands for devotion, generosity and the arts (acting, painting, dancing or singing).
• Walk with care and caution in whatever area of life is under consideration and you will succeed.
• Follow your intuition.
• Psychic protection.
• Liking for warmth, attention and affection.
• Give out as you wish to receive.
• Fidelity to the family unit.
• Happiness, inner peace and a need to express yourself

 

No 5 : Thoth

God of writing, teaching, law, medicine and magic. Patron of Healers Healing, Education, Fate, Karma, The Law, Education.

• Healing of the spirit.
• Interest in alternative therapies, herbal/homoeopathic remedies or natural healing gifts.
• Knowing the appropriate response or action for each situation as it arises.
• Matters of Law, writing ability and the spoken word.
• Skills in formal medicine.
• Creativity and faith in life's possibilities.
• Renewed hope, inner peace.
• Actions and feelings bringing a sense of inner peace.
• Travel.
• Teaching.
• Good luck.

 

No 6 : Hathor (Het Hert)

Egyptian goddess of beauty. Patroness of Women, Patience, Courage, Nurturing, Astrology, Self-Assurance, Organisation.

• Strong-minded, organisers of groups and causes, career women and the woman who appears in a role of the supportive partner.
• Well organised, well groomed.
• Positive outlook.
• Likes the good things in life ie fine food, quality clothes and furniture etc.
• Harmony and stability on the home front.

 

No 7 : Nephthys (Nebt Het) 

Sister of Isis, goddess of decay and putrefaction, psychic receptivity, obscurity. The Hidden One
Psychic Talents, Peace, Esoteric Arts, Keeping ones own counsel, Receptiveness.

• Could represent a person of the Light with deep spiritual beliefs and strong psychic talents or somebody leaning in that direction.
• All things hidden yet to be revealed.
• Wait and see because you are not to know yet. The information is hidden because if it were given it could sway your reasoning and affect your karma.

 

No 8 : Ptah

The Great Architect of the Universe, the opener of the creative cycle which gave birth to the universe, manual skill, care for the community. Patron of Men, Masculinity, Craftsmanship, Inventiveness

• You have the tools.
• Hard work and progress.
• The craftsman or tradesman skilful with his hands.
• Now is the time to start new projects.
• It is a positive time to initiate action and execute plans.
• A clear sense of purpose and an application of willpower can result in success.
• A person who contributes to the community in general as well as to himself and his family.

 

 

No 9 : Anubis (Anpu)

Guide of the dead in the underworld. The Guardian & Protector Protection, Diplomacy, Humour, Navigation, Guidance.

• Provides guidance through difficulties.
• Careful speech.
• Able to steer a straight course through life's troubled waters.
• Impending journey is indicated.
• Movement is on the way.
• Act now without concern for the risks.
• Living in the moment and feeling connected with life as a result.
• Protection during travel

 

No 10 : Set

Set - Slayer of Osiris, God of chaos and death, the Egyptian equivalent of Satan, defeated in battle by Horus (avenger of the slain Osiris). Opposition, Obstacles, Problems & Delays at all levels.

• Subconsciously we are the cause of our own problems and restrictions and should not put the blame on others.
• Look within yourself for the answers.
• Irritating upsets.

No 11 : Fire

Energy, Heat, Expansion, Creativity, Loyalty.

• Spiritually suggests creative gifts that can be used to bring Light.
• Personal energy and mental creativity.
• Burn up the old for the new.
• Purifying and refining.

No 12 : Air

Intelligence, Movement, Ideas, Communication, Work & Business, Travel.

• Communication at all levels.
• Air always moves things on blowing away the cobwebs in the process.
• A good memory for facts and figures.
• Friendly and communicative but detached.
• Dislike of being tied down.
• Speed of thought and action.
• Travel is indicated.

No 13 : Water

Change, Coolness, Relationships, Emotions, Flowing.

• Emotional change.
• Awareness of the sufferings of others.
• Changeful situation - not fixed.
• Travel across water could be suggested.

No 14 : Earth

Money, Solidity, Growth, Possessions, Work & Business Interests.

• The person who has learnt that money and possessions are no more than energies manifest at a level necessary for the negotiation of life.
• The person who can handle money, take care of property and puts something back into the earth.
• Industrious and hardworking
• Someone who has a green thumb
• A person who cares about the Earth and our environment.

 

No 15 : Sirius

Hope, Extra-terrestrial energy, Space travel, Stamina, Adventure, Risk-taking, Pioneering, Physical Strength.

• Reach for the stars.
• Endurance and physical energy.
• Creativity and faith in life's possibilities.
• A time for expansion.
• Stamina and determination.

No 16 : Lotus

Peace, Meditation, Contentment, Reflection, Continuity, Tranquillity.

• Peace of mind at all levels.
• A time to go within to meditate or to be still.
• A definite release from life's tensions.
• Don't worry all will work out peacefully and satisfactorily in the end.
• A time for reflection.

No 17 : Crook & Flail

Disciplined mind, Authority, Leadership, Control, Mastery of the ego, Worldly Status.

• Represents authority of all kinds.
• Be careful not to tread on the toes of people in a more senior position.
• Success through self-discipline & practical efforts.
• A strong business or worldly success.
• Success through patience and persistence.
• A step up in the world.
• Could represent travel.

No 18 : Uraeus - Snake

Integrity, Wisdom, Occult adept ship, Control of sexual force, Honesty, Uprightness, Movement, Soundness of judgement, Intuition, Strong Dreams, Mysticism.

• The careful and wise handling of a situation.
• Cautiously wait until the time is right to strike.
• Face your fears because they may be stopping you from achieving what you want.
• Powerful dreams are trying to tell you something, listen to them and you could find the answer you seek
• Look beyond the surface to find out what is actually going on in a situation.
• You will outwit people who do not have your best interests at heart.

No 19 : Winged Disc

Spiritual Guidance, Victory, Flight, Following one's intuition, Inspiration, Success.

• Wise guidance on a spiritual level.
• Ability to rise above problems or difficulties.
• Achievement.
• A time for reflection.

No 20 : The Twins

Partnership, Integration, Attraction of opposites, Marriage.

• Integration of the masculine and the feminine.
• A card for decisions usually about a relationship.
• An important relationship in your life.
• A loving partner who gives practical and emotional support.
• The opportunity in a relationship to grow and develop.
• Partnership could be work or business related.

No 21 : Sphinx

Strength, Patience, Secrecy, Observation.

• Keep your own counsel about whatever is being referred to.
• Sit back, observe be patient, say nothing and wait.
• Could also represent lessons learned through observation rather than participation.
• Sphinx shows the ability to keep a secret or to find one out.
• You have the ability to face life, difficult circumstances or change with hope, inner strength and courage.
• Having the inner strength to face your inner fears and desires instead of subjecting them to your will.
• Love of animals.

No 22 : Scarab

Rebirth, Adaptability, Acceptance, Change, Death of a situation.

• A spiritual rebirth.
• A new beginning or new phase in life.
• The ability to adapt to a new situation
• "Move things around" - clean our your wardrobe, try a new hair style etc.
• All things must pass.
• Death puts an end to the old to make way for the new.
• Have faith that life will bring something better than it takes from you.
• Do not struggle against this change, instead try to accept it.
• Cast off the old for the new.
• Release the past with love and let it go.

No 23 : Pyramid

Preservation, Initiation,  Longevity, Enduring through time, Eternity.

• An initiation or test condition.
• On a spiritual level the initiation is likely to be of the self imposed kind which means that no-one else can help. You have the knowhow to come out on top.
• Time will sort the whole thing out.
• You are being tested. Hold tight and you will make it in the end.
• Good news eventually.
• It is only a temporary situation and you may benefit if you use the time wisely.
• Go with the flow and you may be pleasantly surprised.

No 24 : Ankh

Emotional Love, Fulfilment, The life-force, The key to a problem, Understanding, Balance

• Ankh represents Love depending on which area of life is in question it could represent a good marriage, a love affair, love of money or material possessions, love of friendships, love of writing or communication, love of law, order and discipline and so on.
• You are open to receive new opportunities, it may be a new relationship or a new stage of an existing relationship.
• A time when you feel emotionally fulfilled.
• It can suggest that someone in a relationship with you is helping you to connect with your spiritual purpose.

No 25 : Buckle of Isis

Fertility, Loyalty, Childbirth, Birth of a project, Growth but with sacrifice.

• Represents prosperity in investments, the family, farming or anything you care to name, however, there is a price to pay at some point in the proceedings. ie People who give up valuable careers to care for family or nurse or care for another person.
• Can also indicate a new addition to the family, promotion at work which may entail overtime or more stress.

Note : As with all card readings there is always spiritual (Fire), mental (Air), emotional (Water) and physical (Earth) levels within the meaning of the the cards and the area in which they fall.

 

Uses of Cartouche
Cartouche cards may be used for divination, magical work or meditation.

 

Divination
Divination is the art and science of predicting a course of events. In her book "The Way of Cartouche" Murry Hope outlines two basic methods to use in Cartouche divination:- The Horoscope Method and The Pentagram Method. The former method is also used by Tarot readers and entails asking the querent to shuffle the cards and cut them into three piles which are then picked up by the reader and laid out in an anti-clockwise fashion so that twelve consecutive cards form a circle. In the centre of this circle a thirteenth card is placed. The first twelve cards each correspond with a house
of the Zodiac while the thirteenth card gives the tone or atmosphere of the reading. The latter method involves shuffling and cutting the cards as before but this time they are laid out in the form of a five-pointed star or pentagram. The first card represents the situation at hand, the second, considerations for the querent, the third, "on the other hand" considerations, the fourth, what the querent should do and the fifth, the final outcome.

 

Magic
A popular definition of magic is "The art and science of making changes in conformity with the will". Magical uses of the cards might include protection, attracting a partner or making more money. Murry Hope suggests in "The Way of Cartouche" that the cards may be used as talismans and that, for example, by simply carrying one of the cards of protection such as Anubis you will be protected from dangers both seen and unseen. one of the meanings of this card is protection at all levels). This seems at first rather simplistic. There is no mention of invoking the power of a card and then using it to realise a magical intention. It seems that the owner is meant to take it on faith that the cards will
work virtually independently of them. On the other hand if  Hope devised the Cartouche cards with the ritual intention of making the cards work independently of the knowledge of the owner then it is possible they will work in this manner. Hope further suggests in "The Way of Cartouche" that the cards must never be used for evil purposes because she has designed them so that the evil will rebound on the person sending it. Again, this may be the case but it is open to conjecture.
 

Meditation
Meditation on the Cartouche symbols can be rewarding if the type of meditation practised is contemplative meditation. Once the meanings of the symbols are internalised and the myths belonging to the various gods and goddesses are known there will arise in the mediator's mind many images, intuitions and feelings, all of which will convey new insights into the nature of the Cartouche cards.