The Ansata Tarot
This deck description was contributed by a reader. Since it was very detailed, I decided that it should have its own page. Feel free to E-mail him.
This tarot deck, comprised of only the 22 cards of the major arcana, was
designed by Paul Struck. Three blank cards are also included. The
accompanying booklet was written by B. A. Mertz, who has written 3 books on
the Tarot--"Egyptian Tarot", "Astrology and Tarot", and "Karma im Tarot" (in
German). It is in "Karma im Tarot" that he claims that the minor arcana is
useful onlyfor gambling or "primitive" fortune-telling, and that is why the
Ansata deck, created in conjuction with the publication of "Astrology and
Tarot" has no minor arcana. (For more on Mertz's work, see the premiere
issue of "Manteia".)
The cards are about 3 1/4" x 4". Each card is intricately rendered in sharp
detail. The imagery of the cards is a mix of ancient Egyptian and
Medieval--the Magician is clearly an Egyptian adept wearing an ankh,
headdress, and pleated skirt with Horus looming in the background while the
Tower depicts a king and queen in golden crowns falling from the
lightning-struck Tower. Beneath them are courtiers in lace collars and
doublets. Egyptian and Medieval imagery is often melded together within the
same car, as with the Empress.
The authors state that traditionally (onwards from Rider-Waite in 1909) the deck of Tarot cards consists of 80 cards of which 2 are left blank.
With the help of the different versions of Tarot decks dating from the 15th
century and later that have been preserved, and research and esoteric
insights, the two blank cards of the major Arcana have been disclosed again.
The figures in the cards are at first glance naturalist, but have an
other-worldliness about them. Their gaze seems turned inwards, and as if to
underscore the idea that they are not just human, their limbs and torsos are
frequently shown to be cracking and crumbling as though they are made of
stone. The image is very surreal. The surrealism is furthered by the images
surrounding the main figure in each card. Likewise, the influence of
Hieronymous Bosch is unmistakable in the Hierophant, the Devil, and
Judgement.
These cards are good for meditative and imagery work as they are rich in
layers of symbolism and correspondences. Readings are difficult, and, in my
opinion incomplete, without the minor arcana.
Original article written by 
Bonne.
This article was rewritten by Lysander .