The Ancestral Path Tarot is a unique deck that combines the diverse beliefs of various cultures to find commonalities between them. Its purpose is to encourage individuals to reclaim a personal spirituality that enables them to perceive the divine in themselves and others. This approach to tarot helps fashion meaningful stories not only about personal lives but also about the human condition. The deck emphasizes that individuals shape their own paths through choices, beliefs, and actions, while simultaneously shaping pathways for future generations. This powerful notion encourages deep reflection on the impact of one's choices.
The deck is designed to be suitable for both experienced tarot readers and novices. Standard meanings can be applied to the cards, making it accessible to those familiar with traditional tarot systems. The imagery is created to speak to the Oversoul and the many shared pasts of humanity, expressing multiple levels of meaning. It blends traditional tarot imagery with the myths and legends of four specific races and cultures, mixing traditional symbolism with the artist's own vision. For those familiar with traditional Major Arcana imagery, most cards can be identified even without titles.
Deck Structure and Composition
The Ancestral Path Tarot consists of the standard 78-card structure, comprising 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. The deck was created by artist Julie Cuccia-Watts and was first published in 1995 by U.S. Games Inc. The cards are noted to be quite large, approximately 3 1/8" x 4 1/8" (or 10.5 cm x 14 cm), with a matt finish and borderless design. They handle well, riffle shuffling and fanning beautifully.
The deck is accompanied by a companion book titled Ancestral Path Tarot by Tracey Hoover, published in 1996, which contains 239 pages. There is also a Little White Book (LWB) included with the deck. The LWB provides a great deal of information, though the full companion book offers more detailed insights into the history of the cultures depicted. Tracey Hoover’s writing style in these materials is described as passionate.
The Four Suits and Cultural Representations
A defining characteristic of the Ancestral Path Tarot is the mapping of the four suits of the Minor Arcana to specific cultures and historical epochs. This structure allows the deck to explore different cultural perspectives on the universal energies represented by the suits.
Cups: Arthurian England
The suit of Cups is associated with Arthurian England and the legends of King Arthur and the Grail. These cards depict characters and scenes from that time period. The imagery is noted for its beautiful and vibrant colors, featuring glorious skies and sunsets in the background. The suit is based on Arthurian/Grail legends.
Staves (Wands): Egyptian 19th Dynasty
The suit of Staves corresponds to Wands in traditional decks. It is representative of the Egyptians during the reign of Ramses II (19th Dynasty). The imagery is based on the Osirian myth. Some sources also note that the Staves depict scenes from Egyptian and African cultures.
Swords: Japanese Feudal Era
The suit of Swords is linked to the Japanese Samurai culture during their feudal era. The imagery is based on an Ainu epic song. This suit captures the distinct historical epoch of Japanese feudalism.
Sacred Circles (Pentacles): Native American Post-Contact
The suit of Sacred Circles corresponds to Pentacles or Disks in traditional decks. It is representative of Native Americans, specifically described as post-contact America or the 1700s. The imagery is based on a Menominee creation legend.
Major Arcana and Court Cards
The Major Arcana cards are rich with life and meaning, receiving the same level of care and detail as the Minor Arcana cards. The deck follows traditional Major Arcana imagery closely enough that cards can be identified by their visual symbolism, even when titles are not present. The images often feature people close to the author, Julie Cuccia-Watts, including her own family and friends. This practice follows a tradition dating back to the earliest tarot decks and invites the user to consider which characters from their own lives they would choose to illustrate the cards.
The Court cards consist of King, Queen, Prince, and Princess. In the context of the deck's cultural suits, these cards show gods, goddesses, and other key figures from the respective historical eras.
Comparative Overview of Suits and Cultures
To provide a clear understanding of how the deck organizes its thematic elements, the following table outlines the correspondence between the suits, their cultural representations, and the historical epochs depicted.
| Suit (Traditional Name) | Cultural Representation | Historical Epoch / Mythological Basis | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cups | Arthurian England | Time of King Arthur | Based on Arthurian/Grail legends; vibrant colors, glorious skies and sunsets. |
| Staves (Wands) | Egyptian 19th Dynasty | Reign of Ramses II | Based on the Osirian myth; depicts scenes from Egyptian and African cultures. |
| Swords | Japanese Samurai | Feudal Era | Based on an Ainu epic song; depicts the Japanese during their feudal era. |
| Sacred Circles (Pentacles) | Native American | Post-contact America (1700s) | Based on a Menominee creation legend; describes Native American life and legends. |
User Experience and Reading Style
The Ancestral Path Tarot is designed to be highly readable. While the imagery is specific to the deck and its cultural themes, the card meanings match the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) tradition. This makes it accessible to readers who are already comfortable with the standard system of tarot interpretation. The deck is often described as a favorite for reading for oneself and for others.
The deck is characterized as a "multi-cultural tarot" that blends many tarot traditions. It shows tips of the hat to Crowley and Waite, as well as older esoteric traditions and modern feminist and multicultural influences. It is noted for being multi-cultural without being "in-your-face-politically-correct." The deck is considered personal, inviting the user to engage with the imagery on a deep level.
For those interested in the history of past civilizations or the myths and legends of different races, this deck offers a rich experience. The Aces represent the elemental energy of each suit, and the numbered cards (two through ten) in each suit tell a story specific to that culture's perspective on that energy.
Conclusion
The Ancestral Path Tarot serves as a tool for exploring personal spirituality through the lens of diverse cultural histories. By integrating the myths and symbols of Arthurian England, the Egyptian 19th Dynasty, Feudal Japan, and Native American traditions, it offers a multi-faceted view of the human experience. Its adherence to the traditional 78-card structure and Rider-Waite-Smith meanings ensures it is a practical and readable deck for tarot practitioners of all levels. The deck encourages reflection on one's personal path and the legacy being created for future generations.