Egipcios Kier * Card 41 Dissension and the Ace of Cups

My goal is to write about each of the Egipcios Kier cards that Nelise Carbonare Vieira associates with the suit of Cups. I’m beginning with the card she links to the Ten of Cups: card 41, Dissension.

At first glance, the title of this card seems difficult to reconcile with the Ten of Cups. We usually associate that card with harmony, gratitude, and emotional fulfillment. Yet perhaps the title points to something that comes before lasting peace.

The central image shows four figures with raised arms. Rather than fighting, they appear to be praying, singing, or participating in a shared ritual. The scene feels expressive rather than hostile.

Stuart Kaplan explains that the figures represent competing groups within Egyptian society and understands the card as internal conflict, failed negotiations, and division. Nelise Carbonare Vieira, however, sees something quite different. She associates the card with discovering one's gifts and finding the courage to reveal them to the world.

At first those interpretations seem unrelated. But perhaps the deepest dissension is not between people. It is within ourselves.

Most of us have hidden parts of ourselves at one time or another. We silence our voices, question our gifts, or avoid expressing what matters because we fear rejection. Yet that inner conflict cannot last forever. Eventually something within us asks to be heard.

Vieira writes that we must make space in society to reveal our gifts and our values. I find that insight compelling. Authentic community is not built by suppressing our differences but by bringing our true selves into relationship with one another.

Perhaps that is why this card precedes harmony. Emotional fulfillment does not come from avoiding conflict. It comes from allowing truth to emerge with honesty and compassion.

As the Kotzker Rebbe taught, "There is nothing so whole as a broken heart."

Sometimes the first sign of healing is not peace. It is the holy disturbance that makes peace possible.

Egipcios Kier * 63 Communion

Card 63 depicts a husband and wife seated beside one another on ornate chairs. Their feet rest firmly on the ground, suggesting stability. The woman embraces her husband, her arm wrapped gently around his shoulder, while he holds a lotus fan. Both wear elaborate necklaces and lotus flowers, symbols of beauty, prosperity, and shared life.

Although Egyptian profile drawing can make the couple appear distant, the woman's gesture reveals intimacy. They are distinct individuals, yet they face the world together.

Above them appear several symbolic figures, including the Hebrew letter Alef, the silent breath from which speech begins. Below them stands an incense burner. Kaplan explains that it represents fragrant offerings rising toward the gods. Together these symbols suggest that communion involves both spoken and unspoken forms of presence.

Kaplan associates this card with peace, joy, love, contentment, and harmonious family life.

Nelise Carbonare Vieira, however, pairs it with the traditional Two of Swords. At first that correspondence seems surprising. The couple appears united rather than divided. Yet the Two of Swords reminds us that lasting harmony is not merely the absence of conflict. Healthy relationships require honesty, attentive listening, and the courage to face difficult conversations together.

The incense rises even when no one speaks. The silent Alef reminds us that every conversation begins with quiet attention before words are formed.

Communion is more than living beside another person. It is learning to share both silence and truth.

Egipcios Kier - 68 Speculation and 51 Advice

As I shuffled the Egipcios Kier Tarot after my morning ritual, two cards fell from the deck: 68 Speculation and 51 Advice. Together they seemed to ask a single question: How do we make wise decisions?

Card 68 depicts a man carefully weighing a stack of coins against a statue of an ox. The image immediately reminded me of the biblical command to use honest weights and measures. Sound judgment begins with honesty.

Above the scene appear a snail, a serpent, and the Hebrew letter Vav (ו), meaning "hook." Below rests a bee. Kaplan corrected several of my first impressions of these symbols. I had mistaken the bee for a fly and assumed the ox represented a single animal rather than an entire herd. The card itself became a reminder that our first impressions are not always our best ones.

Kaplan notes that cattle played a central role in Egypt's economy, while bees, believed to have sprung from the tears of Ra, symbolized industry and abundance. Wealth, however, is never simply a matter of possessions. It also depends on wisdom, patience, and honest labor.

The image brought to mind Joseph serving Pharaoh during the years of famine. His foresight saved countless lives, yet it also resulted in the Egyptian people surrendering both their land and eventually themselves to Pharaoh in exchange for grain. Joseph's solution was brilliant, but its long-term consequences remind us that wise decisions can still carry a human cost.

Kaplan associates this card with ingenuity, diligence, successful enterprise, and prosperity. Reversed, it suggests impatience, anxiety, and poor judgment.

Nelise Carbonare Vieira pairs Speculation with the traditional Page of Pentacles, the student who approaches the world with curiosity and a willingness to learn. That correspondence feels fitting. Good judgment begins with humility. Before weighing the world, we must be willing to admit that our own understanding may need correcting.

The second card, Advice, completes the lesson. We all seek guidance from others, but no counselor can replace our own responsibility to think carefully, weigh evidence honestly, and live with the consequences of our choices.

Speculation, then, is not merely about money. It is the patient work of learning how to judge well.

א Breath

A breath of cool air flows from the east just before the sun rises over the red hills of Edom. The Fool, filled with hope and renewed strength, sets off on a journey. No longer bound by fear or grief, she embraces her true identity, unaffected by the opinions of others. Experience has made her wise, not despondent; she carries no wounds or resentment. Her inner ear is attuned to divine guidance, and her voice is powerful. With spontaneity and playfulness, she embraces life's delights. She finally recognizes that her encounters with darkness truly were valuable gifts and lessons on her path. Angels guard each step she takes and her heart is free. This image of rebirth is assigned the Hebrew letter Alef, which represents the divine breath of creation according to the Sefer Yetzirah.

The Fool, as represented in the Tarot, has evolved from symbolizing a crazy person, driven out by society and plagued by delusions, to embodying a wise wanderer. This transformation connects two powerful traditions: the holy fool, touched by God, and the court jester, having no fixed place in society but free to speak truths others did not dare.

This evolution of The Fool in the Tarot raises a connection between homelessness and foolishness. The saying of Chazal, "A man who has no home is not a man," underscores the vital importance of having a home and family, providing a sense of belonging, purpose, and a foundation for serving and taking action in the world. Without these essential elements, one's words and actions lack grounding and significance, rendering them fleeting and inconsequential. Therefore, the concept of homelessness serves as a metaphorical reminder of the importance of rootedness and connection in our lives.

Images from Tarot Yehudi and the Raziel Tarot:

In the Tarot Yehudi by Betzalel Arieli, The Fool card is associated with Keter, the first sefirah, symbolizing freedom, lightness, and untapped potential. When the card appears reversed, it may suggest instability and a lack of grounding.

The Raziel Tarot, created by Rachel Pollack and Robert Place, depicts The Fool as a young and androgynous Yosef the Diviner before maturity, whose eventual journey saved his family and played a vital role in the Israelites receiving the Torah at Sinai after generations of suffering. The Fool's story highlights divine plans and the eventual fulfillment of a purpose.

Rachel Pollack offers insightful meanings for The Fool. Upright, it represents innocence, openness, and limitless possibilities. It embodies freedom, gentleness, and a lack of anger or grudges. It signifies divination and psychic abilities used selflessly. It reflects beauty and androgyny, a harmonious blend of masculine and feminine. However, it also warns of unrecognized danger, especially in conjunction with aggressive cards. Reversed, it calls for caution, self-consciousness, and hesitation. It highlights an over-awareness of social attitudes or the opinions of others, particularly when paired with the reversed Hanged Man. It acknowledges the importance of recognizing potentially dangerous situations.

Betzalel Arieli writes that the upright card suggests freedom, lightness, inspiration, creativity, and a new beginning. The reversed face indicates instability or a lack of grounding.

By engaging in focused reflection, we can gain insights into the kind of Fool we currently are and cultivate an awareness of our strengths and weaknesses. Embracing the essence of The Fool means acknowledging both our virtuous qualities and our flaws. Through this recognition, we can consciously work on transforming our negative traits into positive ones, and harness our strengths to become better individuals. It is through this process of self-discovery and growth that we embark on a profound journey towards personal evolution.