Despite the title, this is NOT a tarot deck, but rather a deck of 36 psychecards.  I am reminded of the fact that in many countries, the word "tarot" is used to describe any oracle using cards, and not specifically just the 78-card deck with Major Arcana and suits which we have traditionally called a tarot pack.  This is obviously the case with the designer of this deck, which was published in Antwerp, Belgium.

Cards are smaller than standard and attractively illustrated, numbered one through thirty-six in Arabic numerals with their titles at the bottom of each card.  Another misleading thing about the title (aside from the use of the word "tarot") is that in spite of being named after an Egyptian goddess, this pack of cards does not rely heavily on Egyptian symbolism.  Out of 36 cards, only 3 actually bear characters out of Egyptian tradition.  Isis is not featured among these three.  Apparently the name is taken from a vague concept of using your "inner eye" to open oneself to beauty, love and happiness.  I'm not real sure I get it.

The cards represent thought forms, feelings, or archetypes of human experience.  They are not titled according to any traditional tarot naming, but the first 22 cards in the pack correlate roughly to the 22 Major Arcana of the traditional tarot, as the little white booklet shows.  It's a very loose correlation.  It is best not to try to relate this pack to any tarot traditions at all, but rather to take it on its own face value, as a separate meditative oracle.

The little white booklet describes what is called "The Old Celtic Method" for use in divination.  This is misleading because it sounds like it is meant to be the Celtic Cross, when in fact it is the exact layout Aleister Crowley describes for use with his Thoth Tarot, and is derived from Golden Dawn systems.  It uses fifteen cards.

The instructions direct you further to write your question down on a sheet of paper, then shuffle and deal the cards face down into their respective positions.  The descriptions of the positions follow, and then the entire rest of the little white booklet is dedicated to actual meanings of each card.  Both "straight up" and reversed meanings are given for the querent's "state of mind" as well as "oracle."

There is apparently a book published to accompany this deck.  I saw these cards in my Samuel Weiser catalog for the fall, and I don't recall seeing the book in that catalog at the time, so it's possible that the book is a later publication, or simply is sold separately.  It may also be out of print, since this deck is not new.

The good news is, it's not expensive, and no prior experience with Tarot cards is necessary, since this oracle differs so vastly.  Those who do study the tarot would probably find it interesting to compare and see the differences, and the similarities.  The small pack is easy to handle and shuffle, and the art is attractive, making it a nice addition to any collection as well.  I wouldn't use it for reading for others, but for meditation it is neat.  It would also be fine to use as a fortune-telling parlour game.

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Review Copyright 1998 by Gina M. Pace

The Isis Tarot by Erna Droesbeke von Enge, 1985
Amber Studio, Antwerp, Belgium  ISBN 1-57863-062-2