Astro Mythological - not tarot, but its own system from 1977
The name is misleading. This is not tarot as you know it. The Astro Mythological deck does not follow the 78-card structure of Rider-Waite or Marseille. Instead it builds on the 54 cards of the old French piquet game. Each card shows a scene from Greek or Egyptian mythology, enriched with geomantic signs, flowers, constellations and numerological references.
Published by Grimaud in 1977 and attributed to the legacy of Marie Anne Lenormand, this is a historical curiosity. Lenormand died in 1843, long before this deck was designed. What you are buying is not a historical artefact, but a 20th-century edition that carries her name and interprets the esoteric traditions of her time.
What you see on the cards
The imagery is dense. Each card contains multiple symbols: a main image from mythology (the Argonauts, the siege of Troy, Egyptian gods), alongside a geomantic figure, a flower, often an animal, and references to planets or signs. In the corners are the classic playing card symbols: hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs.
The style is sober. No rich colours, but a print that feels like a 19th-century engraving. The cards are made to be read, not to please.
The text on the cards is French. No keywords, but names of gods, myths and flowers. If you do not read French, you will need external sources to understand what is written.
How this works as an oracle
You do not read this deck like tarot. It requires knowledge of the mythological stories and the esoteric symbolism. Each card has multiple layers of meaning, depending on which system you activate: the mythology, the geomancy, the flower, the constellation.
This is not a deck for quick daily readings. It is a study object for someone who already has experience with divination and an interest in comparing symbol systems. The cards are rich, but demand that you invest time.
In a reading, pay attention not only to the main image but also to the geomantic figure. Those signs form their own layer of meaning, separate from the mythology.
About Marie Anne Lenormand
Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand (1772-1843) was the most famous card reader of Napoleonic France. She read for Joséphine de Beauharnais, advised politicians and was arrested several times. After her death, her name was attached to many card sets, including this deck, though she never designed or used it herself.
Grimaud, the publisher, chose to use her name as a symbol of the French tradition of cartomancy. The deck thus stands in the tradition of her work, but is not a reproduction of a historical original.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 54
- Card size: 70 x 120 mm
- Publisher: Grimaud
- Original edition: 1977
- Language: French
- Weight: 200 g
- Cardstock: standard playing card quality
Questions we often get
Can I use this deck if I only know traditional tarot?
Not without preparation. The structure is different (54 cards instead of 78), and the symbolism requires knowledge of mythology and geomancy. You will need external sources to interpret the cards.
Is there an English guidebook available?
No. The cards are in French, and there is no official English translation of the symbolism. You are left to your own study or French-language sources.
