Isabella Cards - Dutch divination system with astrological interpretation
This is not tarot, not lenormand. The Isabella Cards form an independent divination system, developed in the Netherlands by Ingrid ter Pelle. 41 cards, each hand-drawn by illustrator Ellen van Boggelen-Heutink, with symbols that show both everyday situations and cosmic connections.
What sets this system apart is the combination of intuitive imagery and concrete techniques. The 147-page workbook does not just describe card meanings. It explains how to read combinations, link timing indicators to cards, and use astrological connections in your reading.
What you see on the cards
The images are delicate, layered, and have a quiet quality. No bright colours, no dramatic scenes. Ellen van Boggelen-Heutink drew each card with a style that suggests more than it explains. That fits how the system works: you interpret from what you see in combination with the question you ask.
The symbolism is built from elements of astrology, everyday objects and abstract figures. Each card has multiple layers of meaning, depending on where it sits in the spread and which cards surround it.
The workbook does the real work
147 pages, bilingual (Dutch and English), with a structure that takes you from basics to more complex spreads. Ter Pelle first describes the individual cards, then the combinations, and finally how to extract timing indicators and astrological information from the cards.
That last part is unusual. In many systems, timing remains vague. Here you get concrete indications per card, which means you can place a reading not only in content but also in time.
The spreads range from simple one-card pulls to extensive layouts. The book explains for each pattern what the positions mean and how to connect them.
Start with the daily card exercise from the workbook. Pull one card each morning and note what you notice about the image. At the end of the day, compare your note with the description in the book. You learn the system through use, not through study.
About Ingrid ter Pelle and Ellen van Boggelen-Heutink
Ingrid ter Pelle has worked with cards for years and developed this system from her practice as a card reader. Her texts are clear, with no unnecessary detours. She writes like someone who works with these cards daily and knows which questions come up.
Ellen van Boggelen-Heutink created the illustrations. Her style is precise, almost meditative. The images invite you to look longer than you would at first impression.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 41
- Card size: 10 x 7 cm
- Finish: glossy
- Workbook: 147 pages
- Workbook language: Dutch and English
- Card language: no text on cards
- Packaging: luxury storage box
- ISBN: 9789464917178
- Author: Ingrid ter Pelle
- Illustrator: Ellen van Boggelen-Heutink
Questions we often get
How does this system relate to lenormand or tarot?
It is a standalone system. The combination technique resembles lenormand, the layered symbolism recalls tarot, but the cards themselves follow their own structure with 41 instead of 36 or 78 cards. You can learn it without prior knowledge of other systems.
Are the timing indicators really concrete?
Yes. The workbook gives for each card the period or timespan that belongs to it. This makes the system useful for questions where timing matters, such as decisions with a deadline or expectations about when something will develop.