Creating deck after deck with variants on a topic has become less of a priority for tarot deck makers in recent years. This is the era of tarot empire building and exploration. There have been decks that have expanded the Major Arcana, added new suits, fixed errors in esoteric knowledge, and furthered the investigation of the enigmatic world that Pamela Coleman Smith and Arthur Edward Waite constructed in the Rider Waite Smith Tarot. By revealing what occurs after and beneath the recognizable images, The After Tarot and The Tarot of the New Vision revolutionized how we interpret the traditional RWS deck. The Vice-Versa Tarot by Lo Scarabeo is expected to revolutionize the design of tarot decks and, more crucially, how we interpret the cards.
The Vice-Versa Tarot presents itself as a liminal deck standing on the edge between worlds since each card has an illustration on both sides. It gives the Seeker the chance to observe a situation from an angle that isn’t usually possible. To be clear, tarot as a divination method does not always base its predictions on information that is unknown to the Seeker. The Vice-Versa Tarot provides the Seeker with the opportunity to perceive what is shrouded in mystery, concealed from view, unacknowledged, unheard, and unseen.
There are potentially 156 new interpretations that a reader can add to their toolbox with the addition of the 78 new pictures to the deck. The backs of the cards can be read as “what is concealed” in regard to the traditional divinatory meaning, or one can just create a completely new set of divinatory meanings. In either case, there is great potential for developing tarot readings.
It’s a good thing there are only 78 cards in this deck; any more would make it all but impossible. It has 56 Minor Arcana, which are arranged into four suits (Chalices, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands), and 22 Major Arcana. There are four Knight, Queen, and King Court cards and ten number cards in each suit.
The cards in the Vice-Versa Tarot lack titles. Roman numerals are used to denote the Major Arcana, while Arabic numbers or Court card markers are used to denote the Minor Arcana suits in the lower left and lower right corners, respectively.
The Little White Book demonstrates how the card titles and placement adhere to Arthur Edward Waite’s guidelines.
The size of the cards, 65 by 120 mm, is typical for popular tarot decks and is also the customary size for Lo Scarabeo. Regardless of size, they are comfortable to hold and can contain all but the most intricately detailed pictures without losing detail.
Of course, the card stock is first-rate. It is flexible without being flimsy, light without being fragile. These cards are not readily destroyed because they are meant to be touched and utilized. The cards’ satiny smooth, low-sheen texture makes them incredibly simple to handle and shuffle. This leads to an intriguing situation when we shuffle this particular deck. In order to get the most out of this deck, one must make sure that the cards are fully mixed together front and back as well as upright and reversed, however it is a benefit because you can’t have a card facing the incorrect way.
The print quality is excellent, with each image being clear and distinct and exhibiting no color bleeding, printing errors, or blurring.
Collaboration between conceptual designer Massimiliano Filadoro and artist Davide Corsi resulted in the deck. The majority of Corsis’ artwork is created digitally, and it includes both original photos and composites of photographs that have been digitally manipulated. Corsis painting has a lot of nuance and warmth to it, in contrast to many digital compositions that have telltale blurriness and razor sharp line-work that give them a clinical and distant atmosphere. Given the enormous number of pictures needed for this deck, the uniformity in artistic quality is equally noteworthy.
The artist uses a wide range of naturalistic colors; the face cards are predominately blue, green, brown, and yellow, while the backs are primarily darker blue and shades of sunset.
The Vice-Versa Tarot is categorized as a Rider-Waite-Smith clone deck since nearly every artwork alludes in some way to its famous forebear. The backs of the cards provide some intriguing interpretations and variants on the artwork. Some movies simply show the same scene from behind or at night, while others include additional characters or events that are often out of the viewer’s field of view. The stalwart soldier of the Nine of Wands is challenged to withstand temptation, the Five of Pentacles demonstrates how material and spiritual poverty are two sides of the same coin, and Strength is challenged not by her companion lion but by a devil whom they both face down together. The King of Wands has a snake of Conan-like proportions. Behind the recognizable images are so many hidden meanings; this deck has been very carefully and expertly designed. The original RWS deck’s spirit and goal are consistent with the secrets, the unseen, and the hidden.
These cards have no borders on the front or reverse other than the small green strip at the base of the images, which has all information about position, suit, and Arcana.
A snug-fitting, light-weight cardboard box contains the cards. It has a high gloss finish and includes titles, artist/author credits, and photos from the deck. The cards can be kept in this box at home, though. The box will at the very least be damaged by any rough handling or hostile climate because it was not designed to survive the rigors of travel.
Information in the 64-page Little White book is available in English, Italian, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Unsurprisingly, a good deal of material is devoted to describing the Vice-Versa Tarot’s theory as well as providing instructions on how to get the greatest reading possible from the cards. The Glance of Janus is contained in a single layout. Only the upright posture on the front and back of the Major Arcana cards is assigned a divinatory meaning. Only upright face cards are given minor arcana care keywords. None of the cards have reverse interpretations or reverse-reverse meanings. The upright meanings provided in the LWB are generally within the bounds of widely accepted interpretations; there are no notable exceptions to the rule. Divinatory interpretations of the card backs are essentially pioneering new ground and terrain, but the ideas offered are intriguing and consistent with the deck’s overall purpose and “feel.”
This deck is truly incredible! It has completely transformed tarot in one fell swoop. You are in for a treat if you are a tarot enthusiast who enjoys RWS-based decks. The Vice-Versa Tarot offers completely novel approaches to readings. It provides some quite remarkable insights into cherished and hotly debated photographs. It allows the Seeker more latitude for their meditations and readings. The tremendous amount of material to absorb makes this deck unsuitable for beginners, yet any tarot expert seeking a challenge will find it right here.
In This Article...
Can I read the tarot upside down?
It basically implies that you’re missing some of the energy of the card’s turned-right-side-up meaning when you draw a reversed tarot cardwhich can happen accidentally or on purpose if you flip the deck upside down and choosebecause you’ve lost some of the energy of that meaning. The queen of cups, for instance, denotes both excellent intuition and emotional security. Therefore, a reversed queen of cups could represent emotional insecurity and a blockage to intuition. (You might think about purchasing a tarot book or visiting a tarot website to confirm the precise significance of a reversed tarot card that you selected.)
You are free to select whether or not to interpret a card as a reversal. Maria Sofia Marmanides is a tarot reader.
According to astrologer and tarot reader Maria Sofia Marmanides, you are under no obligation to interpret reversed tarot cards when you are dealt them: “The choice of whether or not to interpret a card as a reversal is yours. You get to choose how you want to approach that trip because tarot is a very individualized discipline, and one of the things you can pick for yourself is whether or not you read reversals.” You’re learning various things depending on where in your tarot journey you are “Adds she. “In the beginning, it might be best to merely adhere to the upright meanings rather than the reversed ones. Why, if you don’t have to, would you want to increase the amount you need to learn?
How can you improve your ability to read tarot cards?
7 suggestions for maximizing the results of your upcoming tarot card reading
- Each reader is unique.
- Bring an open-ended inquiry with you.
- Unhappy with what you heard?
- Answering questions about time might be challenging.
- Death and the Devil are not necessarily bad omens.
- Tarot frequently provides confirmation of what you already know.
What should you do initially while using a tarot deck?
What to Do First:
- Get out your tarot deck.
- The cards are in your hand.
- “Knock or tap the pile of cards numerous times while holding them in your palm to disseminate your energy throughout the deck.
- Shuffle the cards completely.
- The cards are divided into three heaps, which are subsequently reassembled into one pile.
How should I maintain my Tarot deck?
While rearranging the cards in the tarot deck is a good approach to purify and clear their energy, there are some circumstances in which you might wish to perform a more specialized ritual. If you’re just getting started with tarot, cleaning your deck can be an excellent place to start.
You might want to clean your tarot deck for a variety of reasons, including:
- beginning with a fresh deck
- readings for other people
- You think you need to recharge.
- Your card readings seem a touch “odd” or “disconnected”
- Your deck hasn’t been used recently.
- Your deck has been handled by others
- You think you’ve been utilizing your deck a lot. A LOT, especially for books with strong emotional content
Why should you cleanse or clear your tarot deck?
Tarot deck cleansing helps keep the energy flowing between you and your deck. Consider it as a little spiritual hygiene to maintain a strong and clear connection. It’s not necessary, but if you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, try a few of the energetic cleansing techniques listed below and note which ones seem to work the best for you.
How often should you cleanse your tarot deck?
This is another way of stating USE YOUR INTUITION: there are no hard and fast laws. Don’t stress if you don’t believe it is necessary for your deck. Alternately, if you like to cleanse them once per week or once per month, that’s great. If it feels appropriate to you, you can even place your favorite crystal on the balcony each night.
If you frequently place crystals on your deck and store it on an altar while not in use, you might not feel the need to cleanse it frequently because this quick ritual will likely be sufficient to keep your deck feeling nice.
There are numerous ways to cleanse your cards, just as there are numerous reasons why you might desire to do so.
Different ways to cleanse your tarot deck
Use holy smoke. Light a dried rosemary, lavender, cedar, sage, or palo santo cleansing wand until it begins to smoke. Hold the smoke a safe distance below the deck while holding the burning herbs in one hand and the deck in the other so that the smoke drifts upward onto the cards. Turn the deck so that the smoke covers it from all angles. Next, safely put your deck to the ground and put out the fire.
On the deck, set a selenite stone (or a black tourmaline or a transparent quartz). It works well to leave it like way for an hour, but I prefer to leave it overnight.
Set them on display during a new moon. The New Moon is energy of a blank slate; you can purify the deck by setting it on a window sill on a new moon night. At this moment, you can also make a brand-new intention for your deck.
Place the cards in a salty dish. A strong and stabilizing cleaner is salt. My preferred choice for a thorough cleansing is this. Allow it to sit anywhere from one to eight hours in a dry area.
Unorderly shuffle. Spread the cards out on the ground, then shuffle them around like a child playing in dirt. This method’s freedom and randomization serve as an excellent reset.
the shuffle and sort. Set up the deck in rows of seven cards across, commencing with the Major Arcana numbers 0 to 22. (see photo above). Next, arrange the cards, Ace through King, one for each suit, as follows: Swords, Pentacles, Cups, and Wands. View the deck in this configuration, then mix everything up (like the chaotic!) and shuffle it thoroughly.
Questions you don’t really want answered
Even though it might seem apparent, it’s advisable to refrain from asking the tarot cards questions that you aren’t prepared to hear the answers to. That’s because answers to these questions can reveal information you’re just not quite ready to hear.
“Tarot can definitely come off as offensive if you’re not willing to hear the truth or consider an opposing opinion. Tarot reading Nicole Fortunaso
According to tarot reader and life coach Nicole Fortunaso, “tarot may truly come out as offensive if you are not willing to hear the truth of the problem or look at an alternate viewpoint.” She advises analyzing why you’re reacting the way you are in order to reflect on how to effectively address the underlying problem if you ask the question and aren’t satisfied with the response.
After a breakup
Draw one card for each of the following inquiries if you’ve recently broken up with someone and want to know more about the reason or determine whether you’ll get back together:
- How energetic is the partnership right now?
- What caused the divide in the first place?
- What do they really think of me right now?
- What do they intend for me right now?
- What kind of relationship will this be in the future?
- Which action is ideal for me to take right now?
When job searching
You can use this spread to explore what kind of career guidance the tarot can offer if you’re feeling uncertain about your career path or thinking about a new employment. Draw one card once more for each query.
- How active am I in my career right now?
- What challenge must I overcome?
- What is my calling in life?
- How can I follow this calling more closely?
- What should I do to prepare for the upcoming month?
When deciding between two options
This spread can highlight the benefits and drawbacks of each option, guiding you toward the best decision if you’re using tarot to pick between two possibilities (two job offers, two apartments, perhaps a love triangle???). Getting the deal Per card, ask one question.
- What is the fundamental cause of this fork in the road?
- What is the likely result of choosing option A?
- What is the most likely result for option B?
- What more should I take into account that was overlooked?
- What’s the best thing I can do right now?
When something is off with a friend
If you’re concerned about the state of a friendship or feel like something is wrong but are unable to pinpoint the cause, you might be interested in seeing what conclusions and solutions this spread offers. Ask one question per card, once more, I repeat.
- What makes this friendship so crucial?
- What led to this sudden change in tone, and why?
- What has changed, in my friend’s opinion?
- What can I do to make this matter more urgent?
- What is the future of this friendship?
- What should I do at this moment?
You *Just* Had a Tarot Reading
Unless the reading is about a completely new and specific subject, I suggest waiting at least three months between professional tarot readings. Before returning to the cards, let things to develop and alter.
You Want a Redo
I frequently observe people attempting to “chase the right answer.” People will visit several tarot readers or ask the same question repeatedly to the same tarot reading until they receive the response they desire (which, by the law of averages, does happen eventually). This is basically useless!
Your Question Is About Someone Else
Tarot readings are not the solution if your entire line of inquiry is about another person’s thoughts and actions (such as what your ex is up to). Tarot is meant to help you gain understanding of *yourself,* not other people. (A better option would be to reconsider and rephrase your query as if you were looking for help on how to move past your split.)
You’re Looking for Medical Advice
Simply said, neither physical nor mental health concerns can be diagnosed or treated using the cards. Some things are better left in the hands of medical specialists rather than tarot readers!