Etruscan Tarot

[RiccardoLS]

This deck will never probably be popular for so many reason. Anyway I had been using it for quite a while. To tell the truth, my choice of deck is currently:
- Transformational Tarot (Arnell Ando) - Etruscan Tarot - the Fey Tarot
Of course the reason behind the last two is that I was co-author, and they obviously reflect so much my understanding and my personal Tarot path. Anyway, for the first time in years, I have the feeling I have finally found the decks I was looking for all of this time.

While on the Fey tarot there are many threads, the Etruscan deck passed almost unobserved. That deck had been steadily growing on me after a rather plain beginning. It strike as very simple, almost shy, “cat footed”, like those person that speak rarely but when they do they’re worth listening to.

Anyone else uses it?

Ric

[Aoife]

It's my favourite of the decks I own - I'm constantly looking through the cards, the artwork is so subtle and beautiful. But I confess I'm rather intimidated by the prospect of reading with it. It also somehow feels wrong to separate out the 78 'known' cards and not use the deck complete. But I have little understanding about the other cards - and I suspect this would require a great deal of research.

Riccardo, when you say you are the co-author, do I take it there's an accompanying book?

It truly is an exquisite deck.

[RiccardoLS]

No book at all. :(
But while Silvana did all the art, we made the concept togheter.
She did the iconographic research of the Etruscan art, and I did the Tarot adaptation.

Sorry, but I didn't understand what you say about "separating known cards, etc..." :)

[faunabay]

I've actually looked at this deck, but wasn't sure how well the meanings would come across to me for readings. So as of now I've passed on it, but who knows for the future?? :) I'd love to hear more from you about it Riccardo!

[Aoife]

Riccardo, forgive me! I mis-read the title of the thread - I thought it was about The 'Ancient Minchiate Etruria deck'. I've got to learn to pay more attention!
Sorry!!

Eve

[truthsayer]

i have this deck and agree that it's lovely. i bought it b/c i really like this artist's work. i haven't tried reading it. since you recommend giving it a try, i will ricardo. i can tell the art is very well researched. how is it done? does she actually draw from authentic etruscan paintings? or does she use computer and book work? however she does it, i like it.

[RiccardoLS]

Originally posted by truthsayer
how is it done? does she actually draw from authentic etruscan paintings? or does she use computer and book work?

Silvana gest models from photos and then she elaborates by hand. As you can see part of the art was taken from paintings, while other from vases, or from metals and statues.

If you try to read with it, I'm really very curious. Tell me if it works even for others.

Ric

p.s. to Aoife :)
Ancient Minchiate is a very strange deck. You should try get the book of Brian Williams about his own Minchiate deck. I think it could help, if you ever get the fancy of reading with it.
I'm afraid I can't help because I never seriously used it. :(

[Cerulean]

for my own art discovery hunt and a mixed-up storyline. I don't use it as a reading deck for others, just for the story ideas.

The Etruscan deck, some good art history resources and your imagination might work if you like to write with art history as a background. I use the Etruscan as a guide for studying images from Greek vases, ancient roman mosaic art, island cultures around Knossos (Crete), Pompeii and then Athens and Rome. When I get a few hours a week to do my own storyline, I use found scraps that I collage from old art magazines and books and any translated poetry from mostly Greek sources...and then this 'scene' is a starting point of a supposed art historian student who is following an art trail back and forth across Augean and Mediterranean points. Her mentor uses the Etruscan deck to point to places or art styles that she needs to go to next.

This probably sounds vague, but I wanted to do my creative art study without resorting to a computer game---I wanted to create my own creative treasure hunt and storylines. By the way, the Etruscan inspired a rather wandering story poem that was in the TarotPassages review, so I'm continuing from there.

[dminoz]

I got this deck today (along with the Egyptian deck done by the same artist), and it's very nice. I agree with statement that it will be a good reading deck. The relationship between the images and the cards seems simple, clear and effective.

From a design pov, I wouldn't have had brown for the borders, but that means nothing. The artwork is lovely. I'm looking forward to getting to know this deck better.

[Asher]

I have had this deck since it came out. It was immediately readable for me, since I am well-versed in mythology & cross-cultural studies.

It is a style of art that I really like, and I am glad to have it in my collection. This thread has inspired me to pull it out and use it again. Thanks!

Asher

[lark]

I use it regularly.
The art captivates me to the point that I wonder if it's because of a past life connection.
The terracotta colors of the cards are very appealing to me.
Some decks are funny, some are intense or deep, others are simple and open.
This deck gives me the feeling of quiet wisdom, and it also has a ...well, I guess how I would put it is ... whatever emotion is depicted on the card the people seem to be investing themselves in that feeling whole heartedly.
So it lends a feeling of honesty and no pretense to the reading.
Anyway I really enjoy this deck.
And thank you for the thread about it RiccardoLS

[weaver]

And thank you for the thread about it RiccardoLS
Yes, thank you! I am not sure how, but this one passed under my radar until now. Maybe it's because I am currently taking pottery classes that the deck's images have a real appeal to me at this point in time, but regardless, this one has just jumped to the top of my wish list. I simply love the Etruscan card images that I have been able to find online. This deck appears to be a real beauty. A quiet beauty, perhaps, but a beauty nonetheless.

Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Riccardo!

weaver

[la-luna]

One other big plus is that it is such a deck that looks open not cluttered with a huge amount of details it's simple and to the point and yet for those who are interested in Mediterranean mythology it brings out so many associations.

And an extra bonus is that in this deck the borders do not look too big or distracting.

[magpie9]

I really love this deck--it speaks from the heart for me. I love to just sit and look at in and let my mind wander to its place and time.

I wish you'd make a deck from Crete/Minoen times--the art is wonderful and I can't be the only tarotist who loves that time and place! You could do it just for the art, like you did the Etruscan, or you could use it to tell he story of Theseus, Ariadne, the minotaur and the fall of Knossos.

[dminoz]

The more I use this deck, the more I like it. I'm finding that it has an openness -- a relaxed, airlike quality in the sense of space that the images create. Hard to put words to, but it's definitely there -- it is very easy to find a way into.

I don't even mind the RWS influence, which for me is saying something. I like that it's not cluttered with Qabbalism, zodiac symbols, hebrew letters, or any other distractions.

This is my current desert island deck, no question.