Tarot of the Gnomes

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 21 Nov 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

RiccardoLS	21 Nov 2002
The Tarot of the Gnomes by Lo Scarabeo is a beautiful deck, but the divinatory meanings are unconventional and sometimes difficult to use. They appear neither Rider Waite, neither Marseille, but a strange blend of the two, with a bit of Thoth. [this is a follow up from the thread regarding lo scarabeo tarot] The deck was the first 78 cards deck ever published by Lo Scarabeo, with the art of Antonio Lupatelli (at that time under contract with another publisher not to use its true name) and with the writings of Giordano Berti. [lupatelli briefly had the deck credited to the name of antonhy moore] The deck had keywords on all the cards to help coping with the strange divinatory structure and - most importantly - went with a companion book. The book - published in Italian, Spanish and German, was built like a fairy tale illustrating the spiritual journey of Sichen (The Fool) along the Tarot Archetipes. While it was very unconventional a Tarot companion the book helped giving that sense of choesion and unity to the deck, and to give voice to the carefree and playlike situation of the deck. I'm afraid Giordano never fully developed the underlying structure, but is intention was to create a not_too_serious blend of the major traditioanl structures: Etteilla, Waite, Crowley, "Marseille". The deck, I think, it's enjoiable but it should be taken as it came, without too many questions. The keywords work perfectly with the cards and the art is very clear and intuitive. It would be difficult anyway to unknot the structure and to refer it directly to any widely know set of instructions. Giordano Berti website is: http://www.wonderful-tarot.com He will probably be happy to answer any specific question (as I would not have the knowledge). Riccardo

Diana	21 Nov 2002
I have this deck. I got it in a trade. But I honestly thought it was designed to be a joke. I cannot imagine doing a reading with it! Do you mean that this deck is actually serious?

ChrisZ	21 Nov 2002
Gnomes are scary!

RiccardoLS	21 Nov 2002
Maybe You would not believe that, but it was my first reading deck. I learned Tarot with the Gnomes :) Riccardo

Lee	21 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Diana ... I honestly thought it was designed to be a joke. I cannot imagine doing a reading with it! Do you mean that this deck is actually serious? Hi Diana, I think one could do quite serious readings with this deck, unless, perhaps, one were a absolute traditionalist :). If you're interested, i wrote a little bit about that in my review. -- Lee

Diana	21 Nov 2002
Oh Lee, thanks for your input! Absolute traditionalist? What's that? :D *Diana goes to do her reading under the bed so that no-one can see her* Riccardo: thanks for enlightening me. (hmmm, this'll makes a change from the Marseilles Grimaud deck, I must say.)

allibee	21 Nov 2002
Thank you Riccardo for the information and the link. The artwork is indeed wonderful, and very clear. But its just when my eyes take in one thing and my head is saying noooooooo, it just makes it difficult - to me - to become comfortable with it. But thank you very much for the thread. allibee

fairyhedgehog	21 Nov 2002
Nice review, Lee. "I will not add another deck to my wishlist. I will not add another deck to my wishlist. I will not ...."

Kiama	22 Nov 2002
Is this the deck which later spawned 'The Smallest Tarot in the World'? (Which I absolutely adore... Nearly lost the cards cuz they were so damn small though! ;)) Kiama

Pollux	22 Nov 2002
OOOooops... maybe Lee's review made me want it... *LOL* I had never had a chance to look at online scans from the deck, but I was generally put off it because of some pics I had seen on a magazine (Astra, an italian one dealing with astrology and related, Riccardo has certainly heard of it). In those pics the characters where taken out of context, but I like the cards much better now I have seen them without trimming and omission. In addition, I remember seeing this deck somewhere like... in the window of a shop in Naples's MN1 Subway! *LOL* Riccardo can tell you how difficult it can be to find a shop selling decks here in Italy (even though Rome, Milan and Florence are not that bad I hear...) - it could have been a sign... ;) I am curious to know about this lack of a LWB, and the names of the gnomes Lee mentions in his review as well. And, also about the book: is it possible to get the set any more? P.S. Now I am not the only Italian on the boards... But, I want you all to know that I feel responsible for Riccardo's registration, and with good reasons. Keep calling me The Enabler! ;) *LOL*

allibee	23 Nov 2002
Hiya Pollux I got mine off ebay, where there are at least three Gnomes decks for sale every week. I have to laugh when the advertiser claims that they are 'very rare', and 'really hard to find', and then you see three or four decks listed in a row by different sellers, *LOL*. At the moment they are as rare as me starting a new diet ..... it happens on a very regular basis :D Love allibee

Pollux	23 Nov 2002
Hey allibee! :D I was actually wondering about the set Riccardo mentions in the above posts - did you buy your copy as a book/deck set? I have checked Ebay and seen nothing like that, but maybe I should just try again... and open a PayPal account! :D *LOL* Quote: I have to laugh when the advertiser claims that they are 'very rare', and 'really hard to find', and then you see three or four decks listed in a row by different sellers. It's just hilarious, even though they may well succeed in taking customers for a ride and create such a delusion... At least they should be honest and not claim such un-gronded rubbish. Quote: At the moment they are as rare as me starting a new diet ..... it happens on a very regular basis! *ROFLMAO*

Diana	24 Nov 2002
Pollux: I have a good idea. You trade me your Ananda for my Gnomes deck. ;)

RiccardoLS	25 Nov 2002
Yes, it was the Tarot deck from whom the "Smallest Tarot in the world" were taken. No, I don't think there is still any book availbale in Italian, but I shall ask. :) Riccardo

Pollux	25 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Diana Pollux: I have a good idea. You trade me your Ananda for my Gnomes deck. ;) Let me think about it one second.... NO WAY!!! :D

Talisman	25 Nov 2002
'Lo all, Well, Diana, that Pollux is so wishy-washy sounds as if you'll just have to wait 'til he makes up his mind about that trade. Talisman

The Tarot of the Gnomes thread was originally posted on 21 Nov 2002 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.