Lo Scarabeo - Tarot of the Animal Lords

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

firemaiden	14 Nov 2003
I Tarocchi dei Signori Animali or Tarot of the Animal Lords with artwork by Angelo Giannini arrived from Alida Store (along with the Bruegel Tarot I wrote up a few days ago). This is a deck I've coveted since I first heard about it - that was before I even came to Aeclectic! I was not disappointed! I was drawn to the children's book illustrations quality of the first artwork I saw a year and a half ago. It is a style I adore. Whimsical, colourful... in flavour, but not in style, they remind me of the Wind and the Willows. I think my absolute favorite card is the Chariot as a flying Swan, carrying a humanized crowned crane on its back. Other cards I love are - the Hermit as a black bear (in a green cape) entering his cave (perhaps to begin hibernation?) - The Hanged Man as a bat - Knave of Wands as a wolf howling at the moon. - Death as a Crow. The only card that disappoints me is the Star, too green and blue, and pink. It's a sea horse, which might have been nice, but dressed up in a silly pink harlequin costume. (Oh well)

Chronata	14 Nov 2003
oh! I didn't know this deck was out yet...I saw a picture of two of the cards and fell in love with it instantly! I will add it to the list of decks I really really should get when I get the chance. And I am glad you were not disappointed when you saw the whole deck. I have this feeling that I won't be either! Thanks for the heads-up!!

firemaiden	14 Nov 2003
It has been released in Europe, well... at least in Italy, Alida Store has it. Not quite yet out in the U.S., but I imagine it will be very soon!

firemaiden	14 Nov 2003
I forgot to say, I also really love the Tower card, it is a beaver dam failing!

Mimers	14 Nov 2003
Could you skan some pictures? It sounds wonderful. Would love to see more cards.

firemaiden	14 Nov 2003
Hi Mimers, I'd love to, unfortunately I left my scanner in New York. :(

Mimers	14 Nov 2003
Boo hoo :( :) I can't wait to see this deck. I love animals so I think it will interest me greatly. Love the idea of the beaver dam for the tower. That sounds great. And the bear for the hermit is perfect as well. Thanks for sharing Firemaiden. Sure miss you being in NY too!

firemaiden	14 Nov 2003
(((Mimers))) thank you. If I find a friend with a scanner, or if I get enterprising and buy one (they're sooo cheap now) that will be my first task!

HudsonGray	14 Nov 2003
The deck should be out here in December, from the looks of it. Tarot Garden has 4 or 5 pictures. I found a few other images from it online (one was the Star, I agree with Firemaiden, it's bleh). I really like the roosters! I'm not sure if I'll get it yet, I like anthropomorphics, but these are awfully heavily people bodied--not enough animal in the majority of the bodies for what I look for. Still...I'll see. It'd make a good Xmas present.

Hedera	14 Nov 2003
Yes, I've got this deck, too (thanks to Alidastore). I really like the artwork (I agree about the Star, but it doesn't really bother me much), although some cards seem a little bit thin in symbolism. Haven't had the chance to study it properly yet, though (due to NaNo), so maybe there's just tons of symbolism that I missed at first glance. One thing I really love about the illustrations is how they are made to look a little bit 'aged' by small lines, flecks of watercolour paint, etc. I'm not describing it well; it's not messy at all, it just makes the whole thing look a little less glossy. Very nice. Ah, and one weird thing: the queen of Cups is a male peacock. So, she's a drag queen, I gues.. ;)

firemaiden	14 Nov 2003
Oh yes, that's right, she's a male peacock tail but she has breasts. Hmmm..

Kiama	15 Nov 2003
From the pictures I've seen of this deck so far, I don't think I could use it... "In your future I see.... Animal heads??!! *Scared look at querent* Are you familiar with the film, 'The Godfather?'" }) Kiama

firemaiden	15 Nov 2003
Actually, I just used it in a reading for Aoife, and it came out wonderfully. The animal images worked out uncanily well as metaphors for things happening in her life.

Hedera	15 Nov 2003
Yes, I don't see why it wouldn't work for reading with. Most of the animals convey a mood, an activity, a character, etc. What's interesting is that there isn't the 'appropriate' number of suit symbols in the cards. In fact, in a lot of the cards (as far as I can see), the suit symbol isn't there at all - apart from the little 'logos' in the corners, but those aren't really a part of the illustration itself. What I mean is, for instance, the 8 of pentacles; a chimpansee playing the recorder, with a smaller monkey on it's head. Yes, there is the little icon of the beetle in the upper left hand corner, but in the image itself nothing that reminds me of pentacles, coins, discs, etc. Another one: the 8 of Cups. A big, friendly looking Mouflon (not sure that's the right species, don't have the booklet to check right now) on a path, holding a walking stick with several human skulls and some little pouches. Also a pouch on his belt. Again; nothing cup-like in the picture. It seems like an even more 'abstract' deck than the Fey in this respect. In the Fey, each card had at least one of the suit items interacting with one or more persons in the image. I find it makes the deck feel almost more like an oracle than tarot, although most of the cards would fit the meaning of the corresponding tarot card quite well. It certainly would be interesting to work with, I think! And it appeals to my love for fairy tales, children's books, animal stories, etc. Firemaiden, are you going to post that reading somewhere? I'm curious to see the deck in use! :) I love the Tower, too, as well as the Chariot. I also really like the Lovers, the Hermit, the Hanged man, The Moon, the 4 of Pentacles (an ant, of course), the Empress, the 9 of Wands, the Knight of Chalices..... It's really a lovely deck!

lunalafey	15 Nov 2003
this is a deck that is at the top of my wish list.... a December release for the USA check out www.llewellyn.com more pictures..... one thing though- Lo Scarabeo decks, I've noticed.....come available about 1-3 months after the 'release date' I'm sure this is just a matter of filling pre-orders and backorders.

Diana	15 Nov 2003
firemaiden: What is the numbering for Strength and Justice?

firemaiden	15 Nov 2003
Strength is XI ( mongoose and snake) Justice is VIII (a barn owl) The Lo Scarabeo decks that I have all follow the traditional Marseilles order, Diana. It's safe, you can peek now. Hedera, I am planning to post some of the reading. It was done in chat, so I am putting it together. It was a lot of fun. Yes, I'm finding the cards really wonderful for reading, because there are so many interesting little details that pop out, that can be very relevant. I think the animal metaphors have great power, for example: the 8 of swords as a mouse being backed into an enormous spider web, by a scary spider --- oooh! the spider web! What an apt translation of usual tangle of swords!

Hedera	15 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Diana firemaiden: What is the numbering for Strength and Justice? I hope you don't mind if I answer that? I was just looking at Justice, you see (a very beautiful card). :) Strength is XI, Justice is VIII. It's funny, the pips are in a way the complete opposite from Marseille-like pips. No suit symbols at all quite often, just a scene.

firemaiden	15 Nov 2003
The Wheel is really lovely too -- it'a the cycle of egg to larva to catepillar - to butterfly -- to big flying butterfly human person - to laying eggs - etc. -- using a curved trunk and tree branch -- the cycle is literally expressed as a full circle. :)

firemaiden	15 Nov 2003
The Seven of cups is delightful -- two non-existant beasts - a Dodo riding a winged horse over a chasm against a badground of fluffy clouds, conveying a sort of dreamy bliss, but a bit lost in the unrealities... The Nine of Swords shows a Buffalo being hunted by a wolf - and driven over a cliff. It sure conveys the feeling of the nine of swords to me!

firemaiden	16 Nov 2003
Here is a link to the reading done with the animal lords .

Hedera	16 Nov 2003
Thank you! That looks interesting - although that is probably due to the participants rather than the deck...:D

firemaiden	16 Nov 2003
Ooooo ! you're being a meany, Hedera! What about all those wonderful animal descriptions, and the metaphors they imply ! grrrrrrr grrrrrrrrrr grrrrrrrrr grrrrrrr (what animal am I being now?)

Lee	16 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden grrrrrrr grrrrrrrrrr grrrrrrrrr grrrrrrr (what animal am I being now?) A gnu! (5 of Cups) :) -- Lee

firemaiden	16 Nov 2003
ROFLAO!! So you have the deck too, Lee? Do you, do you, hunh? (Or do you have secret inside sources.... hm, what animal would that be?)

Lee	16 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden ROFLAO!! So you have the deck too, Lee? Do you, do you, hunh? Yup, I have the deck. I love it! A full review is in the pipeline. Quote: (Or do you have secret inside sources.... hm, what animal would that be?) Snake (7 of Swords): "important secrets, subterfuge, shady deals." :P -- Lee

firemaiden	16 Nov 2003
YES!~!!! *firemaiden high-fives Lee* Exactly what I was thinking. I LOVE that card. You know, I wasn't expecting this... the more we talk, the more I play with it... this deck is starting to feel like a some kind of big breakthrough.

Lee	16 Nov 2003
Yes, I think it's a marvelous deck. I don't want to spill the beans totally about my upcoming review, but I do want to especially say that this is not a children's deck. It has a great deal of depth to it, and it embodies the traditional meanings in startling ways. It cries out to be read with. I really can't praise it highly enough. There are indeed some errors in it, such as anatomy or perspective errors and the male peacock mentioned by Hedera. But I don't care, I don't even notice such things. I'm going to have a lot of fun with this deck. -- Lee

firemaiden	16 Nov 2003
I'm so happy that you are doing a review, and I can't wait to read it! (Don't make us wait too long!)

Myrrha	16 Nov 2003
This deck looks great, I love animal symbolism. Are there any rats or weasels in the deck? Ermines? Ferrets? --Myrrha

firemaiden	16 Nov 2003
Lets, see, we have a Badger, Fox, Elephant, she-Wolf, Lion, Reindeer, mandarin duck, swan and crowned crane, barn owl, black bear, butterfly, moongoose and snake, bat, crow, flamingo, goat, beaver, sea horse, owl and cat, hare, crocodile, dolphin, antelope, pelican, toucan, hippopotamus, gnu, camel, dodo, yak, dormouse, penguin, chincilla, firefly, peacock, turtle, cassowary, seal, squirrel, aint, giraffe, elephant, honey badger, chimpanzee, panda, parrot, cat, wild boar, antelope, polar bear, ram, lion, raccoon, giraffe, bearded vulture, rooster, frilled lizart, swallow, lynx, elk, wolf, rabbit, koala, rhinoceros, walrus, leopard, pigeon, moutain goat, marsupial mole, snake, mouse, bison, gazelle, tiger, knight, praying mantis, and an american buffalo. No, there are no rats, weasels, ermine or ferrets, but there is a mongoose.

Myrrha	16 Nov 2003
Oh, well you can't have everything! Thanks, firemaiden. I will probably get the deck it looks lovely. Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden Lets, see, we have a Badger, Fox, Elephant, she-Wolf, Lion, Reindeer, mandarin duck, swan and crowned crane, barn owl, black bear, butterfly, moongoose and snake, bat, crow, flamingo, goat, beaver, sea horse, owl and cat, hare, crocodile, dolphin, antelope, pelican, toucan, hippopotamus, gnu, camel, dodo, yak, dormouse, penguin, chincilla, firefly, peacock, turtle, cassowary, seal, squirrel, aint, giraffe, elephant, honey badger, chimpanzee, panda, parrot, cat, wild boar, antelope, polar bear, ram, lion, raccoon, giraffe, bearded vulture, rooster, frilled lizart, swallow, lynx, elk, wolf, rabbit, koala, rhinoceros, walrus, leopard, pigeon, moutain goat, marsupial mole, snake, mouse, bison, gazelle, tiger, knight, praying mantis, and an american buffalo. No, there are no rats, weasels, ermine or ferrets, but there is a mongoose.

Lee	16 Nov 2003
My review will either be in the next update of Tarot Passages, or the one after that -- I'll post here when it appears. Here are all the animals in the deck (I won't type which cards they are, for that you must buy the deck! :) ) (Although you could probably guess by referencing prior posts): Badger Fox Elephant Wolf Lion Reindeer Mandarin Duck Swan/Crowned Crane Barn owl Black bear Butterfly Mongoose/Snake Bat Crow Flamingo Goat Beaver Seahorse Owl/cat Hare Crocodile Dolphin Antelope Pelican Toucan Hippopatumus Gnu Camel Dodo Yak Dormouse Penguin Chinchilla Firefly Peacock Turtle Cassowary (?) Seal Squirrel Ant Giraffe Elephant Honey badger Chimpanzee Panda Parrot Cat Wild boar Antelope Polar bear Ram Lion Raccoon Giraffe Bearded vulture Rooster Frilled lizard Swallow Lynx Elk Wolf Rabbit Koala Rhinoceros Walrus Leopard Pigeon Mountain goat Marsupial mole Gnu (two gnus! who knew?) Snake Mouse Bison Gazelle Tiger Puma Praying mantis (scary!) African buffalo -- Lee

Lee	16 Nov 2003
Arrgh, now I see firemaiden has already posted them! Double arrghh! For some reason the last few posts did not appear when I went into this thread ten minutes ago, how strange! Oh, well. -- Lee

firemaiden	16 Nov 2003
That's juuuust fine, Lee, your list is much, much neater than my list. :) The list got me all perplexed and puzzled, the Lady Elephant is listed in the LWB as "cow-elephant" -- I suppose elephants are "bulls" and "cows", but it sounded absurd, I see Lee also took the "cow" part off his list. I wondered about the difference between the yak and the gnu, (I thought two words for the same).. also is there a difference between bison and buffalo?)

HudsonGray	17 Nov 2003
Yak & gnu? Two totally different animals! Yaks are from the upper mountain ranges--Himalayas, Mt. Everest, things like that. Think cow style moving sofa covered with 2' long hair. Horns are straight out then bent, and it's related to the cow. Gnu is from Africa, much thinner, smaller, I think it's related to antelopes instead of bovine. The horns are curled, the nose is very long, back shorter, very short hair over most of it. Different species. We see gnus in those shots of Africa where the herds have to cross the rivers & the crocodiles try to get them. They're also called Wildebeast (remember Lion King?). (See, watching PBS DOES teach you things! Either that or my mind is full of really useless trivia.)

firemaiden	17 Nov 2003
Oh that's it, that's it, wildebeast is gnu... LOL, thanks Hudson Gray.

Lee	17 Nov 2003
No, I meant there's actually two gnu cards -- 5 of Cups and 6 of Swords. -- Lee :)

Demonesse	17 Nov 2003
No orangutans or tapirs? Sacrilege! But it is nice to see the Bat and Tiger and Peacock making appearances. ;)

Kiama	17 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Hedera Yes, I don't see why it wouldn't work for reading with. Most of the animals convey a mood, an activity, a character, etc. Notice I said I don't think I could work with it, not that it was a completely unreadable deck. Kiama

Hedera	17 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Lee My review will either be in the next update of Tarot Passages, or the one after that -- I'll post here when it appears. -- Lee That is great Lee, I look forward to reading it! I always enjoy your reviews tremendously. :)

firemaiden	17 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Lee No, I meant there's actually two gnu cards -- 5 of Cups and 6 of Swords. -- Lee :) I gnu that already! (but why are there?) Kiama, I/we/one noticed what you said, and gnu you were only speaking for youself... however it does surprise me to hear you say that you don't personally think you could read with this deck. I agree with Lee that it cries out to be read with. I've actually had a sort of "reading breakthrough" using this deck. :)

Hedera	17 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden I gnu that already! (but why are there?) Oh, great! I gnu I shouldn't have read this thread - how am I ever going to write/hear/see the word 'gnu' in a normal way again? :D

Kiama	17 Nov 2003
Well firemaiden, I've never really been much of an animal lover/fan. Come to think of it, I can't really relate to them at all. Unless they're cats or goldfish. ;) So I'm not sure this deck would speak to me enough to use it effectively without resorting to my first impression (Godfather.) It's a bit like the Fey Tarot: loads of people like it, but I can't relate to the kind of faeries shown in the cards. (I like my faeries different!) Same with the Mermaids Tarot. All beautiful decks that many people can read wonderfully with, but for me they'd be nothing more than beautiful decks to look at. I'm not going to avoid the Animal Lords deck however. I'd like to have it in my collection, simply because it does look so different and I might be able to get some new insights from it just by looking at the cards... But as to reading with it, that's a different story! Kiama

firemaiden	18 Nov 2003
Six of Cups Camel

Myrrha	18 Nov 2003
Thank you Firemaiden for posting the scan! Camels store all that water in their humps, stored water, stored emotions, memories. It is almost miraculous but the stored water and the tiny jug are enough, even for the two bushes, unexpectedly green in the desert. On the other hand this emotionally self-sufficient fellow is missing something by not allowing himself to be moved by the song the little bird is singing. I love that the card isn't cluttered up with cups. Looks like a great deck although sadly lacking in Mustelids. --Myrrha

lunakasha	19 Nov 2003
I am also VERY anxious to get my hands on this deck....the pictures I have seen are GORGEOUS, and I have a deep love for animals and nature, so this will probably become my favorite! FYI...I just checked amazon.com, and you can pre-order it there, it will be out in December! Enjoy!

WolfSpirit	19 Nov 2003
So is there no cold turkey in this deck ? I must say I was not too enthusiastic about this deck at first, I want animals to look like animals and not wear clothes etc., but now I am beginning to like it more and more... I gnu I could not resist a deck with animals ;)

dolphinprincess	19 Nov 2003
oh, i think this could be a great deck for me... I love my two animal oracles.. but the reason I had trouble reading with the Animal-Wise deck (which I initially LOVED) was because I found it hard to merge the animal into the traditional meaning of the card.. With this deck, the animal itself isn't the whole card - but a part of the scene... so you get the best of both worlds :o) (edited** just pre-ordered on amazon!... bad!)

Lee	19 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by WolfSpirit So is there no cold turkey in this deck ? I have this deck, but did not buy it... (did not steal it either...) -- Lee :P

Mimers	19 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Lee I have this deck, but did not buy it... (did not steal it either...) -- Lee :P Did you get one from the publisher in order to do a review? Perks of the trade? Lucky you!

Lee	22 Nov 2003
As promised, here's my review: http://www.tarotpassages.com/animallord-lb.htm -- Lee P.S. Hey Mimers, no fair, I'm trying to be mysterious here! :rolleyes:

firemaiden	22 Nov 2003
That is an absolutely delightful review, Lee! Thank you! it has made me very happy. :)

Ironwing	09 Dec 2003
I just got this deck from Tarot Garden. It is very beautiful - especially nice to look at if you're tired or depressed - and you can take it anywhere and show it to anyone. I've had a couple of interesting readings with it when I used it to help me interpret dreams. Lorena

dolphinprincess	09 Dec 2003
i *just* got mine in the mail today... haven't even had time to open it yet bc i'm at work.. but i can't wait to play with it later...

Chronata	11 Dec 2003
I just got my Animal Lords tarot in the mail today! (Thanks to Dark_angel who is an absolute goddess! :D ) I love this deck. Each time I turned over a new card it made me smile! Some cards made me giggle out loud! It is fast becomming one of my new favorites, although I have not yet tried a reading with it.

dolphinprincess	11 Dec 2003
As I posted, I got mine on Tuesday... and I haven't been able to put it down... Two days in a row I have drawn my daily card with it and have gotten the World both times... and the world has two Dolphins on it.. ... that was my sign that this will be a very special deck to me :o)

lunakasha	12 Dec 2003
I have also just received the Tarot of the Animal Lords deck.......and it is absolutely beautiful!!! I would recommend this deck to anyone who loves animals (as I do). The artwork is very colorful, and each card is full of rich detail that will keep you mesmerized for hours! I have yet to do a reading with mine, but I have spent some time just looking through the cards, and I agree with Dolphinprincess that this is a very special deck...I am so happy to have acquired it! :) Luna

raeanne	21 Dec 2003
Hi all, I just got the Animal Lords this weekend. I haven't had a lot of time to look at the cards but from what I have seen, I think I will like working with this deck. For me I think it will work better for pathwork or spiritual exploration rather than for reading for others.

BlueLotus	22 Dec 2003
I had passed this thread more than once, but decided to read as much from it just now, and...I fell in love with this deck immediately. I read reviews, looked at images of this new deck on the net,...etc, and did my homework when I intend to get a new deck, although it took me a while to get used to the images. But since I love animals.... I think this deck will be #1 on my wish list for next month, mainly because I can't afford to buy any more decks this month. Enjoy the deck, whoever has it. It seems to be a very pleasant and beautiful one.

snuffy	01 Jan 2004
i am absolutely in love with this deck. i've seen a few favorite cards mentioned throughout this thread-- anyone else feeling attracted to certain pictures? i've got to go with the birds and their egg on the 10 of chalices, the birds on the lovers card, or the mother panda and her baby on the 9 of pentacles. i feel that i'm most drawn to the pictures with two or more animals on them... *SIGH*, the artwork is just so rich. i'm jealous!

firemaiden	01 Jan 2004
Don't be jealous snuffy, get even... that's what I always say! Its really worth having. :P

jema	30 Jun 2004
Oh a whole tread on this deck! Since AT was down I got bored and started to bid on tarotdecks on-line and just found out I actually won it. It will be a neat birthday present for myself i think. I often dream about animals and have been eyeing this one for what feels like a year or so and when I saw it listed I just couldn't refuse to bid on it.

jema	02 Jul 2004
The deck came today and even though it made me flat broke for the rest of the month (I am a poor unemployed librarian) I am glad I got it. I used to have an animal oracle years ago but never liked that one (Beasts of Albion it was) but this tarot is still a tarot deck and I guess I just like that structure. And the cards are lovely! My only objection so far is that creatures of the sea look silly in dresses. It is somehow more ok for badgers and owl and giraffes to wear clothes. Fave cards: *4 of cups was the first card that made me go "What?" A hippo sleeping(?) in a tree. But I like it. It is sure to give the hippo a new outlook on life when she wakes up. *The Wheel, it is just such an amazing card. I think it is the best Wheel I ever seen. *7 of Ssswordss with sssnakes whisspering while holding daggers behind their backs. and lots and lots more of course.

HudsonGray	02 Jul 2004
How do you feel about the speckling & paint/coffee spots on the cards? It was distractig for me for quite a while.

jema	02 Jul 2004
I like the little imperfections in the cards. I just did a reading with the deck! while I am far from sure it was accurate, it was fun to do and even if I didn't pin-point the future for her perhaps I added some little insights anyway. I found that these cards really wanted to be read like a tale. Once upon a time...

dolphingirl	02 Jul 2004
This deck has a dolphin in it so I am in heaven!

The Lo Scarabeo - Tarot of the Animal Lords thread was originally posted on 14 Nov 2003 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.