Vampire Tarot (Minetti-Lo Scarabeo)

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Cerulean	22 Nov 2003
I was curious about this modern setting for Vampire fans...a pre-teen boy who likes to watch Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer said it was too bad that movies didn't update the theme to modern day. But there are movies and books, and now a deck that seems to reflect this, outside of the 19th century thrillers. I'm away for a few nights, but am carrying my Egyptian (Lo Scarabeo) book and deck and the new Gothic Tarot of the Vampires. I'm very intrigued because it takes a dark theme and sets into the modern day, likening a passage through the Vampire soul in the city through a human environment of the modern day. Maybe some movies, books or anime address this theme as well? The Raven, an older movie with Bruce Lee's oldest boy, comes to mind. And I'm also eyeing the Vargo title as I make my budget out...it seems like a classy period gothic screamer movie that sometimes is just a relief from modern tensions...

dolphingirl	22 Nov 2003
Hi There Some of the images from this deck really appealed to me but some are way graphic . Pictures of some of the best cardes can be seen at http://groups.msn.com/DolphinDaze/newdeckalerts.msnw?action=get_message&mview=1&ID_Message=333 and some of the worst cards can be seen at http://groups.msn.com/DolphinDaze/newdeckalerts.msnw?action=get_message&mview=1&ID_Message=339 Hope those pictures show you enough of the deck. Personally I really love the milder cards and would have loved to use it for readings but some of those worst cards are just toooo tooooo gorry for me :( I still want this deck but now that I have seen the pics I am not as hot for it as I was

Astraea	22 Nov 2003
Thank you for those links, Dolphingirl. I preordered this deck through Tarot Garden and still intend to get it, but am rather disappointed -- as the linked commentary states, some of the messages of the cards are insightful, but obscured by gore. This sort of overblown treatment seems to be one of the hallmarks of Lo Scarabeo theme decks.

Maan	22 Nov 2003
I have preordered it too and i'm still happy i did. Thanks for the pictures BTW :) It makes me think of the anne rice books i have read I don't have a problem with any of the pictures. Its nice to finally see a vampire deck that shows this. In the way i see it it should be like that. Its about vampires isn't it? Not showing those things would actually be a violation of the theme they chose. You would leave things out that we all know are there. But just my two cents Love Maan

Astraea	22 Nov 2003
Well...presumably, even vampires have table manners and don't waste their food or throw it around the room! :D

Dark_angel	22 Nov 2003
Personally, although the concepts of the cards don't seem too bad, the actual images don't appeal to me at all. There seems to be an excessive amount of blood and gore, possibly going for shock value, and in many of the cards I've seen, it's quite gratuitous. To me, the deck does not speak of vampires, but of self-harm and mental and emotional decay. One card I've seen that I do like though is The Lovers, which is shown on one of the previous links. I like the fact that it shows a couple mixing their energies permanently, for the blood can never be truly separated; at the end of the day, each person will forever affect the other. However, I am concerned about the use of slit wrists in so blatant a manner. It may just be because of past experiences, but I do feel that this could be triggering for some people. However, that's just my feelings; what do other people think?

Cerulean	23 Nov 2003
I separated the cards that I liked best, looked at them--especially the woman carrying the bonsai tree in one card. Then I pulled out the cards I liked next and discovered my own themes--where someone is carrying a living thing or in contact with another living thing in a nonviolent way. But some of the cards showing grief or despair and some grimness, I realize I saw it as a movie impression, especially from a distance and in limited colors. Then I went through the booklet, read the ideas and I would say on the third look through the deck, I realized I was making up a cinematic story--kind of like a screenplay. Could I follow it like a 'hero's journey' and do I recognize tarot meanings from the pictures and concepts? I wrote out my impressions as if they were poem stanzas, for the majors, then by suit. Because this is a modern tarot, not a gothic romance or a period 'moon-and-gasplight', it was dark and somber. I did find I could glimpse some storylike concept related to quite a few meanings, but not really all. The Swords suit worked really well, I liked the Pentacles...I am really thinking about the Chalices, though. Because of some personal situations of people that I know facing sad situations, it actually was a creative outlet for me...but I understand this definitely is not for everyone. I really am impressed at all the commentary and am glad to read what people think. I didn't really know what to think at first and no, I wouldn't use it everyday...but it has me looking at the Gothic Tarot by Vargo as well. Best wishes, Mari H.

Cerulean	23 Nov 2003
Great review seems to say lots to me: www.tarotpassages.com/gothvamp-as.htm

RiccardoLS	24 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Astraea Well...presumably, even vampires have table manners and don't waste their food or throw it around the room! :D Hello, As Maan said... it is Vampire and there is blood. Is there "unnecessary" blood? I hope not, as there is not "unnecessary" "sweetness". There are 10 cards with "blood" in 78 arcana. And I don't think any of them could have been the same if graphically sweetened. For sure there is barely and hint of the romantic portrait of the vampire (the perfect gentleman... so dark, dressing in black, beautiful and damned. :) Maybe because I didn't try to create a themed deck (with Vampires in place of the usual "daylight" stuff) I think that of someone wants to use as a mirror between herself, Tarot and her life such a strong methaphore as the Vampire (undead... comdammned to darkness... comdamned not to age and grow, condamned to loneliness... condamned to kill to sustain itself... condamned to see what he loves pass on... condamned to lose steadily his humanity), well, she has better be prepared. For the Vampire the light is not at the beginning of the Journey... it is a difficult path, most shrouded in darkness. It is not "cool" nor "romantic". I feel it is important to find a way to address darkness... an sane and healthy way. The Vampire - imho - allows this jorney in a much better way. You can emphatize on that methapore and yet feel so alive and happy! And that was the reason why I have been thinking that deck in the first place. I wanted it, because I thought it could have been useful... it could have been adding something to Tarot that was not yet present. :) At least that was what I have been looking for. I may say it is a difficult deck... not a "plug an play" deck. You have to study it and to find your own connection (no book, sorry :( ). But I will answer any and every question if I can, when I can... Best, Riccardo

Lee	24 Nov 2003
I counted 18 cards that have blood in the picture. -- Lee

RiccardoLS	24 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Lee I counted 18 cards that have blood in the picture. -- Lee Well, I didn't count the cards having almost no blood, like tears of Blood in the Queen of Pentacles... Anyway... then it's 18 :) (I happen to trust Lee more than I trust myself on certain things) :) Ric

Cerulean	24 Nov 2003
Riccardo, were you influenced by anime movies or titles or perhaps see similiarities? Or is it just me... A few translated Japanese to English anime novels that I picked up in 2002 included the "Spiral Into Horror" series and from Vertigo comics, the Ando/Gaiman collaboration known as the Dream Hunters: http://www.greenmanreview.com/sandman_dreamhunters.html A few beautiful movies that I liked in the Japanese anime genre also show this dark edge--it's like Film Noir came to cartoons. I no longer collect such titles, but I have less of a problem with some of the dark, edgy stories. To some, most of the stories seem to end bleakly--but usually I see the melancholy is mixed with some lovely ideas and perhaps at least one survivor with a life-changing ending. I hope this aspect seems relevant to this tarot deck. Mari H.

RiccardoLS	27 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Mari_Hoshizaki Riccardo, were you influenced by anime movies or titles or perhaps see similiarities? Or is it just me... Actually, there is no anime influence that I'm aware of. The main sources for the deck are listed in the booklet... Best, Ric

Astraea	28 Nov 2003
My deck just came in the mail from Tarot Garden, and I like it very much. Many of the card concepts are quite original and the blood, though sometimes profuse, doesn't bother me in the actual cards -- when one sees the entire deck and can feel the flow (no pun intended) and rhythm of the images, it hangs together. It isn't a deck for everyone, or for all types of readings, but neither is it gratuitously gory, as I'd thought it would be. Well done, Riccardo.

Cerulean	28 Nov 2003
But for subscribers, in the reading exchange, I posted a poem based on following some of the cards scenes in the feedback to Dark Angel titled "Reading for Mari Hoshizaki" and used the deck in a reading for Dark Angel. I described the cards so if you have the deck and booklet, the cards should be recognizeable. If anyone wonders can you read it with it, I hope these examples also help others...I'm still learning to read for others. There's a Christine Jette book about Tarot Shadow Work that might be helpful with this deck if people like to do such exercises. While I don't have the book, I've used poetry for quite awhile to deal with 'darker' issues. I really like combining it with an edgy tarot to pull out the somber things underlying some creative ideas... A long time ago, Riccardo Minetti suggested the Tarots of the Imagination might work for such themes but that tarot never did click for me. This "modern" one is quite interesting, although it can also be considered retroactive, as women and men have been wearing jeans among tall buildings for several decades...I realize it is my own filters to relate to it though as I do to some good anime titles... Mari H.

Maan	29 Nov 2003
What a good idea Mari! I never thought about using a deck like hat for in combination with that book but i will give it a try...as soon as my copy arrives. I have tried working with Jette's book for a long time but did not come very far..hopefully this will change Love Maan

Cerulean	20 Dec 2003
Beautiful writing and review: http://www.tarotpassages.com/gothicvamp-lb.htm

Maan	20 Dec 2003
great review Lee Insightfull and very honest. Love Maan ( who's still waiting eagerly for her copy to arrive )

Astraea	20 Dec 2003
I agree, that is a beautifully-expressed, insightful and wise review.

Darla	21 Dec 2003
I received my Gothic Vampire Tarot a week ago and I'm totally in love with it! Every card speaks to me and I get the message immediately. Yesterday I did my first reading with it and was quite impressed. So far I read from a lot of people that they can't imagine to use it for readings but this deck is exactly what I was looking for! Although I love all my other decks I just needed something different and darker. I agree this is not a deck for the everyday use but I'm glad to have the opportunity to work with this deck when I'm in the right mood for it. I certainly don't want to miss it anymore! What I read here about the book about Tarot Shadow Work sounds very interesting and I'll probably get this one in the future. And Lee, I loved your review!

raeanne	21 Dec 2003
Hi all, I got two decks this weekend - one of them was Gothic Tarot of Vampires. There are some cards I like and some that I don't. One big complaint I have is the back of the cards! It's the same image as the major arcana card #13 but in the marron tone of color it just looks bad. The people look like they have been eating chocolate instead of having blood around their mouths. Bad choice for coloring or bad choice for a picture. It makes the backs look almost comical (IMO). I do look forward to spending a bit more time with this deck to explore some of the symbolism.

WolfSpirit	22 Dec 2003
Oh I wish I could love this deck, some of the cards I really love, and I love it even more after reading Lee's review that explained a lot to me (thanks Lee). But I don't think I can stomach the cards with all the blood in it; I'll think about it if I can get over that or look for a deck that shows man's darker side without the use of vampires.

WolfyJames	22 Dec 2003
There are vampires in The Gothic Tarot by Vargo but not much blood. I think the only bloody card there is in the deck is the Five Of Swords, a bloody jester on a throne he usurpated.

Darla	23 Dec 2003
It's true that there is a lot of blood in it but somehow this doesn't bother me. After all this theme tarot is about vampires and blood is a very important part in a vampire's life. The LWB that comes with this deck describes it this way: "This tarot deck is necessarily somber, at times gloomy, and sometimes violent. The vampire theme, unless reduced to a superficial stereotype of dress (wear black and be handsome and damned), first requires confrontation with blood as well as with the fury and relentlessness of a predator, with death and horror. In spite of this, the attempt was made to place greater attention on the vampire's spiritual and inner aspect instead of on the more conspicuous and material aspect." I agree with that. Somehow the blood just belongs to this deck but it certainly isn't a deck for everyone. It isn't a deck I could use as a main reading deck but I really appreciate its honesty. I looked at the pictures from the Gothic Tarot by Vargo (just the pics that were displayed on its website) and they gave me the impression of the stereotype as described above in the quote. I like it though and would love to have one but it requires a lot of effort to get a copy of it from Europe.

WolfSpirit	23 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by WolfyJames There are vampires in The Gothic Tarot by Vargo but not much blood. I think the only bloody card there is in the deck is the Five Of Swords, a bloody jester on a throne he usurpated. Actually I have the Gothic by Vargo, minus one card. I am waiting for one card the publisher promised to send me. I love it a lot. What attracted me to the Gothic Vampire by Minetti is that it is situated in an ordinary big city with characters looking like ordinary people.

Xarokys	24 Dec 2003
I have also just received the Gothic Tarot of Vampires and I'm quite impressed with it. I think this will be a very good deck to explore one's shadow side. Lee, your review was great. I always enjoy reading your reviews, they are so well written and informative. raeanne, I agree with you about the backs. I'm not too fond of that color either. I am curious as to why there are no titles on the cards, just numbers and suit symbols. (At first I thought I had a misprint!) After studying them for a while, I found that I liked the wordless effect, the borders are not distracting and it seems to help free one's intuition. Is that why there are no words on the cards, or was it simply a design choice?

Darla	25 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by becky I am curious as to why there are no titles on the cards, just numbers and suit symbols. (At first I thought I had a misprint!) After studying them for a while, I found that I liked the wordless effect, the borders are not distracting and it seems to help free one's intuition. Is that why there are no words on the cards, or was it simply a design choice? I really like that there aren't any titles on the cards. It helps me, as you said, to free my intuition. I don't mind if the major arcana is titled but it really bothers me when they put keywords on the cards of the minor arcana. Enjoy your new deck! :)

Maan	28 Dec 2003
well i finally got this deck. I like it. Its dark and bloody like others noticed but its also very spiritual. Maybe thats a strange word to use in combination with this deck but thats how it feels to me. The LWB isn't that big but what it says is very insightful. I like their take on the minor arcana. Their were certainly some "aha" cards for me in this deck. The meanings of the minor arcana seem made to use this deck to dig deep. Not to sure for superficial matters or daily struggles. Its like its made to cut deep and to work on yourself an improve yourself. I'm going to exeperiment with this deck. I don't know if i can read with it but i think it will work fine for a new years reading or to get a fresh look on my own behaviour and patterns. Love Maan

The Vampire Tarot (Minetti-Lo Scarabeo) thread was originally posted on 22 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.