Tarot of the Hidden Folk ?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Apr 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

sirona86	06 Apr 2004
greetings everyone, does anone use this deck? what are your opinions of it? do the meanings and symbology correlate to standard RWS meanings?

13thFaeChylde	06 Apr 2004
I have it but haven't read with it yet.

Kittaine	09 Apr 2004
I have it. It doesn't use much symbology, and frankly, if it weren't the first deck I ever used and if it wasn't so accurate in readings, I wouldn't have gotten it. But now, I wouldn't even think of selling or trading it.

Cerulean	27 Apr 2004
in the majors for this Lo Scarabeo deck. G. Berti wrote on his website that he wrote meanings for the courts only that followed a description for Golden Dawn style meanings...but that was abandoned. So the mix is all Gaudanzi's work, but oddly just a visual tribute to 'Anglo-Saxon' fairy tale style characters as far as I can see. I mean I see mermaid, elves, frogs, salamanders and other things in beautiful paintings, but there's no tale that I know of that comes to mind... The Italian name for the deck, Alba Dorata, is the old name that I think translates to English as Golden Dawn---but there was so much confusion, that it was renamed Enchanted, then Hidden Folk in English. The name Enchanted was confusing as well, as there is an English-language title people just call Enchanted: Scans under old name: http://www.trigono.com/tarots/TDI001-tarocchi-dell-alba-dorata.htm The Lovers to the left are very pretty, but I wish there was more robing, as I would have liked to use this deck to read with for others face to face...and it's my thing that costume adds to fairy tale enchantment and otherworldliness if I were to show this deck to others. Still, compared to many decks, the lightness and feel and the art makes me want to keep working at this...maybe if people don't mind, I'll use this in online style readings. It's lighthearted and if I use a book with psychological or Thoth-style meanings to add to the perspective, I might be able to come up with very good storylike readings for others...thanks for asking, I'll experiment...

MAR	27 Apr 2004
Hello guys: Is there a web site where I can see the complete deck, especially the minor arcana cards??? Once on Ebay, I was going to buy it but I asked to the seller if the this deck was a RWS version and the seller answer me that the deck it was beautiful but using to do reading it was not a serious deck and that's why I never bought it. Blessings, MAR

Cerulean	27 Apr 2004
Possibly because of the name change and the reissue...this only has the majors and courts that are in the current deck. Visually it doesn't look anything like a Thoth deck and it is only with the revised little white booklet or Berti's site reference you get the idea that some design elements are thothlike. The pips in the 1995 version are not fully illustrated. The 2001 reissue mass market versions I bought has more pips illustrated and the new booklet, whether the box said Golden Dawn or Hidden Folk http://www.gambler.ru/sukhty/decks05/d02382/d02382.htm The listing with other decks http://www.gambler.ru/sukhty/WWPCM/d024.htm If you find a site with all the newer pip/minors, that would be great. I have a hard time finding all the links I want because of the various names this deck went under in the U.S. Here's a site with the beautiful multicolored backs and some of the minors, plus a few links to reviews...that was all I could come up with now. http://www.learntarot.com/ecdesc.htm Cerulean Mari P.S. It's odd, I like the 1995 version I see online better because it is more likely slightly smaller and it uses the undecorated Spanish pips that I like in their Ancient Tarots of Lombardy, also known as the Neoclassical di Gumppenberg 1805/1810...

MAR	27 Apr 2004
Cerulean Mari: thank you so much for being so kind. Not just can see Hidden Folk, now I can see a few more complete decks that I want to see. I was searching a lot on the web and has no success, if weren't for you I could not find one. thanks a lot Blessings MAR

firemaiden	27 Apr 2004
This deck is based on the Thoth. The courts are clearly inspired by the Thoth courts, in most cases. The minors are the "lords" of this and that, and correspond to the Thoth minors.

Cerulean	27 Apr 2004
Tarocchi dell'Alba Dorata (Incantati) listed on both alidastore.com and Trigamo.com might be based on the first 78 card, 1995 version issued in Italian --- I found a vendor called Purcifals Toys in the U.S. that stock both the Italian and English version. I asked for the Italian version and it should come within this week, if all goes well. The instructions in Italian and maybe a darker coloring that sometimes comes in different versions or editions of Lo Scarabeo's decks...I'm thinking of the Trevisan Renaissance deck in particular...might make a difference. What I'm hoping is not only this a spare deck, but it has the 1995 minors with the same court cards. I want it not to have lots of the cartoons inserted in the 2001 version's number cards. I don't mind them, but I'd prefer a deck with the majors and courts and Gaudenzi's 1995 pips. It would be unsual for me to have the same deck by the same maker with different minors--and if this is so, then I'll report back. Because if it is what I hope it is, the cards can be used for a kind of divination and it would really go with a storyline I am creating for a Jekyll and Hyde style deck! The deck isn't really wicked, just otherworldly and very mischevious...The plainer pips would be a Dr. Jekyll version... Cerulean Mari

Cerulean	27 Apr 2004
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2025&highlight=golden+dawn+lo+scarabeo DolphinGirl actually posted about this in 2002 (Blessed Curious Artist!)...and if it has the brown backs and is Italian, the pips are different than the multicolored backs and English version...now I'm very happy and may order another from alidastore.com...that is, if my Italian one is what I hope it is and things aren't switched anymore. Cerulean Mari P.S. It's funny history in names and design changes does make it a candidate for a Jekyll and Hyde type story. Talk about mysterious identities! Also, the Chariot in the brown backed version is different than the 2002 version. I wish they had changed Justice as well. Here's the old version picture for the Chariot, which I like better: http://www.gambler.ru/sukhty/decks05/d02382/d0238207.jpg

firemaiden	28 Apr 2004
Yes, I agree the old version of the Chariot is much much better. What don't you like about Justice? Was there ever another justice? (doesn't it remind you of Gulliver's Travels?)

Cerulean	28 Apr 2004
I see that the stately Justice was always that giant woman, not an easily hidden folk unless our local redwoods and mountains are hiding her. The small costume effects look a bit like a burlesque performer, perhaps a fantastic circus or a 'rock-an'-roll' wannabee of decades past and depending on the fashion, sometimes now. I don't mind statuesque or stately examples, I think she's quite wonderful in stance and air. My own preference would have been to catch her at moment there was also a grander sweep of delicate cloth of bygone eras to heighten her beauty. But here's my aunti-ness talking, because I also like the old pips better--in my case, because they would frame my new attempts with this deck. I was very impressed at the beautiful old Chariot card--the newer 2001 one is impish and fine, but the old one has that Dulac-style air to me that combines the fineness of Gaudenzi's painting with brilliant colors. I'll let you all know for certain about the brown-backed deck. My one regret is the multiple colors of the 2001 back isn't available in the Italian version that I ordered. C.Mari

firemaiden	28 Apr 2004
I want that beautiful old Chariot card! it is much more beautiful. I'm thinking of writing lo Scarabeo to find out how I can just get that one card. (I don't like the new one, tis not consistant with the mood of the other cards). Why oh why did they change that one card?? Bye the way, my deck, since I bought it in Germany is called the "Elfenzauber Tarot" = the Elf-magic tarot. LOL.

Le_Corsair	28 Apr 2004
I looked for the Tarot of the Hidden Folk. I couldn't find it. :joke: Bob :THERM

13thFaeChylde	28 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden I want that beautiful old Chariot card! it is much more beautiful. I'm thinking of writing lo Scarabeo to find out how I can just get that one card. (I don't like the new one, tis not consistant with the mood of the other cards). Why oh why did they change that one card?? Bye the way, my deck, since I bought it in Germany is called the "Elfenzauber Tarot" = the Elf-magic tarot. LOL. I'm with you....I want the old Chariot as well.

Cerulean	28 Apr 2004
Hidden Folk for the U.S: http://www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/book.php?pn=J056 http://www.learntarot.com/ecdesc.htm http://www.astroamerica.com/t-ench2.html http://www.tarotgarden.com/boutique/onlinecatalog.php?view_title=i+Tarocchi+dell'Alba+Dorata&pageenter=0 Italian version: Under the old Italian name, Alba Dorata (Incanti): http://www.purcifuls-toys.com/aldorgoldawt.html Also alidastore.com and trigamo.com if you need other listings.

Jewel	30 Apr 2004
I have the 2000 version callled The Enchanted Tarot, it also has the newer chariot. I do like the older version better as well.

Cerulean	30 Apr 2004
they replied to my email very nicely and gave me shipping options, and since they were the only ones who stocked it in North America as far as I know...I took two Alba Doratos. And I may even get it this weekend using a somewhat higher cost mail service... Which works for my class assignments, as we are halfway through... Cerulean Mari

punchinella	01 May 2004
Cerulean, I too am looking for the unillustrated minors & uncolored backs . . . I wonder whether the Italian version at purcifuls really is that? --When you get yours will you let us know? (thanks :) --Punch)

Savoyali	01 May 2004
The majors-only art edition that alidastore sells (Tarocchi dell'Alba Dorata (Arte)) has the old version of the Chariot as pictured in Cerulean's link. I got these as a gift and love them, never even occurred to me to see if there's a full deck :|

Cerulean	01 May 2004
In the style of, but not quite a fable for a short story practice. I used ten cards from the Hidden Folk, using the online scans: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25688 I didn't say to the other online students that I'm using a tarot deck, I said fairy tale illustrations inspired me. I'm not able to always do such writing from other artist's work, so I'm happy to have something for class. I also found for such things, it helped to have a general background on the deck, but not a deck with a strict storyline. I have a very vague sense if I need to go deeper, I could rely on some general Thoth descriptions (Princess of the Rushing Winds) for a stronger character study. By the way, the concept of my tarot deck becoming also a talkative character is developing in my story concepts...and I'm checking on my past deck collage experiments of I've done to see how my 'choice' of card allegory and the Hidden Folk/Thoth would mesh or bump noses... Cerulean Mari H.

Cerulean	01 May 2004
1. Chariot is old Chariot, the beautiful multicolor one. 2. Light brown outline of backs are delicate and etched 3. Court cards have a delicate color outline around the frame that correspond to the backs of the minors. The chalices have the aqua green, the swords are a light blue, there's apricot-orange for the wands and a mustard gold for the pentacles. 4. Size is a quarter inch narrower and one-eighth inch shorter. 5. The older multilingual cards with traditional divinatory meanings in different languages is included, but not the new English language instructions that you find in the Hidden Folk. Let me know if there other questions. I'm happy now... Sincerely, Cerulean Mari

punchinella	01 May 2004
Ah, so it is the older version. Thank you! P. (P.S. Your writing project sounds like fun :) )

The Tarot of the Hidden Folk ? thread was originally posted on 06 Apr 2004 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.