I have this deck...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 Nov 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

AriesK	27 Nov 2004
Hi, I need help. I was giving the Scapini deck a few years ago, I suppose it was the second deck I was ever given, but the first was taken back by the person who gave it to me (I know, wierd, huh?). Anyway... this deck was given to me by the same person, at a time that I was really resonating with Tarot. This is the problem. The Scapini deck completely put me off of Tarot and now I want back in but seem to be blocked by that deck. I can't even touch the deck without it giving me the willies. Any thoughts? Scared, a little confused, and new here, AriesK

Rusty Neon	27 Nov 2004
I'm not personally enamoured with Scapini's artwork in that deck but I do like Scapini's concept behind the deck. The deck, although modern, spans the various tarot traditions rather than being inspired closely by the Golden Dawn tarot curriculum (e.g., as was Rider-Waite deck). The Scapini deck encompasses tarot concepts of pre-20th century tarot writers (e.g., Lévi, Etteilla, Wirth) as well as Golden Dawn. By the way, noted tarot historian Ronald Decker has just come out with a book called _Art and Arcana_ [u.s. games, 2004, $12.00 u.s.] which deals with Scapini's deck and gives capsule summaries of the tarot concepts of Lévi, Etteilla, Wirth, especially as same relate to Scapini's deck. The book is both a broad introduction to the subject of tarot history and occult tarot as well as to the deck. thread on the book: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=29481

fairyhedgehog	27 Nov 2004
Hi AriesK and welcome to the forums :) I would take a purely practical approach to the Scapini deck and trade it in for one you like better :) To use the trading forums you need to have 25 posts, but those could come quite quickly as you look around at all the decks that are available and ask people's advice about decks that you fancy. My belief is that although some decks can creep you out, it is only like being creeped out by a horror movie - there is no intrinsic power in the deck, only in us. But why struggle with a deck you hate, when there are plenty more decks out there that you will surely love :) Happy hunting!

Cerulean	27 Nov 2004
The link below shows many different decks, I believe you can locate any of them to buy... http://www.tarot.com/about-tarot/decks/browsedecks.php There's a feature that you can see all the cards in each of the named decks. If you glance at the Scapini in comparison, you can see he did a playful medievalistic style that reminds one also of cartoons, graphics and old icons. It took me awhile before I liked his art, which is full of his own humor and background knowledge in Italian history, culture, and iconographic sources. His Romeo and Juliet deck is a little easier for me to understand, as there's a storyline. He also was commissioned to restore a few cards for U.S. Games version of the very old Visconti (Pierpont Morgan). It sounds like his art is not your style or preference right now. You wrote in your profile that you liked the Celtic/Druid style, and on the tarot.com site, people have like suggested the Spiral (Celtic Spiral) as an alternative deck...and it can be a gift to yourself. There's many celtic decks out there...although I think the most beautiful so far that I've seen is the Druidcraft, you might really enjoy many of the other Celtic decks out there... Here's a great search feature in regards to Celtic decks.. Tarot and oracles: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/celtic.shtml Discussion threads and decks: http://www.aeclectic.net/cgi/search.cgi?Terms=celtic&x=0&y=0 Any that look good to you? I'm certain this list to start and a google search might yield a 'perfect' Celtic style for you...I'm curious what you end up choosing. Regards, Cerulean P.S. Kayne's Celtic Tarot is not published yet, and the Greenwood is out of print, hard to find. But I think we can all help volunteer opinions if you suggest any other titles and ask questions.

AriesK	27 Nov 2004
I don't know that it is necessarily the art that is a turn off. My mother and I are both artists and I have a pretty vast tolerence to all kinds of styles. The reason that I say I don't really know is because I can hardly bring myself to even look at them let alone take them out of the box. Is it possible that this deck has some sort of aura? If it did, I would almost have to define it as malicious. I just don't know... but you are right when you said the Druidcraft is beautiful... I find myself very drawn to it even though I havn't seen it in real life!! I feel drawn to alot of things Druid or Celtic inspired. Ancient religions in general really interest me, but the Druid/ Celtic seems to be the most "comfortable". K

Cerulean	27 Nov 2004
and that's fine. If you are relunctant and don't like to touch it, then go ahead and get rid of the deck. Whatever you feel about the deck, if it is not a good match, it sounds like you are ready to move on to a different deck. My own feeling if one want to learn the tarot and doesn't like the images of a deck for any reason, it won't be fun or friendly, and I really would like to think that tarot is a friendly visual tool. If you decide tarot is not for you, perhaps one or two of the Celtic style oracle decks might be what you like--there's a few Celtic animal decks that are beautiful and easy to learn and you don't feel a sense of pressure. I suggested the online scans because it doesn't have the aura of 'cards' or 'tools' and you don't feel the pressure to do anything but check out the art and see if it's the images that just don't gel with you. Best wishes in whatever you decide. Hope you enjoy the thoughts and discussions here. Cerulean P.S. I have a six-year-old Medieval Scapini and somehow the printing colors are a little off--I bought a 2004 edition and the inks seem to be a prettier, brighter version. Still, in terms of the M.S., I don't like some of the shrimp-pink-skinned figures or the distorted pose with a Romeo/Juliet type couple in one of the cards--when I compare it to the Romeo and Juliet tarocco, I found I liked Scapini's art in the Dal Negro publication much better. The Art and Arcana book has helped me enjoy the deck better, but it's not a favorite for the images.

Apollonia	27 Nov 2004
Hi, AriesK! Welcome! I purchased this deck prior to my first formal Tarot class. I didn't look at the whole deck, just the pretty picture on the front of the box. What a mistake! The art creeped me out from the get-go! I quickly went out and purchased a Morgan-Greer to replace it, and I never looked back. I took it to class one time and another woman said she thought it seemed lighthearted and humorous, and I gave it to her on the spot! I was very glad to get rid of it. Nearly all the people looked ill and/or malevolent to me (man, did the people on the Morgran-Greer look robustly healthy after that deck!). Blessings, Amanda

HearthCricket	27 Nov 2004
I also do not like the illustrations on the Medieval Scapini, but I get amazingly accurate readings from it. And because of it, it creeps me out some, too. But I am keeping it, for my collection, and to used once in a while. But it will be in the back of my cabinet, whilst my favourites are in front, on top of, all around it! I also find that a deck that doesn't work for me one year might become a favourite 3 or 5 years down the road, and 15 years later you may wish you had kept it! Think on it, a bit, or trade, maybe for something fun and gorgeous, like the Golden or Gilded!

lark	27 Nov 2004
If I'm understanding you right it's not really the art of the deck you don't like but the "feeling" the deck gives you. Is it because the person who gave you the deck is no longer around, and you have some bad memories of this relationship that seem attached to the deck? If that is the case please don't hesitate to find and buy for yourself a deck that you can connect with. Trade the deck or put it away, time heals old wounds, and in time you might look at the deck differently. The book Rusty Neon recommended is wonderful and really helped me appreciate the Medieval Scapini. But it sounds like you need a new deck. I'm awaiting my copy of the Druidcraft with baited breath. Good luck with your search. And let us know what you chose.

AriesK	28 Nov 2004
lark wrote: If I'm understanding you right it's not really the art of the deck you don't like but the "feeling" the deck gives you. Is it because the person who gave you the deck is no longer around, and you have some bad memories of this relationship that seem attached to the deck? Lark, That is exactly the case. The person who gave me the deck is also the one who began teaching me. But we had a rift a few years ago that is irreperable. As you can tell by my username, I am an Aries and there was a betrayal of trust. If I knew where she was today I would just give her back the deck, but I don't. So perhaps that is why I feel the deck is "tainted." I need to look some more and hopefully will find something that suits me. I have scanned over the Druidcraft deck on this site and am really engaged with it so perhaps I'll go that route, but considering the Scapini "experience" I'd rather put my hands on a deck before I went and bought it. I did start out on the RWS, so perhaps I'll get that deck to renew my relationship with tarot and buy the Druidcraft once it is available in the US. I'll figure something out... Thanks, K

The I have this deck... thread was originally posted on 27 Nov 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.