The Future of Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 10 Aug 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Jeannette	10 Aug 2002
In light of some comments that I've observed on various threads over the past several weeks, I thought I might be bold and draw a little attention to an article that we recently posted on the Tarot Garden website. Here's the link: http://www.tarotgarden.com/library/articles/lsinterview.html The article is an interview recently granted to us by Riccardo Minetti, of Lo Scarabeo. There's only 11 questions -- I had about a hundred more I would have loved to ask him, but I didn't want to monopolize too much of his valuable time. In any case, his comments provide some interesting insights into Lo Scarabeo's products, and possibly even a glimpse at where tarot-as-a-whole might be headed, if Lo Scarabeo succeeds in its quest to be a guiding force in the market. A couple of specifics worth noting: • For those who've recently commented about LS's decks being a little too "cartoony-looking," you'll find some information about LS's background and larger product line. It may explain more about the comic-book feel of some of the LS decks. • In a brief revisit to the past discusion on "Non-Standard" Tarots, I think that Mr. Minetti makes some astute observations regarding the future development of tarot. His comments may be of interest to anyone who was following that thread. I expect that not everyone will agree with what he has to say, but I think his statements are worth reviewing nonetheless. Speaking from a personal standpoint, I've always been quite a fan of Lo Scarabeo's decks. I admire the fact that they're willing to take some risks and "push the envelope" of what tarot is and can be. I think that they have the potential to have a significant impact on the world of tarot over the coming years. Whether I'm right, or what that impact might be, however, remains to be seen. If you choose to visit the link and read the article, I hope you enjoy it! -- Jeannette The Tarot Garden http://www.tarotgarden.com

amyel	10 Aug 2002
Hey, Jeanette (and Lori)! I appreciate what he had to say about the Dante. I was going to quote it here, but decided against it (to encourage all the aeclectians to read through the inetrview themselves!). Mr. Minetti made some interesting comments. I also enjoyed reading more about Lo Scarbeo and what they do. Thanks for the link!

wetsheep1	10 Aug 2002
That was very, very interesting. And a couple of things he brought up are worth considerable further consideration. I think he's right to an extent about the idea about the difference between symbolism and "cards with pictures." There is a tendency for some of us, when we get started, to just want to know "what the meanings are." As much as I hate to say it, some of the "cute" decks (like Sailormoon, for example, or any of the Disney decks -- sorry, guys, but that's my truth) have everything to do with rote learning of what someone else accepts as what a card should mean and nothing to do with gaining one's own insight. So many of us just get a book and blindly accept that the meanings one person (or group) attributes to a card is what it ought to mean, regardless of any vibration we ourselves may be receiving from the image. It is the difference between rote learning and critical thought. Thanks for posting that, Jeannette/Lori :) Kewl article! :) -- k

MeeWah	10 Aug 2002
Jeanette: Thank you for drawing attention to a subject that I find of immense interest from a personal standpoint; also in consideration of the larger picture of what Tarot can offer: an infinite view of life & the world, especially of the changing world we live in. I own few of the Lo Scarabeo decks but I like some of the "comic-book" Tarot for the art & the themes. In general, I see that particular variety as reflective of a contemporary view, & in its way as timely representations of symbolism & the "modern" life. This is not critical of the more traditional or conventional treatment of symbols or possible meanings. Part of the beauty of Tarot is that it lends itself to so much by way of interpretation in deck art. All of its expressions serve to augment & to expand the understanding of the ancient wisdom Tarot ultimately represents.

the hermit	10 Aug 2002
I found the interview quite illuminating. Thanks to Jeannette for posting the link. Thought I do wish to see every one read the interview, I'd also like to make some comments about it. Hopefully they will inspire others to go and read it. For me, one of the most telling points Mr. Minette made was concerning his own view that some of the decks his company publishes are far better for meditation rather than reading. And I appreciated his desire that beginners be made aware of this. He's obviously not just concerned with the bottom line, but with his customers too. I also appreciated his awareness of the insulation that sometimes occurs between the company and the customers who actually use his decks. Also, as one of the traditionalist that he mentions I've always liked Lo Scarabeo decks for their wonderfully fasinating art work, and have at different times used their decks for meditation, but I've never cared to read with them (though I always try to work all new decks, as with anyone, some work better for me than others do). I am often amazed (and sometimes envious :) ) that so many are successful at using these wonderful decks in day to day readings. Another good point he made was concerning the dominance of the RW deck during the upsurge of Tarot awareness in the 20th century. He's absolutely correct in saying how difficult it will be for a "new-Rider Waite" deck to sweep the world of Tarot the way the original did. With so many decks out there already and the number of new decks published every year it will be an amazing feat for another deck to reach that dominating position. It's good to know that someone who can effect the world of Tarot immensely is so interested in making that effect a positive one. Thanks again to Jeannette for posting the link to this informative interview.

Liliana	11 Aug 2002
If he really wants to know what people think about those important new decks they are releasing next year, all he has to do is come here and watch us lamenting they arent coming sooner lol, especially that mermaid deck for a lot of people, me Im wanting the Vampire one, Ill have to make sure I can get the money for Fey when its released tho :) :THP

Momof6	11 Aug 2002
Jeanette, Thank you for posting that interview. It was really interesting for me to read, even as a new tarot enthusiast. (studying for less than a year) He had some thoughts to ponder about the RW decks. I do not own any of the Lo Scarabeo decks...yet, but will be looking out for the Fey deck to see if I like it. Thanks again, Momof6

catlin	12 Aug 2002
Hi Jeanette, Thanks a lot for posting this article. Ok, I am still pretty petty about LoScarabeo decks but at least the samples of the Tarot of the Origines caught my interest and I hope I will get it by the end of this week. Funny enough, I was a great reader of comic books as a kid but cartoon style in tarot still bothers me.

Laurel	12 Aug 2002
I thought that was a very interesting and thought-provoking article. I can see definately while Minetti would describe the R-W as an anchor slowing down evolution at this point and the difficulty of one deck would have in creating an esoteric revolution. There's too many people making tarot at this point, pushing the envelope in too many different ways. I don't see this as a bad thing, however. As a tarot card artist or company like Lo Scarabeo, however, I imagine it can be frustrating because no matter how "good" or "amazing" your product is, its in constant competition with hundreds of other decks, making the ability to profit from the production of a single tarot extremely difficult. Escaping the legacy of the Golden Dawn system of correspondences (which spawned the R-W's correspondences) is something that plagues a lot of modern occult writers. We have learned so much since then especially in areas like Egyptology and human psychology, but there's still a lot of resistence to making changes or accepting that "this way" is only "a way" and not "the Only Way". Laurel

Sullanciri2002	13 Aug 2002
it always seems both a plus and a minus when a very important "product" takes center-stage, and starts determining what the rest "should be" ... and we've seen enough examples of the RW's influence on this forum. I can't see any of the recent decks or theories breaking the whole issue open in such a way that we get a big "leap" (whether forward or backward) ... but I admit I've been thinking about one major avenue myself for some time. Tarot-decks are - per definition - made up of the majr arcana, and four suits representing the four elements. But we seems to be leaning - as a people - more and more towards a fifth element, which could shake up the entire concept. What the fifth suit/element should be .... well, some have said it's "life" itself, whereas others have gone towards a "void" concept, which would fit well into oriental ideas like Musashi's Five Rings (linked to Shinto-religion and BUddhism, and to their "way of the sword" imagery).

The The Future of Tarot thread was originally posted on 10 Aug 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.