The Medieval Scapini Tarot - Minor Arcana Suits

I will be quoting from the book by Ronald Decker, to show you how Scapini created, depicted, use of symbols, with in each card. Scapini in my point of view incorperated a large vast multitude of all historiacal aurthors and their each system. This deck is Mixed, which leave each reader any method of choice that he or she chooses to use. Yet Scapini was the magician, and artisticly crafted these different system into each card using symbols, therefore you need to study each symbol, to find the system your happy with. Then he crafted in ways of linking the cards to other cards through the symbols as well. possiably depicting the pathways on the tree of life. you will need to study kabbala - go to the forum and search index on kabbala for more information.

IE: The Queen of Swords. - I have already posted. but if you look closely to the symbols you will not only see that she is Air, but Fire, then Water, and earth. my method of dealing with this was to incorpated just the qualities to enhance this queen personality. But your method could be different.

To view the Queen of Swords go to the index.
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Minor Arcan Suits:

Art of Arcana - by Ronald Decker - Quote -

Ronald Decker said:

The Magicians altar was furnished with more than four items. The lamp, container of salt, incense, and various aromatic plants. All of these include the cup, disk, and blades, can be explained a talismans, for general protects with no specific reference to elements.

So wands, cups, swords, and disks certainly are found in a magical context yet their symbolism need not necessarily involve the elements. And when the elements are involved, their symbols need not necessarily be wand, cups,swords, and disks.

Click to expand...

here is a combination of Levi - was more interested in joining the suit signs to th the tetragrammation, rather that the elements. A.E Waite, De Gebelin's sources, papus and Etteilla. are all combined below.

please add if I have missed any thing. you input is valuable.

Basically you can do what ever elemental system you choose to with this deck or not, Scapini left that choice up to you.

Swords = Sylphs - cloud (supernatural intervention) Flames, Swords cross in mid air. (watery)Eagle - bifurcated rod or magic trident. Earth spirits with swords.

Wands = Salamanders - mountains - scepters - Lion

Cups = Undines (water creatures) - stand before an alchemical pool - (Airy)water carriers/bearer - cup of libations - Aquarius

Coins = Gnomes (bull) - vegetation, creatures, wall of fire - holy pentacles. and Air spirits with pentacles.

So my interpretation of an Elemental system is this:

Swords = Earth
Cups = Fire
Wands = Water
Coins = Air

What do you think of this suit assigment with the elements? sorry trying not to laugh...ok laughing lol.

In The Queen of Swords the Swan links her to Venus, then venus is linked to the empress, and the empress is linked to the earth.

here is a clue scapini gives you of this:
Hands = indicate characteristics and abilities of the person.
Hands - Holds Sword - Look at the symbol sword and Hilt (swan) 3 crests, and the 3 worlds at top of hilt.
- Rests hand on Raven head - Look at the symbol of the Raven.

or

Wands = earth
Swords = Water
Cups = Fire
Coins = Air