Friday, January 18, 2013

Tarot Decks: Tarocchi da Colazione (Breakfast Tarot)

Most Tarot decks are full of symbolism and imagery, but Tarocchi da Colazione (Breakfast Tarot) takes a minimalist approach to the Tarot. Created and illustrated by Barbieri Calori Martino, the original cards were made of pasta and the ink was melted chocolate (which explains why the designs are simple -- it's hard to draw with melted chocolate!). An appetizing deck, even if there are only 22 cards (those of the Major Arcana).

Because these cards are simplistic in nature, interpreting them can be difficult. A leaflet is included, but it's written in Italian. The best way to interpret these cards is by using the traditional interpretations associated with the Rider-Waite Tarot deck. The cards are numbered to assist, so it's not too difficult to figure out which card is which.

Though these cards can be used in a Tarot reading, they're really more designed for the collector or Tarot enthusiast. There were only 500 decks produced, each numbered and signed by the artist, so each deck is considered a collector's item.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Tarot Decks: Tarocchi alla corte di Merlino (Tarot of Merlin Cout)

A deck of myth and fantasy, Tarocchi alla corte di Merlino (Tarot of Merlin Court) was created and illustrated by Gloria Ricci. This is a Major Arcana Tarot deck, meaning that there are only 22 cards, all of them Trumps. If you enjoy fantasy, magick, mythology, and legends, you'll like this colorful deck. Though it focuses on Celtic legengs, you will also see designs inspired by great fantasy writers such as Dunsany and Tolkien.

Cards are titled in Italian, but they're also numbered according to standard Tarot organization (think the Rider-Waite deck), so you can figure out which card is which simply by comparing the numbers. Only 500 limited edition decks were produced, all of which were numbered and then signed by the artist. Tarocchi alla corte di Merlino was published by Museo Dei Tarocchi - Hermatena and is one of the most magickal decks produced, at least in regards to the images depicted.