Some decks are based on physical locations, and Tarocchi di Lisbona (Tarot of Lisbon) is one of them. This Tarot deck, created in 2007, features some of the stunning locations found in the city of Lisbon. Designed and painted by artist Morena Poltronieri (who happens to be a co-founder of Museo dei Tarocchi), Tarocchi di Lisbona express a vivid understanding of the symbolism of the Tarot. These cards are mainly created by collage and some of them incorporate elements of the Marseilles deck into the settings, especially in the backgrounds. Bear in mind that this is a Major Arcana deck, meaning only the 22 cards of the Major Arcana are included.
Only 100 of these decks were produced, all numbered and signed by the artist. This deck was originally offered in two sizes and were packaged in a book-style sleeve cover that was pleasantly attractive. A title card is included with an explanation of the settings and inspirations for Tarocchi di Lisbona, but this card is written in Italian. This deck is more designed for enthusiasts and collectors, but it can be incorporated into a standard Tarot deck if you so desire.
Connessione is the Italian for connection or the association of ideas. So the Tarocchi di Connessione could be called the Connection Tarot. This might imply a connection between the twenty-two cards of this deck (all Major Arcana), or it might imply a connection between the reader and the Tarot. Possibly (and maybe probably) both.
This deck, created by Jessica Angiulli, is surreal, beautiful, imaginative, and powerful all at once. The cards are numbered and titled in both Italian and English, but many of them have been renamed. If you're going to use these cards in a reading, you'll have to look closely as the symbolism of each card to determine which traditional Tarot card it correspondes to. Luckily, there is an accompanying leaflet, this one written in both English and Italian (though you usually have to request the English version when ordering), to help understand the deep symbolism of this Tarot deck.
Even though many of the cards are renamed, you can still probably guess at which traditional card each on correspondes to. For example, there is a card in Tarocchi di Connessione called Conscience. This card is similar to Judgment in the Rider-Waite deck. The familiar Chariot becomes Directions. Some cards are a little more obscure, such as Cultivating and Regenerating, but you can still see the Emperor and Empress in both these Tarot cards.
Tarocchi di Connessione strives to take the reader on an emotional journey through the connected images of the Major Arcana, but these cards are not really designed to be used in a traditional Tarot reading. Instead, this deck is meant for collectors, artists, and anyone using vivid imagery for meditation and contemplating. There were only five hundred copies of this deck produced, all numbered and signed by the artist, so there is a limited supply.
Published in 200, Tarocchi del Respiro (Tarot of Breath) is both dark and dreamy. The images were designed by artist Giovanni Monti and express a dark serenity. They're really a collage of images that appear to have little in common with each other. In deed, the cards might be said to have only one thing in common: the deeply evocative imagery of each and every card. The deck is accompanied by a leaflet, but this leaflet is written in Italian.
There are only 22 cards in this Tarot deck, all of them Trump cards. because of this, it's difficult to use these cards in a reading. Perhaps Tarocchi del Respiro is more useful as a focus during meditation. In my experience, these images are an effective way to pull forth your deepest hopes and fears, allowing you to full comprehend and deal with them. This deck is also inspiring and beautiful, attractive to collectors and enthusiasts alike.
There were only 500 copies of this deck produced, all numbered and signed by the artist. This deck may not be the most popular, but it certainly is one of the most surreal.
If you like food and minimalist artwork, Tarocchi da Pranzo (Lunch Tarot) might be for you. Designed and created by Barbieri Calori Martino, this Tarot deck was originally created by drizzling melted chocolate on crackers. There are only 22 cards in this deck, all of them Trump (Major Arcana) cards, so Tarocchi da Pranzo is really designed for collectors and enthusiasts of the Tarot.
Cards in this Tarot deck are numbered by untitled, so you'll have to have some familiarity with the traditional Rider-Waite deck to really understand the imagery and symbolism of these cards. The enclosed leaflet is written in Italian and the cards and leaflet come enclosed in a simple cardboard box. There were only 500 decks produced, all numbered and signed by the artist, so this deck is considered "limited edition" and can be difficult to get your hands on.
You can, if you like, incorporate these 22 cards into your own Tarot deck, but they're really not designed to be used in a reading. They are rather appetizing, however, and make an exciting addition to any Tarot collection.
