The decks are very different, but I think they’ll work well together. When I obsessively collected these, I went all out on robots. I learned that I like robot design but not robot stories. The stories are all social commentary about what makes people human, or people, and they’re usually sad stories of prejudice and misunderstanding. I just like to look at metal people!
Another deck with a robot-like theme is the LS Tarot of Metamorphosis, which has the suit “Pentacles: The Posthumous Metamorphoses,” which shows various combinations of humans and technology (some reminiscent of Perdido Street Station, in which combining people’s bodies with steam-powered machines was used as punishment.) But I don’t think I’ll use that deck this week. Maybe another week.
Robo Tarot is a majors deck that has fun, colorful designs. It’s numbered in binary and labeled in a machine-readable font. It has three Fools. The backs feature a battery with + and – marked, making it non-reversible. So many fun details!
Tarocchi de Robot is more “serious,” but with what I would consider a few humorous touches, including robotic fish and other animals. The backs look like metal doors of a space ship. The little silver booklet (in Italian) was written by Giordano Berti. It has a history of tarot section, which I’m sure is great, if I could read Italian. However, I’m going to have to disagree with Berti on the assignment of the suits. Here are my assignments:
Laser = wands, fire. Although some of the lasers are shown being used as weapons/swords, I think the energy/fire of wands works better. (Plus, I think Luci works better for swords.)
Nulla = cups, water. This is an odd suit. The pictures are simply splashes of something progressing from top of the card to bottom, Ace to 10. I’m assuming it’s water, could be oil? It’s definitely not “nothing” though. This one’s going to take some work to read!
Luci = swords, air. These are small balls of light interacting with the robots. While they’re not like swords, they are light, as in understanding.
Scarabei = coins, earth. These are actual metallic beetles, shown with other robots. Besides being kind of coin-like (although more complex), the theme seems to be creation and reproduction. The scarabs are often coming out of other robots. So that works for me as a kind of earthy, robotic life.
(Berti’s assignments are: denari = luci; coppe = scarabei; spade = laser; bastoni = nulla.)
Who knew I had so much to say about robot tarots?
Let’s move on to the interviews!
I Tarocchi di Robot
Most important characteristic, Regina di Laser
The deck is beautiful and powerful, creative and starkly masculine at the same time. I’m not sure why we have to have metallic breasts, but these aren’t the only ones in the deck . . .
Strength, 3 di Scarabei
The strength of the deck is its physicality. Even though it’s obviously fantasy, it gives the impression of solidity to its fantasy.
Weakness, la Papessa
The deck doesn’t offer much in the way of spirituality. Maybe because robots aren’t spirit? The inspirational aspects have to come from the reader, not the art.
What you can teach me, 7 di Nulla
Tarot is more of an inkblot test than I usually think. Each card can mean many things, almost whatever I want. I have make my choice for suits, and they will work.
How can I learn it, 3 di Laser
By seeing it with my eyes, but also feeling it in my body. I need to allow my readings to move and change in concert with the cards and what I see at the time of reading.
Outcome of our work together, la Torre
Wow, that’s intense! Although this looks more like Atlas holding up the universe than a lightning-struck tower. I’m trying to build up a foundation of reading with this deck, but the foundation will just become a burden. I need to be more open and changing, as above.
Robo Tarot
Strength, Chariot
The cards tell a story, if you can follow along. The deck is going somewhere, taking us somewhere.
Weakness, Empress
The deck is not what I’d call beautiful. But I don’t think it’s really lacking in feminine touches. We’ll see on this one.
What can I learn from you, Death
All things come to an end, even robot tarots. The deck has a subtle (or not-so subtle?) emphasis on ecological issues. (Like the Chariot flying to the start to get more energy.)
Outcome of our work together, Magician
There’s nothing we can’t do. It’s clever and fun, but also a real tarot with something to say. It has all the magician’s stuff: cards, balls, saw, wand, birds and rabbits. And top hat. It comes fully equipped for what you want to use it for!
Stay tuned for more robots! Have a great week ahead!