This week, I’ll be using the Lo Scarabeo bling version, which was my go-to deck for a long time. (You’ll see the black borders didn’t hold up well to lots of shuffling, but the gold foil is still perfect!) The foil will make photos difficult, but I’ll try!
(In another week, I’ll try the huge, original sized US Games Cary-Yale photo repro, probably without the replacement majors but with the replacement minors. It’s an interesting deck because no one knows exactly which majors it originally included, and it has male and female knights and male and female pages for each suit.)
The LS deck has replacement Devil and Tower cards. Interestingly, there are two versions of a replacement Devil in various LS versions.
Enough collection geeking. On to the interview!
Deck’s most important characteristic: 10 Cups
It just makes me happy! I want to share its beauty and simplicity with everyone!
Deck’s strength: Queen of Swords
It’s a good teacher, especially of pips reading. It’s stripped down but authentic and refined.
Deck’s weakness: Temperance
The deck is an interesting combination of historic deck with an almost too pretty aesthetic. I think some readers prefer the roughness and “primitiveness” of woodblock decks. It’s kind of a paradox. It’s earlier than other historic decks, but it’s much more refined.
What it can teach me: 9 Cups
Same as above. This is the “little temperance card.” It’s also the wish card. It can teach me what to wish for, not too much, not too little.
How can I learn it? 5 Swords
Use this deck to overcome feelings of confusion and fuzziness and to figure out what it is that I really want.
Outcome of our work together: Hermit
I’m one of the few people who reads with the Visconti, but that’s ok. It makes me feel smart and special!
I look forward to sharing more of the Visconti with you this Thanksgiving week. See you soon!
