About the Author

Lo Scarabeo's Tarot decks have been acclaimed all over the world for originality and quality. With the best Italian and international artists, each Lo Scarabeo deck is an exceptional artistic value.

Commited to developing innovative new decks while preserving the rich tradition of Tarot, Lo Scarabeo continues to be a favorite among collectors and readers.

Llewellyn is the exclusive distributor of Lo Scarabeo products in North America.

Reviews

Every day people use different tools to predict the future. For example, your weather reporter uses data he or she has collected combined with various computer models to tell you what the weather is likely to be tomorrow. Other people use newspapers or collections of data such as sales receipts. Still others read omens in nature; for them, birds, clouds, or the unexpected appearance of a wild animal give clues about the future. And some use pieces of paper printed with pictures. At present, Tarot decks are, by far, the most popular for this use. However it was not always so. Before the Tarot was widely used for fortune telling, people used Sibilla decks, gypsy cards, and Lenormand cards to divine their future. There are many different versions of these oracle decks. This particular deck, the Gypsy Oracle Cards, has fifty-two cards, but they are not at all structured like a deck of playing cards. Each card shows a picture that illustrates the card title. For example, the "Doctor" cards shows a young woman sitting in an armchair in a parlor. Before her stands an older man putting a reassuring hand on her arm. They are simple images and names meant to convey common aspects of every day life. The images on this deck are more realistic than in other oracle decks. The included Little White Booklet tells a charming story about a Gypsy woman and her cards, and about how this deck came to be widely available. It also explains the precise and comprehensive method of shuffling to be used with this deck. The last part of the booklet text tells you how to perform a reading and presents a spread to be used with the cards. The instructions are very personal, encouraging you to base your interpretations on the feelings and intuitions evoked by the images and the guidance suggested by the card's title. This perfectly fits the clear images on the cards. The art on these cards is the sort that really does invite one to a "bygone era" and has a Kate Greenaway feel to it. You're going to love the feeling that comes to you when you read with these cards. Many people use their Tarot cards for deeper readings. Also, some find the Tarot to be too ambiguous for predictive readings. This deck can be used for down-to-earth, practical, and predictive readings. It presents fairly clear pictures of what was, what is, and what is to come. In addition, it provides advice that is clear and easy to apply. You're going to find that the readings you give with this deck--for yourself or others--are delightfully refreshing and clear. Almost scary clear, really. And good. They'll help you get all the information you need to hear and heed.