#scapini deck

(I’ll be honest, seeing those Aces all in a line gave me a start.)

So, I’m taking a closer look at my Scapini deck, and I thought that Tumblr might like to share in some of my thoughts, especially since there don’t really seem to be any interpretations of the cards written down much of anywhere. Of course, any further insight is always welcome.

So, one of the biggest challenges I find myself facing is trying to figure how much I should let myself be influenced by Ryder-Waite-Smith. Some of the cards are very similar, others share themes, while still others seem to run entirely counter to what I know. In the end, I think I’ll just let what comes, come.

Now, where to start. Of course, start at the beginning. So here are my insights (aided and abetted by my boyfriend) on The Fool.

The first thing that jumps out at me every time I look at this card is the little lion(?) Jumping at his leg. At first glance, this seems to be an aggressive action, but if you look closely at the creatures expression (sorry if the picture won’t zoom enough), it looks upset. This leads me to believe it’s trying to hold him back, perhaps from the crocodile hiding in the bottom right, just over the cliff.

As for The Fool himself, his clothes are ratty and ill-fitting, and he has no shoes or hat. To be completely honest, he looks like he’s homeless, and he doesn’t seem to be happy with where he is or what he’s doing. He looks like he’s about to cry. Over his shoulder, he carries with him nothing but what looks to me like a balloon. He has nothing with him but hot air and delusions (as in “hate to burst your bubble”). Furthermore, he seems determined to keep going forward, even though he’s not happy about it. He’s leaning forward, toward the unperceived(?) danger. His head is looking down in the general direction of the danger, but he doesn’t seem to be paying any attention to it.

So, as to how I would interpret this in a spread. First, and most obviously, this Fool seems to me to be significantly more foolish than his Ryder-Waite-Smith cousin, I would check to make sure no one is being thoughtless or rash. Also, I’d check to see if anyone was missing anything important (intentionally or otherwise). I would caution against any misconceptions or illusions about the situation. Next, maybe anyone warning you should be listened to, or at least given more weight. This card also seems to call into question the querent’s preparation. Finally, I see that the querent may be being pushed into something unpleasant, maybe a new project, or a relocation, or some kind of paperwork.

On a final note, I’m not entirely sure what to make of the flower between his legs. It’s still vibrantly coloured, so the droop seems natural. The only thing that comes to mind is impotence, and writing it down like that, actually, a homeless man has very little power. So then, this adds to that sense of being forced to do something, one way or the other.