Ruminations on the Trumps of the Sola Busca
Posted: 18 Jul 2021, 14:00
Hello All!
I am a newcomer to the Tarot, but like so many others, I am intrigued by the Sola Busca Tarrochi. From what I can see through my (limited) research to date, many(?) people try to apply either the MdT or RWS trump card attributes to those of the SB, but I think that this can lead to people barking up the wrong tree. The SB has a system all of its own, just as the systems of the MdT, the RWS, and the Thoth are all different – though of course, these three are still all very linked!
In my own journey into tarot, I have been very taken by the idea of the Fool’s, or Hero’s journey, and I can see how the standard tarot deck trumps can be divided either into three or two sets of cards, representing the Fool/Hero journeying from the material world to one that is spiritual/enlightened. Now, I have read Peter Mark Adams’ Game of Saturn, and although he claims that the deck is some kind of assault sorcery grimoire, I believe that he really hasn’t proved that point; and although people might argue about this, I’d like to set this aside for now.
To me, the best part of Adams’ book is the fact that he gives us meanings for the cards based on the ideas of what was, in the Renaissance, a sub-culture of neo-pagans and this must be the starting point for appreciating the cards. Standard tarot decks are, when you boil it down, based on a medieval Christian mind set, with obvious Christian iconography. The SB has absolutely nothing to do with this. It represents an utterly different world and spirit view.
With this in mind, and with no attempt at matching the SB trumps with those of any standard tarot deck, and taking into account and using Peter Mark Adams’ card interpretations as a deliberate starting point, I have devised the following keyword list for the SB trumps (nb: a familiarity with the Game of Saturn will make clear where I’m coming from in most instances, well.., I’d like to think so!?).
Whenever possible, I have tried to limit my keywords to single, essential descriptors, (as are usually written at the bottom of standard trumps) but that’s not always possible. Anyway, these descriptive, single word ‘essences’, are for me, interpretive starting points (and from them, as to be expected, further interpretations can/must be made which would be unique to each card reader). Now, as a neophyte here, I might be seen as trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, so please bear with me.., here goes!
The Trumps -
0 Mato: ‘The Fool’ (But no ordinary fool. I see this character as ‘otherworldly’, as a link between our world and the spirit world. Also, being in league with the crow/raven on his arm, perhaps he is playing the tune that we, mere mortals, are dancing to?)
I Panfilio: ‘The Seeker’ (I see this card as representing the ‘hero’ on his journey towards card XXI.)
II Postumio: ‘Incarnation’ (This is based on the Neo-Platonic notion of reincarnation. It is birth after death.)
III Lenpio: ‘Invocation’ (I think this card speaks for itself.)
IIII Mario: ‘Mars’ (This card could represent the attributes of either the God or planet Mars, or both.)
V Catula: ‘Saturn’ (Or Kronos, or Ammon, or ‘Time’. Again, this card can represent the attributes of the God or planet Saturn, and the gods Kronos and Ammon, in all their aspects.)
VI Sesto: ‘Mercury’ (Again, the attributes of the God or planet Mercury can be a starting point for interpreting this card.)
VII Deo Tauro: ‘The Chariot’ (Or Taurus the bull. Again, the mythology of Taurus can be used as a starting point in interpretation.)
VIII Nerone: ‘Sacrifice’ (To many this is a disturbing card, but it is what the idea of ‘sacrifice’ means that should be the guide here, as well as what a ‘sacrifice’ meant to the ancients.)
VIIII Falco: ‘The Supplicant’ (A spiritual celebrant, seeking something higher.)
X Venturio: ‘The Usher’ (Venturio can mean ‘fortuna’, the changing fortunes of the ‘wheel of fortune’. To me, it represents a change in the trumps, from those dealing with the world of ‘incarnation’ - the material and personal world, and moving on to an outer, cosmic and spiritual world. Also, if Venturio is spelt as ‘Venturo’, it means ‘next’. Venturio leads the hero into the second stage of his journey.)
XI Tulio: ‘Excarnation’ (This is the beginning of the journey out of the material world and toward ‘enlightenment’.)
XII Carbone: ‘Drawing Down the Moon’ (This is the first card in an attempt at starting to become one with ‘the deity’.)
XIII Catone: ‘Perseus’ (Adams interprets this as Perseus with the head of the slain Gorgon at his feet. This could very well be equal to the Death card.)
XIIII Bocho: ‘Penitence’ (The historical Bocho was a betrayer. He is in agony in this card, so I see him as full of repentant sorrow for his deeds. To be penitent is to be humble.)
XV Metelo: ‘Hekate’s Top’ (A magician invoking Hekate. Her so-called ‘top’ is on the pillar. Again, it’s the symbolism and the mythology of Hekate that could be the interpretive starting point here.)
XVI Olivo: ‘Basilisk’ (The basilisk is crucial in alchemy. It is how it is involved in alchemical/spiritual change that probably matters here.)
XVII Ipeo: ‘Possession’ (Here, the magician is getting close to actualisation with the deity. He is starting to be transformed.)
XVIII Lentula: ‘Saturnalia’ (This could be a Roman priest celebrating Saturnalia, a period when the world is turned upside down. Through the magical rituals displayed in this deck, perhaps the material and spiritual worlds are also reversing. There is spiritual change afoot!)
XVIIII Sabino: ‘Epiphany’ (This chap has seen the light, he has petitioned the deity, his world has changed, and he’s on the road to enlightenment.)
XX Nenbroto: ‘The Tower’ (The result of an epiphany, is the destruction of one’s previous beliefs and the things that might have supported one’s world/spiritual view. Here, that is shown by the destruction of the tower, and this must take place before the final card which will represent enlightenment.
XI Nabuchodenasor: ‘The World’ (Or enlightenment. As with all of these cards, there is a great deal of symbolism here, but for now, I’d just like to leave it here with this being the summation card, as ‘The World’ usually is in a Tarot deck.
I hope that all of this is relatively clear, though I’ve aimed to be as succinct as possible. These interpretations are derived from the Game of Saturn, but I don’t think the deck is as malefic as Adams states.
All best for now,
Sal
I am a newcomer to the Tarot, but like so many others, I am intrigued by the Sola Busca Tarrochi. From what I can see through my (limited) research to date, many(?) people try to apply either the MdT or RWS trump card attributes to those of the SB, but I think that this can lead to people barking up the wrong tree. The SB has a system all of its own, just as the systems of the MdT, the RWS, and the Thoth are all different – though of course, these three are still all very linked!
In my own journey into tarot, I have been very taken by the idea of the Fool’s, or Hero’s journey, and I can see how the standard tarot deck trumps can be divided either into three or two sets of cards, representing the Fool/Hero journeying from the material world to one that is spiritual/enlightened. Now, I have read Peter Mark Adams’ Game of Saturn, and although he claims that the deck is some kind of assault sorcery grimoire, I believe that he really hasn’t proved that point; and although people might argue about this, I’d like to set this aside for now.
To me, the best part of Adams’ book is the fact that he gives us meanings for the cards based on the ideas of what was, in the Renaissance, a sub-culture of neo-pagans and this must be the starting point for appreciating the cards. Standard tarot decks are, when you boil it down, based on a medieval Christian mind set, with obvious Christian iconography. The SB has absolutely nothing to do with this. It represents an utterly different world and spirit view.
With this in mind, and with no attempt at matching the SB trumps with those of any standard tarot deck, and taking into account and using Peter Mark Adams’ card interpretations as a deliberate starting point, I have devised the following keyword list for the SB trumps (nb: a familiarity with the Game of Saturn will make clear where I’m coming from in most instances, well.., I’d like to think so!?).
Whenever possible, I have tried to limit my keywords to single, essential descriptors, (as are usually written at the bottom of standard trumps) but that’s not always possible. Anyway, these descriptive, single word ‘essences’, are for me, interpretive starting points (and from them, as to be expected, further interpretations can/must be made which would be unique to each card reader). Now, as a neophyte here, I might be seen as trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, so please bear with me.., here goes!
The Trumps -
0 Mato: ‘The Fool’ (But no ordinary fool. I see this character as ‘otherworldly’, as a link between our world and the spirit world. Also, being in league with the crow/raven on his arm, perhaps he is playing the tune that we, mere mortals, are dancing to?)
I Panfilio: ‘The Seeker’ (I see this card as representing the ‘hero’ on his journey towards card XXI.)
II Postumio: ‘Incarnation’ (This is based on the Neo-Platonic notion of reincarnation. It is birth after death.)
III Lenpio: ‘Invocation’ (I think this card speaks for itself.)
IIII Mario: ‘Mars’ (This card could represent the attributes of either the God or planet Mars, or both.)
V Catula: ‘Saturn’ (Or Kronos, or Ammon, or ‘Time’. Again, this card can represent the attributes of the God or planet Saturn, and the gods Kronos and Ammon, in all their aspects.)
VI Sesto: ‘Mercury’ (Again, the attributes of the God or planet Mercury can be a starting point for interpreting this card.)
VII Deo Tauro: ‘The Chariot’ (Or Taurus the bull. Again, the mythology of Taurus can be used as a starting point in interpretation.)
VIII Nerone: ‘Sacrifice’ (To many this is a disturbing card, but it is what the idea of ‘sacrifice’ means that should be the guide here, as well as what a ‘sacrifice’ meant to the ancients.)
VIIII Falco: ‘The Supplicant’ (A spiritual celebrant, seeking something higher.)
X Venturio: ‘The Usher’ (Venturio can mean ‘fortuna’, the changing fortunes of the ‘wheel of fortune’. To me, it represents a change in the trumps, from those dealing with the world of ‘incarnation’ - the material and personal world, and moving on to an outer, cosmic and spiritual world. Also, if Venturio is spelt as ‘Venturo’, it means ‘next’. Venturio leads the hero into the second stage of his journey.)
XI Tulio: ‘Excarnation’ (This is the beginning of the journey out of the material world and toward ‘enlightenment’.)
XII Carbone: ‘Drawing Down the Moon’ (This is the first card in an attempt at starting to become one with ‘the deity’.)
XIII Catone: ‘Perseus’ (Adams interprets this as Perseus with the head of the slain Gorgon at his feet. This could very well be equal to the Death card.)
XIIII Bocho: ‘Penitence’ (The historical Bocho was a betrayer. He is in agony in this card, so I see him as full of repentant sorrow for his deeds. To be penitent is to be humble.)
XV Metelo: ‘Hekate’s Top’ (A magician invoking Hekate. Her so-called ‘top’ is on the pillar. Again, it’s the symbolism and the mythology of Hekate that could be the interpretive starting point here.)
XVI Olivo: ‘Basilisk’ (The basilisk is crucial in alchemy. It is how it is involved in alchemical/spiritual change that probably matters here.)
XVII Ipeo: ‘Possession’ (Here, the magician is getting close to actualisation with the deity. He is starting to be transformed.)
XVIII Lentula: ‘Saturnalia’ (This could be a Roman priest celebrating Saturnalia, a period when the world is turned upside down. Through the magical rituals displayed in this deck, perhaps the material and spiritual worlds are also reversing. There is spiritual change afoot!)
XVIIII Sabino: ‘Epiphany’ (This chap has seen the light, he has petitioned the deity, his world has changed, and he’s on the road to enlightenment.)
XX Nenbroto: ‘The Tower’ (The result of an epiphany, is the destruction of one’s previous beliefs and the things that might have supported one’s world/spiritual view. Here, that is shown by the destruction of the tower, and this must take place before the final card which will represent enlightenment.
XI Nabuchodenasor: ‘The World’ (Or enlightenment. As with all of these cards, there is a great deal of symbolism here, but for now, I’d just like to leave it here with this being the summation card, as ‘The World’ usually is in a Tarot deck.
I hope that all of this is relatively clear, though I’ve aimed to be as succinct as possible. These interpretations are derived from the Game of Saturn, but I don’t think the deck is as malefic as Adams states.
All best for now,
Sal
!