The “Instructions for Divination” are on cards with page numbers in Italian, German, English, French, and Spanish. The suggested spread is past, present, and future from only one suit, the one that matches the subject of the question, and then past, present, and future to pair with them from the majors. Interesting. I might give it a try!
I was looking in my collection for a deck that I hadn’t used as a deck of the week that would be somewhat close in date to 1776, since today is the Fourth of July. Circa 1780 will have to do. Not that I think members of the Continental Congress were whiling the time away playing tarocchi! Although they may have been playing with French-suited playing cards. I think I have an historic repro playing card deck around here somewhere. I’ll have to dig it up. Maybe someone did a reading on the effect of the Declaration of Independence at the time. You never know!
Ok, enough! Wash, shuffle, and interview time!
Most important characteristic: Cheval de Spe
I’m kind of surprised that this deck is very intellectual. Air of air. Its rusticity made me think otherwise. It is a Gemini-like deck: it is intellectual, but perhaps in a superficial way. It wants to talk about everything!
Strength: Le Fol
The deck is good at going off the beaten track. It embraces difference and new beginnings.
Weakness: La Temperance
It’s not as good at giving a balanced picture of things. Don’t ask if you don’t want to know!
What deck can teach me: VIIII Bastons
This is oddly specific, but it can teach me how to defend the truth and what I believe in. (Combination of 9 Wands and Knight of Swords).
How I can learn it: V Coupes
By accepting that defending the truth can sometimes lead to hurt feelings and painful disagreements. But you have to decide what’s more important.
Outcome of our work together: V Bastons
Conflict and competition are inevitable. I need to remember it’s about the truth and ideals, not about winning.
Well, that was unexpected. Let’s see if the deck lives up to this let’s just say interesting interview.
Fourth of July reading: What’s going to happen to my country? Is there going to be permanent damage from all these lies and conspiracy theories and power grabs? Using the deck’s recommended spread, I chose batons to be the suit of government.
Past: X Bastons, Le Pape
The power of authority, having the a-holes actually in office, was overwhelming to many of us. There was oppression, and then a riot. All caused by those still in authority.
Present: Cheval de Bastons, La Papesse
Now we have someone in office who wants to move on, from the pandemic and the a-holery. He doesn’t care about being in power except that he can use the power to help people and try to get things back to some kind of normal. The contrast between the Pope and Popess is important: Rule of authority through regular channels of power, and rule of “common” sense that isn’t so common, that is, respect, inclusion, and using the government to help instead of hurt people. Those of us who know the difference between right and wrong know what should be done. Those that don’t follow strong-appearing leaders for apparent protection. Fascism at its best.
Future: II Bastons, Le Empereur
Ack! I don’t know what these mean! The Emperor might be somewhere in the middle of the Pope and Popess? Not blindly following authority, but not quite achieving common-sense helpful policies? So a compromise, democratic government? But 2 batons: We’ll go back to an adversarial but functional two-party system? So basically governmental gridlock, which is better than the alternative. I was worried it meant a deeper schism into two powers, civil war-style, but the Emperor obviates that. People will accept a gridlocked government instead of trying to start their own. I hope that’s what it means! Not great, but again better than the alternative.
Well, I’m having some far out reading today. I don’t know if I should quit while I’m ahead or not!
By the way, I found my 1770s playing cards repro deck. I got it at Colonial Williamsburg. You can’t see it very well in the photo, but the paper wrapper has an embossed tax stamp. All items made of paper imported from England to its American colonies, including playing cards and books, were taxed very heavily under the Stamp Act. This, along with the tax on tea, was the “taxation without representation” that triggered the American middle-class revolution.