Tarot of the New Vision

~*~ This deck is suitable for any question you wish to ask of the Tarot. ~*~

Deck by Pietro Alligo.  Artwork by Raul and Gianluca Cestaro (twin brothers)

© 2003 Lo Scarabeo

The Tarot of the New Vision bears a strong resemblance to the traditional Rider Waite Tarot, but this deck puts a new spin on tradition with card images that show scenes and figures from the back instead of the front.  It's an interesting perspective that takes you "behind the scenes" of each card and allows for expanded meanings and insight -- perhaps some new ideas and views not previously thought about.

The idea for this deck was to rotate the standard Rider Waite deck 180 degrees.  So instead of peering into the images from the front, you get a glimpse from the back side to go "behind the scenes" with a new perspective.  Some will argue that this rotation changes the meanings of the cards, but I disagree.  I see it more as taking a view from backstage to observe what is going on.  The meanings don't have to change, but certainly they can be enhanced with new insight, especially with some new elements included that we would not find in the traditional Rider Waite.

If you've ever wondered what or who the Magician was looking at, you'll find in this deck that he has an audience.  I like this presentation, because I've always felt that the Magician did indeed have an audience of onlookers.  What I never imagined with this card was a monkey behind the Magician that you'll see in this card (see the above image of the Magician).

I think some of the added elements to this set of cards do a good job in conveying reversed meanings.  For example, in the card of the Chariot, you find something you don't see in the traditional Rider Waite --  a man and a woman who are chained to the chariot and follow even though they don't appear to want to.  This opens up new meaning for me in the Reversed Chariot:  following in a direction that you feel chained to -- perhaps because of the expectations of others.  One might not be following the path they really want to follow.  Certainly there are situations and people that one can feel tied to . . . which leads one to feel like a prisoner when he or she does not follow their true path.  For me, this feels like a fitting interpretation for the Reversed Chariot card.

In the Magician card, we see a monkey behind the Magician.  This could represent the reversed side of the Magician -- the trickster.  Monkeys seem cute and can easily lure one to favor them . . . but when considering the reversal of this card, we know that a "con artist" can be involved.  These are just some of my thoughts on how Tarot of the New Vision opens up a new realm to consider when interpreting the cards.

More people, new objects, and different landscapes are revealed in this deck.  Some of the cards do not portray a drastic change when viewed in the 180 degree turn, but others do.  There is a variation in the traditional suit name of Cups.  In Tarot of the New Vision, this suit is called Chalices.  Additionally, the traditional court name of the Page has been changed to Knave.  Otherwise, all other titles remain the same in this deck.

If you look at the 6 of Cups (pictured above), you see an elderly couple looking down at the younger people in the card -- not something you find in the traditional Rider Waite system.  I really like this presentation, because it shows the idea of memories, nostalgia, and "looking back" which are important meanings within the Six of Cups.  I see this older couple reminiscing about their earlier days together during a time of courtship and new love.

The instruction booklet included with this deck is quite vague and does not offer reversed meanings for the cards, although some of the keywords that are noted would more aptly apply to a reversal.

While this deck is very much like the traditional Rider Waite deck, it's also very different, but certainly offers an interesting perspective with more to think about.  Anyone new to the Tarot could find value in this deck by working with it alongside the traditional Rider Waite.  In fact, Tarot of the New Vision is intended to serve as a complement to the Rider Waite deck.  It can be used on its own by the experienced reader who has a familiarity with the Rider Waite deck.

If you like the Rider Waite Tarot, then Tarot of the New Vision is a worthy addition to your collection.  I also recommend this deck for those who like to experiment with a new approach and for anyone who wants to deepen their existing connection and understanding of the traditional Rider Waite deck.
 

Number of Cards in Deck: 78 (22 Major/56 Minor)

Size of Cards:  2-5/8" x 4-3/4"

Included with deck:  Instruction booklet (64 pages in 5 languages:  English, Italian, Spanish, French, Dutch); publisher card; title card.

Major Arcana:
Fool, Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Chariot,
Strength, Hermit, Wheel, Justice, Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, Devil,
Tower, Stars, Moon, Sun, Judgement, World

Suit Names:  Wands, Chalices (Cups), Swords, Pentacles

Court Cards:  King, Queen, Knight, Knave (Page)
 

Back Design of Cards:
 

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