THE VISCONTI-SFORZA || The Original Tarot Deck

[@Owlch]

My last name is Sforza and recently I’ve started getting more interested in Tarot. Not sure how my poor farmer grandparents from italy are connected to royalty, but still fascinating none the less that I’m somehow connected with tarot from all those years ago. Will be adding this deck to my collection!

[@AzkabanGang765]

Very interesting deck 😃😄

[@thedebbiedilemma5417]

The man and lion are both looking forward. I believe they are still working together. He's holding it more as a bat or something to swing, not bludgeon...

[@Spideywebz73]

The Devil and The Tower are two of the cards that are missing from the original deck, which is why they don't quite fit with the rest. they're the second-best interpretations though (the worst coming from Lo Scarabeo).

[@hermitofvisconti]

Visconti decks got me started in tarot collecting. I have several versions of Visconti decks. I'm even trying to learn to read with them, but most are so darn large to shuffle...ok, impossible. My favorites so far are the the Lo Scarabeo di Madrone and the II Meneghello di Madrone version as well. I'll probably learn to table shuffle best with a Mary Packard deck, though, and won't have to worry about wear & tear on the other decks. Thanks for the review.

[@lricci007]

The people represented in this deck are if I am correct all the same two people, Visconti and Sforza. I believe it was a deck commissioned for their wedding. That is what I have read. Love your review.

[@martin36369]

"The Hermit's Lamp doth Brightly Shine with Light of Wisdom Borne of Time, to show the Way Within that's True, it Shines for me, it Shines for you!"

[@martin36369]

"Seasons comes & seasons go , as Fortune's Wheel purports to show, no fixed position can be found on that which turns forever round, though at the centre of this wheel, lies a place completely still!

[@damsel72]

Wonderful history of this deck, and times. Love your interpretation 💕

[@themichiganoracle]

I actually really love reading with the Visconti! It's one of my all time favorite decks! The Strength card I tend to read as I would the RWS ~ the difference for me being that the RWS leads by example, and the Visconti shows what *not* to do, or what to adjust ~ very much like the Devil card. Loved the video ~ I dont have this edition (I have the Golden Lo Scarabeo version), but it looks so neat! I'll definitely have to pick it up sometime! (I wanted to watch something Visconti related as my Il Meneghello Visconti Grande is finally on it's way, and I'm glad I stumbled onto your video!)

[@maevyncelso675]

I ordered this and it will be here sunday, after watching this video I am even more excited! I have ancestors who are from italy

[@NepentheCalling]

This is such a wonderfully informative video! I've had a copy of this deck that was printed in the 1970s, and I found it in a used bookstore several years ago. I mostly bought it because it just looked cool, but it's fascinating to learn more about it!

[@ScarletRavenswood]

Awesome! I'm glad you liked the video. I'm planning on making a future video that will go more in depth about the history of this deck. . :)

[@NepentheCalling]

Scarlet Ravenswood awesome! I can’t wait to see more 😄

[@jennifermorley9836]

The High Priestess was actual a member of the Visconti family. I believe it was one of the daughters.

[@fredbissnette3104]

I just bought one of these can't wait to get into it

[@1111Essex]

I just bought this deck today! Your video was interesting and enjoyable to watch.

[@anuradhaguleria6325]

Loved the way you presented the review of this deck.thanks 🙏🏻 Namaste and greetings from india 😇

[@RosequartzDivination]

Did u notice that old tarot cards started with king and queen and then went downwards? I saw this in the original rider waite deck as well. In the modern tarot we say 10 is completion, but here ace is the completion. Almost as if the countdown counts towards purification.

[@ElenaKomleva]

Or they start with the most important titles because they are the most important, and then progress to lesser and lesser titles and numbers. This kind of hierarchy makes more sense actually, rather than having king last, and one, two etc being the first "in line".

[@Guigobueno]

14:55 "A Força". Tive a mesma impressão iniciamente, mas acredito que ele não está para atacar o leão. Ambos estão olhando para a mesma direção. Estão se defendendo de algo. Conectados. As vezes a ideia de "controlar o leão" seja de "reprimir" certas atitudes, sendo que o Universo não nos pede exatamente isso. Nos pede ética e não submissões. O deck é realmente muito bonito e intuitivo. Gratidão por compartilhar. ♡

[@jacqueevelyn6411]

This was a lovely video of the new deck I am going to get :)

[@teatarot4557]

Thank you! Lovely!

[@Elibel77]

The VS is closer to the Marseille deck (in era, too). The Marseille is more in use in the French world. And since the RW is closer to us (beguinning of 20th century) this does probably explain the differences.

[@donnaaveni]

There may be earlier tarot type decks, but this one is the earliest surviving deck? I have this lovely deck and I appreciate your video! Do you feel the meanings from 1450 match with the card meanings in modern decks?

[@ZombieCharity]

The film the Red Violin inspired me to get this years ago. I will order another one since they got lost from moving many times. Opps it was the ancient Italian deck I had before

[@panthersphinx3901]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@martin36369]

Its a crossover symbolism, The Empress holds the Emperors shield as he is the "Defender of the Realm", whilst he holds the Orb symbolic of her as the Realm.

[@emilyrosewilson]

I have this one omg! I picked it within a book (I only have the major arcana tho) 👀 I’m Italian and tarocchi means tarots btw!💕 (I was shook when you said you would have come to Rome 😂)

[@luanap.f.4109]

About The Strength/Fortitude, I have read somewhere that if you look well actually the man is not about to hit the lion, but to hit `something/someone that`s coming towards him from the right side of the card... And the lion is by his side to help him... I`m not sure, but this idea helps me to like the card better.

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

The fool reminds ds me of when you dream you are somewhere and you are naked.

[@jpeters3053]

Ultraviolet Morgan wtf

[@katieewatson8]

Haha yeah I hate that dream! You can’t find your clothes and it’s embarrassing lol!!

[@martin36369]

The bow of Death is made up of two spinal columns one upright, the other upside-down "The Blindfold around his head, covers not his eyes, Death sees something we do not the time of our demise, his hand though common to both saints & sinners sends them on their separate ways, the saint receives the sinner pays!"

[@martin36369]

The veil of the flesh that covers the Soul (the binding on the book) The eye (larger in the midline) of the heart open to th light of the soul "Faith requires no external trappings & is sufficient unto herself, though clothed in the most simple wrappings, inside lies the wealth!"

[@jullianasilva729]

Funny enough this was my first deck. I have a smaller and golden version from lo scarabeo. I boght it in 2017 I think .

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

I just ordered this. I can't wait. :) ♡♡♡♡♡

[@gerardoperez2593]

Interesante 2022

[@ZombieCharity]

just received them, they were the wrong ones, to modern with too much gold, ugg. Where did u get yours from?

[@robertawalsh2995]

At the beginning of the video, the box she's holding is from U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

[@martin36369]

the knight in Justice is I believe Virgo

[@CyrilViXP]

It's read as taroki

[@joannatodd7978]

I don't agree about the strength card. The person and the lion are looking in the same direction, notice the lion's body position, like it's about to attack a prey - for me, they are fighting together against something we can't see, that isn't depicted on the card. So the meaning of the card isn't far from other decks at all.

[@woke2woke153]

Looking at the Strength card, I'm not sure your reading is correct. It's quite clear that the man is not looking at the lion but at someone or something outside the picture. Furthermore, the lion appears to be looking at the same person or thing. One could easily read this as the man and the lion acting in conjunction against an enemy, with the lion perfectly symbolising natural fierceness and power.

[@woke2woke153]

On a different note, it struck me as very odd to hear you describe the Pope and Papesse cards as 'Christianised' compared to much later decks that depicted these as the Hierophant and High Priestess. Given that the Visconti-Sforza deck was made around 1442-7, it surely is far more appropriate to recognise that the later decks de-Christianised, or paganised, the earlier decks in a manner consistent with the Enlightened, post-Christian political spirit of that later period in which they were designed? Even the Marseille decks made 200 years after the Visconti decks, still retain their original Christian symbolism, albeit blended with neo-Platonic themes and elements.

[@emeraldlotusbylori4988]

This tarot deck is much older. It is not gender specific and absolutely has nothing to do with religion or wealth nor was it created for the two Catholics in the deck. I recommend doing your homework as these cards are alchemical in nature and date back to the sacred mystery school teachings of Ancient Egypt.

[@MelissaBaker.]

Hi dear, I'm afraid you are mistaken. The Visconti-Sforza never originated from Egypt and was indeed commissioned as a wedding gift for the couple, as a tarocchi game deck, never meant for divination or anything esoteric at all. Antoine court de Gébelin propagated that tarot originated in Egypt and was linked to the book of Thoth, but this is false information. The Visconti decks can be traced precisely as they are very well documented. They were created centuries before people started using tarot as a divination system. Try getting your hands on "Histoire du tarot, Origine, iconographie, symbolisme" by Isabelle Nadolny. It is probably the most complete book of its kind available today and will give you proper information.

[@emeraldlotusbylori4988]

@@MelissaBaker. I never said the Visconti Deck originated from Egypt.

[@MelissaBaker.]

​@emeraldlotusbylori4988 You said and I quote : " This tarot deck is much older." It isn't.

[@goodshiplollipop]

Look at the eyes on the strength card. They are fighting together- not fighting each other. Hope that helps your conflict with the interpretations xx