Minchiate

Welcome to the Minchiate Study Group! Flaxen PathWalker luciaeffe Misterei Akhilleus Grizzlykt Please post here if you're interested in learning more about the Minchiate with me. It will be easier in the future in case we want to start a Reading Circle later, and I can PM those who are participating here in the Study Group. This thread will also serve as an Index that I can then update with links as we accumulate more and more study threads. This thread is only for sign-ups and not individual card discussions. Once you start a separate thread on a card of your choice that you would like to discuss, I will link i…

The original dea for this is not mine. On aeclectic, Lady Iron Sides did quite a bit of research linking Aesop's Fables to the few Minchiate minors that had illustrations added to them. A recent thread on the history forum jogged my memory about this, so I thought I would continue this discussion here. In this thread I will include an index that several other threads will link to: Two of Wands Three of Cups Two of Swords Five of Swords Six of Swords Eight of Swords The site for Aesop's Fable I will use is the Library of Congress. I am sourcing my images from en.wikipedia.org

(MINCHIATE "AL LEONE" 1790) I use elemental associations in my readings. Specifically, I use elemental dignities and planetary associations. I know not everyone does this, so if it's not your thing, I suppose you can just skip this bit. In this method, I look at the number of the card and associate it with number of the element card (above) to determine each cards element. The zodiac cards are not included in this. This is a simple method and it has saved me a lot of aggravation. Here's how it goes. Random selections here: Say I get Strength, Fame, and Chariot in a reading (I won't use the actual card…

hi is anyone still doing the Minchiate Tarot i love these decks would be nice to have a chat to a few people if anyone is interested

Minchiate card deck - Florence - 1860-1890 - Trumps - 06 - La Temperanza A. Baragioli (editor) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons The sixth card in the sequence, La Temperanza, occurs earlier on in the Minchiate Majors sequence than in the Golden Dawn's or OTO's, and it is one of the four Pagan (Cardinal) Virtues. Other systems don't have all four virtues as part of their systems, at least not literally. Where did Wisdom go with GD and OTO? Are we to assume that Hermit was once Wisdom or Prudence? What about Minchiate's Time in that case, then? And what happened to the Theological (Ecclesiastical) Virtues? Did GD and OTO lump these into the Hermit or spr…

Minchiate card deck - Florence - 1860-1890 - Trumps - 01 - Papa uno A. Baragioli (editor) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons As Il Matto continues on his journey, after some strife and discord, he meets Il Bagatto, the "Trickster"... How do you feel about this card in other decks? Is it the same as this one? There are other people present in this card, too, as there is in the Minchiate Fool. This lends another layer of meaning onto this card, I think. There are two people in this card, as in the Fool, but they are older. Are these the same people as in the first card, now maturing? Is the Fool learning his way through life, as we all do, by t…

File:Minchiate card deck - Florence - Trumps - 08 - La Giustizia.jpg A. Baragioli (editor) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons For me Justice is usually about balanced scales and the notion that "Justice is blind". But in this version, Justice is not blind and the scales are not balanced. This then puts my focus on the sword even though she isn't looking at it. Maybe she has to mete out justice with her sword because the scales of justice have become upended and she has to regain control. The unbalanced scales certainly appear to have her attention, yet she hasn't lost control over the sword that she has hefted in her hand. The Williams ca…

Minchiate card deck - Florence - 1860-1890 - Trumps - Il Matto - A. Baragioli (editor) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons On the surface, this card appears to be like the RWS Fool, but I think there is more to his story. Is he playing with these children or is he fending them off? They seem to be annoying him, or are they helping him? Playing? With the RWS, the Fool is heading off, unimpeded, into the unknown, perhaps to discover more about life on his journey. This Fool apparently enjoys no such freedom of movement. Possible meanings: Il Matto is called "The Excuse" in the card game of Minchiate. Is this the same as a "reason" …

Minchiate card deck - Florence - 1860-1890 - Trumps - 05 - Papa cinque A. Baragioli (editor) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Ah, L'Amore! The Fool has finally arrived! The life skills and wherewithal that was absent before, during the first five steps of the Fool's journey, are now available to him. As a mature adult, decision making is easier and everything starts to fall into place. This is more than a card a wedded bliss. It is an indication that a plan has been laid out and it is the correct plan. All that is needed is your decision to put a plan into action. Surrender to a higher power and/or your trust your instincts. A…

I can't take credit for this idea. It was Helvetica/Fudugazi/Sophie from AT who first brought this idea to my attention years ago on AT. She was originally talking about RWS Majors, of course, but it works beautifully for the Minchiate, as well. I have searched and searched the archives at AT, but I couldn't find it. (If anyone can find it, please link it here for me!) She connected Majors via Roman Numeral. I can't remember if she did this for all of them, or whether it was just for a few of them. At any rate, the seed was planted. Since the goal for the other Minchiate Majors threads is to have more detailed study for each card in them, I decided to have a s…

Starting a thread to posts spreads and interpretations for learning Minchiate. Vitali's instructions are to break the deck into 6 categories ... but they don't match the categories in the deck itself. To use Vitali's system ... mix the 5 Airs + the 17 Trumps = 22 tarocch triunfi. Minchiate structure from Etruria deck and Williams book: 40 pips 16 courts 17 trumps (Fool -- Tower) 4 Virtues (Hope, Prudence, Faith, Charity) 4 elements (fire, water, earth, air) 12 Zodiac signs 5 Airs = Star, Moon, Sun, World, Fame (these resemble the final 5 tarocchi trumps)

Minchiate card deck - Florence - 1860-1890 - Trumps - 04 - Papa quattro A. Baragioli (editor) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons IIII. L'Imperatrice, The Little Emperor, is confident without being overconfident. He is not egotistical. He is comfortable in his own skin. Finally, the Fool has come into his own. His position faces forward, ready to face the world. His ankles are crossed, yes, but not because he is in a state of ill-preparedness. He has is ducks all in a row. The bravado of his earlier years gone, he can literally rest secure in the knowledge that the world is in his control. The RWS compliment is the IV. Emperor, o…

Minchiate card deck - Florence - 1860-1890 - Trumps - 03 - Papa tre A. Baragioli (editor) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Moving along our path, we arrive at III. L'Imperatore, "The Big Emperor". He also has his back turned to the right and he is facing to the left or to the past, as does the Grand Duchess. If the Grand Duchess can be seen in the position of offense, ready to calmly take on the world, perhaps this card is in a position of defense. As these cards allegorically reflect stages in our lives, so this papi, Papi tre, takes a defensive stance in his chair. As we continue to find our place in this world, we are often put in situations …

I like to do master studies of art from historical tarot decks. I like to look at the techniques, the material as well as the symbolism and the art style. I was very inspired by this Minchiate deck. It’s one of the loveliest hand painted decks that I’ve come across. All that gold paint speaks to my inner magpie 🤩 The deck is sadly incomplete but I wasn’t exactly planning on copying the whole thing. We shall see how many cards I’ll attempt. I finished the ace of cups today and thought I would share it here. (I hope no one minds?) This is the original version. It is of course much nicer! Those thick lavish gold edges are to die for! …

Minchiate card deck - Florence - 1860-1890 - Trumps - 02 - Papa due A. Baragioli (editor) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons The Grand Duchess is comparable to II. The High Priestess in the RWS system. In almost every deck I've seen, this card can be either female or male, though in my opinion leans more toward the feminine. There is an air of "Earth Mother" and certainly the divine feminine with this card. These similarities with HPS do not escape notice. As the Fool traipses along his journey, he meets up her and, as she is Papa due cannot escape her life's lesson: "Oh Beauty, find thyself in love, not in the flattery of thy mirror."…

File:Minchiate card deck - Florence - Trumps - 09 - La_Ruota_della_Fortuna.jpg A. Baragioli (editor) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons This card represents the ups and downs of life. The adolescent young actor, learning his role in life becomes the actor ("all the world's a stage" and what-not) albeit a bad one, as he is represented by the character Nick Bottom whose head is turned into that of an ass. As he matures, as we all do, making mistakes, he then ends up rested, learned and well. He looks rather relaxed with his book of hard-earned lessons. Does it represent all of the knowledge he has gained in life? Is it the Book of Life an…

File:Minchiate card deck - Florence - Trumps - 07 - La Forza.jpg A. Baragioli (editor) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons The 7th trump in the Minchiate is Force. She holds the column in most versions. In this one she sits next to it and almost looks exhausted, angry. At least she has an appearance that she could pick it up and throw it. Maybe she's about to. Although I have this deck, I don't think I would read with it. I prefer the Williams version: She exudes Strength. Judging by the serene expression on her masculine face, she has no problem lifting the column and shows that she is one not to be trifled with. In the face, …

The Hare & His Ears Moral: "Do not give your enemies the slightest reason to attack your reputation. Your enemies will seize any excuse to attack you." For this one, I opted to go to an earlier deck, Minchiate al Leone. There are so many variant of this one card, it was increasingly frustrating to discern what the figures in the card were. I decided finally to use the hare. Also, it looks like the figure at the top of the card may be throwing something, or attacking him with a ball or projectile.

Belling the Cat Moral: "It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it." Neither the creature nor "that thing" at the top of the card made much sense to me before I looked through the list of Fables, to be honest. When I figured out that the creature was a cat, and the "that thing" was not a disco ball but a bell, it all made sense. Good philosophical advice for anyone: It's good to have a plan, but make sure you can put the bell around the cat's neck!

The Sick Stag Moral: "Good will is worth nothing unless it is accompanied by good acts."

The Old Lion Moral: "It is cowardly to attack the defenseless, though he be an enemy."

The Fox & The Stork Moral: "Do not play tricks on your neighbors unless you can stand the same treatment yourself." In my opinion, this is the most apparent of the the Fables that map onto the cards. In the story, the Stork serves the Fox a fish dinner in "a tall tall jar with a very narrow neck" after the Fox had given him soup "in a very shallow dish, and all the Stork could do was to wet the very tip of his bill." The Fox could literally dish it out but could not take it, in our modern parlance. The two Wands are equal, yet unequal: a paradox. My question is, who or what is the figure with the quill at the top of the card?…

Williams Minchiate: “Prudence gives sight and insight. Her mirror of wisdom shows things as they truly are; her serpent translates that sight into wisdom. The ancients defined virtue as ‘the proper medium between extremes.’ Prudence is courageous, but not foolhardy. She is cautious, but not cowardly. Wit her aid we can act in ways that are similarly forthright.” We are the sum of our life experiences. And experience is the best teacher. Along the way, mistakes are to be made and successes gained. This is how we gain confidence. Prudence is an essential skill to aid in this journey. In the pursuit of our dreams, as we look at ourselves, she warns us not to be pride…

Williams Minchiate Charity: “Spiritual love and generosity are the gifts of Charity. Much greater than the conventional idea of financial generosity, charity instead means true sympathy and empathy, loving another as oneself. This is a love that reaches outward to all creation, to all living beings, and to the very fabric of the cosmos.” From 1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” Other belief systems say precisely the same thing, and Christianity certainly does not have a monopoly on the concept of love. But it is difficult to escape the Christian influence in this deck. And it is help…

The Cock & The Fox Moral: "The wicked deserve no aid."