Minchiate

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…

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…

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 …

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."…

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…

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" …