ViceVersa
An inventive and highly unusual deck, the ViceVersa Tarot features art on both sides of the card. One side shows the front view and the other depicts the back of the same or similar scene and figures.
Ways of Looking
To immerse yourself in the Viceversa Tarot mindset, envision the cards as two sides of a coin. This deck embodies perspective and fluidity, encapsulating the energies of day and night, or action and understanding.
Another approach to understanding the Viceversa cards is to think in terms of 'On the one hand...' and 'On the other hand...'. Each card's dual nature empowers the reader to explore different facets of a situation and consider various approaches.
Achieving a Balance
Consider this scenario: On one hand, buying a new car might alleviate concerns about the old one breaking down. On the other hand, it could introduce worries about managing a new car loan. Like placing weights on a scale, we examine each side, oscillating between perspectives until achieving a balanced and clear understanding.
In Tarot readings, we often assign different cards to represent each viewpoint. The Viceversa Tarot uniquely embraces this 'one hand' and 'other hand' approach within each individual card.
Historically, Tarot readings primarily focused on predictions. Common queries included 'Will I marry?', 'Will my career thrive?', and 'What does he truly think?' However, modern Tarot approaches lean more towards psychology than fate. For instance, instead of asking 'Will I marry?', questions might explore readiness, potential compromises, or the experience of remaining single. This approach enriches readings with 'why' and 'how', expanding beyond traditional 'what' and 'who'.
In our increasingly complex world, viewing situations from a single perspective feels limiting. We're moving away from binary thinking - right or wrong, good or bad, now or never - which oversimplifies in our three-dimensional reality. We understand that significant challenges require holistic perspectives.
Double Symbols
Interpreting a Tarot card is a journey into limitless possibilities, shaped by our personal lexicon of symbols. Show the same card to five different people, and you'll likely receive five (or more) distinct interpretations. The Viceversa Tarot is particularly rich in symbols, inviting you to tap into your symbolic language. Yet, it's crucial to trust your intuition above all.
Using the Viceversa deck enhances your intuitive reading abilities, making it a fantastic tool for growth and exploration.
Three-Dimensional Tarot
One might assume Tarot is a two-dimensional tool - after all, the cards are flat. The images are static, depicting a moment frozen in time and space by the artist. It's the Reader's task to decipher meaning from these symbols.
The Viceversa Tarot introduces an extra dimension to the familiar cards. Instead of presenting just one image per card, this deck offers two. Initially, it may seem like a simple front and back view of the same scene, but it's much deeper than that.
Imagine a Tarot card resting flat on a table. The two-dimensional image presents a single concept to interpret.
Now, envision that same Tarot card hovering in the air before you, slowly rotating to reveal an alternative perspective.
Works of Art
The Viceversa Tarot made its debut under Lo Scarabeo in 1917. The deck showcases vibrant artwork crafted by the prolific contemporary Tarot artist, Davide Corsi.
Corsi is also renowned for his other popular decks, such as the Ghost Tarot, Tarot of the Elves, and Pictorial Key Tarot.
The authors of the Viceversa Tarot are Lunaea Weatherstone, a Tarot expert from the US, and Massimiliano Filadoro from Italy.
Interpreting the Viceversa Tarot
In a traditional Tarot deck, cards can be drawn upright or reversed (upside-down), often with different interpretations for each. If you're familiar with Tarot, you might be tempted to apply a similar approach to the Viceversa Tarot - seeing the front side as positive and the back side as negative, implying contradiction.
However, the clue lies in the deck's title - vice versa means 'the other way around', not better or worse. For instance, many cards depict one view in daylight and another at night. Day and night carry different energies and metaphorical meanings, yet neither is inherently more positive. Similar to the concept of yin and yang in Chinese philosophy, both sides together form a complete whole.
This approach encourages a balanced interpretation, appreciating the nuanced perspectives offered by both sides of the Viceversa Tarot cards.
Visual Pairs
As you work with the Viceversa Tarot cards, pay attention to visual pairs such as:
Day - Night
Outside - Inside
Dry - Wet
Warm - Cool
Open - Closed
Dawn - Dusk
Also, consider more abstract 'vice versa' pairs:
Active - Passive
Conscious - Unconscious
Solar - Lunar
Material - Spiritual
Temporal - Eternal
Personal - Universal
Known - Unknown
Exploring these pairs expands your symbolic vocabulary. Reflect on how these dualities resonate within your own character - outer and inner self, public and private facets, light and shadow. Embracing these complexities enriches your understanding of each card.
Additionally, observe how these symbols transform, merge, and contrast, adding unexpected depth beyond linear interpretation.
Both Sides
Consider these visual pairs through the example of the Viceversa Strength Card.
On the front, we see the Empress (previously seen in her own card), seated in a sunlit wheat field with a large male lion. She smiles, clearly unafraid of her feline companion.
The lion symbolises the predatory instinct that arises from misuse of power - a force the Empress, embodying feminine strength, effortlessly controls. She relaxes against his side, playfully parting his jaws as one might with a pet cat pretending to be fierce.
On the reverse, however, the Devil looms over the Empress and her lion. The sunlight dims eerily, akin to an eclipse. Yet, in this subdued light, the infinity symbol above the Empress’s head gleams with heightened intensity. She embodies life force itself, impervious to the darkness’s power. Neither she nor the lion rise in response—the Devil may threaten, but cannot destroy what refuses to be destroyed.
This interpretation highlights the dual perspectives offered by the Viceversa Tarot, showing contrasting but complementary narratives within the same card.
The Cups
The Pentacles
The Wands
The Swords
