This recent moon cycle I pulled my card of the day from the Nicoletta Ceccoli Tarot. I chose this deck because it’s been showing up in my social media feeds and, from the images I saw, the artwork intrigued me.
When I get a new deck, or am perusing someone else’s ‘new to me’ deck, I look at and for a few things. The feel of the cards matters to me. That includes not only the surface texture but the flexibility of the cards and the sturdiness. There is a sweet spot. It’s the place where flexibility allows for a good shuffle and the quality provides a confidence that the deck won’t fall apart quickly with continued use. This deck hits that sweet spot for me.
I next check out some specific cards. I think most tarot readers do this but we don’t all examine the same cards. I start with Death because I’m fascinated with the ways different artists interpret that card.
The others I always check out are the Tower, The High Priestess, and my birth card, The Empress. Her Empress is unique in she is not pregnant or surrounded by food and flowers. She is out in nature, gently examining it and being examined by it in turn. Still there is an abundance feeling to the image in the relaxed, at home posture of the Empress. Compared to the Empress in a different deck this one looks almost sparse but in her element, in the context of this deck, she is in repose and quite magnanimous.
The deck, as a whole, also needs to speak to me. The images might be beautiful but if I don’t connect to them I can’t give a good reading with them. This deck was interesting because I wasn’t actually thrilled with it at first but I couldn’t stop looking at it. It’s the creepy/cute thing. It’s beautifully uncomfortable when it’s done well and in this deck it is done well. The first few days I did a daily draw and thought for sure I’d be giving this deck away when I was done. Now, I’m not parting with it. That decision was made when I pulled the Ten of Swords.
This is an amazing depiction of the meaning and energy of that card. She is both martyr and victim in one.
All in all I like this deck. The artwork is well executed and in keeping with the Rider Waite Smith meanings of the cards. The quality of the cards themselves is good; flexible enough to shuffle but sturdy enough to last. If creepy cute artwork does it for you then I recommend Nicoletta Ceccoli Tarot.
Bring it home and play with it forever, and ever, and ever.