Tarot of the Sweet Twilight (Lo Scarabeo Tarots)
It would be easy to assume that the Tarot of the Sweet Twilight is a dark deck, based on its name and just a few images. But the Sweet Twilight isn't that at all. There is such a sweet innocence to it. And it is not cloyingly naïve. There is, in almost every image, characters experiencing or facing the loss of their innocence. This makes the situation particularly poignant. But added to that is not despair but wistfulness. Whether the characters are remembering happy yesterdays or looking forward to a new day with hope, it gives the images an added depth. We are not shown merely tragedy; we are shown that redemption exists because of tragedy. We see not merely heartache but the love that mingles with heartache. In short, it shows life in twilight.
You may have gathered from the paragraph above that this deck is well suited for intuitive readings. You would be right. Although it follows the familiar format of the Rider-Waite-Smith in structure, there are differences in composition. Also, the meanings come not so from the "use of traditional symbolism" but from reactions evoked by the art. If you know the RWS deck, you'll resonate easily with the defiant young girl in an old-fashioned aviator cap holding a pentacle (4 of Pentacles), the young lovers lost in their own world (2 of Cups), and the young purple-haired girl wearing a t-shirt with a large heart on it and holding a knife to the center of that heart (3 of Swords).
On the other hand, the slender woman with long hair and flowing sleeves standing on a rooftop of a house at the bottom of the ocean looking up at a swan on the surface (9 of Cups) or the girl with long brown hair and clad in pink gazing into a pool where she sees her reflection are dissimilar to their Rider-Waite-Smith counterparts. This may cause you, momentarily, to feel a little unsteady--your world is slightly shaken and you are not in perfect control of the meanings of the cards. So what? It's a small price to pay for such an experience. As the author of the Little White Booklet so eloquently says, "They [the cards] speak to the soul and their message for each soul will be different. More than most decks, the meanings of these cards are found in that space between you and the image, in the relationship created as you view the image."
Just as twilight is between day and night, this deck is very much about the spaces between things and the possibilities that exist. As for the interpretations in the Little White Booklet, they are a tool. In reading any interpretation you will know immediately whether it resonates or not. If so, then follow the path it is pointing towards and see where you end up. If not, then turn around and go in a different direction.
When it comes to readings, you'll find that this deck can be used beautifully. However, to get great results you'll need to go slow, let go of your preconceived "mental deck," and rely on your intuition. In addition to using it for readings, it's been an excellent to work with when journaling. A good book to use with it is Mary K. Greer's 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card.
As with many decks, the best way to know if this deck is for you is to check out the images. If you love them, then you're in for a great treat and an exciting adventure.
