The ViceVersa Tarot is unique in that the cards have no backs. Or, rather, instead of having an image that’s the same on the back of every card, each card has an image on its reverse side that is the reverse of the image on its face. In some cards the back looks like a night scene with the front looking like daytime. In others the backs reveal characters or objects out of the line of sight on the front.
The full-color book that goes with this deck has illustrations of each and calls them “this side” and “that side.”
Aside from the novelty aspect, this is a fairly standard RWS clone. Suits are chalices, pentacles, wands and swords. Courts are knave, knight, queen, king. Strength is 8, Justice is 11. Artwork is pseudo-medieval European and does not depict modern or diverse characters or situations. Honestly, I like the concept more than I like the artwork. I wish I connected with the illustrations more.
This is the kind of deck that could look impressive in a reading. My personal preference is to deal all the cards with “that side” up and flip them during the reading to reveal “this side.” This is because “that side” is often the back and the dark side so when you turn it over you’re revealing the front and brightening the spread. Like activating or turning on the cards.
5 out of 5 stars for the concept; 3 out of 5 stars for the artwork
ViceVersa Tarot
Massimiliano Filadoro and Lunaea Weatherstone
artwork by Davide Corsi
Lo Scarabeo, 2017
Reblogged this on ArmedWithCoffee and commented:
Great review, Witchyography! I had been curious about this deck for awhile so it’s nice to see a straightforward review.
Well done and much appreciated.
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Glad you found it helpful!
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I like that there is both light and dark interpretations for these cards, and that they added one of those opposites as the back. Sounds like you’re going to have a lot of fun with this deck, I’m not exactly getting along with the illustrations either, just by looking at it. Maybe it’s the colours…
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