✳ Oracolotto

He who dreams of drinking wine may weep when morning comes; he who dreams of weeping may in the morning go off to hunt. While he is dreaming he does not know it is a dream, and in his dream he may even try to interpret a dream. Only after he wakes does he know it was a dream. And someday there will be a great awakening when we know that this is all a great dream.

And when I say you are dreaming, I am dreaming, too.

Zhuàngzi

✧ Preface

Have you ever woken up feeling like there is a word, at the tip of your tongue, in a language you don’t quite understand?

It’s the same feeling you may have felt when a dream has left too quickly once you woke up, like a regretful lover. You grasped and reached but it was gone and you have forgotten something so fundamentally important that your stomach has caved into itself.

This deck of oracle cards invites you to go back into that cave, that pit, to the start of that word. Tarot and oracle cards are always tools for self-exploration, but the Oracolotto will guide you to explore deeper, into the subconscious realm of your dreams.

Oracolotto includes twenty-one cards and one guidebook. The cards follow the paved journey of Tarot’s major arcana, but do not be fooled by the numbers, as they will not give you insight into the path. You do not need any previous knowledge to use these cards, only the ability to dream and a soul, yours or other.

The Oracolotto cards present illustrations of collective dream archetypes, as delineated by Neapolitan tradition. While the cards symbolically follow the traditional Tarot journey from the fool to the world(minus the Emperor), they are based on the Neapolitan art form of the Smorfia, intended not as the grimace but the dream interpretation method.

The Smorfia is an ancient art form in which symbols and archetypes from a person's dreams are analysed and converted into numbers. To use the Smorfia, one would thus recall every event, person and object that appeared in their dream, and then use the extensive list of dream archetypes to find the associated numbers. This may be used to find out the meaning of your dreams or, most commonly, to find numbers to play the lottery (Ricciardone, 1987; Zezza, 1835).

In this case however, the archetypes were used as a story telling device, an exploration tool for imagination and self-discovery. You may chose to use these cards in the two ways I have imagined, or create your own.

1. The first, and the one I recommend, asks your soul to sit with the cards, ask them a question, read the answer in the following pages and find a language for new or old feelings.
2. The other way I have imagined requires you to keep the deck next to your bed, or wherever you sleep. Once you wake up, while the dream is still supple and alive, reach for the Oracolotto and try and find the cards that resemble the dream most closely. This way you may give a language to the unformed and find on the cards apparent truths.

There is a possibility, that you have read thus far because you wish to remember your dreams and connect to your subconscious, but feel like you cannot. You may almost never recall your dreams or think that they are random. If this is your case, I recommend that you use the Oracolotto in the first way I have described, as the subconscious seeps into our daily thoughts and feelings anyways. The deck may help you find these patterns.

You may also choose your own path, disregard what I said and make your own game, read old or future dreams or even play the lottery. The tools are now in your hands.

✧ How to care for the Oracolotto

You may have been told that objects do not have spirit and have believed it. If you have, I suggest you tuck the inner skeptic into bed and let the curious child out to play for the following sections. You see, the Oracolotto, like any Tarot or Oracle, does not believe itself to be an objects. In fact, it thinks that no object is just a thing, but most exist in the spiritual plane as well. As such, all objects have a soul, a spirit that connects to yours.

This particular one, the Oracolotto, has a playful and deep soul. It asks to be cared for as if it was a living thing, more a plant than a pet. It asks to be touched, used, cried on, laughed with. Most importantly, it asks for a place to rest every night. I would also recommend, at your discretion, to free negative intention from the cards if you stumble upon it. This may happen if you do a reading for someone who turns out to have bad intention, or just a very heavy painful load. It may also happen if you use them alone in a moment of intense sadness or anger. In these cases, I recommend finding a way to release these feelings from the cards, by leaving them out to breath, or holding them in your hands while thinking positive thoughts.

✧ How to Do a Reading

Set an intention to begin. You or the person you are reading for will ask a question, out loud or in your mind as you shuffle the cards. You then have two options: either spread them out or fan them, and choose one card at a time with your dominant hand; or place the whole deck on a surface and run your fingers alongside it until you feel like splitting the deck and picking a card. Do it however you wish, the important thing is that you let your intuition guide you to a card.

Lay it in front of you ( the "How to Lay Out the Cards" section follows). Turn the card over and feel, hear, see, and intuit its meaning in relation to your question. Refer to this guidebook for interpretations. If you give readings to others, it is always a good idea to keep a record of your own read­ings, as messages for others do usually weave together with those for you. Sometimes cards will"jump" out of the deck while you’re shuffling. These cards are try­ing to get your attention. They're part of your reading, or perhaps the entire reading. In any case, know that they're important messages to be heeded.

Alternatively and if applicable, you may choose one card and place it on your altar or under your pillow at night to bring in deeper understanding.

✧ How to Lay Out the Cards

.One Card Spread

A single card can be used for several pur­poses:

• Draw a card in the morning for guidance about what you need to know that day.
• Draw a card after you ask a question. The one you pick is your answer.
• Draw a card to help further explain your dream.

.Three-Card Spread

A three-card spread can also be used in a couple of different ways:

• Draw three cards representing what you need to know in general terms.
• They may represent the past, present or future.
• Or answer questions about three issues, such as career, love and friendship.

If you wish to find a more fleshed out narrative, you may choose to do bigger spread. Information about those can be found in any book about tarot or online.

Sum. table

	o.g. major arcana	english oracolotto		neapolitan oracolotto	symbols
0	the fool	the cofffee	42	'o ccafè	A cliff-edge or precipice (leaving safety behind), Sunshine (positivity, action, embracing life), A dog or animal helper (because you are not alone, you are supported), A small bag (travelling light, taking only what you need), A wand, held lightly (you have access to magic, even if you don’t know how to wield it yet),Flowers (purity, beauty, lightness of spirit)
1	the magician	the two old unmarried women	66	'e ddoje zetelle	Four suits or four elements (access to resources), Magic wand (channelling ‘magic’ energy from the Universe), Pointing to the ground (making something tangible, earthing your energy), Lemniscate / infinity sign (transcendence), Flowers (growth, visible manifestation of life force),Yellow and red colours (passion, life, energy)
2	the high priestess	the bride	63	'a sposa	The moon (intuition), Water, especially still water (emotion), A veil (a division between worlds, or layers of consciousness), Scripture or text (wisdom, learning), A temple (a place of spiritual devotion), Blue and purple colours (serenity, spirituality, peace)
3	the empress	the mother	52	'a mamma	Plants growing (fecundity, growth), Crops (abundance, richness), Hera symbols (peacock, pomegranate, cow), A crown (power, being in charge), Pregnancy (fertlity and birth), A river (feelings in motion, flow)
4	the hierophant	the church	84	'a chiesa	Key (initiation, unlocking secret wisdom), Pope-like figure (a conduit between worlds, a translator), A teacher (passing on of wisdom)
5	the lovers	the upside down	69	sott'e 'ncoppa	Roses (love!), angel (transcendence, choosing a ‘higher path’), Any two or more parts creating a whole representing a sense of completion
6	the chariot	the bird	35	l’aucelluzzo	Armour (doing battle), Black and white creatures pulling the chariot (focusing opposing energies), Riding without reins (driving forwards by sheer force of will), The chariot itself (movement), Crescent moons
7	strenght	the breasts	28	'e zzizze	Lemniscate / infinity sign (transcendence, magical powers, tapping into something higher), Lion (the ‘wild beast’ within us, anger, lust, etc), A woman taming a lion (love and gentleness overcoming that wild beast),White clothing (peace, innocence),Flowers (love, care, beauty)
8	the hermit	the crying	65	'o chianto	A lamp (inner wisdom guiding you),A staff (leaning on knowledge and wisdom),isolated places in nature (solitude),Hooded cloak (devotion to study)
9	the wheel of fortune	the set table	82	'a tavula 'mbandita	The four elements of earth, air, fire and water, and the four ‘fixed’ signs of the zodiac (and thus the entire zodiac), a wheel – or other rotary symbol – representing the ever-turning nature of life.
10	justice	the lament	60	'o lamiento	Scales (balance, fairness), Sword (rational thought, cutting through confusion), Symmetry (logic, structure), Thrones, crowns, robes (power and status)
11	the hanged man	purgatory's souls	85	ll'aneme 'o priatorio	Hanging upside down (independent perspectives, your own truth), Halo or other magical symbols (transcendence, enlightenment, inner peace)
12	death	the speaking dead	48	'o muorto che pparla	Skeletons (death), Shedding skin (change).The grim reaper (change is inevitable, and is coming),Sunrise (rebirth, a new day), Flowers (renewal)
13	temperance	the warm soup	68	'a zuppa cotta	Non-gendered angel (transcending the duality of gender), One foot in the water (testing the water, blending elements of earth and water), Water – being poured and in the landscape (intuition, feeling), Sunrise (a new day, a new start), Two cups (love),Flowers (natural renewal)
14	the devil	the little devils	77	'e riavulille	Chains (bondage), Nakedness (vulnerability, poverty of spirit), Hellish imagery (a spiritual prison), A devil or demon (inner demons), A key (freedom), Upside-down pentagram (materialism)
15	the tower	the stormy weather	83	'o maltiempo	Lightening (a sudden shock, disaster, destruction), A tower (the old establishment, the old way), Falling people (fallout, harsh consequences)
16	the star	christmas	25	natale	The water bearer (Aquarius), Nakedness (being vulnerable, but feeling safe), Pouring water (soothing emotion), Stars (guiding lights), Cups (containers of emotion)
17	the moon	blood	18	'o ssanghe	Howling dog and/or wolf (your wild nature), Crab or lobster (messages from the subconscious rising to the surface), Sea, water (intuition, emotion), Mountains in the distance (a journey), The moon (intuition, hidden realms, inner wisdom), A mask (deception, obscuring the truth)
18	the sun	laughter	19	'a resata	Warm, yellow rays of sunshine (life force, energy), Sunflowers (growth and renewal), A naked child or person (simplicity)
19	judgement	the gossiping woman	43	onna pereta fore 'o barcone	Horn (hearing a call), Angel (transcendence, call coming from ‘above’), People, birds or other things ‘rising up’ (the soul transcending, lightness)
20	the world	the good wine	45	'o vino bbuono	A dancer (pure self-expression), Flags (movement and joy), Wands (magic), Circles (wholeness, completion, cycles)

✳ 42. the coffee

.keywords: beginnings, unformed potential, taking a risk, answering a ‘call’, trusting in the universe, overcoming self-doubt, embracing uncertainty.

Coffee is brewing, yet to be poured on the empty cup on the counter. A spiritual guide sits patiently, urging you to begin, while the sun shines outside a closed window. On the side, enormous snowdrops have blossomed, indicating the first tentative steps of spring.

While the Coffe is number 42, this card comes before the others. Like an unhatched egg it contains all the potential for the journey. The cup is empty, but you are urged to pour it, to drink it and to being the journey. A spiritual guide urges you forward. Like the prophet Muhammad who was given coffee(قهوة) by the Archangel Jibreel, you are also urged to begin.

The Coffee upright in a reading tells you it is now the time to be naive and courageous. Set on a new adventure and do not worry about the consequences. It is time, the coffee is ready.

Reversed

If the Coffee appears reversed, it is a warning. The coffee will spill and it may burn your or others. Be cautious about disregarding the consequences of your actions. Your eagerness for freedom and new beginnings may have harmed others of yourself. Now, you are being asked for consistency and patience. There is a time to be brave and to set off on new paths, and a time to be reliable and patient-wisdom lays in knowing the difference.

✳ tarot correspondence: 0. the fool.

✳ zodiac correspondence: all signs, the universe.

✳ 66. the two spinsters

.keywords: magic, manifestation, setting intentions, directing energy consciously, willpower, concentration, having all the resources you need.

Two old women stand before a table, one pointing to above and one below. Their eyes glow with mystic powers and if they have appeared in your dreams you may feel their power radiating. This is particularly powerful card. While looking at it, reject what you have been told about the emotional loneliness of spinsters and focus on their ability to spin a magical web. These women are appearing to you at an important time, at the moment when you may choose your own path. You are now fully able to manifest your desires. The Spinsters are showing you the power you hold and asking you for intense concentration. There is power in your focus and dedication, now is the time to channel all your resources to achieving what you wish.

Reversed

If the Spinsters have appeared reversed, is is a sign that you are ignoring your own powers. You no longer see two crone magicians who have chosen the path of spiritual power but instead two unmarried older women. Do not be fooled. The power is in your hands, your potential lays dormant underneath your doubts and lack of self esteem. Trust in your ability, trust the Spinsters to weave you back to an active role within your own life.

✳ tarot correspondence: 1. the magician.

✳ zodiac correspondence: gemini & virgo.

✳ 63. the bride

. keywords: intuition, subconscious, higher wisdom, knowing something you can’t explain, stillness, meditation, spell-work and ritual.

The Bride sits in silence in an underground cistern, two eyes closed and a third one opened. Upon her head two crescent moons hold the globe. She is alone, but does not appear to be waiting. The Bride is a figure of divine wisdom, feminine mystery and intuitive knowledge. She is the guardian of the unconscious and she is meeting you. By receiving this card you are being gently led deeper, or asked to go deeper. To artists, she is the representation of creative potential. The bride has little care for the material as her powers lay in the true nature of emotion. Let your intuition lead the way, quiet the chatter of the rational and logical.

Reversed

If you are facing a reversed Bride, is is an indication to examine where you are ignoring your gut. Perhaps you have let your thinking mind run loose or have not been listening to your gut. You have even be overvaluing other's opinions or acting too hastily. Whichever is it, it may be time to be still, reflect and meditate on your intuition.

✳ tarot correspondence: 2. the high priestess.

✳ zodiac correspondence: cancer & pisces.

✳ 52. the mother

.keywords: maternal figure, familiar love, abundance, life force, strong protection, dignity.

The Mother sits on a throne in the middle of the river of life force, a crown upon her head a sword in her hand. In this iconography she is Juno, Roman goddess of marriage and family. As such, she sits near a pregnant cow and a peacock eating a pomegranate. Around her nature thrives. She is the embodiment of femininity and the bringer or life and growth. Her energy is both nurturing and fiercely protective. She is appearing to indicate that she is looking after you and your growth. She is abundant and as such so will your expression be, both creative and sensual. Deep fulfilment awaits.

Reversed

The Mother has appeared reversed. Juno's warlike nature is more active than her nurturing side. Your seeking of protection is keeping your from true love and joy. You were guarding yourself, and while you were in the right to do so, it is now time to let your shield down. Your emotional crops are thriving, you have put in the work. Let go of your war, lean into joy and love.

✳ tarot correspondence: 3. the empress. ✳ zodiac correspondence: libra.

✳ 84. the church

.keywords: belief systems, ancestry, study, tradition, conformity, learning about the past.

A priest stands in front of you, one hand to invite you and one towards the divine. On his shoulders sits a church, the door slightly ajar. On the bottom, you may see keys. The Church cards beckons you inside a mysteries sacred place. In Christian belief, a church is not only where religious community meets but seat of Divinity itself. I invite you to the Church card as such, and disconnect it from its Christian imagery. It stands in the place of any established social structure, spiritual tradition or source of ancestral knowledge. It is a teacher, a leader, a guru of past memory. If the Church has come up in your reading, its indicating a need for deeper meaning or knowledge. Will you use your key to follow the paved road and find out who paved it and who walked it before you?

Reversed

The Church is upside down. Its integrity is questioned, the status quo stumbles. The pressure of conformity weighs heavy, others' belief systems hang above your head. This card is now urging you to move. Tradition can be a teacher or a jailer and in this case, it is trapping you. It may be time to shake your ancestors wishes away and start anew, upon a path you paved yourself.

✳ tarot correspondence: 4. the hierophant.

✳ zodiac correspondence: taurus, libra & capricorn.

✳ 69. the upside down

• .keywords: love (of all kinds), making heart-centred choices, compassion, partnerships and relationships, equilibrium, harmony.

Two hand reach for each other, the space between them filled with light and eyes. Around their wrists roses are growing. There is an obvious story being told, of two souls meeting in companionship. However, this is a card about balance and choices too. The Upside Down is a reference to love and the two sides of a coin. When this card appears it speaks of love and strong bonds. It also urges choice and asks you to consider both sides of a situation.

Reversed

Due to the nature of this card, up is down and down is up. However you pull this card, it is showing you both the Yin and the Yang. In this case, however, a sourness is prevalent. The eyes look away, giving you space to work out and identify within yourself why a committment has turned sour. Your inner voice is unbalanced. Use your heart for your choices and seek out harmony.

✳ tarot correspondence: 5. the lovers.

✳ zodiac correspondence: gemini.

✳ 35. the bird

.keywords: focused action, self-belief and confidence, commitment, drive and determination, hard, passionate work, assertion.

A chariot flies across a starry sky with two half moons. Inside it, a man dressed in Roman armour with the head of turtle dove looks straight at you, welcoming you with one hand. This is the card of control and victory. The Bird has control of his own fate. It is directing you to assert your will with mastery, careful practice and self-discipline. Now it's not the time to fly but to use willpower to lead yourself across your dreams.

Reversed

When reversed, the Bird is spinning further and further out of control. It may be due to an attempt to control too much, or an underdeveloped assertiveness. Loosen the reins, redirect your chariot. Some things are beyond your power to change and some others are just waiting for your confidence and hard work. Assess which is which and begin riding.

✳ tarot correspondence: 6. the chariot.

✳ zodiac correspondence: cancer.

✳ 28. the breasts

.keywords: inner strength and courage, dignified resistance, emotional labour, heart.

A naked woman covered in flowers looks to the side, casually taming the lion in front of her. Behind her, a natural landscape opens up. Do not be fooled by her gentle appearance, for she is not effortless. Her strength lies in her heart as this is the card for Breasts. Emotional weakness is discarded as patriarchal concept, as the Breasts are showing you a dignified taming of the wild through your heart. Emotion can steady your demeanour and your inner strength powers you. This indicates positive emotional labour of your own ferocity and expression of pure emotional strength.

Reversed

The lion is now overpowering as the Breasts appear upside down. This is an indication of weakness, your strength feeble as your self-confidence lessens. Your emotions are no longer a power but an overwhelming force that you cannot control. Do not let anger or pain dictate your choice, find your strength once again.

✳ tarot correspondence: 7. strength.

✳ zodiac correspondence: leo.

✳ 65. the crying

.keywords: introspection, solitude, retreat, working things through on your own, claiming space and time for you, self-guided or guided study.

A figure cries in a cocoon underwater, wrapped in a cape of their hair and algae. They are holding themselves, as their tears make their way up. A light shines from their hands. This figure is in deep introspection. The Crying card is not a negative card, regardless of your own view of tears. It indicates a need for comfort and solitude. It is asking for a moment of introspection, the only thing that may lead you to true self discovery. Once you have expressed your pain and truly felt it, you will gain better understanding.

Reversed

The tears fall upon you as the Crying card is reversed. You have relied on yourself too much and over-isolated. The cocoon has served its purpose, now the time for solitude is over. You may let others in or leave your safe space altogether for the time for crying is over.

✳ tarot correspondence: 8. the hermit.

✳ zodiac correspondence: virgo.

✳ 82. the set table

.keywords: positive luck, change, predictions and prophesies, feeling like something is ‘destined’ to happen, an interconnected bigger picture.

A table is set with

Reversed

✳ tarot correspondence: 9. the wheel of fortune.

✳ zodiac correspondence: aquarius, leo, taurus & scorpio

✳ 60. the lament

.keywords: rational, logical thought, objectivity , binary thinking, justice, fairness, balance, accountability, social justice principles, intersectionality.

Reversed

✳ tarot correspondence: 9. the wheel of fortune.

✳ zodiac correspondence: libra.

✳ 28. the breasts

.keywords: inner strength and courage, dignified resistance, emotional labour,

Reversed

✳ tarot correspondence: 10. strength.

✳ zodiac correspondence: leo.

✳ 85. purgatory's souls

.keywords: passivity, holding back, patience, allowing events to unfold, meditation and mindful practice, inner peace, self-acceptance, overcoming ego

✳ tarot correspondence: 11. the hanged man. ✳ zodiac correspondence: pisces.

✳ 48. the talking dead

.keywords: Personal transformation, starting over, moving on, the ending of a cycle, letting go, saying goodbye, ritual to honour change, being in the flow of change, not resisting, honouring the seasons of life.

✳ tarot correspondence: 12. death. ✳ zodiac correspondence: scorpio.

✳ 48. the warm soup

.keywords: balance, harmony, blending of dualities, seeking the middle path, not making extreme decisions, taking a non-binary attitude, testing the waters, self-care, grace, gentleness.

✳ tarot correspondence: 13. temperance.

✳ zodiac correspondence: sagittarius.

✳ 77. the devils

.keywords: bondage, addiction, materialism, destructive behaviours, harmful cycles, choosing to get free, or choosing not to get free, confronting fear, committing to your own freedom.

✳ tarot correspondence: 14. the devil.

✳ zodiac correspondence: capricorn.

✳ 83. the storm

.keywords: revolution, disaster, shock, mourning, blowing apart old structures, demolition of the status quo, toppling systems of power, potential, rebuilding after disaster, a blessing in disguise as a disaster, rehabilitation, regeneration.

✳ tarot correspondence: 15. the tower. ✳ zodiac correspondence: scorpio & aries.

✳ 25. christmas

.keywords: hope, love and support, coming home to yourself, self-care, healing, being true to yourself, being guided by your intuition, integrity, honesty,a positive new start or new vision.

✳ tarot correspondence: 16. the star.

✳ zodiac correspondence: aquarius.

✳ 48. blood

.keywords: shadow work, getting in touch with your wild nature, listening deeply to your intuition, secrets, signs and symbols, non-rational, witchcraft, magic and spell-work, lies and deception, deceiving yourself, wearing a mask.

✳ tarot correspondence: 17. the moon.

✳ zodiac correspondence: pisces.

✳ 19. laughter

.keywords: positivity, saying yes, joy, practicing gratitude, success, things coming together, life’s simple pleasures, allowing yourself to simply be, connecting to a dynamic life force.

✳ tarot correspondence: 18. the sun.

✳ zodiac correspondence: leo.

✳ 18. the gossiping woman

.keywords: liberation, freedom, casting off shackles, laying down of old baggage, total accountability for self, integrity, honesty, forgiveness, allowing yourself to move forwards.

✳ tarot correspondence: 19. judgement.

✳ zodiac correspondence: scorpio.

✳ 45. the good wine

.keywords: completion, a sense of wholeness, knowing who you are in the world, having a sense of place, feeling deeply connected to all things, reaching your goal, celebration, jubliation.

✳ tarot correspondence: 20. the world.

✳ zodiac correspondence: all signs.

Bibliography

• Paola De Sanctis Ricciardone, Il tipografo celeste. Il gioco del lotto tra letteratura e demologia nell'Italia dell'Ottocento e oltre, Bari, Dedalo, 1987. ISBN 88-220-6066-0
• Michele Zezza, La smorfia ossia Il nuovo metodo per perdere denaro, e cervello con maggior sicurezza al gioco del lotto, Napoli, Torchi della Società filomatica, 1835.
• 莊子, 齊物論, 12. Zhuàngzi, "Discussion on making all things equal," 12. from Zhuàngzi, Burton Watson trans., Chuang Tzu (New York: Columbia University Press, 1996), 43. ISBN 978-0-231-10595-8 [1]