Revelations of Manara Tarot

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In this article, we delve into the origins of the Manara Tarot, exploring its distinctive features and unique interpretative approach. If you aspire to understand the deeper motivations behind your actions and interactions—whether in personal relationships, career, or business—the Manara Tarot can be a powerful tool. This deck is perfect for those drawn to psychology, esotericism, and a candid dialogue with their inner self. In my view, this is the most “expressive” deck when it comes to relationships. Its imagery, at times quite explicit, unflinchingly reveals the essence of human interactions. The Manara Tarot exposes hidden motives and agendas—the ones we often refuse to acknowledge, even in private. As the saying goes, “rose-colored glasses shatter inward.” The Manara Tarot isn’t about illusions; it’s about an honest, unfiltered perspective on relationships in all their facets, particularly in the fast-paced dynamics of modern urban life. First published in 1998 by the Italian publishing house Lo Scarabeo, this deck continues to be a sought-after psychometric tool for new generations.

The artist behind the Manara Tarot, Milo Manara, was born in 1945 in Italy and is renowned for his work in comics, primarily in the adult genre. While we won't delve into his extensive accolades, it’s worth mentioning that his comic “Click” was adapted into a film by the notable director Jean-Louis Richard. In his namesake tarot deck, Manara drew inspiration from both his contemporaries and celebrated figures of the bohemian world, as well as archetypal representations of historical and pseudo-historical characters. The Manara Tarot was created under the guidance of Pietro Alligo, who meticulously selected illustrations to capture the essence of each Arcana. The result is a deck that adheres to the fundamental principles of tarot and oracles while offering significant deviations from the classic Rider-Waite system.

The Manara Tarot stands out with its striking visual style. The black background of the cards embodies societal restrictions, taboos, and hidden layers of life. Bright red borders on the deck's cover and vivid accents within the cards infuse them with the energy of passion and unspoken desires, creating a dynamic interplay of emotions and mysteries. Each suit in the deck corresponds to one of the four elements, with unique color-coded frames: • Fire 🔥 (red border): Represents energy and passion. • Water 🌊 (aquamarine border): Reflects emotions and intuition. • Air 🌬️ (purple-blue border): Signifies thoughts and dreams. • Earth 🌿 (green border): Embodies stability and material concerns. The Major Arcana is framed in yellow, symbolizing the illumination of profound aspects of human nature.

One of the most striking features of the Manara Tarot is its boldness. This deck not only portrays situations but delves into inner motives, hidden desires, and unspoken benefits—those truths we often hesitate to acknowledge even to ourselves. Some unique characteristics include: • Renamed suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles are replaced by Fire, Water, Air, and Earth, allowing the cards to be interpreted as flows of energy rather than specific events. • No reversed cards: The absence of reversed meanings simplifies readings and emphasizes direct interpretation. • Altered Major Arcana: Instead of the traditional “Hanged Man,” the Manara Tarot features the “Punishment” card, shifting the focus from surrender and patience to themes of retribution, consequence, and emotional honesty. • Astrological correspondences: Each card ties into planets and zodiac signs, appealing to both esoteric practitioners and astrologers. For instance, the card symbolizing Venus in Scorpio leaves a lasting impression with its evocative imagery. Additionally, several Major Arcana cards deviate significantly from traditional meanings. For example: • The Fool: In the Manara Tarot, this card focuses on relationships, highlighting manipulation, games, and false hopes, diverging from the lighthearted and carefree essence seen in classic decks.

Let’s consider the 4 of Water — the Moon in Cancer. Naturally, the card features water, in which a practical, domestic-minded woman stands with a wooden bucket. Under the Moon in Cancer, much like this lake, she seems to be stuck in her emotions. She has turned her head to the left, looking into the past. She came here with her wooden bucket to fetch water for her household tasks.

But here’s the rub: The Moon in Cancer is at times subject to an entire forest of emotions, choices, and inner conflicts — on the card, these are depicted by two men. The black raven often symbolizes intuition, premonitions, or warnings. It emphasizes the darker side of emotions—fears, anxieties, feelings of guilt or resentment. That corresponds to the Moon in Cancer, doesn’t it? However, based on my experience and the literature I’ve studied, many people use astrological correspondences in Tarot more for the creation of magical talismans rather than for interpreting a spread. Incidentally, it’s believed that astrological correspondences in Tarot decks appeared in the 18th century, coinciding with the emergence of the Tarot+Kabbalah connection. Some also use astrology in Tarot for predicting events, but personally, I use the Manara Tarot primarily as a psychometric tool to diagnose my relationships with the world and with myself, of course—without tying it to specific deadlines or dates. So, the Manara Tarot is perfectly suited for those seeking an honest tool for self-exploration and understanding relationships. This deck combines art, psychology, and esotericism, offering a unique perspective on familiar matters.