The Whispering Crypt Spread: a Smile in the Shadows...
Unearthing the Ghastly Lenormand Deck
I have often spoken about magic and how I conceive it as “a science of the imagination”, as the philosopher Ioan Petru Culianu once described. However, it’s not always easy to understand how this works in practice. That’s why I’m writing this little article. I wanted to share a new spread I created for The Ghastly Lenormand—a special one—and a reading to accompany it. But first, let’s play a little game of imagination...
...Imagine a quiet winter night, cold and silent outside, while a fire flickers in the fireplace. The drawing room is warm and cozy, with shadows cast by the flames dancing on the walls. There’s something witchy about the atmosphere, and you feel inspired to do some magic. You decide to do a reading with your favourite deck, but you crave something different. You’re not sure what exactly, but you want a new spread—something powerful yet simple, something inspiring that sparks your intuition. You walk to the bookshelf and pick up one of your books. It’s new, beautifully printed, with an attractive graphic on the soft cover. As you leaf through its pages, a particular spread catches your eye. Its clean design reminds you of a magical seal, and you instantly know it’s the right one. With a satisfied smile, you head to the little table by the window and the fireplace... and the magic begins.
Everything in this scene feels great and yet so... normal —it describes something we may have experienced before and maybe that will experience again: a quiet night spent immersed in our tarot decks. But... it could have been different.
Imagine the same situation: the stillness of a cold winter night and the fireplace warming the drawing room... but this time, when you go to your bookcase, you find an old book. Its hard cover is tattered and stained, marked by time. You don’t know who it once belonged to —you bought it in a curious second-hand bookstore. Here and there, the yellowed pages are torn and jagged. Some have handwritten notes in the margins; comments and suggestions left by the previous owner in their minute, elegant calligraphy. When you bring the book closer to your face, you catch that peculiar scent unique to old books. As you leaf through its pages, you finally come across a spread you like. Its magic seal design is now a reproduction of a hand-drawn illustration, its imperfections only adding to its charm. The content of the book remains the same of the previous scene, as does the spread. But now, something feels more special, more unique—a deeper, more intimate connection with the spread you’re about to use.
And yet, it’s still not enough... Let’s take this mental experiment to its final level.
Imagine now the same wintry night outside, the same room, everything unchanged from the previous scenes... but this time, the book you pick up from your bookcase is a very old one. Its leather cover is falling apart, and you have to open it delicately, almost with reverence. The pages are thick, handmade paper, all marked by the passage of time. The borders are irregular and jagged. When you pass your hands over the pages, you feel the letters in relief—this is one of the first printed books! Centuries old... The printing press has left the marks of its pressure.
You leaf through it slowly and find a spread you like. It’s the same spread that captured your imagination in the previous scenes, but now it is a wood carving printed on the page, its thick ink dark and imperfect. The lines are not the clean, computer-generated vectors of the first scene. The pages are adorned with a beautiful series of handwritten notes and illustrations, made with a quill—suggestions about magic, interpretations of cards, and mystical annotations.
Now, I ask you: which of the three books is more “magical,” in your opinion? Which one makes you feel the power of magic more intensely? I gave my answer long ago. Magic is the science of imagination—without imagination, there is no magic! The book that conveys more magic, in my opinion, is the one that is most unique, the one with character, the one that tells a story with poetry and beauty.
I remember the days I spent in the private library of the Natural Science Museum in Turin. I was creating a very intriguing exhibition that represented my city (Turin), its buildings, and its history as seen through the eyes of an Elizabethan explorer. The city’s architectural details were transformed into a fantastical flora and fauna, into magical insects.
The museum director granted me access to their unique collection of books for my research. The best part was that the library wasn’t modern at all; it was the museum’s historical library! I could touch and read very ancient books. The incredible emotions I felt and the beauty of every single book! It was an epiphany, a revelation!
Aldrovandi's “Theatre”. Ulisse Aldrovandi (11 September 1522 – 4 May 1605) was an Italian naturalist, the moving force behind Bologna's botanical garden, one of the first in Europe. Carl Linnaeus and the comte de Buffon reckoned him the father of natural history studies. He is usually referred to, especially in older scientific literature in Latin, as Aldrovandus; his name in Italian is equally given as Aldroandi.
In every work I do, I try to capture that feeling of magic, that almost sacred and mystical aura that only unique, handmade, or ancient relics can possess. This is why I created The Book of Shadows the way I did: tarot cards that feel ancient, a book of magic that is a “translation” of an obscure and 'ancient' grimoire, and a mockumentary telling their story.
The way magical objects—tarot decks, oracle cards, or similar items—are created is not only important but essential. The devil is in the details, as they say. Magic is not merely “content”; it is a feeling, a way to experience and relate to the world. It is a point of view—or better yet, a special lens through which we can observe reality.
In the Kickstarter campaign for The Ghastly Lenormand, there was a small tier that was very special to me because it embodied the concept of the correlation between magic and fantasy: The Letter from the Haunted Graveyard.
With this reward level, I wanted to share a few of the spreads I had created and experimented with in the most magical way possible. I could have included them in the booklet, but their magic would have been lost. Instead, I envisioned a series of missives coming from The Great Beyond.
I imagined Charon, like a spectral postman, carrying these letters to the border of the realm of the dead, where a flock of unfaithful ravens would pick them up and deliver them to the living. The journey was dangerous and unusual, as you can imagine, and the letters bore the marks of their perilous passage. They were scarred by the hands of the dead who wrote them, stained with fire, dust, and time. Crossing from one realm to another is no simple task—it’s quite bureaucratic too! That’s why every letter needed the proper postage stamps, as well as a special imprint to ensure safe passage between worlds.
I had an incredible amount of fun dreaming up this backstory and, honestly, designing the postage stamps and all the details of these macabre letters—it was pure joy!
Inside the tattered envelop, were pages upon pages, all stained and crumpled, containing some of the spreads I had created. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see—how could I?—the faces of those who received them. I truly hope they felt that special thrill, the mystery of the great beyond, and the shiver of excitement that only powerful magic can evoke.
Unfortunately, I cannot materialize the letters into your hands from the computer screen (or whatever devise you are using), but I can share some pictures, including one of the spreads they secretly guard: The Whispering Crypt. I think it’s very appropriate for this time of year—the beginning of a new year!
The Reading
Let’s draw the four cards required for this spread, focusing on the dreams we carry in our hearts. It’s the start of a new year—a year that has already begun in troublesome ways. Looking at the political and socio-economic situation we find ourselves in—wars of aggression, the looming risks of a world war, oppressive dictators, and super-narcissistic authoritarian leaders—it’s quite a mix!
Let’s ask the cards for some guidance about our dreams for this year and how we should approach them.
The cards reveal a fascinating and inspiring spread... so powerful, especially with The Sun in the key position, radiating its energy across every card. Let’s analyze it in depth.
Couple 1 & 2
How the past influences the realization of our dreams
The Sun & The Flowers
Our lives are always an intriguing cocktail of different events—a real conundrum of esoterica! While we don’t have control over everything and are not superheroes gifted with extraordinary powers, one essential power is always within our grasp: the ability to choose how we interpret what happens and happened to us. We have the freedom to decide whether to accept everything destiny throws at us—whether it aligns with our desires or not. Good or bad, luck or misfortune are merely labels we attach to events based on whether they align with our wishes. These labels are ours to define.
The cards seem to remind us that the success we had in the past are due to our attitude; if we maintain a positive outlook and continue to nurture our “flowers” (our ideas, relationships, and projects), they will grow and may even bloom.
Couple 1 & 3
Describes our current situation and the circumstances surrounding us in the present moment.
The Sun & The Medals
We are so often torn between two dimensions of time: the past and the future. The past may weigh us down with the burden of sorrows, experiences, and lingering negative thoughts or emotions we carry with us. However, this couple of cards serves as a gentle reminder to focus on the only dimension over which we have any real influence: the present.
The cards seem to suggest that every moment, destiny may offer us small rewards—treasured moments, precious and unique instants. We should learn to embrace and appreciate these gifts in the here and now. Being fully present in our lives and focused on the present is key to a happy and healthy existence.
Of course, we dream, wish, and think about the future—it would be unwise not to. But the secret lies in how we approach it.
Couple 1 & 4
Unveils how the future may respond to our dreams.
The Sun & The Ship
Interestingly, the cards reveal the possibility for... adventures! Whatever we dream or wish for, the cards seem to advise us to leave the safe (and stagnant) waters of our comfort zone. We are encouraged to board the galleon of Destiny and set sail toward uncharted lands!
Once again, The Sun takes a pivotal role in this spread. It seems to speak directly to us, saying:
"Whatever will be, shine, smile, be free, and move forward. Never stop dreaming, never surrender, never give up. Shine as I shine in the darkness of the universe, bringing life and warmth to the most improbable places".
This spread encourages us to remember that the key to success lies in our positivity, enthusiasm, and strength to keep dreaming and smiling, no matter what is happening in the world around us.
I hope you enjoy this new spread, which you can use with your favourite Lenormand or tarot deck. Wishing you all a most splendiferous year, and remember:
“Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile what’s the use of crying
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you’ll just
Smile...”
-Smile, Music by Charles Chaplin, Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons
Till the next time
Andrea
Thank you for sharing. This is an article that I will return to many times. I will definitely be working with this spread!