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Reviews: Tarot Cartomancy & Oracle Decks
Tarot & Cartomancy Reviews
by Bonnie Cehovet
Tarot Master
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Golden Tarot
review by Bonnie Cehovet, TM
author: Kat Black
U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
2003
ISBN #1-57281-434-9
suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, Coins (Pentacles)
court cards: King, Queen, Knight, Page
Golden Tarot is a compilation of collages from artwork of the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance.
Poignant images of gentle beauty and human frailty came from a time of violence, pestilence and oppression.
These images speak to me of a truth that is timeless, and hope that flowers even in the darkest conditions. It is my hope that they speak to you as well.
Kat Black, quoted from a separate card that accompanies the Golden Tarot.
From the moment that I started hearing about this deck, I knew that I wanted to have it in my hands! Having it in my hands did not disappoint - it is a gentle, gracious deck that U.S. Games has presented in a very worthy manner.
The artwork is digital collage - and you generally do have to look to see where the collage "happened". It is fascinating to read that there are twenty layers to each picture (the online version), and that each layer was manipulated to make the picture appear as cohesive as possible. I would say that Kat Black has done a stupendous job here!
The material that is presented here has been taken from Medieval and Renaissance art - it is gentle, lovely - full of grace and such a marvelous deck to offer to clients as an option for their reading (and, of course, a stunning deck to use for personal reading and meditation!).
The box that the deck and LWB come in has a dark blue background with gold text, and is outlined on all sides with a golden border. The box is sturdy, with the top third lifting straight off so that the deck and book can be easily accessed. There is an inner collar of approximately 3/4" that is a marbled gold color, which set off nicely the deck, which has a gold patterned back and gold edging on all of the cards. The LWB that comes with the deck carries on the color theme of the box - dark blue background, gold text and a gold border to the spine. The pictures on the front of the book, and the front and back of the deck also contain gold borders.
The LWB itself is really a lovely "little" book - it is approximately 2 7/8" by 4 7/8", containing 199 pages (OK - so the last page is blank!). It has a stiff cover, and really is a book - not a pamphlet. The book begins by giving thanks and recognition to the people involved in the project, then continues on to with an introduction, a short section on the source of the artwork, and on digital collage itself - which is the manner in which this deck was done. There are four Tarot spreads presented - the Card-Of-The-Day Spread, the Simple Three Card Spread, the Celtic Cross Spread and the Horseshoe Spread. Approximately the first third of the book is devoted to the sources for the material contained in each card. Reading through the sources gives a true idea of the enormous amount of work that went into this deck - and the care that was taken to blend everything together to look "real".
There is an interesting side note here: Kat uses a Tarot card each day as her computer desktop wallpaper for the day. What a marvelous idea! Being a Capricorn, and not liking change all that well, I think my computer could be assured of retaining its wallpaper for at least a month!
The cards are presented with black and white scans, a discussion of the artwork, followed by the meaning of the card in the upright and reversed position positions. From the book:
The Magician
A man stands behind a table surrounded by birds and animals. He appears to be conjuring the animals, or perhaps blessing them. On the table are items representing each of the Minor Arcana suits and a vessel for knowledge. An infinity symbol floats above his head.
Although the ability to communicate with animals is not literally traditional to the Magician in tarot, I feel that it is a powerful and appropriate metaphor for the meaning of the card.
Meaning: Knowledge is power. Empowerment through the understanding of our own abilities and the world around us. Intelligence and initiative. Pragmatism, the ability to make the best of a situation. A risk must be taken, and a choice made - this is the time for a new start, the beginning of something significant.
Reversed: Beware of deception in your midst. Cowardice, fear of change. Possibly mental illness. Disgrace and abuse of power.
The cards themselves are approximately 2 7/8" by 4 7/8" - they can be handled relatively easily by smaller hands with a bit of attention. They are of good quality card stock, and will hold up well under use. The backs are gold patterned, and would not show if they were in a reversed position.
The face of the cards contains a 1/4" gold border. The Trump cards carry the card number in a white square with black text at the top of the card, with the card title at the bottom (black text on white, with the first letter of each word in red). The Minor Arcana carry the number and title across the bottom, black text on a white background with the first letter of each word in red. The Court Cards carry the rank and suit along the bottom of the card, black text on a white background, with the first letter of the rank and suit in red.
There are many cards in this deck that caught my attention. The Magician above was certainly one of them, as was the Hermit. Here we see St. Francis of Assisi standing in a forest, holding a lantern, with a deer at his side. In the background we see a gray cat (which, in the notes in the LWB, we find is stalking a quail!). In the Moon, we see a stunning portrayal of all that this card can be - a lovely feminine face looking down from a full moon, with many different animals playing in the moonlight below. The animals are framed between two white pillars. Note the very traditional crayfish at the bottom of the card, along with the hound chasing the hare.
The Four of Swords is one of the more traditional portrayals in this deck. Three swords hang on the wall, points down, next to a bed where a haloed saint lies asleep, with the fourth sword ready at his side. Interestingly, according to the accompanying book, the bed t hat the saint is sleeping in has been placed in a church alcove. The Ace of Wands is a less traditional portrayal, showing a winged angel holding a lily in her hand. At the angels feet are an open book and a candle, while in the background we see a wall of red flames.
The King of Wands is another interesting card. We see a youngish looking but very stern King seated on a throne, facing the left hand side of the card. He is dressed in red with gilt, and looks quite prosperous! He holds a wand in one hand, with the other hand raised chest high. A small lizard sits on the arm of his throne, looking up at the wand. A copper shield with a black lion on it hangs on the wall behind him, with a richly colored tapestry to the left of it. Beside the King we see the flames from a burning fire.
I found this to be quite an intriguing deck - something that I would personally use, as well as being a deck that I would offer as a choice for my clients. The Medieval and Renaissance them is something that is "comforting" to me - something that I seem to be at home with. I would recommend this deck to all levels of Tarot students and readers - there is something here for everyone.
Illustrations from the Golden Tarot deck reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902 USA. Copyright © 2003 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited.he William Blake Tarot
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Bonnie Cehovet ,
Tarot Master, and Reiki Master/Teacher.
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Bonnie Cehovet is a Tarot Master, professional Tarot reader and Reiki Master/Teacher.
Bonnie has been reading the Tarot professionally for over ten years. She has served in various capacities with the American Tarot Association, including Secretary and Web Assistant For Links. She is currently Certification Director and Secretary for the American Board For Tarot Certification. Bonnie is also a founding member of the World Tarot Network.
Bonnie has had her work published in the ATA newsletter, in Geraldine Amaral's "Celebrating The Tarot" print newsletter, on the World Tarot Network and other internet sites. She is editor for her own monthly newsletter "Gateway To Tarot" (Yahoo Groups).
www.tarot.
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