This is one of the most beautiful and carefully prepared tarot decks I have ever seen: truly a work of impeccable art! From the moment one views this superb deck, the essence of bygone elegance and sophisticated packaging come to mind. Not only are the images from a bygone era, but the way the cards are presented speaks of the care and luxurious aesthetics of yesteryear. Created by Kat Black and published by the well-established company, U.S. Games, this deck offers timeless beauty and a sense of refined inquiry to your tarot reading sessions. Kat combines images from the Medieval, early Renaissance, and particularly the International Gothic period to provide well-known yet unique interpretations of the various cards' symbolic meanings. She particularly focuses on art from the periods 1300 to 1500 A.D. Kat deliberately chose to conform to the card styles introduced by the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith deck, but her own version offers a genteel, softer and much more personable version, in my humble opinion. The box that protects the cards is gorgeous - deep lapis blue and burgundy accented with gold embellish this sturdy, perfectly sized box: it looks like an elegant jewelry box. Inside, the cards are perfect for fitting in the hand, and feel wonderful as you hold them; the gold gilt edges give off a cool royal feeling as one listens to and touches the cards during shuffling, choosing and reading. A rare treat in this day and edge of plastic wrap and cheap paper. The publishers should be commended on their devotion to fine craftsmanship and customer experience.
The Golden Tarot deck has the same basic structure as more traditional tarot decks - 78 cards in total with 22 key Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana cards, sorted into four suits (click on the link to view illustrations of all 78 cards). Kat presents the cards as the traditional suits coins, cups, swords and wands though she attributes interesting Medieval/Renaissance terminology to describe the meaning of each suit.
Golden Tarot Suit Meanings
| Suit | Medieval Class | Meaning |
| Coins | Merchant | Business, Money, Material Possessions |
| Cups | Clerical | Spiritual Authority, Contemplation, Feelings |
| Swords | Ruling | Temporal Authority, Leadership, Wisdom |
| Wands | Peasant | Strength, Productivity |
The seamless collage approach used to create the lovely images of the Golden Tarot offers clear and familar imagery which helps the reader hone into the meaning of the cards. For instance, the Ace of Coins is represented by, "A beautiful red-haired angel holds a large coin. He stands in a rocky outcrop, but there is a lush garden in the background with a natural arch. The angel is flanked by a small lion, a peacock and a stem of lilies." Kat chose to use angels for all of the four Ace cards, which adds an ethereal and blessed sort of energy to these prime cards of the minor arcana. (NOTE: Click on the card images to view an expanded interpretation and illustration of the cards on Kat's site). The Royal Face cards are graced with regal wise looking monarchs and the face Trumps such as the High Priestess (who is represented by a woman who might be Pope Joan) display noble pictures of notaries and impressive players of the time. I particularly like the Queen of Wands, which also graces the front of the deck's display box. Kat describes this card's imagery: "A sensual red-haired Queen stands with her hands crossed elegantly on her breast. She holds a wand and wears rich red and gilt robes. A gold brooch emblazoned with a black rampant lion is pinned on her cloak. She is flanked by red angels glowing in the darkness." All of the images smack of elegance and grace: Kat has truly done an amazing job of capturing the best of the Gothic/Medieval/early Rennaisance Period and made them meaningful for us in
the 21st century. The deck comes complete with a palm-sized interpretation mini-book, that offers sensitive and intelligent meanings for each card as well as a detailed description of the original sources for the collage elements for each. For instance, her reading for the Queen of Wands states: "A strong, sensual woman. Knows what she wants, and isn't afraid to go for it - but she'd never step on anyone along the way. Passionate and creative. Down to earth, pragmatic and generous." All in all, this is one of the finest decks available today. I highly recommend Kat's creation- the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one. It will appeal to the taste of people of all ages, and deserves a top spot in any tarot devotees' deck collection.
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