Customer Reviews

The Golden Tarot [With Book]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The packaging on this deck doesn't make it clear that only the major arcana and court cards are illustrated. It says "Each of the 78 cards contains an exquisite, specially commissioned painting," and the box shows several fully illustrated major cards. However, when you open the deck you find out that the 40 pip cards just have the same generic background (same within each suit) with a repeated symbol (for instance, 3 of cups has the standard cups background and three identical cups arranged on it, like the number cards in a standard deck of playing cards).

Yes, this practice goes back to a tradition before people started illustrating all the tarot cards, but in this day and age of fabulous deck artistry it feels cheap or lazy, and greatly reduces the usefulness of the deck for me. As I like to read for myself and others using the images to spark intuitive insights, having to rely on a memorized formula for the card meanings trivializes the process. Perhaps for someone who already knows the tarot meanings inside out, this would be less of an issue, but it certainly would detract from the enjoyment and utility for anyone new to the practice as I am. Just looking at an image of 5 identical cups is unlikely to mean much.

On the good side, the artwork on the illustrated cards is very pleasing, calm, clean and uncluttered yet detailed enough, in most cases (many of the court cards are a bit generic), to draw out the traditional meanings as well as some intuitive insights. The pictures are very gentle and would be suitable for younger readers or anyone who doesn't like some of the harsher or more violent imagery in some decks. Death and the Devil are both represented in a non-frightening way that suits modern practices of reading those cards as, if not positive, at least not strictly literal. Perhaps to broaden the audience for the deck, all the figures are clothed except, inexplicably, the Star figure who is entirely nude (so I'm not sure what the overall philosophy was about this issue).

Do not confuse this deck with Kat Black's Golden Tarot which was published some years earlier and is a classic among tarot enthusiasts. There is some concern that the publisher using the same name for this deck is acting unethically. It also bothers me that even though the artwork is the only redeeming feature of the deck, the artist's name, Melissa Launay, isn't even included on the package, and is only mentioned in small print in the included book. Whatever the reason for this, it smacks of not giving adequate credit.

Had Launay been contracted to provide full original illustrations for all of the cards, this might have been one of my favourite all purpose decks for reading for others. As is, I'm unlikely to use it except perhaps if I am doing any majors-only readings.

This deck I specifically purchased for the reason that it resembles a classical European historical deck. That being said, the minors are not illustrated, nor were they at that time. The art I would describe as clear and classic. It does not attempt to be photorealistic, nor would I want this deck to be. The box is quite sturdy. The book is good size, has a good size type, and full color with meanings and picture for each card. The book is one of the first I've seen that comes with cards that has more than one spread described in it. The cards are neither too small nor too big, they seem to be just about the right size.
This is not a deck that does not attempt to pagan necessarily, it is what it is, which is a tarot deck.
The back is just as gorgeous as the front, and there is no indication on the back of top or bottom, in case you read reversals.
This deck will perhaps take a little more effort to get used to reading due to unillustrated minors. But part of its charm is that its not an instant quick and easy answer deck.
In so far as readings, the first reading I did was spot on.

First off, if you are looking for a way to look into the future and be told what will happen automatically, this deck is probably not the best choice. I have been shocked by the accuracy with which the cards show the current situation, including the past and all the current situations. The outcomes of the readings have not been pure predictions of future events, but instead have been logical and sound advice on how to achieve the desired future outcome or how to avoid a feared negative outcome. The outcomes are not "sugar coated" in any way, and they often seem quite frank. They do offer incredible insight and sound advice, and for me that's far more important than providing a sense (false or otherwise) that it is necessary to sit and wait for the rainbow to come or the hammer to fall. No, the outcomes give users a detailed and accurate road map to the future, but they do not provide a cab to take them there. Users still need to travel the path themselves to achieve success.

I appear to have made an incorrect purchase, and hope to alleviate any confusion for others. I had heard about a golden tarot deck printed with metallic ink or maybe even foil stamped (it actually has gilded edges). I thought this was it. It was not. Apparently, the deck I actually sought was Golden Tarot by Kat Black (ISBN-13: 978-1572814349). In the event that there are other versions of the above Liz Dean deck, the one I am reviewing today is ISBN 978-1-906094-86-7.

Liz Dean's illustrations are pleasant and colorful, and she has clearly put a lot of love and effort into them. The little booklet seems to have good general content, and it would be a fine purchase for many. However, now that I have this set, I realize that I would have resonated with the Kat Black deck much more so than this one. My personal preference is for a more ancient than contemporary art style, and also containing more symbolism in the illustrations, such as planetary references. As far as being a "Golden" deck, these Liz Dean cards are not even printed with a metallic ink or foil stamping - just a printer's mix of a gold-brown to give the impression of a gold tone. The box and booklet cover, however, ARE printed with metallic ink, which I think is a bit misleading to the buyer. The metallic ink on the cards would have made for a much richer looking deck. I also am disappointed that the minor arcana cards are such a stripped down design. Not very inspiring to look at.

These are all my personal preferences and many would find this set very usable, although I will most likely be passing this deck on to someone else. To be sure, I did not research my purchase fully. I bought this at a local bookstore and not through amazon, where the Kat Black deck came up first in the search. I feel that sometimes I also need to give some business to the little local bookshops.

this deck is very beautifull an speaks to me in a very apealling way.the golden tarot deck is smooth and fits in the hands nicely,It also comes with a book with everything you u need to learn about the deck an a few spreads this is my first deck im new to magic and have do some extremly accurate readings.

I use this tarot deck so many times! The illustrations are gorgeous and detailed, and the instruction book isn't that bad. I have two decks and I hardly use the other because this one is better. The cards are about medium sized and a bit hard to shuffle, I'll admit, but they are very smooth. They come in a box that closes well so you can use it to store them (like I do). It also comes with an instruction book. The instruction book has about four tarot spreads and an intro to tarot. It's not a big intro, as the book is slightly small, but it does cover what a beginner needs to know. I recommend it.