U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Golden Tarot Deck

First of all, I thought these cards would be larger than I imagined but I still love these cards. The golden edges are beautiful and the Renaissances/medieval/late Middle Ages style arts are stunning, I love how they can represent accurately what cards they are, particularly my two favorite cards: Strength card and Death card and their representations behind them. Sometimes, they do give off rather ominous feeling, both good and bad. Not only this small box came with the stunning cards, but also 200 pages booklet explaining the rules and cards. I'd recommend the reading cloth and tarot reading small bag to put the cards in (mine are astrology signs), which unfortunately didn't come with this set and follow the book closely to those who are inexperienced. I have some of sort of collection, which are: Ouija board, pendulum stone, and even some spell books. They're fun to have, but like I said they should be handled with great care. Sometimes, they can have unexpected results. Thank you, Kat Black, for this stunning set of tarot cards. I'd recommend this.

This beautifully crafted deck is first class. Its lovely images, seamlessly put together from old paintings, are rimmed in ‘gold’, and feel so luxurious and dignified. It is very true to Rider Waite Coleman in its symbology (see photo), so there’s no guesswork if that was your earlier choice. All the minor cards are represented with familiar symbols, which is becoming unusual these days in ‘art’ decks. I hesitated to use it at first, it is just so elegant. But it has become my favorite go-to deck. Be sure to shuffle it gently, use the overhand technique, no riffling, as that will damage the card material, and flake off the gold trim. If you’re looking to treat yourself or gift someone you love, this is a beautiful, gratifying and recommended deck. If you’re looking to treat yourself or gift someone you love, this is a beautiful, gratifying and recommended deck.

It took me awhile to order because I didn't really like the religious appearance, but because of the ratings I thought I would try it. It is now my favorite deck. It is VERY accessible. Gorgeous card stock and the size is perfect. The art is just spectacular. I would love to see the artist create another set based on another art era also. The book was very interesting and informative. This is not a religious related set at all. although the author clarifies some historical facts I found really fascinating. It is very carefully thought out art study from a particular era, but done with great tarot clarity. The author certainly knows her stuff not only in tarot, but the art era and the design! This deck just has a wonderful, high quality essence about it. I really like the box design and size and the gold edging. Just spectacular. I wish I had started with this deck and I might not have purchased many others. I haven't bought any more since I got this set. Readings are very warm and clear. I have never seen a deck that is quite so well rounded on every level.

I've been an avid collector of tarot decks since 1970 when I received my first Deck, a Rider-Waite-Smith deck. The Golden Tarot by Kat Black was my 77th acquisition AND the most spectacular member of my collection. The Golden edges put me in mind of a real golden brick when I open the top of the two-part box holding both the deck and the booklet. The cards are standard size but the stock is slightly thicker than the usual. Again I can't help mentioning the gold edges and how their appearance gives the deck a look of true value. The color and art are both deep and show care and fidelity to the symbolism that the tarot must impart to be considered authentic. The price is well below other offerings that don't approach the quality captured by this wonderful. At the risk of sounding "corny", this is the most beautiful addition to my collection and I couldn't be happier with it. So many times I've taken it out of my storage container just to look at it, and hold it in my hands The only other deck that has my devotion at this level is the ancient French "Grand Tarot Belline", which is now my #2 favorite since Kat Black's "Golden Tarot" instantly became #1 the moment I opened the box. You won't be disappointed with this artful Tarot.

This is an absolutely sumptuous deck. Filled with rich color, and of course the golden card backs and brightly gilded edges. The box it comes in is a work of art, and is actually perfect as a permanent storage for these cards and their accompanying book. That is very rare; most Tarot cards come in useless, disposable boxes that require you to purchase a separate box or bag for appropriate storage. I know some people don't like the digital collage method but here it really works without looking "fake." Kat Black manages to "mimic" some of the Rider-Waite-Smith imagery and symbols but using Medieval and Renaissance sources, and she achieves this beautifully. As it says on the box, "the poignant images evoke a feeling of gentle beauty and human frailty while remaining true to the tradition of the Rider-Waite symbolism." How true! The little accompanying book falls somewhere between a "little white book" and a larger companion book. It does contain small B&W images of each card, an explanation of the image, a meaning, and a brief reversed meaning. Some of the meanings give a refreshing take on the traditional meanings; others are too brief or superficial, possibly due to space limitations. A few specific responses to the book and deck: 1.The Lovers card meaning speaks of love, relationships, and compassion for others, but says nothing of the element of choice usually associated with this card. 2. The Magician card shows a Christlike figure surrounded by birds and animals. As the book says, "He appears to be conjuring the animals, or perhaps blessing them." I love that, especially as the Magician's traditional elemental tools are also present, so Black's added imagery enhances, rather than alters, the meaning. 3. I love the Chariot card. A warrior queen is being drawn across a lake by two swans, one white and one black, who, like the sphinxes in the RWS deck, are not controlled by reins. The meaning given reflects that, emphasizing working on oneself to effect change, and working with others and not against them to achieve success. 4. I dislike the High Priestess card. She bears little resemblance to a traditional High Priestess card, and instead, wears a Papal tiara, and near her is a Bishop's crozier. Black recounts an irrelevant story about the fictitious Pope Joan in reference to this card. Not only does this promote inaccurate teaching about the Catholic Church (which also occurs elsewhere in the book), but it deprives the high Priestess card of its unique meaning, and causes confusion between it and the Hierophant card (here called the High Priest). Though Black explains that the old Sforza deck features a High Priestess card with a Papal tiara, since she is otherwise staying fairly close to RWS here, this choice makes the deck feel inconsistent. Adding to the confusion, a Pope also figures on the 5 of Cups card, with no explanation as to why a Pope was chosen for this image. 5. The Moon card is really haunting, with a beautiful face. One of my favorite Moon cards ever! 6. The Wheel of Fortune images are somewhat odd. She uses a nativity scene here, and the book's explanation focuses on fresh starts and overcoming challenges. I think this misses some of the traditional meaning of this card. This is also one of the few cards where the digital collage method doesn't work. The woman (which must have been the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus in the original image) is lying in a rather sumptuous bed, while her husband (presumably St. Joseph) cooks food on a fire on the floor, which looks like it is about to consume the red coverlet in flames. The thatched roof of a rustic byre, complete with cattle, almost juts directly into the room, an odd juxtaposition. Only a small wheel with the 4 Evangelists around it indicates anything like a typical Wheel of Fortune card. The deck is hard to shuffle, at least when new. The cards are slippery, yet they want to stay together in little clumps, even after extensive shuffling. I hope this improves with age, and I presume it will. The card borders are gold, and while this might sound blasphemous, I am almost tempted to trim the borders off the cards. Yes, I'd lose the beautiful gilded edges, but there is sometimes almost too much gold, and I'm curious as to whether the images themselves would appear more prominent without the golden border. If anyone has done this, I'd love to hear about it. Otherwise I am probably too chicken to risk it! In sum, it's a beautiful and unique deck, with perhaps a few flaws but much to recommend it.

For decades i have been searching for the perfect [for me] tarot deck. I tend to be attracted to decks which are based on the Rider-Waite interpretations and imagery, but there's always something "wrong" with these decks when i look at them. Either the illustrations are not my style, or the card-stock is cheap, or the cards are too light or too dark and just don't feel right in my hands. I'm not a particularly fussy person, but tarot cards are important to feel "right" to the reader, as i feel the mood of the reader can influence the outcome of a reading. When the reader is centered and comfortable, the readings are almost always more positive. This deck is just so beautiful. From the collaged illustrations, to the imagery itself, to the quality card-stock, to the gorgeous gold that appears on the edges of the cards, to the nice book which comes with the set. The only "regret" i have is that the cards are not larger. For some reason i thought they would be, as i was searching specifically for "large tarot decks" when i came upon this one. I like the larger decks because i sometimes read for people with vision problems, and the larger cards are more accessible to them. Maybe one day there will be a larger version of this deck? It's something to think about, Kat Black. But either way, you've truly outdone yourself with this one!

The Golden Tarot Deck is a marvelous conception by Kat Black. It does not stray all too far from the original Rider-Waite symbolism. It weighs a total pound and a half. The nice box is really handy and rather sturdy as well. It isn't so dingy as it looked online. Although the book is small and fits perfectly in your hand, it contains every answer to any question you might have about the deck. Never actually did a Tarot reading before? No worries! The book includes everything you need to be on your way with accurate readings that will stand the life of the deck. I would be careful as the gold gilding is similar to that on a Bible. Don't get it wet, and try not to be overly rough along the edges. Also, for the life of the deck do not shuffle these as you would cheap regular cards. Just swirl them on a table top for a perfect random draw without bending and ageing your cards. These are beautiful cards that are meant to be treated with care, and wouldn't last long in the hands of small children. They are well made, both with quality and beauty, and are fine for regular use, as long as you maintain a care about handling them. You will soon find yourself bonding with these cards so do good research. I love my cards. They are worth more than the price, and are most definitely worth my time.Hope this helped. Give me a Like, I will answer any questions :)

I buy a lot of Tarot decks and end up turning around and selling many of them when they don't live up to my expectations, but the Golden Tarot by Kat Black is a keeper. What an amazing deck! The collage work is nearly seamless and, because the images are taken from paintings rather than photographs, it doesn't look like a collage deck at all. It looks like someone discovered a series of Renaissance paintings on the subject of Tarot! And as others have mentioned, the symbolism is similiar enough to RWS that anyone familiar with that classic should be comfortable with this deck right out of the box. The cards themselves are smooth and silky-feeling and strong enough to hold up to use, without being overly stiff. The gilt edges give the deck a rich look. And I LOVE the packaging US Games has come up with for this set and hope they use this design in the future! The box is sturdy and attractive and easy to use without mangling the cards getting them in and out. And the book, while small compared to a "real" book, is MUCH larger and more comprehensive than the typical LWB that accompanies most decks. If I could give this set more than 5 stars, I would!

I was so impressed by the beauty of this deck that I was even afraid to touch the cards! Just stunning!

I can’t recommend this deck enough! It’s perfect for beginners – I’ve bought it multiple times to gift to friends and family because it’s just that good. The artwork is absolutely gorgeous – classic and timeless – and it really pulls you in. The cards are thick and large, making them feel solid and comfortable to shuffle, and they have a nice weight to them that feels luxurious in your hands. The accompanying guidebook is one of the best I’ve come across – super clear and easy to follow, which makes learning tarot a breeze. Plus, it comes in a sturdy box, so everything stays safe and organized. This is the set to buy if you want to learn tarot or want to gift a set to someone to learn classic tarot. If you’re just starting out or looking for a beautiful deck to add to your collection, this one’s a winner!

O tarot é maravilhoso, sem palavras! Amei

Kat Balck's Golden Tarot is my first Tarot deck and it is very beautify. These are gilded cards and are one of its kind. I have been using this deck to learn and read for the past few months and I find it to be a very effective for beginners. I did a lot of research before deciding to buy this deck. Here is what I love about this deck: 1. The box that this tarot deck comes in is very sturdy, it protects the cards and it make it convent for you to pull a card right from the box without taking the entire set of cards out. So I pick out one card everyday and learn about it then place it back in the box without having the need to pull out all the cards to just pick one card. 2. The cards have gilded edges <3 <3 It gives a regal and antique feel to it. 3. This Tarot deck is a collage of various paintings so it looks authentic from the era that gave us Tarot. 4. Though this is a collage, I love the fine details on each card. Kat Black's deep understanding of the Tarot can be seen in every collage. Each and every image that's on these cards have a meaning. 5. The late Middle Ages and early Renaissance images used in these cards have a very good recall when you are learning the Tarot. 6. The cards are thick, sturdy, glossy, the print on it is of very high quality. This is bigger than your Original or Universal Rider-Waite decks. 7. The Booklet that comes along with these cards also fit into the box. It is handy and it gives you a good interpretation of the cards. It also has an exhaustive index with details on the sources from where the images were taken to complete the Tarot collage. 8. I feel a strong connection with these cards. Now I can see why it is very important to pick a Tarot deck you best connect with. 9. I also feel that when you are doing a reading for someone else, they should also feel comfortable with the deck. This deck doesn't have any disturbing art form that might worry the person for whom you are reading. 10. The website goldentarot.com is a good place to learn about this Tarot deck. Things that I wish was better about this deck: 1. These cards are big and I find it hard to shuffle the entire deck so I split the deck into two and shuffle them separately. Then I divide the shuffled deck into three and later rearrange them. 2. People from that era don't show many emotions on their faces i.e. painted faces. So, I find it hard to read some cards that either lack emotions or show subtle emotions but as I am learning, I am gaining a better understanding of the emotions portrayed on each card. Guess I will get better at this as I learn and gain a good understanding of each card. 3. These cards stick to each other but that doesn't damage the print on the card. I guess they stick to each other because they are smooth and glossy. 4. Though Kat Black's deck follows RWS closely I find the imagery of the cards and interpretations mentioned in the booklet that comes along with these cards to diverge a little from the standard RWS. Since, I am still learning I am keeping an open mind, taking the best of both and seeing what works for me. In Kat Black's defense she says that she didn't set out to create a clone of RW cards. Instead she wanted these cards to portray her understanding of the Tarot. 5. Since I am a beginner the Booklet that comes along with this deck that holds the meaning of each card will not suffice. The Booklet is a good reference but if you want to learn more and dive deep I suggest that you read any good RWS book that talks about each card in detail. I wish Kat Black comes out with a book that interprets each card in great detail. There are '+' and '-' to this deck but the '+' outweigh the '-' in this case. If you are starting your Tarot journey and if the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance art appeals to you then I highly recommend that you own a Kat Balck's Golden Tarot.

Very nice, happy with the purchase :)