The Golden Tarot: The Visconti-Sforza Deck

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The Golden Tarot is a mix of the imagery of Visconti-Sforza, the Rider-Waite and some additions of its own. It has a very Renaissance feel in costume and decoration, and smooths the edges of the traditional symbolism to make a gentle, attractive tarot. I gingerly brought out my camera and popped the buttons so that the flash would not discharge. Out of nowhere a young man with a very hip beard materialised: ‘NO CAMERAS!!!” he said, sternly. Those on the suit of cups wear gold garments, embellished by the heraldic device of sun and rays; each figure holds a large chalice, as it is often the case with the suit.

I admitted defeat and simply stood with my nose pressed against the glass, desperately trying to burn the images and their glory onto my retinas. Temperance – Nurturing and health; self-control without denial; moderation and balance in all things. In contrast to the Ace of Batons, the Ace of Cups gains from new detail and has a more gentle feel to it The Academia had been closed for refurb for eight long years and had only opened at the beginning of that week. We hopped off the coach and joined the end of the very long queue.King of Batons– Confident; mature; successful; combines paternal instincts with an optimistic, generous nature. West Palm Beach Tarot Grandmaster Christiana Gaudet Makes Predictions for 2012: No, It’s Not the End of the World Reader, I would like to tell you that I spent a relaxed and happy couple of hours in the exhibition, but I strode straight through the exhibit halls – the portraits, the madonnas, the landscapes, the precious artefacts, the jewellery and went STRAIGHT to the dimly lit case that held the Visconti Sforza cards. The Tarot is much more than mere pictures on cards, the pictures are physical symbols for spiritual concepts. The images are symbolic representation of archetypal forces and/or beings which have always existed and have been identified and passed on to us by ancient initiates and which provide a focus for us to use in self-initiation, spiritual development, and the perception of hidden wisdom.

Of particular interest to me are discussions of the characters and symbols depicted in the cards. It pleases me to know that the characters on the Lovers card are thought to be Francesco Sforza and Bianca Maria Visconti, for instance. Sadly, my battery gave up the ghost after a couple of shots. Yeah, bloody sod’s law, isn’t it. But here are a couple of images, taken by some of my merry band of travellers. I would love to credit them for their photos, so if these are YOURS, sing out!! The surviving cards are of particular historical interest because of the beauty and detail of the design, which was often executed in precious materials and often reproduce members of the Visconti and Sforza families in period garments and settings. Consequently, the cards also offer a glimpse of nobiliary life in Renaissance Milan, which the Visconti called home since the 13th century. Some of the delicacy of the leaf work and colour has been lost here though the overall new card is still pleasing One of our number DID manage to take some snaps on her ipad, but I figured that since I’d been expressly forbidden to take a photo, deliberately countermanding his warning and taking photos regardless might result in me being banished from Lombardy. And who wants that?!Race Point Publishing is a new company with a very specific mission. They publish the sort of books that just don't work on your Kindle. Children's books, art books, craft books and cookbooks - books you must touch, see and feel are their specialty. Tarot is obviously a good fit for them. I believe the Golden Tarot is their only tarot offering so far.

Just to the right of the Cathedral, in the former palace that is the Palazzo Reale, an exhibition detailing the life and times of the Lombardy Viscontis and Sforzas was running – and deep within the bowels of this exhibition were the Visconti Sforza cards! The World card is quite different to the standard Marseille and Waite Smith and shows the New Jerusalem rather than the traditional World Dancer surrounded by the four evangelists. However, both themes are entirely Christocentric… which brings me to my main point of criticism about this set… the companion book. The tarot is much more than mere pictures on cards—the pictures are physical symbols for spiritual concepts. The images are symbolic representations of archetypal forces and/or beings which have always existed and have been identified and passed on to us by ancient initiates and which provide a focus for us to use in self-initiation, spiritual development, and the perception of hidden wisdom . We made our way, respectfully, but hurridly, through the magnificent treasures of the Academia and found ourselves, once again, standing before the cards of the Visconti Sforza. He looked at me with his ‘I see your Only A Tourist Expression and I raise you my Just Try Switching On Your Camera Again’ expression.

This is a good reproduction of the Lovers with a lot of detail added where it is lost from the original Inside the Box Curiously, the characters represented on denari wear garments decorated with blue ribbons wound around circular suns.

The figures on the suit of bastoni wear silver pleated garments and carry a long staff; a large vessel tops either end except for the King, whose staff has a finial only at the top.Not even with the flash off?” I wheedled, giving my best ‘FOR GOD’S SAKES, I’M ONLY A TOURIST’ expression.