The Golden Tarot: A Not So New Deck

 

The Golden Tarot was commissioned in 1451 by Francesco Sforza on the tenth anniversary of his marriage to Bianca Maria Visconti, a cousin in my ancestry. I didn’t know this until I received the deck today, but I looked and the Viscontis are there. Bonafacio Bembo created the cards several of which depict the couple. Along with Queen Boudicca of the Iceni, Bianca was another woman in my ancestry who was a warrior.

The cards depict the classical pageantry of the time. Initially called Triumphs, the deck consisted of 78 cards, with the four suits and the Major Arcana. Yes, the word I never want to use again came from the name Triumphs. I’m sure you can figure out what that is because I refuse to EVER call the Majors by that name again.

Various artists of the period influenced Bembo’s painting of the cards, with DaVinci reportedly providing one of those influences. The Golden Tarot is one of the oldest decks in existence, one of fifteen, and is reportedly the most complete of the fifteen.

The size of this deck is bigger than most and with my arthritic hands I have a difficult time shuffling the deck. But shuffle I did and then drew three cards for my first reading. Additionally, the cards lack numbers, but that won’t interfere with the numerology of the reading. The suits are called Swords, Coins, Batons, and Cups. Coins are also referred to as Disks or Pentacles in other decks, while Batons are referred to as Wands or Rods. Princesses or Pages are called Knaves in this deck, and Princes are called Knights. The Queen and King remain the same.

For my first reading I drew the Ace of Cups, the Knight of Cups, and the King of Swords bringing emotional and intellectual presence to the reading. The Ace of Cups visually depicts a cascading fountain; our cup runneth over with abundance and joy. It represents fertility, love and free-flowing psychic awareness. This card indicates our emotional beginning or identity.

The Knight of Cups continues our emotional influence as the chivalrous young man proceeds on his passionate quest. He moves forward into the future, his cup preceding him. He is a visionary, motivated by his dreams, allowing his journey to unfold in joy.

The King of Swords sits with his sword in one hand and his shield in the other. Dressed in battle armor, he sits reflecting on the world-at-large. He is powerful, intelligent, and shrewd in his judgment. Successful in battle, the King carefully analyzes and plans his next move. Thought before action, logic before spontaneity, the King may be too much in his head, but that tendency pays off in the end, his kingdom secure.

Any time I see a Court card it can mean either a person or the qualities of that person. When two Court cards appear, then I tend to view them as people. The Knight faces the King, offering emotional presence and vision, while the King looks reflective, his mind elsewhere. The Knight may represent the King’s son in this reading, leading his father to a better frame of mind. Take the risk, the leap of faith suggested by the Fool, and move forward on one’s journey. Balance responsibility felt with the freedom to explore.

The Ace of Cups indicates that all is well and abundance is felt throughout the kingdom. Perhaps it’s time for the King to let go a bit and begin his own Fool’s journey, his son at his side. For those of us who tend to live more in our heads than in our hearts, the allowing presence of the Knight can be just the impetus we need to get out and about and just have some fun. With the daily battles we all face, some joy would be nice, no?

Blessings to all!

~ Jan