Touchstone Tarot
Touchstone TarotTM is a new deck by Kat Black. Like her previous deck Golden Tarot, this is a work of digital collage from antique paintings. In the case of Golden, the source works were largely frescoes from churches of the early Italian Renaissance and International Gothic eras. This deck is from the later Baroque and Mannerist eras, mostly the highly expressive portraiture from the 'Northern Renaissance' - the work of German, Flemish and Dutch masters.
Touchstone is intended to be an accessible, intuitive deck. The meanings you come up with yourself by looking at the people in the cards are more important than the brief traditional meanings given here. For that reason, we call them '78 friends' and hope that you find them of assistance in finding your way through life.
The Cards
Touchstone is a traditional seventy-eight-card tarot deck with illustrated Minors in the tradition of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. There are twenty-two Major Arcana cards and then the Minor Arcana with four suits of fourteen cards each —Wands, Cups, Swords and Coins.
Choose a card to learn more about its meaning, character and artwork.
The Major Arcana
The Major Arcana, or Trumps, can be corresponded with Jungian archetypes - human attributes and concepts that are universal across cultures. They represent the big issues in life, those which transcend the everyday.
Multiple Majors in a spread indicate a significant time in your life, perhaps a turning point or an epiphany. There are powerful forces at work. Solutions given over to Fate and what seems "meant to be."
Suit of Wands
Wands are the suit of fire and correspond to the modern playing card deck's Clubs. They represent the medieval peasant class, those who work the land and craftspeople. They're a suit of strength, confidence, practical ability and the ability to make the most of what you've got. The wands are always sprouting new leaves, representing the life energy and creativity suggested by this suit. Touchstone Tarot uses the color of Venetian red for the suit of Wands.
Multiple Wands in a spread: Fire, intensity, creativity. An auspicious beginning to a new business or creative project. Solutions based on trial and error: "Let's just see if it works."
Suit of Cups
Cups are the suit of water and correspond to the modern playing card deck's Hearts. They represent the medieval clerical class, and as such suggest spirituality, study and reflection. Touchstone Tarot uses the color ultramarine blue for the suit of Cups.
Multiple Cups in a spread: Emotions, feelings, love both worldly and divine. Keep your feet on the ground though, do not get lost in romantic dreams. Solutions based on emotions, what feels right.
Suit of Swords
Swords are the suit of air and correspond to the modern playing card deck's Spades. They represent the medieval ruling class, indicating worldly authority and leadership. Touchstone Tarot uses the colors gold and black for the suit of Swords.
Multiple Swords in a spread: Action, ideas, decisions. Power asserted. A conflict or debate is in the air. Conceptual solutions based on theory or logic.
Suit of Coins
Coins, also known as Pentacles, are the suit of earth and correspond to the modern playing card deck's Diamonds. They represent the medieval merchant class, suggesting financial matters, commerce and trade. These are cards of the material world. Touchstone Tarot uses the color forest green for the suit of Coins.
Multiple Coins in a spread: Business activities: money, finance, investment. Worldly matters. Practical solutions based on personal experience.
Want to learn more about Tarot? Read our Introduction to Tarot or the 78 Friends FAQ to get started.
