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II - the High Priestess - the Bookmark
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My Interpretation: Female intuition. Spiritual awareness, and acceptance of life's mysteries. Secret knowledge, intelligence and intuition. Beware of overenthusiasm, and consider all factors before making an important decision. (Reversed: Misguided passion, adultery. Stupidity and ignorance. Conceit)

If you would like to show your support for my work on the new publishable version of Golden Tarot, you can (if you have the bandwidth, patience and a reasonable colour printer):

DOWNLOAD Printable Bookmark based on this Collage (1.4 meg TIFF 300dpi). If clicking on the link doesn't work, try right clicking and "Save Target As", since a TIFF isn't a native web format.

If you wish to Paypal me payment for the Bookmark, that would be greatly appreciated. A dollar for each time you print it seems like a fair thing, eh? Or whatever you reckon. It looks best on glossy photo paper, then laminated for protection. If you're not already using Paypal, you could join and I get an extra five bucks, yay!

If you can't Paypal, you can show your support by emailing me on kat@retrokat.com. It's the thought that counts - although I don't know if my landlord would be keen on me saying that next rent day ;^)

Comments re composition of collage: The composition of this card is similar to the Rider-Waite card, although their card ignored the traditional "female pope" version and made it more of a Golden Dawn magick Priestess. I've reverted to the literal tradition, as I love the medieval legend of a female pope (Pope Joan). I think this is similar enough to be familiar to RWD readers though - there's still a dark and light pillar, woman in robes holding a book. I've used doves on the robe & all the papal props instead of a crucifix for the christian symbolism, and a cat instead of a moon for the feminine mystery theme.

Copyright: Although the original paintings used in this collage are over 500 years old and out of copyright themselves, I own the copyright on the collages I create as there is sufficient originality in the composition for it to be a new work. So please, only use my images as specified. Actually, US Games pretty much own the deck now, and they'll defend their rights if you're thinking of bootlegging the images.

Due to commercial piracy of Golden Tarot in the past, I am now very strict about Copyright. You can use the old Virtual Deck (Version 1.0) images as specified on this site for PERSONAL USE ONLY, and the bookmark must be downloaded from this page - no emailing it as an attachment to anyone please, or they won't be reading my terms & conditions. Email them the link to the page instead - much quicker too!

Sources:

Base Pic: Vitale da Bologna, Italian painter, Bolognese school (b. 1289/1309, Bologna, d. 1359/69, Bologna); Madonna 1345 Tempera on wood, 155 x 73 cm Museo Civico d'Arte Industriale, Imola.

Columns, vaulted ceiling, floor: Fra Angelico, Italian painter, Florentine school (b. cca. 1400, Vicchio nell Mugello, d. 1455, Roma); The Annunciation late 1430s Fresco, 230 x 321 cm Convento di San Marco, Florence.

Papal hat, book and sceptre: Simone Martini, Italian painter, Sienese school (b. 1280/85, Siena, d. 1344, Avignon); The Cambridge Altarpiece Polyptych 1320-25 Tempera on wood, 59 x 35 cm Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

Black robe with gilt dove pattern: Pedro Serra, Spanish painter (active 1363-1399); Madonna with Angels Playing Music 1390s Panel, 196 x 130 cm Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona.

Cheetah/ Leopard: Benozzo Gozzoli, Italian painter, Florentine school (b. cca. 1420, Firenze, d. 1497, Pistoia); Procession of the Oldest King 1459-60 Fresco Chapel, Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, Florence.

Tools:

Software: JASC PaintShop Pro for all the graphics - vastly cheaper than Photoshop, less RAM-hungry and perfectly adequate for professional quality graphics in my opinion (although I know a gazillion graphics designers will disagree with me). Macromedia Dreamweaver for the site - now THAT is worth the high price you'll pay. Clean code, mmmmm.

Hardware: Dell PC, Canon scanners & printer. All inexpensive "home" quality. I have used a graphics tablet (Wacom) for some of the pixel-pushing, although a mouse is also adequate for the job if you zoom in enough - I made v1.0 on a laptop with a touchpad only!