Cartomancy ABC Guide

ivi-maud:

What is Cartomancy?

Cartomancy is divining with playing cards.  Each card has a meaning and are interpreted by the reader who organizes them into certain spreads.  Spreads are the way that the playing cards are set onto the table and I’ll be talking about them more later.  Some readers integrate their spirituality into their readings, calling upon deities or spirit guides or connecting with their higher self.  Others may use their beliefs to explain how cartomancy works.

Card Meanings

Hearts

Regarding emotions and home

• Ace: New friendship or romance
• Two: Deepening attractions
• Three: Joy in company, friendship, or celebration
• Four: Turning inwards, apathy
• Five: Despair, loss
• Six: Childhood, nostalgia, good memories, old frienship
• Seven: Daydreaming, wishful thinking, choices
• Eight: Emotional detachment, leaving love behind, making a hard choice
• Nine: Satisfaction, sensual pleasure, spiritual growth
• Ten: Contentment, fulfillment, joy, family
• Jack: Falls in love easily, romantic, talkative
• Queen: Emotionally dependent, empathetic
• King: Wise, tolerant, diplomatic, feeling, patient

Diamonds

Regarding work and out-of-house affairs

• Ace: New projects, home, or success
• Two: Juggling resources, waiting for results
• Three: Teamwork, improving skills
• Four: Possessiveness
• Five: Loss of items, job, or money
• Six: Giving or receiving money, a pay raise, obtaining resources
• Seven: Reassessment, turning point, mild dissatisfaction
• Eight: Paying attention to details, focus, practice
• Nine: Independence, self-reliance, increasing wealth
• Ten: Great wealth, family, property, or inheritance
• Jack: Reliable, hard working, quiet, hidden depth
• Queen: Practical, warm, dependent, motherhood
• King: Self-made, business, encouraging

Clubs

Regarding finances

• Ace: New ideas, business action
• Two: Planning, preparation
• Three: Leadership, exploration
• Four: A goal achieved, rest from action
• Five: Competition, disagreement, irritation
• Six: Victory, achievements, passing exams
• Seven: Defense, conviction, strong belief
• Eight: Organization, moving quickly, pregnancy
• Nine: Continuing a balance, endurance
• Ten: Carrying burdens, doubt
• Jack: Unreliable, hot headed, risk taker, athletic
• Queen: Energetic, career minded, untidy
• King: Creative, forceful, hot-tempered

Spades

Regarding road blocks and difficulties

• Ace: New insights, realizations
• Two: Failure to communicate
• Three: Miscommunication, misunderstanding
• Four: Recuperation, recovery, contemplation
• Five: Discord, dishonor, hollow victory
• Six: Moving on, travel, mentally getting to a better place
• Seven: Lying, deceit, theft, irresponsibility
• Eight: Illusion of being trapped, powerlessness
• Nine: Nightmares, problems, worry, guilt
• Ten: Giving up, victim, martyrdom
• Jack: Rebel, fights for a cause, intellectual, political
• Queen: sharp intelligence, ruthless, insight, organization
• King: Introspective, ethical, communication, stern

I use the joker to represent unlimited potential but I’ve seen various meanings.

Spreads

Here’s an example of a cartomancy spread:

A reader places a card on every rectangle pictured above.  They would then apply the meaning of the card to the situation it stands for.  A spread sets up the situation you are looking to divine about.   Here is a spread focusing on a person’s whole life but a reader could lay out a spread that’s centered on a person’s love, job opportunities, or present struggles.  

Cartomancy tips

• If doing a face-to-face reading, it’s a good idea to ask the receiver to shuffle the cards.  This allows them to connect to the cards and engage in the reading.  
• When you draw the cards, you can choose from the top of the deck or spread them out and choose whichever call to you. 
• There is more to consider in cartomancy than the set card meanings.  A group of certain colored cards can be significant as can a group of court cards (kings, queens, jacks)
• The more you know about the cards, the easier readings become.