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.
Regarding emotions and home
Ace: New friendship or romance
Two: Deepening attractions
Three: Joy in company, friendship, or celebration
Four: Turning inwards, apathy
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
Regarding work and out-of-house affairs
Ace: New projects, home, or success
Two: Juggling resources, waiting for results
Three: Teamwork, improving skills
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
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
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.
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.
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.
