I think people often forget, or perhaps don’t realize, that Tarot cards started out as a game. It’s still played, in fact. My sister, good Christian girl that she is, has a deck that she had to buy for one of her master’s classes. She’s said it’s a fairly common game where she studies in France.
Cartomancy existed long prior to the creation of the modern Rider-Waite Deck, often with whatever playing cards happen to be around. Historical records, if you want to dig into them, are pretty extensive. The practice persists into present day too though. An ex’s of mine for example – his mom would use playing cards to help diagnose people’s illnesses (something I don’t generally recommend). I’ve heard second hand of grandmothers who read playing cards at kitchen tables in the evenings at family gatherings.
I can also personally vouch. I had a stretch where I lost my only deck I had at the time, didn’t have a dime to my name, and took up doing readings with a random deck of playing cards I scored somewhere. They were perfectly accurate, if a bit harsher.
I know lot of witches are still in the closet and prefer to read with playing cards instead of proper tarot cards – and I just want those witches to know they’re carrying on the time-honored tradition of divining with whatever you have on hand and that’s kickass. Money should (hopefully) never be a barrier to a personal divination practice.
Here are some tips for what helped me
Vertical Reading + Elemental Associations
The key to reading playing cards, to any divination really, is building the system you’re reading with well.
Vertical reading is great for learning tarot, but it’s downright necessary in my experience for reading with playing cards. Vertical reading just means having a meaning or theme associated with each card of the same number.
When reading cards, you can look to the same themes that would exist if they were tarot cards, use another existing system like numerology, or create your own. Just make sure to write it down.
The next step in tarot would be to read narratively – considering where in the story of the suit the card you’re interpreting falls – but since there’s no imagery on playing cards, you’re either stuck trying to memorize a bunch meanings with no imagery to cue meanings or you can develop another set of meanings to pair with each of suits that you can draw unique interpretations from when paired with your vertical meanings.
The latter is actually what I recommend – I use elemental associations with each of the suits. Spades are Swords/Air, Diamonds are Pentacles/Earth, Hearts are Cups/Water, and Clubs are Wands/Fire. Since elemental divisions are so strong in various pagan paths, they’re an easy way in to this division but any set of four meanings will do. And again, make sure to write down these meanings too.
So say you draw the Ace of Spades in a reading. You take your associations with aces (maybe it’s beginnings) and add it to your associations with Spades (Air, Intellect, Anxiety, Academia) and you might come up with “Beginning of an intellectual or academic endeavor”.
Playing cards basically requires you memorize meanings. Additive meanings – adding a vertical meaning to the meaning of a suit – means you learn 18 meanings instead of 52 unique ones. You can, by all means, come up with 52 different meanings if that’s your style – I support you in that. I just know the memorization factor is what tripped me up and this is what helped me.
The Jack Problem
The other challenge with using a playing deck is deciding how you’ll read Jacks. I personally align them more with pages and read them as “general court member” with specific association with that. But I’ve recently started liking the framework of Jacks as “heir to the throne” which comes with a lot of associations with potential and power and usurping. Jacks don’t align perfectly with anything in tarot proper so even if you work within an existing tarot inspired framework, you’ll have to decide ahead of time what they’ll mean to you.
Tone
This is probably just a personal thing but I’ve found that the tone of playing cards can be a bit…harsh. I sometimes liked to soften it with dice or another form of divination. Other times I just sat back and basked in that salty salty feedback. Playing cards don’t “talk” the same way tarot cards do because their design doesn’t allow them too. So if you’re used to tarot cards, understand that you won’t get the same information or conversation from them. That’s fine honestly, they have their own style and charm and I really appreciate them for that.
It’s especially important to keep in mind when doing shadow work though. Since they can’t (easily) speak to broader life cycle themes the way Tarot can, you might find that either you need to pull more cards, pair it with another system like dice, or tailor your questions to fit what you find your playing cards speak best to.
Conclusion
Be wild, be free, don’t let yourself be bound by Tarot’s image as True Divination System™. Cartomancy is a tried and true divination tradition and playing cards honestly work just as well. It also doesn’t have to just be for divination proper. When I picked them up, I was using them for shadow work mostly and had great luck. They just take some practice to get used to. In retrospect, rather than from experience, I’d try pairing it with SOAP Journaling as I think it’d give the best result but I’d love to hear other people’s experience with other shadow work systems!
As always – hope this helps and if you have any questions please let me know!
*I never claim my way is the one true way. Take what is useful and leave the rest.
**If you wind up using this stuff in another setting, I’d really appreciate it if you could cite me. This is my art. Don’t steal, please credit.
[alt text: a pink banner reading, 'folk magic' with a background of illustrations of snakes, moths, moons, and sparkles.]
Folk Magic:
the Craft of Isobel Gowdie: a Look at Scottish Folk Magic in the 1600s
the Dumb Supper Divination Rite
Home Protection in Folk Magic: Charms, Wards, & Works to Protect One's Home
Love in Folk Magic: Charms, Omens, and Divinatory Customs
the People's Magic: an Examination of Folk Magic
Protection Magic in Folk Magic: Herbs, Spells, & Charms for Protecting Yourself & Others
Sator Squares to Protect Protestors.
NOTE: This is part 6/7 of a series of posts summarizing every article and piece posted on Sheydmade from Novemeber 27, 2024 - Novemeber 27, 2025. This does not include the posts of quotes from my articles, nor does it include my answering asks.
Find the other pages of this post here or see below.
The pages: Ancestor Work & Divination | Spells, Charms, Rites, & Plant Magic | Jewish Magic | Holidays & Seasons | Folk Magic | Folklore & Mythology
I talk about this subject often, but I figured I'd write an incomplete guide encompassing a variety of things I've posted about for those interested!
Before the Work:
I know, I know. You're here to learn about spirit work, so why is there even a section prior to it? Well, it's because spirit work begins with the energy forces (spirits of energies), the spirits of herbs and our own spirits, before it begins with deities, fae and ghosts.
Before performing any kind of spirit work as you may know it, it's important to begin with these basics:
Thorough, layered protections that cover each of your bodies (physical, spiritual, etc), any of your items (especially once you may use in spirit work, such as divination tools), and your place of residence as a whole (the space you reside in most, that has most of your energy accessible inside of it, that you will likely perform a large portion of your spirit work as well). If you're worried, please also look into protections for other members of your household / residence, such as furry friends / "pet" family members, just keep in mind that while some protections automatically cover anyone else in the residence (including any spirits btw, be mindful), some protections can actually do harm to animals.
Ethics, morals, and values. This is going to encompass things like being respectful to other spirits, how to imagine them in your brain to ensure you aren't treating them as a commodity, recognizing their autonomy and self-determination, etc. This is meant to be general as each spirit type (learn more below) and individual spirit is different. This is also great to help you determine what path of spirit work you want to take - psychopomp work, bonding with nature spirits and growing plants / herbs, casual hanging out with spirit friends, etc etc etc
Cleansings and banishings. These are talked about a lot, but let me tell you, wards and sigils are not always the way to go. In fact, wards and sigils - even if done correctly - can lead to accidental spirit bindings / trapping spirits in your residence rather than keeping them out. These are not effective protections to lean on without any additional protections / support, and not bullet-proof whatsoever. If your protections are strong enough, they are the safety net. However, when inviting spirits into your space, you are sometimes giving them permission to bypass your permissions - so try looking into protections that can, without harm, force a spirit out of your space once they are unwanted there. This is known as a "banishing" as well, but really it's just a protective method. Cleansings are important when encountering any kind of spirit, and great for non-spiritual health too!
Vetting
Vetting is the process of verifying who a spirit is, whether you're sure you know who they are or not. It's a sign of respect to many spirits, such as deities, but also really important to your safety and well-being. Whether a spirit is harmful, a trickster, or just someone you misunderstand, learning who they are, why they're there, and how to properly communicate / interact with them based on those things is incredibly important to forming any kind of bond with a spirit and / or keeping yourself safe throughout your work.
Vetting is not just asking questions. In fact, it is meant to be a very thorough process. Spirits are just like us - they can lie, tell the truth, or be misunderstood. It's important you understand how to vett properly when learning spirit work.
The steps to vetting include:
Research / Familiarity
Divination
Research: This step is all about learning. What are you learning about? Depends on the spirit you're trying to contact, but obviously, that spirit haha. However, you gotta learn more than just the spirit you're working with, to be able to identify spirits that may show up that may not be them, spirits they introduce you to, other spirits you encounter in your daily life or practice that you may need to handle, etc. So, more specifically, what are you learning about?
-> Spirit classifications: different spirits (or "spirit types"), their traits, etc. Of course, every spirit is an individual, but their "type" still affects or shapes them, just like how being human affects or shapes us. This will help you to understand what's safe for them and what's not, if they're friendly to you or not, what they can help with and what they can't, what they like and don't like, etc. From there...
-> Spirit communication basics is the next step of research for if you wish to speak with them. Certain spirits have specific customs, preferences or conveniences. Which are safe to say xyz to, which are not? Etc. Learning about their spirit "type" can help because it will also help you with this kind of communication, as different spirits have different "ground rules" in terms of communication (what they find respectful / disrespectful, what is safe / not safe to say in their presence, etc).
You want to become familiar with these materials. Take notes, be thorough. You do not need to memorize what you've learned as long as you're in a protective space, but you shouldn't have any notes exposed at the time of vetting (more on this below).
How to research:
Do heavy and thorough research (personal stories, ancient beliefs, historical artifacts, studies, religious information, scholarly academia, non-scholarly "UPG" experiences, etc)
Verify the credibility and context of all sources and cross-compare / cross-reference
Some things to keep in mind when researching:
Memorize lore, stories, facts, associations, practices, etc, that relate to the god / spirit you’re planning on reaching out to. (Please keep in mind that during the vetting, you should not think the answers to the questions you're going to ask in your head, as for many spirits you're basically giving them the answer that way. Additionally, do not have your notes exposed or accessible in any way while you're vetting - it's based to avoid taking notes at all, or deleting them later. Saving the resources in a tab folder on your computer is a great idea to refer to when assessing the answers the spirit gave you)
Save the tabs of the resources you find in a dedicated folder on your computer. (If you're writing traditionally, make sure you take extra precautions to keep your notebook safe so that spirits can peek into it and find the answers during vetting.)
Divination
Most people tend to bust out a deck of tarot cards for this - I do not recommend this! As a tarot reader of about 9 years now, this is a one-way ticket to Frustration Town. Not only is it incredibly easy to misunderstand what the spirit is actually trying to say if you aren't advanced enough in tarot (or if the spirit themselves aren't as familiar with tarot as they are with other divination methods), but the spirit can get frustrated too! Do you know how painful it is saying the same thing 5 times but instead it's invisible charades? Lol
Instead, I recommend utilizing a pendulum. This is much clearer and more convenient for both parties. There's some things to keep in mind when utilizing a pendulum:
-> Yes / no is the easiest method, but you can also do a true / false or a more elaborate spread. (I do not recommend doing oujia-board style for a variety of safety and efficiency reasons.)
-> As mentioned, don't have your notes out and don't think the answers to questions in your head. Simply ask the questions, ask the spirit to leave your space (banish them if they don't; in which case, you likely shouldn't work with them anyways haha), and then deliberate over the answers.
-> Call on the spirit without loopholes. Do not call in "peaceful spirits." Know who you're contacting, even if you don't know their name, otherwise you're opening yourself up to a whole swarm of risks. There are other ways to meet random spirits without needlessly endangering yourself. When calling on the spirit, be respectful, kind, and I recommend verbal if possible.
-> When asking questions, don't ask the basic "are you so-so" or "is hades the god of the underworld" questions. If this information is commonly known and widely accessible to you, then it is also commonly known in the spirit world (especially since they're a spirit / deity you're even reaching out to) and accessible to them as well. You'll want to look into conventional things, uncommon information, stuff that isn't typical or well-known - if they are who they say they are, they will be able to answer correctly, even if the information is incredibly specific or niche.
-> Consider waiting until you're in a good space of mind to establish a relationship. This way, you're less likely to make mistakes that lead to a spirit taking advantage of you. If this is an unrealistic standard for you, make sure you've accommodated yourself in your practices and that you're still respectful to the spirit (some spirits appreciate being told if you're unwell, some this is dangerous to do when communicating with them).
-> Many people are worried about involuntary movements when it comes to using a pendulum. This worries are incredibly valid. That's why you should look into (yes, these exist) specific positions you can sit in and position your arms / etc in that limit the risk of involuntary movements when divining with a pendulum.
There's also some general things to keep in mind when divining throughout the vetting process in general:
-> Trust your intuition. If you have any spirit-sensing abilities, you're allowed to trust yourself there too, as long as you've ensured your healthy and well.
-> Be aware of how you feel emotionally / energetically / internally, how your nervous system feels, any changes in temperature, how your thoughts may be (as some spirits can influence thinking), any physical bodily sensations you may begin experiencing, etc.
Fear-Mongering
There is an incredibly ill-thought-out idea circling these days that spiritual protections are "fear-mongering" or speaking on harmful spirits is "fear-mongering" derivative of Christians being against witchcraft. I'm just gonna say it: this is fucking stupid and an incredibly uneducated, discriminatory take.
The idea of harmful spirits existed long before Christianity was even developed, despite efforts to destroy our cultures, and still exist outside the lens of Christianity today. (Stop taking my culture and spiritual practices, shaming me for it, and then calling me a Christian for practicing it. What kind of backwards logic is that from a witch / practitioner / pagan?)
If you're protected, then you have nothing to worry about. You do not have to feel afraid in order to do your due diligence. We don't ever hop in a car expecting a car crash, but we still put our seatbelts on just in case. We still take driver's tests just in case. We still look both ways before making a turn just in case. It's really not that big of a deal.
Fear-mongering would be "all spirits are out to get you specifically because you don't do what other witches do." But saying things like, "hey, keeping yourself safe is a good idea because bad things can happen" is not fear-mongering. Saying things like "just as spirits can be our friends, they can be our enemies or purposefully / unintentionally harm us too; just like people can" is not fear-mongering. Saying things like "making sure you feel safe and comfortable is important and should not be taken as disrespectful by any spirit / deity" is not fear-mongering. Saying things like "there are consequences to your actions, even spiritually" is not fear-mongering. The idea that really basic practices based in centuries of tradition and developed in modern times are "fear-mongering christian beliefs" is a slippery slope to spiritual psychosis and getting yourself hurt / your spells or spirit work not working or going well / etc. It's also a great fucking slope to continuously erasing practices that Christianity and other oppressors have already been attempting to take, twist and erase for centuries.
Just because Christians took an idea from a traditional practice (multiple, really) without learning the intricacies about it and use it to hurt others, does not invalidate that actual practice they stole from. If it did, all of witchcraft, paganism and other cultural customs would be "fear-mongering." Y'all are just allowing the colonization of our practices and then shaming us for not following your ideals. Besides -- Christians do not speak on the subject more often than traditional practitioners in general, so maybe you guys need to do some more genuine listening and learning / finding actual traditional practitioners if you think Christian ideologies run our practices lol (yeah... people like y'all who preach this sound a bit indoctrinated ngl, and most of us would prefer if you didn't bring that into our teachings and try colonizing us instead of doing some really basic research and self-healing, thanks)
If you're going to talk about fear-mongering, then be knowledgeable about fear-mongering. It doesn't have to be as complicated of a mess as it is, truthfully.
Spirit Work Paths
There's a variety of ways you can lean on relationships with spirits, depending on the relationship and those specifically involved. Here's just a handful of ideas!
Psychopomp work
Spell work
Energy work (especially energy forces / spirits of the energies)
Divination practices
Additional protections
Baneful workings
Healing, health boosts and overall well-being
Attraction, confidence, abundance, etc
Learning about the spiritual world (or even the living world!)
Learning ancestral / cultural practices
Learning lessons and teachings from spirits
Bonding with nature and your environment or spiritual community
Deity work / worship
Animal bonding / work, and / or plant bonding / work
Inner peace, intuition enhancement, etc
Spiritual gift(s) unlocking, locking, development / enhancement, training, etc
Ancestral veneration
and more!
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to read my post / learn from my personal knowledge, experiences, and beliefs!
You can learn more about spirit work in this guide to working with death. I also have a brief guide to vetting in this post. For research tips, visit this post and this post, as well as this post on finding traditional Greek practitioners (more focused on Hellenism). Check out this PSA on tricksters and also this post on fear-mongering in spirit work I came across recently. You can also take a look around my Table of Contents post for other posts on the topic, as I have shared a variety, and / or send an Ask any time!
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