Quick Update – New Products and Card Readings

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to let you know about some things going on in our Etsy shop, Compass & Key Apothecary. We’ve got a new mojo hand and a new bundle available:

Be Not Afraid! Mojo Bag
The Be Not Afraid! Mojo Bag is designed to provide spiritual protection to those who carry it on their person. The combination of herbs, roots, and other curios in this handmade mojo all have powerful protective qualities according to folklore. The rue used in this bag, for example, has been reputed by Italian magicians to fend of baneful sorcery for centuries. It is thought that carrying a bag like this can boost one’s confidence, repel enemies, and turn harmful enchantments back on their senders. Best fed with our Wall of Flame Oil or with rum in which hot peppers have been soaked.
Cost: $6.00 + Shipping

The Fearless Bundle
The Fearless Bundle includes one (1) Be Not Afraid! custom-made mojo bag and one (1) bottle of our Wall of Flame oil. Together, these constitute a powerful spiritual defense which repels harmful forces and turns wicked spells back on their senders. The oil can be used to feed the mojo bag and on its own. You can save $2 off the total cost (plus a little bit on shipping) by buying these items in this bundle
Cost: $10.00 + Shipping

All products sold as novelties only. Not intended for internal use. Please consult a health professional for medical conditions.

We’re also knocking $2.00 off of the shipping cost of any purchase made in December. I tried to set it up to do this automatically through the Etsy site, but if that doesn’t work I will refund the $2.00 to you after your purchase, so either way you’ll definitely get a discount on shipping.  If you’ve never ordered from our shop, you should know that every order winds up with some extra free goodies thrown in with it, which can range from little bags of herbs to handmade spells and charms to talismans and amulets.

I’ve wanted to make more products available, but it takes a good bit of time to develop each one, plus I usually like to “guinea-pig” my stuff first by sending samples of new things out to customers in the hopes of getting feedback, and that can be very time-consuming. So apologies if a product you want isn’t on the Etsy site yet, but maybe it will be soon. You can always email us and request something and we usually are willing to accommodate.

Speaking of emailing us, I’m also looking to start offering some card readings to folks. At first, I’ll only be doing it by email due to time constraints, but I may branch out into Skype if there’s enough interest. The cost? How about pay-what-you-can? For right now, I’m doing this on a donations-only basis, so as long as you’re willing to donate something to the site (using the PayPal button located in our main page side bar, or you can do it here, too), I’ll read for you. Ideally, I’d love to get at least $5.00 for it, but hey, a buck’s a buck, and if all you can afford is $1.00, that’ll do.

Here’s how the card-reading works:

1)      You email me your question (subject: “Card Reading”) and make your donation (in whichever order you prefer—please make sure to include your real name and astrological sign so I can get a lock on reading for you).
2)      I will do a two-card split reading and an extended five-card reading, recording the cards drawn.
3)      I will write an approximately 1-page report for you on the reading and send it back to you.
4)      You can ask one follow-up question as well, which I will pull 1-3 cards for. I’ll send you an email response with those cards and a summary of their meaning.

I’m using my own system of cartomancy with regular playing cards inherited from my mother, so don’t be surprised if the cards and their meanings are a little different than what you’re used to.

So why all this commercial activity? No, it’s not because of the holidays. Rather, I’m trying to raise money to fund the next year of the site and podcast’s hosting service and there are some magical courses and books that I’m looking at as well. The more I know, the more I can add to the site and show, so it’s a win-win for all of us, right? Plus (and this is a big reason), I’m trying to do a lot more practical work with folk magic, and making new things while offering card readings seems like a good way to do that. So if you enjoy the show or site and want to help contribute to it, please check out our Etsy shop and/or get a card reading!

Okay, thanks everyone for all your support! We really appreciate all you do for us, and hope you’re having a great holiday season!

All the best,

-Cory

Blog Post 85 – Hearts and Spades (Cards, part IV)

This post deals with the second half of the deck, the hearts and spades suits.  Again, I’ll provide a few key words or images, and then elaborate a bit.  Let’s get to it!

Hearts
This suit has to do with deep emotions as well as family, friends, and lovers.  These cards often represent people well-known to the questioner.

Ace – A kiss; A new romance; Feeling lonely.  Pulling the Ace of Hearts in a reading means that likely a new lover has entered the picture, or at the very least a formerly bland relationship has taken on new life.  Generally it’s a positive card, but next to something like a Two of Spades it can mean a period of separation and loneliness.

Two – Lovers; Coupling; The sex card.  This is the card that inspires knowing smiles and lecherous grins.  Simply put, it’s about sex.  Not so simply put, it can also be about and deeply emotionally intimate connection with someone else, including a family member (try not to mix those two meanings together…*shudder*).  So if you pulled it with say the King or Queen of Clubs, it likely means a family relationship, while a lay next to any Jack might mean a delightful tryst.

Three – A wish granted; A full cup.  The Three of Hearts means that something deeply longed for is about to appear.  This isn’t quite the fulfillment found with the Ten of Diamonds or the Ten of Hearts, but it does generally mean at least one thing will go right.

Four – A trunk or travel case; A lock.  Like with other fours, this card shows a relative stagnation.  However, in the case of the Four of Hearts, that could also mean incubation or preparation.  The image of a hope chest or a steamer trunk fits this card, with all their promised potential for excitement, romance, marriage, and just life in general.  However, getting mired down in preparation can lead to a life of lock-down, where everything is being kept just so, and never given the opportunity for use.

Five – A chapel; Fertility; A bed.  The Five of Hearts shows the healthy development of a romance, leading to family and (potentially) marriage.  Paired with something like the Queen of Diamonds, it almost certainly means a wedding of some kind.  Paired with a Jack of Hearts, be prepared for a new member of the family in nine months.  Paired with a Nine of Clubs, however, this card could just mean someone needs a good night’s sleep.

Six – A dog; Loyalty and stamina; Long-term relationships.  If the questioner gets the Six of Hearts in a reading, he or she can expect to be in it for the long haul, whatever “it” may be.  It could be a family situation, a romance, or even—if paired with something like the Two of Spades—a lengthy divorce.  However, the upside to this card is its dog imagery.  Paired with a lover card like the Two of Hearts, it indicates a sincere and faithful mate, one who loves unconditionally and who will always be there.

Seven – Hate; Fear.  This card shows a love that has grown too strong and become hate, or possibly fear and terror of another person.  If the reader sees this card with something like the Five or Nine of Spades, it’s a sign that the relationship will end in violence and help should be sought immediately.  Alternatively, with something like the Ace of Clubs, this may indicate self-loathing which needs to be overcome.  It’s also possible that the Seven of Hearts will act as a warning in a reading, alerting the subject to the presence of an enemy.

Eight – Flirtation; Pillow talk.  While the Two of Hearts is all about doing it, this card is all about talking about doing it.  The Eight of Hearts shows that giddy, fun stage of flirtation and wooing that so often appears early in the relationship.  It can also mean a sweet, tender intimacy and connecting with a partner on an emotional as well as physical level.

Nine – A little house/cottage; A new life.  When a client pulls this card, it usually has to do with the establishment of a new family or a new home.  Paired with something like the Four of Hearts or Five of Clubs, it may mean saving for a new house, or possibly moving away.  If aces show up, however, pay attention to them, as they may indicate a sudden shift in life circumstances which leads to a new life that the client doesn’t actually want.

Ten – A happy family; A fire.  With the Ten of Hearts, everything about one’s emotional and personal life seems to be falling into place.  Romances go well, family relationships are strong, and everything’s good.  Think of being gathered around a nice warm fire with friends and family, enjoying a perfect summer evening.  Be aware, however, that as with all fires, this one can burn.  Paired with an Ace of Spaces, be prepared for an upheaval in happiness.

Jack – A baby; A cradle; A young boy.  This card is one that makes plenty of clients nervous, and some extremely happy.  Because of its strong associations with a newborn child, the Jack of Hearts often tells of a pregnancy, especially when matched to something like the Five of Hearts.  This card can also have to do with calm and peace, though, even indicating a period of self-pampering in a way.  In some cases, the card simply refers to a boy or young man in the client’s life.

Queen – The client; Soulmate.  Remember how I said the King and Queen of Hearts were unusual?  That’s because they are used to represent the actual client in a reading.  If a reader has a female client, she is represented by the Queen of Hearts.  If the reader’s client is male, this card represents that perfect, ideal lover or soulmate.  One of these two cards, at least, will always show up in every extended reading (more on that when we talk about layouts).  The presence of both indicates a preexisting marriage or a deep and abiding love.

King – The client; Soulmate.  Just like the Queen of Hearts, this card can represent either a male client or a soulmate.  I know some people will ask about homosexual couples, and I will say that despite the gender pairings implied by the card faces, the meaning “soulmate” still applies to gay couples.  Since there aren’t two Kings of Hearts in a deck, a gay man will see his ideal mate represented as a Queen of Hearts.  The reverse is true if a gay woman sees a King of Hearts in her reading—she can expect to meet the girl of her dreams.

Spades

These are the cards of woe, suffering, and fighting.  Consider them warnings or signs of trouble that may yet be avoided.

Ace – Death; Sudden change.  This card is paralleled by the Death card in the tarot deck.  And like its counterpart, it doesn’t necessarily mean physical death, but instead a sudden transformation or an ending.  Much of this card’s meaning depends upon what it’s next to.  If it is with a Six of Clubs, it might mean that a business venture will come to an abrupt termination.  With Threes from Diamonds and/or Hearts, the client can stop expecting others to give them anything…they are on their own.  This card can also indicate deep isolation, and in some cases might even mean a period of contemplation, but again, it depends on context.

Two – A duel; A separation.  The Two of Spades means that someone is itching for a fight, and there’s a good chance they’ll get one.  Paired with cards like the Two or Nine of Hearts, a romantic separation is imminent.  If it sits next to a person card, like a jack, king, or queen, it’s likely there will be a falling out with that person soon.

Three – A battle; Setbacks and obstacles.  Unlike the obstacles presented by the Three of Clubs, the roadblocks that come out of this card are not about developing oneself and overcoming difficult trials.  Instead, this card is about fighting through the hardest parts and living to see another day.  Metaphorically, the Three of Spades might indicate a bitter falling out with one’s parents (if next to a King or Queen of clubs) or a difficult economic situation at one’s job (with a Six of Diamonds or Clubs).

Four – The Four Horsemen; A mire.  Seeing a four in any suit indicates feeling a little stuck, but seeing a Four of Spades means being immobilized.  It can also presage illness, poverty, violence, or even death.  It means that if the subject doesn’t make some changes—difficult as they may be to make—there could be some dire consequences.  However, there are positive ways to see this card.  If it is followed, for example, by the Five and Jack of Hearts, it may mean that someone who’s been trying to get pregnant will soon be able to, though it won’t be easy.  Overall, though, consider this a definite “warning” card.

Five – Illness; A corpse.  This suit is just full of jolly things, isn’t it?  The Five of Spades indicates sickness, disease, pain, etc.  It can also mean that there’s something that needs to be buried, like a hatchet between the client and someone he/she is feuding with.  Paired with cards like the other Fives or the Ten of Clubs, it generally means that the client will beat the illness or deal with the skeletons in his/her closet.  With a Nine or Ten of Spades, however, things get worse.

Six – A devil; Temptation; Bad decisions.  If the Queen of Clubs is the angel on your shoulder, the Six of Spades is on the other side with red pajamas and a pitchfork.  The nice thing about this card is that any temptations it brings up can be recognized and dealt with.   But sometimes it’s fun to give into temptation, too, so pay attention to the other cards.  If you see lots of red cards around this card, it may mean a little harmless vice.  With a Two of Hearts and a Five of Spades, however, it may mean that a sexual relationship is becoming destructive.

Seven – Tears; Blood; War.  I’ve already mentioned that the tears implied by the Seven of Spades can be tears of sorrow or tears of joy, depending on context.  This card may also be a warning that violence is not far away, or that something deep down inside the subject is affected by the overall reading.  But the sevens always carry a twist.  While the sevens of the other suits tend to have some potent negativity, the Seven of Spades can have a very good side.  It can imply a great deal of strength, mastery of a situation, or even coming victory and glory.  Caution is always best, though.  If this card lands with the Ace, Five, Nine, or Ten of Spades, heads will roll.

Eight – An argument; Shouting.  Communication is important, but how a person communicates is also vital.  Pulling the Eight of Spades means that the client is not making him/herself clear and likely finds him/herself constantly embattled and unable to resolve the problems in his/her life.  It can also mean long-standing arguments with those close to the client.  If it were with a Queen of Clubs and a Five of Hearts, it could be a mother-in-law, for example.

Nine – A funeral; A coffin; A ghost.  The Nine of Spades looks like a funeral procession as scene from above, with pallbearers carrying a black coffin (at least that’s one way to see it).  This could indicate some kind of grieving process, the need for ritual and order to restore balance, or just a need to put an end to things.  In some cases, this card may mean that someone or something from the past is still haunting the subject (it may even indicate a literal haunting).  Matched with something like the Jack of Clubs or Jack of Hearts, it might mean an old friend or an old flame of some kind.

Ten – A cemetery; A ruined church.  This card shows the aftermath of woe and trouble, and in that way it’s actually not all that bad.  It shows that the worst is over, and that all that’s left is to pick up the pieces and move on.  It can also be a peaceful card, a return to calm and quiet, or even to innocence in a way.  Paired with a card like the Six of Clubs, it might mean a lapse in faith and a need to reevaluate one’s beliefs about something.

Jack – A rebel; Bad news; A backstabber.  The Jack of Spades is a bad boy/girl, someone not to be trusted but who likely is very seductive and enticing.  With a card like the Six of Spades beside it, it might mean the kind of lover who is no good, but incredibly desirable.  With a Two or Eight of Diamonds, it means that gossip and slander are spreading about the client, and steps should be taken to staunch it.  The Jack of Spades can also simply mean bad news is on the horizon, so be prepared for it.

Queen –  A cruel mother; A seductress; Jealousy; A female rival.  With this particular queen, watch out!  She’s intensely powerful and knows how to use that power to get what she wants.  She is trying to take something from the subject, be it a lover, money, or happiness in general.  However, this card can also be a warning that the subject is becoming too jealous for no reason, which is almost an opposite reading in a way.  So again context is important.  Paired with a Six of Spades or an Eight of Hearts, it’s likely this woman is trying to wreck a relationship.  Paired with a Six of Hearts, though, it probably means that the subject is needlessly jealous.

King – A criminal; An executioner; Wrath; A male rival.  The King of Spades is powerful, too, and just as viscous as his queen.  He is not the just judge found in the clubs, but an executioner ready to exact a penalty for any wrongdoings.  He will take what is rightfully the client’s if he can, or attack when the client is the weakest.  If this card appears, the client should attempt to make amends for any transgressions, and turn to friends or family for support in case hard times lie ahead.

I know, another long post, but that covers all the individual cards.  I’ll be covering how to actually perform a reading with playing cards in the near future, so stay tuned (or subscribed, maybe?)!

Thanks for reading!

-Cory

Blog Post 84 – Diamonds and Clubs (Cards, part III)

Okay, so today I’m going to look at individual cards and their significance in my readings.  I’ll basically tell you a few key words, then elaborate a bit on potential interpretations of these cards.  Most of my system comes out of years of practice using playing cards for divination, as well as for games.  I have found that in some cases, my personal work with a particular card has shown me a meaning different from the one I originally learned.  When it comes to these sorts of fortune-telling methods, practice makes perfect.

Now, onto the cards!  Let’s start with:

Diamonds

Remember that diamonds in general signify money, fortune, luck, and happiness.  They also can relate to messages or news, or social interaction.

Ace – A letter; A coin.  The Ace of Diamonds indicates some new money or new information entering the questioner’s life.  It can also have to do with a sudden shift in luck—if preceded and followed by spades, that could mean bad luck.  Additionally, due to the solitary nature of the pip, it could mean being very careful with your news, luck, or money—keeping it to yourself, as it were.

Two – Birds (as in “a little birdie told me”); Exchange of funds.  This card is about sharing, whether that’s news and gossip (like the birds), or sharing your luck or fortune with someone else.  It can indicate a partnership of some kind, but usually not a business one so much as a financial one.  For example, if it were paired with a card connected to a friend or lover, you might be moving in with that person soon (because you’ll be yoking yourself to them financially).

Three – Gifts; A fountain.  The Three of Diamonds shows generosity—sometimes even unwilling generosity.  Someone who draws this card likely “throws his/her money away,” just like one throws pennies in a fountain (if you’re singing “Three Coins in a Fountain” right now, I sympathize with you).  This may seem like a sign of irresponsibility, but it can also simply receiving a gift, or an expansion of fortunes which allows the person to be generous.

Four – The purse/money bag; No news.  With the Four of Diamonds, the reader will need to figure out if the reading is about money or information, as it changes the card’s meaning a bit.  If the question is financial, thefour indicates a stable monetary situation, but also one without any chance of growing—much like a closed purse neither receives nor spends money.  In the case of information, this card indicates a dull waiting period, possibly a prolonged one.  This can mean “no news is good news,” or that the client must wait on tenterhooks for a proper resolution to his/her situation.

Five – Good luck; Laughter.  This card shows the subject surrounded by friends, fortune, and happiness.  It’s not the all-encompassing joy found in other cards like the Ten of Diamonds but it’s generally positive nonetheless.  Depending on context, however, it can also mean something like “the last laugh,” and have slightly more sinister connotations.

Six – Streets of Gold; Good decisioins.  No, not the Yellow Brick Road, but the idea’s the same.  The client’s on the right path and merely needs to continue doing what he/she is doing and success will come.  Paired with a card like an Ace, this card may mean recent decisions have been good; paired with a King or a Queen the client is probably getting very good advice from someone.

Seven – Lies; Deceit and falsehood.  The Seven of Diamonds indicates that the questioner is being lied to by someone.  This lie may or may not have to do with money, but almost always has to do with happiness.  Perhaps the client is happy being lied to, and little white lies sustain him/her—this could certainly be the case if a Jack of Diamonds, Clubs, or Hearts were nearby.  More often, though, the lies indicate trouble to come.

Eight – Gossip; Idle chatter.  Much like the Two of Diamonds, this card means an exchange of information, although it usually is information of little value.  It can also indicate talking about money, getting good news about one’s fortunes or finances, or someone’s natural wit.  Paired with something like the Two of Spades, it might mean something like “loose lips sink ships,” and that one should hold one’s tongue for a while.

Nine – Daydreams; Peace and contentment.  Think of this card as a leisurely day spent in the sun with nothing particular to do.  It’s a card of relative idleness, but without any real negativity.  It’s a well-earned rest, a chance to plan for the future, and time to stop and smell the flowers.  Beware, though, if it’s paired with a four of any kind, as it may mean that all one’s plans are but pipe dreams, destined to disappear like clouds in an afternoon sky.  Or something like that.

Ten – A treasure chest; Sunlight; Joy.  With the Ten of Diamonds, the client can expect great happiness.  In the context of other good luck cards, this may mean an unexpected windfall or a sudden improvement in circumstances.  The Ten of Diamonds leaves little room for any sorrow or woe, and generally indicates the fulfillment of financial goals and personal derams.  Of course, as Willy Wonka said, “Do you know what happened to the boy who suddenly got everything he ever wanted?”  Oh, wait, he lived happily ever after…

Jack – Good news; A girl.  This card displays a young boy (or possibly a young girl, hence the card’s alternate meaning).  At one time these cards were known as Knaves instead of Jacks, and would have been similar to a knight’s squire.  In the context of a card reading, this Jack means that some good news is about to arrive. Or that a beautiful girl is about to arrive.  Which might also be good news, depending on  your point of view.

Queen – The good wife; A wedding; Sensuality.  This Queen is all about duty and splendor.  She could be a mother or wife in the questioner’s life who inspires joy and happiness, or provides sound financial advice.  More likely, though, she indicates someone who does what must be done or a woman with a deeply sexual side.  She can also mean a wedding (and thus a large expense and a large celebration), or in some cases a big party (for instance if she appeared alongside “friend” cards like the Queen or Jack of Clubs).

King – A bank; A civil trial; Wisdom with money.  The King of Diamonds means power through money or fortune.  Pulled with several spades, the client can expect to face some financial trials (literally in a courtroom or possibly only figuratively).  Alternately, pulled with clubs or diamonds, this card probably means that money is being invested wisely, or that there is a man in the questioner’s life who provides very good advice when it comes to luck and money.

Clubs

Clubs are work, destiny, plans and debate.  Remember that as you do your readings.

Ace – A cave; Solitary contemplation.  This card tells the reader that the subject should take some time to really evaluate his or her life.  Has he/she got goals?  Is he/she working to reach them, or should there be some reevaluation of priorities.  This is a lonely card, but not necessarily a bad one—often we need moments of intense personal reflection before we can move on to do the great things we are capable of.

Two – A handshake; Business partnership.  The Two of Clubs shows an agreement or arrangement made between two people, often for the sake of business or stability.  It can indicate a treaty or alliance of some kind, or a pairing up to overcome obstacles in the way.  Pulled with something like a Two of Spades, it may mean the impending end of a previous business partnership.

Three – A stone wall; Obstacles.  In most cases, threes indicate wishes or growth, so this card may seem odd.  However, the setbacks provided by a good obstacle also provide the impetus to overcome them oftentimes.  Usually this card means that whatever challenges the subject faces, whether they be business troubles or a lack of personal direction, he/she can and will overcome them.  Paired with something like a Three of Hearts or Diamonds, such progress is likely just around the bend.

Four – A horse and cart; A plowed field.  This card is about potential.  The Four of Clubs definitely means that for the moment nothing is happening, but that now is the time to prepare for inevitable change.  By “tilling” and “plowing” oneself or one’s business plans, the eventual outcome will be far better than one would get just sitting on one’s hands.  If this card  appears with a Nine of Clubs, that outcome is ripe and should show up very soon.

Five – A barn; A healthy body.  The Five of Clubs is encouraging.  It can represent either a full barn (which in turn stands for abundance and hard work paying off) or a strong, healthy body.  If this card were at the end of a reading full of cards which indicated illness (such as a Five or Nine of Spades), a recovery should be expected.  An inversion of that order might mean deteriorating health, however, so context is important.

Six – Footprints; A clear trail.  A person who gets this card in his/her reading probably has a definitive sense of purpose, or has recently begun some activity that he/she finds very fulfilling.  This can be a career, a hobby, or even a friendship of some kind.  If the appropriate King or Queen of Hearts comes after this card, it might be a sign that true love (“wuv…twue wuv”) is on the horizon.

Seven – Doubts/Worries.  The Seven of Clubs indicates that the client is very troubled by something.  So troubled, in fact, that it is likely hindering or debilitating the questioner in some way.  Paired with something like the Seven of Spades and/or the Ace of Clubs, he/she likely spends a lot of time alone and crying over something that he/she feels powerless to change.  The nice thing about this card (and there is a nice thing) is that for the most part, all the troubles are really in the asker’s head.  They can be overcome, but it may take a mental sea change to effect that change.

Eight – Shop talk; A table or bench.  When the work day finishes, it’s nice to crowd around a table with friends, family, and sometimes even co-workers for a drink or a meal.  Often the events of the day get rehashed, with details added or subtracted as conversation directs.  That’s what this card is all about.  It shows people getting together to share the tricks of their particular trades, make plans for times ahead, or even occasionally plumb the mysteries of the universe, depending on how much beer is at the table.

Nine – Reaping; A forest.  The Nine of Clubs shows things that have grown and how we deal with them as human beings.  In some cases, we reap what we’ve sown and prepare for hard times ahead, hoping that what we have will be enough.  Sometimes, we wander through the trees getting lost, hoping we’ll find our way back again.  A questioner finding this card may be having trouble making sense of his or her life, but there is still plenty of hope left.  Followed by something like a Ten of Hearts or Clubs, this card simply means that a dark night soon reveals a bright dawn.

Ten – A herd or flock; Clouds.  This card is abundance, completion, and satisfaction.  It is definitely all about rewards, comfort, and a job well done.  It completes the sense of accomplishment found in the Five of Clubs, and adds the element of restfulness.  The seeker’s found his or her calling, home life is happy and stable, and/or business is steady and fulfilling.  The clouds, heavy with rain on the horizion, are pouring down copiously.  This is the “pat on the back” or “Miller time” card.

Jack – A friend; A sibling.  The Jack of Clubs is a peer, whether that’s a co-worker, a good friend, or a sibling.  This is someone with whom the questioner has a mutual respect.  The Jack can also indicate business news of some kind (especially if an Ace or Two of Diamonds or an Eight of Clubs shows up), and may also indicate a young boy entering the client’s life.

Queen – A mother; A nurse; A wise woman.  This is a card indicating someone very smart, very strong, and very helpful.  The seeker probably knows exactly who this card represents when he/she sees it, and also probably knows exactly what kind of advice this person would give (think of this as a conscience card).  This card can also mean a mother hen, too, though likely only if connected to an argumentative card, like the Eight of Spades.  Conflict in the Clubs is productive, however, so even a mother hen has her place.  Finally, this card indicates nurturing.  Paired with something like an Ace of Clubs, it likely means taking the time to heal old emotional wounds before moving forward with something or someone new.

King – A father; A judge; A general.  The King of Clubs is someone with authority, someone who can give an order and get things done.  He may not always be nice about it, but he has his reasons for driving people so hard.  This person is someone wise, though perhaps also someone very stubborn and set in his ways.  For those who have issues with feeling judged all the time, this card could be troubling, but it may also mean that the questioner must face his or her fears and forge ahead.  This is a card about what must be done, and living up to expectations.

Wow, a long post today.  I hope someone out there finds this useful.  Let me know if you do!  Next post we’ll finish up the individual cards.  Until then…
Thanks for reading!

-Cory

Blog Post 83 – Pips and Faces (Cards, part II)

Today I’m continuing the card-reading discussion from the last post.  I’m going to tackle this on a card-by-card basis, but I thought it might be helpful to add a little bit on enumeration and face cards as a whole.  I really should have done this on yesterday’s post, but, well, I didn’t.  So it’s going to be in today’s instead.

There are lots of different systems of interpreting the card numbers and the royals.  Some are fairly simplistic (mine definitely are) and some get incredibly detailed, looking at astrological and numerological significance in kabbalistic and ceremonial magical contexts.  I’m not a particularly good ceremonialist, so I tend to use a fairly straightforward system focusing on key concepts associated with each number.  I can probably demonstrate better than I can explain, so here’s my numbering system.

Aces – Beginnings; Primary or Solitary things

Twos – Pairs; Couples; Exchange

Threes – Growth; Wishes

Fours – Decisions; Stagnation; Choices

Fives – Groups; Bodily things; Gains/Losses

Six – Paths

Sevens – Epitome cards*; Inversions; Trouble

Eights – Talking; Ideas

Nines – Patience; Ambition; Expansion

Tens – Completion; Endings

Jacks – Youth; Children; Messages; Peers

Queens – Women or a particular woman; Beauty; Mothers; Nurses; Teachers

Kings – Men or a particular man; Wisdom; Age; Power; Judges

*A note on “epitome” cards – the Sevens of each suit represent the most concentrated form of that suit.  Often, there’s a somewhat negative connotation to this intensity.  Yet, this does not necessarily mean all good or all bad.  For example, the seven of spades can mean “tears” as an epitome card, but if those tears are near lots of red cards, they are likely tears of joy.

The number combinations can also lead to a certain amount of interpretation.  For instance, if you had several threes and nines, that would guide you towards a reading about opportunities and very quick growth (because both cards are about growth/expansion).  A seven, five, and four might indicate bad choices and losses that come out of those choices.  A king with a six might mean a teacher or elder is going to help guide the questioner in a new direction.

Royal cards (or “face cards”) also have a certain potency that the numeric cards lack.  I sometimes include aces as a face card, but this really depends on the reading and the number of other face cards around it.  It’s sort of like spiritual blackjack—it can be the highest or lowest value depending on the other cards.  The other face cards usually represent particular people or major events in the subject’s life.  Getting a king and a queen of the same suit can often indicate “parents” or the parental guidance which shaped the questioner’s life.  You’ll see more about these as we explore them in depth later on, but for now just know that royals, aces, and sevens all mean “pay attention to this reading.”  There are some divinatory systems (such as the card-reading taught in curanderismo) which also remove the queens from the deck before reading.  This dates back to a European practice based on a specific deck, but don’t be surprised if you don’t see them in someone’s reading.  As a final word on royals, there are two special royals in my system of divination:  the king and queen of hearts.  Depending on the gender of the client, one of these cards will represent him or her (the king for a man, the queen for a woman).  We’ll look at how that works later on, though.

All of these interpretations are also deeply linked to the suits, of course, and to where they fall during the reading.

Okay, now with that out of the way, we’ll be moving on to individual cards in the next post.  Please let me know if you have any questions, though!

Thanks for reading!

-Cory

Blog Post 82 – Cards, an Overview

Hello readers!

Let me first say that I know it would be fairly impossible for me to explain a divination system thoroughly in one post. So this will likely be the first of several posts addressing the use of playing cards as a magical tool.  What I would like to do is explain my personal system of card divination, as well as some of the variants and influences which have shaped my practice.   I’m not going to dive into an extensive history of playing cards or tarot cards, as those subjects are well-covered and well-documented in other sources.  However, a little of the history that sometimes slips through the cracks (especially regarding playing cards) might be worth mentioning here.

While the absolute origin of pictographic cards is unknown, many folks believe they came out of India, China, or Turkey, or with the travelling Romany people (also frequently called “Gypsies”).  What is known is that by the 1500’s, playing cards were very popular with the lower classes, and often cited as a vice by clerical and governmental documents throughout Europe.  They received wide-spread appreciation from the highest ranks, including Bohemian emperor Rudolph II and Napoleon’s spiritual advisor, Madame Lenormand.  Yet cards have almost always been popular among the lower classes, too.  Cards came to America with settlers, sailors, and soldiers.  In fact, in the late 1700’s, a popular ballad called “The Soldier’s Prayer-Book” described the suits, pips, and enumeration of playing cards in terms of biblical metaphor.  For example, the fives represent the five wounds of Christ, the nines are the nine lepers healed by Jesus, and the tens are the Ten Commandments.  While this song may have been a white-wash for gambling soldiers eager to keep one of the few portable entertainments allowed them, it does register an important point:  cards make wonderful tools for metaphoric interpretation.

So why playing cards instead of tarot cards?  For one thing, playing cards have been more or less easily accessible since the 1600’s, and are versatile.  The cards you play a game of blackjack with one day can be used to reveal the future the next.  They also travel well in a pocket and are easily replaced if they get torn or damaged.  Plantation owners in the antebellum South often thought little of slaves having decks of playing cards to amuse themselves in their few off hours (though in some places stricter masters prohibited them altogether).  William Wells Brown, who provided a slave narrative for a character named “Uncle Frank,” claimed that each plantation also had at least one fortune-teller somewhere on the premises, and at least few of them used playing cards.  Today, playing cards are an excellent way of divining even in plain sight.  No one thinks much of two people over a table full of diamonds, spades, clubs, and hearts, while a Devil or Lovers card might raise eyebrows.

My own system of playing card divination is largely based on the book It’s All in the Cards, by Chita Lawrence and the rhyme “For the Witch of Poor Memory” by Dawn Jackson, with a significant amount of additional material I’ve picked up from other books, teachers, and experiences over time.  What I outline here will be my own understanding of these cards, so please do not take it as gospel, and find a method that works for you.

Like most who practice cartomancy, I break the major meanings of the cards down by color and suits.  However, unlike a lot of other practitioners, I don’t ascribe these suits to tarot parallels or elemental attributes.  There are some connections, of course, as hearts and cups both signal emotion-based interpretations, but it’s not a hard-and-fast link.

First, black cards indicate “negative” or “no” answers, while red cards are “positive” or “yes” answers.  This is most important in short readings, which I’ll address in a later post.  Some will say that having more black cards than red is a sign of negativity, but honestly, the only truly “negative” cards in an extended reading are the spades, in my opinion.  For me, I look at the suits in the following way:

Hearts – Family, friends, love, and lovers.  Also emotions and things which are deeply felt.
Clubs – Work and business.  One’s “calling” or destiny.  Also conflict, discussion, and debate.
Diamonds – Money, luck, fortune, happiness.  Also news, letters, and socializing.
Spades – Tears, suffering, woe.  War, fighting, violence.  Also change, warning, and doubts/fears.

I’ll get into each of these suits a little more when I break down the individual cards, but this should give you some idea what I see when I do a layout for a reading.  If I see lots of diamonds and clubs, I know that someone’s got some good work he or she will be well compensated for coming around the bend.  All hearts means that the client is emotionally invested in the reading, or that he or she is dealing with deep family or friendship questions.  Spades and clubs together would be a sign that the client’s job might be in jeopardy, or that work is very unfulfilling for him or her.

In the next post, we’ll get into the actual significance of particular cards, but it is good to keep the overall meanings of the suits in mind as we go forward.  If you have any questions, please ask, and I’ll be happy to answer as best I can (from my own personal perspective…did I mention that yet?).

For today though, thanks for reading!

-Cory

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