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Cartomancy Playing Cards: Card Meanings & Combinations


meanings of playing cards
meanings of playing cards


People have always been overly curious when it comes to the future. Many curious minds sought ways to pierce the veil of mystery to have even a fleeting glance at things that were to come. It feels like practically anything people could lay their hands on served as a tool to do it: tea leaves, wax, crystals, the list goes on. 





Playing cards are among those everyday objects used for divination. Granted, people are more used to the likes of tarot cards to see into the past, present, and future. But in capable hands, even a regular deck of cards might hide as many meanings as tarot. 

If you aren’t quite familiar with fortune telling using playing cards or the meanings behind them, this article will shed some light on this practice. So let’s shuffle a worn-out deck as we learn the truth behind what cartomancy is and playing card meanings and combinations. Shall we?


What Is Cartomancy in a Nutshell?


cartomancy card combination meanings
cartomancy card combination meanings


In simpler terms, cartomancy is a practice that uses playing cards for divination reading of the past, present, and future. This practice implies using a standard 52-card deck. Similarly to the tarot reading tradition, playing cards have meanings behind each card. But since regular cards are less imagery-heavy, they are considered to be slightly more accessible.  

People started reading playing cards almost as soon as they were introduced to Europe back in the 14th century. Using regular cards for cartomancy gained significant popularity during the 18th and 19th centuries, especially among the nobility and middle class. 

Again, similarly to tarot, there is hardly any evidence of mystical meanings of playing cards. They are believed to be mere tools that connect to our intuitive and subconscious to provide answers and guidance. Сartomancy interpretations involve diving deep into the specific meanings assigned to each of the cards. Funnily enough, most skeptics would prefer to have their fortune told through play card reading as opposed to a tarot reading. Their reasoning - playing cards are a lot more familiar.    


What Is the Difference Between Cartomancy and Tarot?


playing card meaning and combination
playing card meaning and combination


Now let’s have a closer look at the whole cartomancy vs tarot discourse. What’s the difference? Do the meanings behind tarot cards coincide with playing cards’ meanings? Let’s break it all down.

For starters, playing cards and tarot cards have different deck structures. Cartomancy involves a standard 52-deck card, whereas tarot divination features a 78-card deck. Besides, tarot cards have the Major and Minor Arcana division which makes them even more challenging to master. 

In terms of symbolism, tarot cards are indisputably richer and more complex than cartomancy cards. The former was designed specifically for divination, whereas game cards were assigned pretty basic meanings by enthusiasts. 

Some beginners claim that performing divination with regular cards is a bit easier than tarot. They claim that it is a lot easier to grasp the meaning of playing cards as opposed to pondering endlessly over a symbolically rich imagery of their counterpart. 


What Are Cartomancy Card Layouts & Interpretations?


cartomancy meaning
cartomancy meaning


Now let’s tackle the practical side of the matter. If you wish to read playing cards, you not only need to know the cartomancy cards’ meaning but also the types of layouts - or spreads, like in tarot. Let’s jump right into this enigmatic craft. 


What Kind of Card Layouts Are There?


tarot reading playing card meanings
tarot reading playing card meanings


The inquiry you have in mind usually dictates the layout you should choose. While a particular spread might be perfect for reading playing cards for love, others will serve better when you need to see into your financial issues. Here are the more widely-used layouts:


  • The three-card spread: This is a simplistic yet efficient spread that delves into your past, present, and future and helps you see the meaning of your predicaments through cartomancy.

  • The seven-card horseshoe: the meaning behind this cartomancy card combination is clear thanks to its shape. This layout is about your luck in terms of situation progression and its potential outcome. 

  • The nine-card square: this particular layout features a 3 by 3 grid that offers a detailed look into a situation you have in mind. It uncovers its underlying issues and possible results. 

  • The Celtic cross: a popular cartomancy layout with a profound meaning, this ten-card spread provides a comprehensive look into a situation that is troubling you. 


What Are Pip & Court Cards Interpretations?


cartomancy cards meaning
cartomancy cards meaning


When you first try your hand at cartomancy, these playing cards’ meanings should already be a known territory for you. Here’s how cartomancy interprets certain categories of cards.


Suit meanings:


  • Hearts mean emotions, loving relationships, and family
  • Diamonds deal with all things material, like money, career, and ambitions
  • Clubs represent knowledge, creativity, growth, and challenges
  • Spades bear ill signs of obstacles, illnesses, but also transformation





Number meaning:


  • Tens reflect endings and transitions
  • Nines mean completion and fulfillment
  • Eights bear the meaning of power and achievement
  • Sevens hint at spiritual things and luck
  • Sixes show you harmony and responsibility
  • Fives are all about changes and conflicts
  • Fours are the heralds of stability and foundation
  • Threes deal with creativity, one’s growth, and self-expression
  • Twos speak of balance, partnership, and important decisions
  • Aces signify new beginnings and alluring opportunities


Meanings of court cards:


  • Jacks relay messages about youth and new ideas
  • Queens exude feminine energy and speak of intuition
  • Kings represent masculine energy and authority  


What Does Each Card Mean Cartomancy? 


playing cards and their meanings
playing cards and their meanings


Now it’s time to dive deeper into the art of cartomancy. Here’s our little guide on the playing cards and their meanings that will hopefully help you conduct your first-ever session. 


Diamonds:


  • Ace of Diamonds promises you a new house or an alluring job opportunity
  • According to cartomancy, 2 of Diamonds means that your finances are likely to improve
  • 3 of Diamonds falls out when you are about to form a business partnership
  • 4 of Diamonds hints that you are way too busy saving and being all that frugal
  • 5 of Diamonds, if you were to believe cartomancy, means that financial changes are on the horizon
  • 6 of Diamonds prompt you to take care of your money-related decisions 
  • 7 of Diamonds suggests that someone might be gossiping about you
  • 8 of Diamonds sadly reports about an upcoming downturn in terms of money
  • 9 of Diamonds is the cartomancy’s way of telling you to stop spending
  • 10 of Diamonds promises you some financial success  
  • Jack of Diamonds shows you a young sybarite, immature and naive
  • Queen of Diamonds is a self-assured woman, wise and gorgeous
  • King of Diamonds in cartomancy depicts a wealthy entrepreneur with a taste for luxury 


Clubs:


  • Ace of Clubs teases you with prospects of new adventures and opportunities
  • 2 of Clubs means that you will have to deal with some sort of confrontation
  • 3 of Clubs indicates that you are about to get creatively or mentally stuck
  • 4 of Clubs tells you to find work-life balance once and for all
  • 5 of Clubs whispers that it is time for you to change
  • 6 of Clubs is cartomancy’s promise of inspiration and growth
  • According to Cartomancy, 7 of Clubs signifies that you feel trapped and unsure
  • 8 of Clubs tells us that you lack self-worth and doubt your ideas
  • Per cartomancy, 9 of Clubs means that an idea of yours has almost reached completion
  • 10 of Clubs card hints that it is time to manifest your dreams
  • Jack of Clubs is a young person with a visionary mind
  • Queen of Clubs is a woman who has an unwavering belief in herself
  • King of Clubs is a man whose head is chock full of inspiring ideas


Spades:


  • Ace of Spades prompts you to embrace things that are about to happen
  • When it comes to 2 of Spades, this little card promises some interpersonal conflict 
  • If you wonder what the 3 of Spades means in tarot or cartomancy, the answer is grim - backstabbing
  • As for 4 of Spades, this card urges you to halt and find peace in doing absolutely nothing
  • If you are curious as to what the 5 of Spades means in tarot and cartomancy, here is a hint - you need to let go and move on
  • 6 of Spades urges you to accept your fate and the changes it brings
  • 7 of Spades’ meaning in cartomancy revolves around challenges and hurdles
  • 8 of Spades means that it is time for you to decide swiftly
  • According to Cartomancy, 9 of Spades warns you of worries and losses
  • 10 of Spades is cartomancy’s way of showing that you are way too stressed and overwhelmed
  • Jack of Spades is a young diligent individual with a strong moral compass
  • Queen of Spades is a reserved, highly intellectual woman. She might be your enemy
  • King of Spades is a just and stern man who might seem a bit aloof


Hearts:


  • Ace of Hearts comes with a promise of a new romance
  • If you get 2 of Hearts, make sure to spend enough quality time with your sweetheart
  • In cartomancy, 3 of Hearts means that you might be the third wheel but don’t realize that
  • Per cartomancy, 4 of Hearts has a meaning connected to the stability of your relationship 
  • 5 of Hearts is cartomancy’s way of warning you about sudden changes in your romantic status quo
  • Сartomancy claims that 6 of Hearts means that you’ll soon find peace and harmony with your SO
  • 7 of Hearts says that you’ll soon see your love interest for what they are
  • In cartomancy, 8 of Hearts hints that it is time you reconnected with your kin and old friends
  • 9 of Hearts signifies that you enjoy your love life
  • 10 of Hearts is cartomancy’s way of telling you that you are about to take a new exciting step in your relationship
  • Jack of Hearts is a young individual with a neck of expressing their feelings 
  • Queen of Hearts is a woman capable of love. She could be one’s love interest
  • King of Hearts is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. He is willing to finally commit


FAQs on Cartomancy


cartomancy interpretations
cartomancy interpretations


Here are some answers to the question that we might have failed to tackle earlier in the article. 
 

Who is a cartomancer?


As the word suggests, a cartomancer is a person who uses playing cards for divination. This individual is usually versed in all things related to cartomancy - what 6 of hearts or any other card means, how to read spreads, and interpret card combinations.


Do regular cards have any meaning within them?


They do. Each card carries a specific meaning that is based on its number, suit, and even position in a layout. The meanings didn’t form overnight but rather evolved over the centuries the craft of cartomancy has been around. Granted, while all these meanings are fixes, an individual practitioner still might infuse their cards with nuances. 


How many cards does a Tarot deck feature?


Unlike a regular playing card deck, a Tarot pack has 78 cards. The 22 cards that belong to the Major Arcana deal with major life domains. The remaining 56 cards of the Minor Arcana cover day-to-day matters. 


What meaning does a Joker card hold?


This poker card’s meanings revolve around unexpected changes, chaos agents, and wild untamed energy. It is a common practice to remove this card from the deck during readings. However, some practitioners keep it as they see it as a powerful symbol of transformation.  


How to Get Started with Cartomancy Readings?


meaning of playing cards
meaning of playing cards


If you wish to start using playing cards for divination, here are a few steps you might want to take. 


  • First, you need to choose the deck. Go with the one that feels right and resonates with you. Refrain from using it for playing.

  • Learn to shuffle your deck with an intention. This intention might aim at cleansing the cards or finding answers.

  • Memorize the basic meaning of the cards and start practicing.

  • Opt for simple spreads initially, then move over to more complex layouts once you feel comfortable.

  • Keep a journal to jot in your insights and revelations.

  • Practice regularly. Ask your friends or family to be your guinea pigs during your newbie times.

  • Do not discard your intuition. Granted, each card has a meaning assigned to it, but if you feel that the meaning is slightly off in one particular case, your gut feeling will be a lot truer than any guide on cartomancy. 





And this is it. Now you are familiar with the concept of cartomancy and even have a comprehensive guide that is sure to help you on your journey to becoming a cartomancer. Please bear in mind that the craft cartomancy requires patience, persistence, and an open mind. The cards are willing mouthpieces but it might take you a while to be able to truly hear what they have to say. 

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