In this installment of Practical Magic, Lisa Stardust explains reading tarot with playing cards, or cartomancy. Always remember that magic is for believers, but this column can also simply serve as a guide to getting in touch with yourself — magically or not.
When we think of reading tarot, we most often think of a traditional tarot deck adorned with images of the major and minor arcana. But not everyone has access to tarot cards, so let me teach you a little work around.
My great grandmother read playing cards as tarot cards during the Great Depression to make extra money or trade for goods. When I was taught how to read cards, I started out with a deck of old fashioned playing cards. Needless to say, it took me a while to understand tarot because I didn't fully transition into reading actual tarot cards until I was a pre-teen.
If you don't have a tarot deck but want some guidance from cards, enter cartomancy — the act of reading tarot with playing cards. It's hard to trace the origins of cartomancy, but it may date back as far as the 14th century. Tarot cards reportedly first appeared in Italy during the mid 15th century.
Unlike tarot, cartomancy usually uses 52 (or 54 if you use the 2 The Joker cards, which is optional) playing cards as opposed to the 78 tarot cards. It doesn’t consist of the major arcana or all of the royal cards. It’s a great way to read your fate or karma on the go if you don’t have access to tarot cards. Some people actually prefer this method because it’s more concise and direct than tarot.
So, want to learn more about reading tarot with playing cards? Read on:
What the suits mean
If you're familiar with traditional tarot, you can use this guide to relate playing cards to the tarot deck. To understand more about tarot cards and what they mean, head here.
♠️ Spades are similar to the sword suit in a tarot deck. The spade suit represents communication and challenges.
♥️ Hearts are similar to the cups suit in a tarot deck. The heart suit depicts emotions, family, home, and relationships.
♣️ Clubs are similar to the wands suit in a tarot deck. The club suit defines change and action that’s swiftly coming.
♦️ Diamonds are similar to the disks or pentacles suit in a tarot deck. The diamond suit is all about money, confidence, and finances.
What the cards mean
The Joker:
You don’t have to use this card. If you decide to, it means folly and new beginnings. It can signify the person who’s getting the reading. Personally, I don’t use The Joker, but you totally can.
Spades:
Ace of Spades: misfortune
2 of Spades: indecision
3 of Spades: heartbreak
4 of Spades: momentary pause
5 of Spades: sneakiness
6 of Spades: upswing
7 of Spades: deceit
8 of Spades: restriction
9 of Spades: anxiety
10 of Spades: unfortunate news
Jack of Spades: a roguish person
Queen of Spades: an angry person
King of Spades: an ambitious person
Hearts:
Ace of Hearts: beginning of a relationship
2 of Hearts: luck in love
3 of Hearts: infidelity
4 of Hearts: change is happening in love
5 of Hearts: jealousy
6 of Hearts: nostalgia
7 of Hearts: illusiveness
8 of Hearts: moving on
9 of Hearts: wishes
10 of Hearts: good fortune
Jack of Hearts: a romantic person
Queen of Hearts: a caring person
King of Hearts: a considerate person
Clubs:
Ace of Clubs: fortune
2 of Clubs: obstacles
3 of Clubs: successful partnership
4 of Clubs: betrayal
5 of Clubs: shame
6 of Clubs: support
7 of Clubs: trouble in love
8 of Clubs: hardship
9 of Clubs: new opportunities
10 of Clubs: travel
Jack of Clubs: a reliable person
Queen of Clubs: a confident person
King of Clubs: a stubborn person
Diamonds:
Ace of Diamonds: manifestation
2 of Diamonds: departure
3 of Diamonds: disputes
4 of Diamonds: inheritance
5 of Diamonds: reconciliation
6 of Diamonds: breakup
7 of Diamonds: work issues
8 of Diamonds: unexpected alliance
9 of Diamonds: extra money
10 of Diamonds: wealth
Jack of Diamonds: a dishonest person
Queen of Diamonds: a person who’s a player
King of Diamonds: a resourceful person
How to use the cards in spreads
Feel free to experiment with your own spreads and to use tarot spreads with these cards.
For “yes” or “no” questions: You can use the color of the suits to find the answer. First, pull 5 cards. Look at the line of 5. If the majority of the cards are red suits then it’s a “yes.” If the majority of the cards are black suits, then it’s a “no.”
For the full tea: Start pulling 12 cards counterclockwise to see how the story will progress. The card at 12 and 6 o’clock will show the possible outcomes, so pay attention to those. The 9 and 3 o’clock positions are the past and present situations pertaining to your question.
For a quick answer: You can always pull one card for a minor understanding of a matter. Just be sure to interpret the card to its full capacity.
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