Examination of the Firstmost Rule
In order to begin training one’s intuitive faculty, it is best to start reading cards in combinations right from the start. A single card, standing alone, is like a far-off whisper, or a sentence that has no verb. When combined with other cards, however, it is a fleet and adaptable messenger, speaking clearly.
We shall use groupings of three as our basis, as it is a very common usage amongst old Gypsy and European card spreads.
Draw off from your pack three cards at random, placing them in a row — the first card on the left, the second card in the middle, and the third card on the right. In this row, time moves from left to right. Your task is merely to note the color of the three cards, whether red (R) or black (B). If you draw off many rows of three, or if you have facility with statistics, you will note that there are only eight possible combinations of two colors in a series of three. Below are the eight combinations, along with their generalized meanings. You need not memorize them by rote. If you know the firstmost rule, you will be able to figure out any of them.
R, B, B: A fair beginning steadily worsens and turns foul.
B, B, R: A light at the end of the tunnel.
R, R, B: A problem is on the horizon.
B, R, R: A problem will be solved, things will steadily improve.
R, B, R: A small delay or problem will be overcome.
B, R, B: A temporary truce or rest. Do not let down your guard; appearances can be deceiving.
R, R, R: All is fair and fine.
B, B, B: Beset by problems and hardship.
Examine each of the combinations above and with reference to the firstmost rule, think through how the meanings given are derived.
Whenever you are examining a group of three, follow the firstmost rule first and note the sequence of colors. It will provide your first clue to the meaning of the group, and very often aid you in a troublesome interpretation.
Examination of the Secondmost Rule
The secondmost rule deals with the meaning of the four suits. It is another layer of information to add to the firstmost rule. Your task is to note the suits of the three cards in your row. There are many more possible combinations here – far too many to list. But you shall acquire the knack of it by example.
Always keep in mind that time moves from left to right in the group of three. The suit of the first card will show where you have been , the suit of the second card will show where you are, and the suit of the third card will show where you are headed as a result of the first two cards. The third card is usually the most important and should be given greater emphasis.
Let us first examine cards hemmed in by spades, for these are easy to understand:
♠ ♥ ♠: a troubled heart
♠ ♦ ♠: a troubled purse
♠ ♣ ♠: a troubled will; inability to act; feeling trapped; labor without gain
♠ ♠ ♠: trouble, trouble, and more trouble
The first two examples above fall in the BRB pattern of the firstmost rule. Thus, they show a troubled heart or purse that only ever receives temporary respite from problems. And just when one thinks that one problem is over, another takes its place after a brief interlude.
The second two examples fall in the BBB pattern, showing fairly constant trouble and stress. Even where the ♣ is the middle card, it hardly acts as a respite, for it shows the Seeker needing to expend energy on work before the next problem arises.
From the examples of spades hemming in a card, you can easily think through the following examples of a middle card flanked by two cards of the same suit. Refer back to the combinations of the firstmost rule, too, as you examine the examples below:
♣ ♦ ♣: much work, but only little profit
♦ ♣ ♦: money making affairs or financial activity
♥ ♦ ♥: generosity, a giving heart
♦ ♥ ♦: enjoying the fruits of one’s labor with loved ones
♦ ♠ ♦: a financial problem is overcome
♥ ♠ ♥: a emotional problem is overcome (easily; see below)
♣ ♠ ♣: a problem is overcome at work or on a personal project.
Let us continue with examining trios with spades in them. Look at the following examples, again keeping in mind the color sequences of the firstmost rule:
♣ ♥ ♠: working yourself into an emotional problem
♠ ♥ ♣: an emotional problem that you will work out of.
♥ ♠ ♣: an emotional problem that you will work out of, but slowly.
Note that because the first trio above ends with the spade, you are working into the problem. In the second trio, the spade falls first, so the problem is being overcome. In the third trio, the spade is in the middle, so the problem will be overcome, but the spade will slow down your efforts. Replace the hearts in the above examples with diamonds, and you will have the following:
♣ ♦ ♠: working yourself into a financial problem
♠ ♦ ♣: a financial problem that you will work out of.
♦ ♠ ♣: a financial problem that you will work out of, but slowly.
Let us examine a few more examples, this time with clubs starting the trios. These are very easy to grasp.
♣ ♠ ♠: working in the wrong direction; obstacles are ahead, so the goal
♣ ♦ ♦: working in the right direction for financial success.
♣ ♥ ♥: working in the right direction for emotional success.
Whenever a heart ends the trio, it is a very good sign. No matter what the first two cards of the trio are – showing stress or hard work or financial problems, a heart at the end will show that the problem will be overcome fairly easily. For instance:
♦ ♠ ♥: a financial problem is overcome easily.
Compare that example with one given above — ♦ ♠ ♣. Because the example above ends with a heart, the problem is easily overcome. When the trio ends in a club, more work will be needed.
Simply remember the easy meanings of the suits and that time in the trio of cards moves from left to right, and you shall hit on the correct interpretation. Again, do not simply jump in and begin interpreting the meanings of the cards. First note the sequence of colors in the trio, then the sequence of suits.
As you can see, with just the firstmost and secondmost rules, one can actually glean quite a bit of information from a trio of cards.
Examination of the Thirdmost Rule
Now we come to interpreting a single card in itself. It is easy to do. Simply combine the meaning of the suit and the meaning of the number, and put together an interpretation.
The meanings of the numbers, themselves, are easy to remember. Just think of these clues:
Aces are beginnings because they begin each suit.
2s naturally suggest pairings and exchanges.
3s are the number of growth – the third thing produced from the union of two things.
4s remind us of the stable, unchanging, solid square.
5s are the body because we have 5 appendages (two arms, two legs, head).
6s are a path because the way the pips are arranged in the cards makes them look like paths.
7s are troubles because there is a blockage added to the path of the 6s as you look at the pips of the cards.
8s are ideas and thoughts in the mind because 8 is traditionally the number of the mind.
9s show changes because the number 9 is related to the Moon, which is ever fluctuating.
10s show ends or goals achieved because they end the number sequence before a new cycle starts. A 10 is almost an ever-renewing influence, so whatever its suit, it shows that influence at a pinnacle almost continually.
Kings as power and men is fairly easy to remember on its own, as are Queens as women and truth, and Knaves as messages or a child of either gender.
Deriving the card meanings from suit and number may seem difficult at first, but you will quickly get the hang of it as you begin to interpret. Each card will have more than one interpretation because you will be able to combine the suit and pip in different ways: Let us take some examples:
Ace (beginning) and ♥ (love, family, friends): the beginning of a love affair; a new friendship; a birth or addition to the family.
2 (exchange) and ♠ (trouble): argument; separation; inability to get along.
3 (growing) and ♦ (money, wealth, means and ends): a raise in pay; greater financial security; profits.
4 (will not change; stability) and ♣ (work, callings, plans): goals are on a firm footing; job security; “same old, same old” at work; boredom; plodding along.
5 (the body/health) and ♥ (love, family, friends): sexual relations, the hand of friendship, good health (because the heart is a good card).
6 (a path) and ♠ (trouble): headed in the wrong direction; wrong choice; running with the wrong crowd; difficulties while traveling; ill-advised journey; a journey from which no profit comes; walking away, abandonment
7 (trouble) and ♦ (money, wealth, means and ends): financial difficulties, profits down, the means will not reach the end sought.
8 (thoughts/ideas) and ♣ (work, callings, plans): thoughts about work; thinking of changing jobs; practical plans.
9 (changes) and ♥ (love, family, friends): change for the better (because the heart is a red card); traditionally the “wish card” (see below)
10 (end/goal achieved) and ♠ (trouble): tremendous amount of trouble; evil; violence; grief (see below)
King (men or power) and ♦ (money, wealth, means and ends); a man of financial means; wealthy man; financial power, so possibly a bank or profitable business.
Queen (women or truth) and ♣ (work, callings, plans): a practical or driven woman; a business woman or career woman; a true calling; a job that fits you perfectly; well-laid plans.
Knave (message, child) and ♥ (love, family, friends): a boy or girl child in your family; a love letter; a message from a friend; a compliment, “thank you”, or bouquet of flowers.
Keep in mind, too, that hearts and diamonds are generally good and spades and clubs are generally bad. Clubs are not intrinsically bad, but they call for effort and work. Spades, of course, are the worst.
There are also some brief traditional meanings for a few of the cards that you should memorize. They are:
A♥: the home or family 9♥: wish fulfilled
A♦: a letter 9♠: wish denied
A♣: a goal or opportunity 10♠: worry
A♠: a decision, a death Q♠ or K♠: divorced person
3♠: something lost, loss
7♠: tears (trouble trouble)
Each of the suits also has certain colorings associated with them, which will help you in interpreting the court cards. Diamonds are very fair people, Hearts are people of medium coloring, Clubs are people of darker coloring, and Spades are very dark coloring. Thus, the Knave of Clubs may be a child of darker coloring, or a practical, work-oriented child.
Full Examples
Now for some full examples of interpreting some trios in terms of the three rules so that you can grow accustomed to doing it yourself.
Example 1
K♣ 3♦ 6♥
The pattern for the first rule is BRR: a problem will be solved or things will steadily improve.
The pattern for the second rule is Club, Diamond, Heart: This shows working for financial success, and because the trio ends with a heart, the success will come easily.
For the third rule:
King (men or power) and ♣ (work, callings, plan): a man of darker coloring; a practical man; a man at work; a man of authority at work; a well-laid plan sure of success; company equity
3 (things growing) and ♦ (money, wealth, means and ends): a raise in pay; greater financial security; profits
6 (a path) and ♥ (love, family, friends): pleasant path, trip with family or friends, celebration with family or friends, progress in general.
Now we have all of the building blocks to make our interpretation, and this one should be fairly clear to you.
Interpretation: The trio shows the Seeker’s boss giving the seeker a raise in pay, perhaps because company profits have increased recently. The raise may come as a surprise (the heart ends the trio, showing something coming easily to the Seeker), but it will be a welcome improvement in the Seeker’s life. It is a cause for celebration – maybe something as simple as a trip to dinner, but also maybe something larger – like a family vacation.
Example 2
2♠ 8♣ 7♥
The pattern for the first rule is BBR: A light at the end of the tunnel.
The pattern for the second rule is Spade, Club, Heart. This means working out of a problem at work or in a personal project. Because the heart falls last, the problem will be worked out without too much effort on the part of the Seeker.
For the third rule:
2 (exchange) and ♠ (trouble): argument; separation; inability to get along
8 (thoughts/ideas) and ♣ (work, callings, plans): thoughts about work; thinking of changing jobs; practical plans.
7 (trouble) ♥ (love, family, friends): a troubled heart; unsettled emotions; dissipation of trouble.
Now, before we get to the interpretation, let us spend a moment on that 7♥. What happens when you have a number with a poor meaning, like a 7 (trouble) combined with a suit like a heart, which generally has a good meaning? As you can see from above, it can be interpreted in two contradictory ways – a troubled heart, or the dissipation or ending of trouble. Which is right? Strangely enough, both are. Sometimes you can work in both interpretations. It all depends on where the card falls in the trio. This is where the first and second rules will hold you in good stead. Because the pattern is BBR, we know that the 7♥ must signify an improvement of some kind, and in the second rule, if a heart ends the trio, we know that the problem signified by an earlier spade will be worked out without too much effort.
Interpretation: The Seeker has clearly been having trouble with someone at work, and thoughts of the situation have been occupying his mind and troubling his heart. Perhaps the situation has been so bad that the Seeker has been contemplating looking for another job. He should not do so just yet because there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The problem will be resolved, and without much effort on his part. One inference is that the person who has been causing the difficulty will apologize to the Seeker.
Example 3
A♥ 8♦ 6♠
The pattern for the first rule is RRB: a problem is on the horizon.
The pattern for the second rule is Heart, Diamond, Spade: We have not covered this combination before. Can you work it out by what you have learned so far? A spade ends the trio, so there is a problem coming up. What kind of problem? The diamond is next to the spade, so it will be a problem of a financial nature. The heart starts the trio, so you are beginning from a happy place. A possible interpretation for the second rule: a financial matter to be dealt with. What is interesting about this trio is that no club is present. From that we can interpret that perhaps the Seeker isn’t really working toward the goal all that vigorously or perhaps no amount of work will remedy the problem. Compare this to one of our examples above: ♦ ♠ ♥: a financial problem is overcome easily.
Ace (beginning) and ♥ (love, family, friends): the beginning of a love affair; a new friendship; a birth or addition to the family; recall the traditional interpretation, too, of a home, family, or family member.
8 (thoughts/ideas) and ♦ (money, wealth, means and ends): thoughts about money, financial plans, budgeting, how to make ends meet, either in time or money (because our time is often money).
6 (a path) and ♠ (trouble): headed in the wrong direction; wrong choice; running with the wrong crowd; difficulties while traveling; ill-advised journey; a journey from which no profit comes; walking away, abandonment.
Interpretation: We can do quite a bit with this one. This Seeker wants to make some new beginning in her home or family – perhaps expanding her present home or moving to a new home. Or perhaps she wants another child. Maybe it is both of those things. She is, however, in no financial position to do either. Either option would be ill-advised at this juncture. She (or her family) needs to save more money to make her goal workable. Reaching the goal requires longer-range financial planning and budgeting….and more work on her part.
Sometimes more than one interpretation for a trio of cards will occur to you. That is true with the present trio:
A family member or close friend is headed towards financial difficulty and may need assistance with budgeting. That 6♠ (headed in the wrong direction), to me, would be an indication that using too many credit cards could be a problem.
Financial delays on a home improvement project.
Renovation to a bathroom (beyond your interpretive capacity right now, but the 6♠ can mean drains, and hence, bathrooms – can you see why?)
If the Seeker is a young, single male, these cards show that he often neglects love affairs to focus more on making money.
Now we will do several more brief examples. A final interpretation is given, but endeavor to think through all the three rules, as above, so that you get the most out of them.
6♦ Q♠ 5♥: This divorced woman is focusing on her financial goals and will make progress with regard to them. However, she is feeling tired and may need to take a vacation. She is overtaxing her body somewhat.
2♣ 7♠ A♣: A partnership will be a source of worries until a common goal gives birth to a new beginning.
3♦ 2♠ 9♠: An increase in wealth will cause a split, with the result that what you most wish for will be denied to you. Keep your priorities in perspective.
7♠ Kn♥ 7♥: The seeker’s troubled mind will be calmed by a letter from a loved one.
K♦ 3♦ 5♠: The man of wealth must learn to value his health more than his possessions.
8♠ 5♣ 4♥: The Seeker has an active mind that focuses more on negative things than positive. A regimen of physical exercise will help him or her restore emotional balance.
8♣ A♣ A♦: This Seeker will have a promotion and salary raise at work. New duties bring more money.
5♦ 9♦ 8♦: This Seeker has money to burn. It shows a great deal of shopping for clothes, furniture, etc. The person wants a makeover of sorts, and is using financial resources to make it happen.
9♥ 10♦ 4♦: The Seeker’s wish for financial independence and a large bank account will be fulfilled.
10♥ 7♥ K♥: All is fair and fine in this family man’s life. He has reached a stage of happy emotional security, and any troubles that arise are easily resolved or quickly solve themselves.
Kn♠ 2♣ 8♦: This young person will need some financial assistance and may seek a loan.
A♥ 4♦ 3♦: This trio shows the value of the Seeker’s home appreciating in value over time.
Readings
We will keep things simple at this stage as far as readings go.
The Simple Trio
If you have many readings to do, use this spread to give each Seeker a quick glance at the future. Have the Seeker shuffle. Then spread out the cards on the table, and have the Seeker choose three cards at random. Then interpret the three cards as a trio, as we have done above.
The Square of Nine
For longer readings, have the Seeker choose 9 cards instead. Lay them out thus:
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
You can actually get quite a bit of information out of just 9 cards. There will be eight trios to read:
123, 456, 789 are the first three trios.
147, 258, 369 are the second trios.
159 and 357 are the final two trios.
The interpretations of the trios will largely deal with present and future circumstances. Because you are reading each of the cards as part of more than one trio, sometimes the meanings of the trios will be linked, but sometimes they will not be. Be guided by your intuition.
Only on rare occasions will the past appear in a trio, and the Seeker will usually alert you to the fact by asking, “What you just described…could it be something that has happened already?” You should respond in the affirmative, but advise the Seeker that the consequences of that past event are not yet completed. Then look at the cards to discern what those consequences may be.
***
Example Square of Nine
10♦ 9♥ K♥
Q♠ 9♦ 3♦
5♠ Kn♥ 10♣
Even one glance at this Square of Nine shows the workings and doings of a family. Let us say that it is the mother of the family that has sought our counsel. Let us take a closer look at the trios involved. Red cards predominate over black cards by two to one, so the fortune is generally quite fair.
123: 10♦ 9♥ K♥: The father of the household is a family man and can show his emotions. He will soon score a big financial victory, probably sealing a large financial deal, in accordance with his wishes. In his world and his mind, all will be fair and fine. To make other predictions concerning the King of Hearts, look at 369.
456: Q♠ 9♦ 3♦: The mother of the household is feeling somewhat down, perhaps lonely, since she is represented by a spade. The change in finances, and her growing purse will certainly cheer her up for a time….but for how long a time? She should be counseled to enjoy it while she can because the feeling of isolation will return. See trio 147.
789: 5♠ J♥ 10♣: The youth of the household is like his father and has his father’s coloring. He will have a minor physical illness to contend with in the near future, but it will not last long (a heart follows spade). The youth is also working out an emotional problem, although the cards do not reveal the exact nature of the problem. There is certainly a lot of work upcoming for this youth. It may be that school is overtaxing his energy and causing him to be run down. The 5 of Spades can also imply that the body is overtaxed through too much drinking or partying. If you were to lay out this trio with cards, you will note that the Knave faces the 5 of Spades and away from the 10 of Clubs. Here is a clue to his emotional trouble. He has work to do….in fact, it will be piling up and log jamming soon…but when faced with the seeming choice of doing some of the work or going out to party, he faces away from the work. So his emotional problem is how to motivate himself to do what he knows is right. His mother, the Queen, should be keeping closer tabs on him.
147: 10♦ Q♠ 5♠: The fact that the Queen shall have greater financial capacity does not appear to be much consolation for very long. For what was once pleasant turns steadily more foul. Her sense of loneliness increases (she is a Spade, and she is followed by another Spade), and it is likely that it will manifest in some physical ailment. That is one of the ways that people being ignored or shunted aside seek attention. (Note Well: Although beyond your predictive capacities at the present, the high Diamond cards near the Queen and 5 of Spades indicate that the physical ailment will be centered on “nervous” headaches).
258: 9♥ 9♦ Kn♥: The youth is only too happy that there is a beneficial change in financial circumstances coming. After all, he has a wish, too. Would it be too much to ask for his father’s giving, generous heart to spread the fortune all around? You can be certain that this youth will be wanting something and will very likely receive it. The cards do not specify what, but we can infer from knowing the nature of youth…it will be bigger rather than smaller, dearer rather than cheaper, faster rather than slower, and wheeled rather than stationary. The two 9s falling together emphasize the idea of change, so whatever it is that the youth wants, it will effect a large change in his life, more or less. If the youth wants no specific material object, then it will be an increase of periodic payments to him, i.e. his allowance or stipend.
369: K♥ 3♦ 10♣: The financial deal shown in trio 123 will bear the King of Hearts increased profits. His finances will be growing steadily according to the Three of Diamonds. He must be aware, however, that as his finances grow, so shall the amount of time he must spend on work. The Ten of Clubs indicates a great deal of business activity coming up for him. Even those that reach the top must labor hard for their gains. Because the pattern of the cards is RRB, the Seeker may not realize that last point until it is looming large in his life. Still, all will go well if he can adapt to increased work. See 357 for the final comments about the King of Hearts. (Note Well: Although beyond your predictive capabilities at present, this trio also shows the King traveling a little bit in connection with his business deal, particularly since there is a 10 in each of the trios 123 and 369).
159: 10♦ 9♦ 10♣: This confirms the financial change bringing additional business trips for the King of Hearts.
357: K♥ 9♦ 5♠: Be careful what you wish for! The change in financial status brings greater potential for overworking the body, which can lead to illness. Note how the King of Hearts is surrounded largely by Diamonds. Although he is essentially a family man with a good heart, he is focused on monetary and financial matters at this time. He is probably trying to give his family every financial advantage that he can.
This Arteful Witch would counsel the Seeker to gently remind her husband that families are not built on financial advantages, but hearts and spending time with one another. Perhaps he will find the truth (Q) of that statement unpleasant (♠), but she should speak it anyway. Because the King is a Heart, he will be receptive to the statement.
Do not, however, make a mountain out of a molehill in this reading. There are many good cards here, and they outnumber the bad cards. The only two spades are the Queen and 5, and those largely indicate that it is the mother that needs to either adjust her attitude or adjust her circumstances. The Seeker should also be counseled to be thankful for what she has.
Part 2
For the Witch of Middling Memory:
Further in the Land of Courts and Pips
Having mastered the arte of reading cards as suited to the Witch of poor memory, if you are a witch of at least middling memory, you may consider continuing your study with the following material.
Those that are skilled at reading cards generally look at their courts and pips in an intuitive way, each a strand in a web, a word in a sentence. That is what you must learn to do to develop this skill – learn to look at the cards in combinations to understand their speech. The material set forth here will aid you in this endeavor, but you must also be willing to stretch your mind a bit and to reason patiently, for truly is it said that intuition is the daughter of reason. To help you, you may consider keeping a notebook for cardreading. Assign a couple pages to each card, and as you learn and/or discovery their meanings and combinations, note them down for your own future reference and to teach others who would follow in Our Way.
The Suits
In order to better understand the Court cards that follow, you must understand a bit more about the suits and their correspondences, thus extending your grasp of the secondmost rule. Those of you that are familiar with correspondences to the suits of Tarot must keep them out of your mind. The daughter does not take after the mother in all particulars.
Diamonds: Fire, Spring
“Money, wealth, means, and ends”. Diamonds are associated with the element Fire and the season of Spring. In the human body, the suit of Diamonds is the vital, electric energy that courses through the nervous system. Thus, Diamonds are associated with intelligence, wit, and nervous energy. It is the “thinking suit.”
Hearts: Water, Summer
“Love, family, and friends”. Hearts are associated with the element of Water and the season of Summer. In the human body, the suit of Hearts represents the circulatory system, the river of blood that courses through the heart. Hearts are associated with emotions, artistry, happiness. It is the “feeling suit.”
Clubs: Air, Autumn
“Work, callings, and plans”. Clubs are associated with the element of Air and the season of Autumn. In the human body, the suit of Clubs represents the muscular system, which gives us the power to act in the world. Thus, Clubs are associated with practicality, business (and busy-ness), and activity. It is the “doing suit.”
Spades: Earth, Winter
“The troubles that plague every man.” Spades are associated with the element of Earth and the season of Winter. In the human body, the suit of Spades represents the skeletal system, the groundwork of our physical being that limits us to certain activities. Thus, Spades are associated with limitations, trouble, and frustration. It is the “learning suit”, but typically learning through adversity.
You should have no trouble remembering the elemental and seasonal designations. In the Northern hemisphere, at least, Aries is the Fire sign that starts the Spring, Cancer is the Water sign that starts the Summer, Libra is the Air sign that starts the Autumn, and Capricorn is the Earth sign that starts the Winter.
A Note on Arteful Meanings of the Suits: Diamonds represent human souls. Hearts represent the Gods. Spades represent the fated patterns and befallings that the Gods assign to human souls. Clubs represent the progress of human souls in living out their patterns, ultimately to achieve Godhood themselves.
In the lay of the worlds, Diamonds represent the journeying human consciousness. Hearts are the Upperworld, Chimeri, the Heavens. Clubs are the Midworld, Earth, the Green Field. Spades are the Underworld, Elfhame, Hel. Witches, who are intimately concerned with Fate, are generally represented by Spades. One of the meanings of the King of Spades is a male witch, just as the Queen of Spades may be a female witch. The Knave of Spades is the witch’s familiar or fetch or the initiatory experience that sets one upon the path of witchery. The 8 of Spades is a Coven or Witch Family.
The Court Cards: We will now examine each court card in turn and reason out further meanings in light of the three rules and the correspondences given above. Please note that a Court card does not invariable represent a person.
The Kings: “While Kings are the symbols of power and men.”
King of Diamonds: A very fair man, or one with white hair. A man of wealth or financial means. A man who is intelligent and quick, and usually sociable. A man who is restless, always wanting to be “up and away”, and thus, a lover of travel and new experiences. A male professor. Financial power or the power to pay for things.
King of Hearts: A man of medium coloring. An emotional man, and thus one that will seek security in a relationship. An artistic man. The father or other man in the seeker’s family, such as a brother or uncle. A husband. A family man. Whoever he is, he will have the seeker’s welfare and best interests at heart. Emotional power or the power to arouse feeling.
King of Clubs: A man of darker coloring. A business man, work-oriented. Boss or superior. A practical, efficient man. A man active in practical affairs. If with hearts, sometimes the Seeker’s grandfather. Practical power or the power to progress, get things done, or accomplish a goal.
King of Spades: A man of very dark coloring. A widower or divorced man. An enemy, or man ill-disposed toward the Seeker. A lonely or depressed man. A man of great authority, such as a police officer, judge, or military man. A male witch. A human male, deceased. The power to teach others a lesson, to hinder, to do harm or evil, or to know and play one’s part in Fate’s pattern.
A Note on the Kings as Power: If a King is read as a type of power in the reading, whether the power is used for good or ill shall depend on the cards around it. The King of Hearts flanked by two spades, for instance, may indicate emotional manipulation; the King of Diamonds flanked by two clubs, may indicate money turned to practical ends. The King of Spades flanked by Hearts may show a Witch playing a benevolent role in a Fated pattern. The first and secondmost rules shall hold you in good stead here.
The Queens: “Queens are the emblems of women and truth.”
Queen of Diamonds: A very fair woman, or one with white hair. A woman of wealth or financial means. A woman who is intelligent and quick. She may be a socialite, and is generally somewhat superficial. Like the King, she likes travel and have new experiences. A female professor. The truth of a financial matter.
Queen of Hearts: A woman of medium coloring. An emotional woman, intuitive, and sometimes psychic. An artistic woman. The mother or other woman in the seeker’s family, such as a sister or aunt. A wife. A homemaker. Whoever she is, she will have the seeker’s welfare and best interests at heart. The truth of an emotional matter, or in general, the truth.
Queen of Clubs: A woman of darker coloring. A business woman, career-oriented. Boss or superior. A practical, efficient woman. A woman active in practical affairs. If with hearts, sometimes the Seeker’s grandmother. The truth of a business matter.
Queen of Spades: A woman of very dark coloring. A widow or divorced woman. An enemy, or woman ill-disposed toward the Seeker. A lonely or depressed woman. A woman of great authority, such as a police officer, judge, or military man. A female witch. A human female, deceased. An unpleasant truth, or in general, a lie.
A Note on the Queens as Truth: Again, look to the cards near the Queen when you interpret one of them as Truth. A Queen by red cards, for instance, will show that the Seeker is being told the truth of a matter (whether financial, emotional, etc.). If she is near spades, the Seeker may have a falsehood to grapple with. If with Clubs, she may have to dig or work in uncovering the truth.
The Knaves: “A Knave is a message, a girl, or a youth.” Where a youth is indicated below, “girl” should be understood with it in tandem.
Knave of Diamonds: A very fair youth. A privileged youth. A youth who is intelligent and quick. A student, perhaps of a scholarly bent. A message concerning money.
Knave of Hearts: A youth of medium coloring. An emotional, artistic, or dreamy youth. Sometimes a beloved pet. A happy-go-lucky or merrymaking youth that sometimes acts foolishly. A message from a loved one or friend, a compliment, “thank you” or small gift to show appreciation. Being asked out on a date.
Knave of Clubs: A youth of darker coloring. A practical, efficient youth. A youth active in endeavors like sports, clubs, or volunteering. An apprentice. A message concerning a business venture or some practical matter.
Knave of Spades: A youth of very dark coloring. An untrustworthy youth or one ill-disposed toward the Seeker. A lonely or depressed youth. A youth in trouble. The witch’s familiar or fetch. A deceased spirit, in general. A message containing bad news.
A Note on the Courts and the Old Craft: Although of little practical value in reading the cards, there are certain Craft titles given to the Courts, which are mentioned here for the sake of interest:
King of Diamonds: The Devouring Sun
Queen of Diamonds: The May Queen
Knave of Diamonds: The Dancer
King of Hearts: The Red Lord (refers to bloodline)
Queen of Hearts: The Seeress
Knave of Hearts: The Merryman
King of Clubs: The Harvest King
Queen of Clubs: The Reaping Wife
Knave of Clubs: The Kern Baby or Corn Dolly
King of Spades: The Horned Man or Magister
Queen of Spades: Fate or the Lady
Knave of Spades: The Man in Black
The Pip Cards: We will now examine each pip card in turn. Read over the meanings of each card and if you have any trouble understanding whence the meaning derives, review all previous material on the suits and numbers, and you will be able to piece together the given meaning.
When this system was developed, the only material available was that which we have given for the witch of poor memory. But over the decades, new things have emerged in the world, and card readers adapted their meanings to those new things. For instance, when confronted with the expensive motor car, the 6 of Diamonds was pressed into service. Generally, however, any additions make sense in terms of the rhyming rules for the witch of poor memory, and so the apprentice card reader will not have trouble recalling them.
The Aces: “An Ace brings beginnings”. Recall that each of the Aces has a traditional meaning, which you have heretofore memorized. These have been incorporated below.
Ace of Diamonds: Money. A letter. Something new, generally connected with finances, but not invariably. Fire. A diamond ring, but other cards must support that interpretation.
Ace of Hearts: The home. The family or a family member. The beginning of a love affair or new friendship. Sometimes a birth or addition to the family, or a change of residence (because aces indicate beginnings), but those interpretations are usually supported by other cards.
A Note on the Ace of Hearts: In almost all old systems of card reading, the Ace of Hearts is called “The House”, and from judging the cards associated with it, the reader tells whether a letter, visitor, trouble, marriage, etc. shall come to the Seeker’s home. We shall examine this concept later in a spread given for those of exceptional memory.
Ace of Clubs: A new duty, task, goal, or opportunity.
Ace of Spades: A decision, generally an important one. A death or an ending. A big change.
A Note on Death: It is possible to see the physical death of either the Seeker or a person close to the Seeker. It is definitely not advisable to mention it, but we leave you to make your own mistakes. To predict it, you must usually see three or four of the spades close together – such as the 3♠ (loss), 5♠ (illness, disease, doctor), 7♠ (tears), 9♠ (change for the worse), or 10♠ (worry, grief) – together with the A♠. The A♠ must be present for a death to occur.
The Twos: “And Two gives exchange.”
2 of Diamonds: Money changing hands. A gift. An invitation. Telephone call, message.
2 of Hearts: Love, relationship, or marriage. Dancing. The arts. Harmony.
2 of Clubs: A helping hand. Business partnership. A doubling of something or a repeated cycle.
2 of Spades: Conflict. Argument. Inability to get along. Separation.
The Threes: “Three shows things growing”. 3s denote gradual growth, bit-by-bit, and the concept of “little”. The idea of “much” or “great” is assigned to the 10s.
3 of Diamonds: A raise in pay, greater financial security, profits, although only a little of any of those. A small amount of money. A scattered mind, concentrating on many little things, so not much is accomplished in any one thing.
3 of Hearts: Fertility. A child, or children in general. Decorating or adding beauty to something. An emotional bond growing, little by little. A love triangle.
3 of Clubs: A practical development. Moving forward, progress bit by bit. Extra work or duties. A temporary job. Part-time work. A garden or gardening. Herbs. Crops, in general.
3 of Spades: Problems adding up. Small aggravations. Interference from a third party. Loss, something lost.
The Fours: “But Four does not change”. And the meaning of Fours have generally not changed. They have always denoted stable things, and squarish things, including papers and buildings and fields. Because of their stability, they also connote justice and legal matters.
4 of Diamonds: Financial stability. A check. A bank account. An official document. A license or certification. “The City”, in general.
4 of Hearts: Emotional stability. An even temper. Fairness or justice. An apartment or summer home or cottage. In times past, but occasionally still today, a barn or outbuilding serving some function for the doings of the homestead (which is the Ace of Hearts).
4 of Clubs: Goals are on a firm footing. Job security. Boredom at work. Plowing or plodding along. Land or field or farm. “The Country”, in general. An outside building or place. A desk.
4 of Spades: Instability. An uneven temper. A problem that you cannot solve or get away from (it hems you in at all four corners). Exhaustion because of steady pressure against you. “Sick and tired” of it all. Unfairness or injustice. A parking ticket or speeding ticket. A summons, lawsuit, or court of law. The Armed Forces, in general.
A Note on the 4 of Clubs: “Outside building or place” is meant to be general here because specific buildings or places depend on the cards next to the 4 of Clubs. For instance with the 5 of Spades (illness), it would mean a hospital. With the 2 of Hearts (the arts), museum (and if the 5 of Clubs was with it, a dance club). With the 3 of hearts (children), daycare center. With the Ace of Spades (death), a funeral home. With the 4 of Diamonds (bank account or “City”), a bank or City Hall.
The Fives: “Five is the body, its health and its stead”.
Five of Diamonds: Eating. Clothes. Jewelry. Appliances, furniture. Shopping.
Five of Hearts: Good health. The hand of friendship or a friend. Sexual relations. Enjoyment, entertainment in general.
Five of Clubs: Exercise. Sports. Hobbies. Craftsmanship (making practical things by hand). Working hard, nose to the grindstone. Determination.
Five of Spades: Illness, disease. A doctor. Drugs, alcoholism, addiction. Taking on more than you can handle.
The Sixes: “Six shows a path that the Seeker shall tread.”
Six of Diamonds: Distance, in general, that is, someone or something at a distance. A car. Steps toward a financial goal. Investments.
Six of Hearts: Pleasant trip, vacation, usually associated with family or friends. Making good progress, moving ahead, the means will reach the end. A deepening emotional bond.
Six of Clubs: Business trip. Steps toward a business goal. Education, learning, teaching. Reading, books.
Six of Spades: Walking away from or abandoning something. Cleaning up your life, getting rid of things. Wrong choice, headed in the wrong direction. Difficulties while traveling, an ill-advised journey, or a journey from which no profit comes. Running with the wrong crowd.
The Sevens: “Seven brings trouble that Fate as assigned.” Because Fate is mentioned in this line, the 7s are also associated with magic and religion – things used to cope with the problems that Fate has assigned to us. The Sevens have many secrets connected to them because they are the in-between number of their respective suits: there are six cards behind them, and six cards before them.
Seven of Diamonds: A troubled purse or financial problem. Profits down. The means will not reach the end sought. Clairvoyance and foretelling. The talent of seeing and speaking true. Psychism in general.
A Note on the Seven of Diamonds: The divination and foretelling referred to may be by any method, but this card has particular reference to astrology because the seven Diamonds on this card are meant to refer to the “Seven Lights” – the Seven Planets – which are the primary indicators of Fate’s movements. Technically, there are only 5 Planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn), and two Luminaries (the Sun and the Moon), but they were and are often grouped together and called the Seven Planets. There are greater considerations to all of the Sevens, which we do not have space to detail here, although a hint of the larger meaning is given in the note on the Arteful Meanings of the Suits. In any event, the greater considerations are of very little practical value in cardreading.
Seven of Hearts: A troubled heart or emotional problem. Unsettled emotions. Dissipation of trouble, sometimes. Religion, in general.
Seven of Clubs: Trouble at work or some practical problem. The power of chance, happenstance, in general. A charm, talisman, spell, or other work of magic. The power to make things happen by magic.
Seven of Spades: Double trouble. Tears. Mystery or a mystery, something hidden. Investigation. Rarely, a curse or hex.
The Eights: “While Eight shows ideas or thoughts in the mind.” Eights show ideas and thoughts, and hence imply the exchange of ideas and thoughts, that is, communication. Unlike the Knaves and 2s, which tend to indicate person-to-person exchanges, the greater-numbered 8s tend to show groups of people.
Eight of Diamonds: Thoughts about money or finances. Financial plans, budgeting, how to make ends meet. Computer or other electronic (fire) media used for communication. Electronics in general. Occasionally, a bank, accounting firm, financial planning firm.
Eight of Hearts: Thoughts about love or emotional thoughts. A group of people celebrating. Festive atmosphere, party, or sometimes wedding. “Raised cups”, that is, social drinking. Flirtatious conversation. A social club.
Eight of Clubs: Thoughts about work. Work or career, in general. Business conversations, sometimes job interview. Company or corporation. Labor union. Practical plans.
Eight of Spades: Negative thoughts or attitude. Oppression or feeling oppressed. A “poisoned atmosphere”. Gossip, rumors. War, or conflict involving groups of people. A gang, organized crime, or unruly mob. The Coven or Witch Family.
A Note on Rural Life: Not of such great importance as it once was, but farm animals are also represented by the 8s. Larger farm animals that are workers or beasts of burden are the 8 of Clubs, while productive animals – those that give products for the use of people (sheep, goats, cows, chickens) are the 8 of Diamonds. The 8 of Hearts would show animals doing well, while the 8 of Spades might tell of a sickness running through the herd or other animal group. For instance, a sickness befalling one’s chickens might be established by 4 of Clubs (farm) – 8 of Diamonds (the animals) – 5 of Spades (illness). And you know from the secondmost rule that this would pose a temporary financial problem for the Seeker.
The Nines: “Nine heralds changes.”
Nine of Diamonds: Change in financial status, usually for the better. “Creature comforts”, finery. A change in plans, generally. On rare occasion, fame.
Nine of Hearts: Change for the better, the Seeker’s wish will come true. A change of heart.
Nine of Clubs: A change of job or business methods. A change in goals or priorities. Going back to work. A change taking place at work.
Nine of Spades: Change for the worse. The Seeker’s wish will not come true. Disappointment. Injury.
The Tens: “And Ten is the end.” As the 3s have a connotation of “little”, the 10s have a connotation of “great” or “much”. The word “end” in the verse also represents a destination, and so the 10s also mean journey and travel.
Ten of Diamonds: Financial independence. Enough money to get something done. A large sum of money. Sealing a financial deal. Success, in general.
Ten of Hearts: Emotional security. Pleasant and stable family life. Unshakeable marriage bond. The spouse. Happiness, in general. Journey by or over water. A boat or ship. Lake, ocean or other large body of water.
Ten of Clubs: A great deal of work to do. Work piling up. The completion of a practical project – whether associated with work or a hobby. Achievement, in general. Journey by air, an airplane.
Ten of Spades: A great deal of trouble, worry. Evil, violence, grief. Great force. Failure, in general. Journey by land (Earth).
A Note on the 10s and Travel: A 10 in a spread will usually not indicate a journey unless it is linked with a 6 (path, steps) or another 10. The linkage may occur by virtue of the cards being next to each other, or linked through the card of the Seeker in someway. For instance, referring back to the example Square of Nine spread, we see that the King of Hearts is linked to two 10s because a 10 occurs in each of his lines 123 and 369; therefore, the cards show him traveling on business (10 of Diamonds), most likely by air (10 of Clubs). Compare that to the Queen of Spades. She is linked to the 10 of Diamonds in line 147, but she is not linked to the 10 of Clubs in any fashion; therefore, she will not be traveling with her husband. Three 10s would indicate long-distance or foreign travel, and four 10s would indicate world travel or a world traveler.
Learning Suggestions
Admittedly, the above represents a great deal of information to absorb. If you feel overwhelmed, you need not go on. Cardreading for the Witch of Poor Memory gives you a serviceable oracle at your disposal and you can stop your study there. If you wish to continue, you will be able to predict much more specific things, but it will take some effort to learn the speech of the cards.
It need not be an onerous learning. Do not sit down and memorize the card meanings by rote. Instead, try the following suggestions:
(1) Take 10 to 15 minutes a day to simply review one group of four cards – the Kings, the Queens, the Sevens, the Twos, etc. Have that group of cards before you, and simply read over the material three or four times times, letting it sink in.
(2) Keep a pack of cards with you as often as you can. If you have a few private moments, simply take them out and draw off the top three cards. See if you can come up with an interpretation or two for them. Remember a trio of cards does not necessarily mean just one thing. It can mean several things, and all of those several interpretations will be correct. When you are done with those three cards, go on to the next three until you are through the deck.
(3) Do practice readings for an imaginary Seeker, as if you were telling a story from the cards. Lay out a Square of Nine and interpret it. Even though imaginary, it is still excellent practice. Almost every Witch learns to read cards this way. It is said that a cardreader is a storyteller, only different from a fictionteller in that her stories come true. So practice by laying out an imaginary throw and telling an imaginary story. But know that when a true Seeker comes, your story will be true. It’s as simple as that.
(4) Keep a notebook. If you read cards frequently, you will see combinations recurring, and you should note those down. Focus primarily on the card meanings at first; when you know them well, start focusing on combinations.
Combinations
With the meanings above, you can see many specific things in the cards when reading them in combination. Some combinations involve only two cards, some involve three, and on rare occasion, four cards. In time, as you learn the speech of the cards, you will easily see combinations, not just those given here, but your own, too.
*Here* is a list of card combinations. We have been working with trios up until now, so we will stick to combinations of two and three cards. Make no effort to memorize any of them, although you may wish to add them your own notebook if they make sense to you. As you read each combination, simply think through its rationale so that you know how it is derived. This is likely the most important section for the Witch of Middling Memory. Again, it is emphasized that memorization is not the point here. It is by going through this list of combinations and simply thinking them through that you will learn the speech of the cards. The meanings you eventually understand from the cards will not invariably be the meanings given here for the combinations. In addition, the list given here is by no means exhaustive.
Remember, too, that the first and second rules may help you in interpreting combinations.
A Note on Describing the Characteristics of Court Cards: When you see a Court Card in a trio or spread, you will usually identify it in two ways – by the characteristics of its suit and surrounding cards, but not by coloring. The coloring of the Courts (very fair, medium, darker, very dark) are mostly used for choosing a card to represent the Seeker.
An example: Let us say we have the King of Clubs in the spread and he represents a person in the Seeker’s life. You describe to the Seeker that the man is practical, work-oriented, and efficient; that much you know from the suit. Sometimes the Seeker will know the person right away, but oftentimes will not. So, the Seeker will ask you if you can tell anything more about the man to help identify him. Or maybe it is someone that the Seeker does not know yet, but will meet in the future; in that case, the Seeker will want to know how to identify the person when she meets him. So, look to the cards near the King of Clubs. You may see that he wants a family or that family is important to him (Ace of Hearts). He may have a negative outlook (8 of Spades). He may be a sportsman, big sports fan, or exercise nut (5 of Clubs). He may always be ready to lend a helping hand to others (2 of Clubs). Perhaps he is religious (7 of Hearts). A high achiever (10 of Clubs)? “Too much in his cups”? (5 of Spades and 8 of Hearts)? Stylish and a good dresser (9 of Diamonds)? You will usually be able to tell any of that from the cards.
Spreads
We will be covering three new spreads for the witch of middling memory: The Three Steps, The Horns, and The Cross. After a general discussion of each, you will find an example spread.
The Three Steps
Although using more cards, this spread is based on interpreting trios, which the witch of poor memory is accustomed to doing. This spread is good for getting a general look at the future, but not as good for specific questions.
Choose a card for the Seeker, but leave it within the deck. Have the Seeker shuffle the cards and cut them. Fan out the cards upon the table and ask the Seeker to choose 23 of them, face down. Keep them in order as the Seeker selects them, then lay them, faces upward, in the following pattern:
23
19 20 21 22
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Some of the ninefold symbolism of the Square of Nine is repeated in this spread, for the Seeker walks up the three steps three times. It is based on the countings of sevens to find the middle card of each trio. There are nine trios to read in this spread, and then a final tenth, which is traditionally called “the Surprise”. Starting, count 7 cards. Landing on card 7, read the trio 6-7-8. Next, count 7 again. Landing on card 14, read the trio 13-14-15. And so on. Here are the trios that you will read from start to finish:
First ascent: 6-7-8, 13-14-15, 20-21-22
Second ascent: 4-5-6, 11-12-13, 18-19-20
Third ascent: 2-3-4, 9-10-11, 16-17-18
The Surprise: 23-1-2
You will note that there are some overlapping cards in the ascents (ex. card 6 is read both in the first trio of the first ascent, and the first trio of the second ascent). These will sometimes link events together. Thus, the trio 6-7-8 may show an event that will further progress in trio 4-5-6.
If the Seeker’s card appears in the draw, you may also read that card as the middle of a trio. For example, if the Seeking Q♥ appears as card 4, read 3-4-5 as a trio, which would otherwise not be read as a trio per the outline above. A trio with the Seeker should be looked for and read first.
Additional Consideration: if there is some difficulty in determining the meaning of a trio, you may look to the card above or below the middle card of the trio, if there is one, for guidance or additional information. This is usually necessary only when reading the first couple of trios, when the Witch is trying to determine exactly what the events surrounding the Seeker’s life are. The interpretation of the card above or below should never contradict or usurp the meaning of the trio, but merely adds additional, supportive information.
Final Note: Twenty-three cards are much to look at, and the novice cardreader’s initial reaction to her first few spreads of this size is to gulp, perspire, and sit tongue-tied. Keep in mind, however, that there are only ten trios to read in this spread, and that if you are practiced in the Square of Nine, you have routinely interpreted eight trios. Here, read each trio, one by one, and ignore the rest of the cards until you come to them. Fall back on the firstmost and secondmost rules as and when you need to.
The Three Steps: An Example
The Seeker here is a man of darker coloring; thus, the K♣. This reading was conducted in September 2002.
9♥
A♥ 10♦ 4♣ 2♥
6♠ Q♠ 6♥ 4♠ A♦ 10♠ Kn♠
10♥ Kn♦ Q♦ 5♣ 2♦ Kn♥ 3♠ 3♦ K♥ 8♥ 7♠
The Seeker’s card has not appeared in the draw, so we will jump right into interpreting the trios. For considerations of space, we will not detail the supportive information given from the firstmost and secondmost rules
First Ascent
Kn♥, 3♠, 3♦: From this trio, we can see that the Seeker has not come to us for advice on business matters – at least, not primarily (note, too, that there are only two ♣s amongst the 23 cards). The Kn♥ could possibly indicate a date, but the 3♠ indicates small aggravations, interference from a third party, and loss. The 3♦ shows a scattered mind. This does not give us much to go on, initially, so we look at the card above the middle card of the trio and find the 6♥, indicating a deepening emotional bond. From this we may deduce that the Seeker is interested in dating someone and getting closer to that person, but he has not been very successful. A third party seems to be the issue, and may have been the cause of a cancelled date (Kn♥, 3♠). The Seeker’s mind has been scattered, as he has been thinking about the issue off-and-on (3♦); one inference is that he is thinking that the person simply does not want to be with him and is using this third-party interference as an excuse.
Q♠, 6♥, 4♠: Here is the person the Seeker is interested in – a woman who is a widow or divorced (Q♠). She is generally a warm-hearted person (6♥), but her situation is unstable (4♠). Her heart is heavy (♥ hemmed in by ♠s), she feels exhausted and hemmed in by problems at times (4♠), and she needs a vacation (6♥); unfortunately, she won’t get one (♠ on top of 6♥). The Q♠ may be interested in a deepening emotional bond, theoretically (6♥), but she may feel that her present circumstances are too unstable to maintain such a bond (4♠). Note, however, that the cards do not give the impression that the Q♠ is inimical to the Seeker or that she does not want his attentions. She is simply tired and dealing with problems. We can set the Seeker’s mind at ease on that point.
10♦, 4♣, 2♥: The 10♦ is success, in general. The 4♣ is plodding along and goals on a firm footing. The 2♥ is love and relationship. Thus, the cards advise the Seeker that success (10♦) in gaining the desired deeper emotional bond (the 6♥ seen before) may be achieved by not giving up and with patient plodding (4♣). When the 4♣ appears, we must incline our thoughts to the possibility of an “outside place” being in the cards. Here, combined with the 2♥, a museum or theater is indicated. When reading this trio for the Seeker, I chose the theater because the 10♦ as the first card indicated a larger amount of money being spent. Thus, the Seeker will purchase good seats/expensive tickets to a theater performance, and will ask his love interest (2♥) to accompany him. There is an additional dimension to why the tickets will be expensive: they are part of a package including transportation to an out-of-town theater. Note that the 10♠ falls below the 4♣; with that additional card considered, we have two 10s together, indicating a journey.
This trio also indicates that the Seeker is working on sealing a financial deal (10♦). That deal is stable (4♣), and all will work out harmoniously (2♥) concerning it.
Second Ascent
5♣, 2♦, Kn♥: It appears that the Seeker will heed the advice of plodding along patiently (seen as 4♣ above), for this trio shows him determined (5♣) in issuing invitations for dates (2♦, Kn♥). Unfortunately, he will still get turned down sometimes (6♠ above the 2♦), but he will also sometimes get an acceptance (Kn♥ ends the trio).
8♥, 7♠, 6♠: These cards show that the Seeker will consider abandoning the endeavor entirely. His emotional thoughts (8♥) grow more and more negative (two ♠s following), and for a time, he may even walk away from pursuing the relationship (6♠). He feels that there is some mystery (7♠) behind the Q♠ in sometimes accepting him company, but more often refusing him. She is sending him mixed signals. Here, the mystery happens to be solved by looking at the card above the 7♠ — the Kn♠ — which is also part of the next trio.
10♠, Kn♠, A♥: It appears that a primary issue concerning the Q♠ is a child in her home (A♥) – the Kn♠. She is worried about him (10♠). What is the source of the worry? Well, the child is probably feeling depressed, lonely, or sad, himself (two ♠s in a row, and 7♠ below), and she is concerned about that. She also believes that he is keeping something hidden from her (7♠, card below); it may be that he has had a failing (10♠) grade in school. She believes that entering a new relationship (2♥, the card above) may not be the best thing for her to do at this time. Again, we must advise the Seeker to have understanding and patience. A mystery is something difficult to cope with; but identifying the problem will make things easier for him. In addition, the ♥ ending the trio shows a light at the end of the tunnel. The child will gradually improve and pull out of his sad state.
The Third Ascent
10♥, Kn♦, Q♦: As the Kn♠ begins to improve in outlook (♥ on top of Kn♠), the Seeker’s only emotional situation shall grow more fair, and he will begin to experience greater emotional security (10♥). The Q♦also represents the Q♠ returning to her usual more sociable nature (remember the 6♥ next to the Q♠) as her child improves (Kn♦). Note that both the love interest and the child were represented by ♠ Courts. Now, with the 10♥ appearing, meaning happiness, both the Q and Kn have turned into ♦s, showing more sociable natures (♦s) and better outlooks (red card).
This trio also shows that the Seeker will be invited to a wedding (10♥) of a younger couple (Kn and Q).
3♦, K♥, 8♥: With the Q and Kn on a more even emotional keel, the Seeker, who was formerly thinking of abandoning the relationship as a prospect (recall the trio 8♥, 7♠, 6♠ from the second ascent), now begins to gradually go back to his emotional thoughts (8♥), and is in a happier frame of mind, himself (K♥).
This trio also shows that the Seeker’s brother (K♥), or other male family member (same), will soon be celebrating (8♥) a small raise in pay (3♦).
Note that both of the foregoing trios of the third ascent are composed solely of red cards, thus indicating a sustained period of fair fortune in the Seeker’s circumstances.
4♠, A♦, 10♠: With his emotional prospects now more secure, the Seeker will find something new to concern him. This trio shows there will be instability (4♠) in a new financial project (A♦) involving a large sum of money (10♠ is the card above), and this will greatly concern the Seeker (10♠). A lawsuit (4♠) threatening the project is a possibility. Anything new (A♦) that the Seeker attempts at this time will be surrounded by delay (4♠) and worry (10♠). In particular, travel plans (two 10s present if one considers the card above) must be very carefully laid.
A somewhat rare combination occurs here, too – the A♦ followed by the 10♠ may indicate a destructive fire. There is nothing directly linking the fire to the Seeker, so it is likely that it is something that the Seeker will only hear about. It will not directly affect him, but may cause him some worry (10♠). Fortunately, there are no injuries showing (no 5♠ or 9♠ present). If the A♥ were over the middle A♦ instead of over the 4♠, then we would have greater concern and advise the Seeker that a fire in his house is a possibility.
The Surprise
2♥, 9♥, 10♥: And what a fair surprise this is for the Seeker! He will get his wish (9♥), which has to do with entering a harmonious relationship (2♥) and getting married (10♥). Thus, we can advise the Seeker that all will work out well with his love interest. Marriage is definitely in his future.
Timing
Timing is discussed below. Here, the K♣ remained in the unused pack, but searching for him, he was found gazing at the 3♥. In timing, that represents the third week of Summer, or approximately mid July. Thus, the events foretold by this reading would come to pass by July 2003.
The Horns
The Horns is a spread of 7 cards. It is good for a quick glance at the future. The spread may be timed, but in general, it foreshadows only 4-6 weeks. It is a good one for the Witch to do for herself on a weekly basis, or for others when reading cards for many people. It may also be used to answer a specific question.
Again, a card is chosen for the Seeker, but it is left within the deck. If asking a question, the Seeker should think of it as she shuffles the card; if not asking a question, she should just bear a desire to know something of her future. After she is finished shuffling the deck, she cuts it once. The Witch takes up the pack and begins dealing off cards, face-up, by twos. When the pair including the Seeker’s card is turned over, the Witch stops and sets those two cards aside. She gathers up the pile of face-up cards, being careful not to disturb their order, and makes the pack whole again. The pack is then fanned out on the table and the Seeker is instructed to choose an additional five cards. They are laid out as follows:
1
2
0
3
0
4
0
5
0
6
0
7
One of the first two cards will be the Seeker’s card. If the Seeker is card 1, then card 2 will show an immediate influence or event in her life or in relation to her question. If the Seeker is card 2, then card 1 will show an influence or even in her life or in relation to her question that has just passed. Whichever it is, if the Seeker has asked a question, the non-Seeker card will usually be congruent with the nature of a question. For example, if a love matter, it will be a ♥; if there is some trouble concerning her, a ♠. Sometimes the card will be spot on; for instance, if the Seeker asks about changing jobs, the 9♣ may appear next to the Seeker’s card; if she wonders whether she has been lied to, the Q♠; and so on.
Once the cards are laid out, and the first pair interpreted, the remaining five cards are simply interpreted in order, individually. You may see combinations, too. If you like, any series of three cards (eg. 2-3-4, 4-5-6), may be interpreted as a trio.
The Horns: Two Examples
We give two examples for The Horns – one in answer to a specific query and one for the future in general.
A. The Horns: A Question
The first draw is for a question. The question was asked by a woman, a Q♦ who had recently changed jobs. The reading was conducted in the beginning of August 2004. She wondered whether she would like the new job and whether she would be successful at it. The cards fell as follows:
4♠
Q♦
0
6♣
0
5♥
0
2♥
0
7♠
0
6♥
Interpretation: The Seeker (Q♦) has been through a period of instability recently 4♠), but she is now on the correct path toward her job goals (6♣). She will soon be undergoing some job education or training (6♣), which she will enjoy (5♥). Indeed, she will generally find her new work atmosphere to be enjoyable (5♥) and harmonious (2♥), and she will even make social friends (5♥) there. There is, however, a problem on the horizon here, shown by the trio 5♥, 2♥, 7♠. There is a definite possibility that a romantic or sexual involvement (5♥, 2♥ in combination) at work will bring trouble and tears (7♠), so she must be aware of that and try to avoid it. Otherwise, she will make good progress in the position and move ahead (6♥).
Timing: You will not always be able to tell a specific time from the cards with The Horns because the Seeker card is always either card 1 or 2 and sometimes it will not face the other card. In those cases, you must rely on the 4-to-6-week designation.
Here, however, the Q♦ faces the 4♠, so we know that the events will come to pass by the fourth week of Winter, or roughly January 21, 2005.
Addendum: In the beginning of September 2004, the Seeker contacted the Witch again. She found her job environment pleasant enough, but since it was a new field for her, she was not exactly sure that it was what she wanted to do. Her company was also paying for her to get a higher degree, so she wondered whether she should continue with the job simply for that additional benefit or whether she should take training in massage therapy and enter the health field. Fortunately, I had kept a record of the above reading. If you are much-consulted Witch, you will have found that sometimes Seekers come back to you for additional related information or with an additional related question. Consider keeping a record of your card spreads, for you may often answer the follow-up question from it and save time in having to throw another spread down.
Note how the cards of the original reading foreshadow the additional question. There is instability surrounding the Seeker’s education (4♠ [instability], Q♦ [Seeker], 6♣ [education]). There is a query regarding training for massage therapy (6♣ [education], 5♥ [health, hand, enjoyment], 2♥ [harmony]). Considering the interpretation of the original reading, and the fact that the 7♠ (trouble, tears) follows the 6♣-5♥-2♥ trio, I advised the Seeker to stay in her present position for the time being – at least until the end of January 2005 – before considering any change. By the end of January 2005, she will be feeling better about her position.
Also note that the spread is not only relevant for what it shows, but also for what it does not show. There are two 6s present here – one at the beginning of the path, and one at the end. Together they imply a continuous path. There are no Aces present, and indeed, no sign of new beginning shown anywhere. That is an important indication given that the Seeker asks about making a new beginning in an entirely new field.
B. The Horns: A General Future
The next example of the Horns is one in which no specific question was asked. The Seeker sought only a glimpse of the future. The Seeker was a very dark man, a K♠, and the reading was conducted in October 2003.
K♠
2♠
0
5♥
0
3♠
0
7♣
0
8♥
0
4♥
Interpretation: The Seeker (K♠) will quarrel (2♠) with a friend (5♥). We can surmise a little about the nature of the quarrel; it is likely over small aggravations that have been adding up (3♠) or owing to the influence of some troublesome third party (3♠). The loss of the friendship is likely for a period of time (5♥, 3♠), and may even result in some business troubles (7♣), or a loss of business (3♠, 7♣) for the Seeker. But the two ♥s ending the line show the trouble ending and the fortune turning fair. By happenstance (7♣), the two will meet at a party, have some drinks together (8♥), and reconcile (4♥). Emotional stability (4♥) will prevail.
Timing: The Seeker’s card is facing the 2♠, so the events predicted by this spread will occur by the second week of Winter.
The Cross
The Cross is a spread of 5 cards. It is not good for obtaining a general look at the future, but it is good for asking questions of the type: “What should I do about _______?” It helps the Seeker determine how he should act in a given situation or toward a given person. It would be easy to expand this spread into one using 15 cards, using three cards (or one trio) per each station. I advise against it, however, on the ground that experience has shown that fewer cards speak more clearly with this spread. You may find that your interpretations are more general with this spread, but even so, its testimonies will not err.
If experiencing a difficulty in interpreting a card, focus either more on its suit or on its pip and give your intuition free reign. If you like, you may read them as trios – one horizontally from left to right, and one vertically from up to down — to get the gist of their message, including an evaluation of the firstmost and secondmost rules. It is a quick spread, and one good to use if the Seeker has several questions of the above type. Or it can be used to answer a question of the above type following a larger spread.
A card is chosen for the Seeker, but not removed from the deck. The Seeker shuffles and cuts the cards. The Witch fans them out on the table and the Seeker selects five. The Witch lays them in this order:
4
l
1
2
3
l
5
The stations have the following designations:
1: a past event or influence
2: a present event or influence
3: a future event or influence
4: how to proceed (advice on what to do)
5: how to forbear (advice on what to avoid or what not to do)
You will often be able to inter-relate cards 4 and 5.
The Cross: Two Examples
A. The Cross: First Example
A Q♥ asked the Witch, in July 2004, what she should do about a teenage son, who she believed was becoming more emotionally withdrawn from her. The cards fell as follows:
3♣
0
Kn♠
7♥
Q♠
0
8♥
Interpretation: The Kn♠ clearly shows a youth that is lonely, or depressed, or in trouble. We see from the middle card, that the trouble is emotional in nature (7♥). A future influence is a girl or woman older than he (Q♠). My intuition was that although the Q♠ does not appear until the future, she had been on the scene in the past, and was also presently on the scene, and was the source of the emotional trouble (7♥). My sense of the cards was that it was an up-and-down relationship, with the Q♠ calling the shots (because if the three cards are read as a trio, she falls last; also, if you lay out the cards here, you will note that the Kn♠ if facing toward the Q♠, but she is facing away from *him*). The relationship is presently in a “down” phase because the 7♥ — emotional trouble – is in the middle (this card should not be read as cessation of trouble here because it is flanked by the two ♠s). The Q♠ falling in the future indicates that she will reassert herself in the future and her emotional manipulations will continue. My additional sense is that she is a troubled girl (♠), and seeks company in her misery. She is succeeding because the Kn also appears as a ♠. The Seeker should probably seek to minimize the influence of the Q♠ on the Kn♠.
What the Seeker should avoid is shown by the 8♥. She should not force the Kn♠ into social situations or smother him with love. At the present time, he is unable to respond emotionally to people (♠), and enforced gaiety will make him withdraw even more.
How the Seeker should proceed is shown by the 3♣. She should encourage the Kn♠ to get a part-time job. He needs to expand his social skills outside of purely emotional relationships (family, girlfriend, etc.). Comparing the 3♣ and the 8♥, I offered that he was often uncomfortable in social situations because he did not know how to interact with people. He needs to learn how to do that bit-by-bit (3♣). A job environment (♣), which is generally a less emotional setting for the play of social skills, would help him do that more gradually and with greater security. Reading the vertical cards as a trio, we see that the fortune of the youth will become more fair (♣, followed by two ♥s; here we might even read the 7♥ as cessation of trouble because it is not flanked by ♠s vertically).
Timing: The Q♥ did not appear in the spread, but upon searching the deck, she was found facing the A♣. Thus, the events of the spread would transpire by the first week of Fall.
B. The Cross: Second Example
Our final example for The Cross illustrates a rather common question: “Should I continue to invest time and energy into my current romantic relationship?” It was asked by a Q♥ in April 2002.
2♠
l
Kn♥
5♥
K♣
l
10♥
Interpretation: This is a fairly easy example to interpret. Before you read the interpretation below, try to interpret it yourself as an exercise. The Q♥ was in her early 30s at the time of the question. The appearance of the first card – the ♥ — as a Kn indicates the boyfriend. No matter if he is near the same age as the Q, the fact that he appears as a Kn instead of a K shows that he has a little less emotional maturity than she. He is a friendly chap, emotional, probably given to daydreaming a bit. It is the next card, the 5♥ in combination with the 5♥ that tells us that he is a merrymaker and enjoys a good time and his entertainments. Sexual relations with the Kn♥ are also very good (5♥). But it doesn’t look like he is “marriageable material”. The 10♥ in the bottom position tells us that. That card advises the Seeker that the Kn♥ is not going to make a good spouse for her, and she should not be pressing the issue of marriage and family with him. He probably enjoys his freedom too much. The top card – the 2♠ — advises a separation, a split, a break-up. Finally, in the future, we see that the Seeker shall meet the K♣, a more mature man, who is active, practical, and efficient. He also knows how to enjoy himself (5♥ before him), but the fact that he is a ♣ shows that he will know how to balance business and pleasure.
Timing: The Seeker’s card did not appear in the spread, but searching the deck, she was found facing the 10♦ — indicating ten weeks after the start of spring. Thus, the events of the spread will transpire around the beginning of June 2002.
Timing
To end this essay for the Witch of Middling Memory, we focus on timing. You may have discerned the method from the pattern given above. The upper face of the Seeker’s card will usually face another card. If the Seeker’s card should fall in the spread, look at the card the Seeker immediately faces. If a ♦, the timing is Spring; a ♥, Summer; a ♣, Fall; a ♠, Winter. Use the value of the card to determine weeks, as is done above. Knaves are 11 weeks, Queens are 12 weeks, and Kings are 13 weeks; the Kings are obviously contiguous with the commencement of the next season (eg. K♣ would indicate 13 weeks after the beginning of Fall, a time period just before the beginning of Winter).
If the Seeker’s card does not appear in the spread, hand the unused cards to the Seeker and have her shuffle and cut again. Then turn the deck face up to search through the deck and find her card. The searching is done by fanning out the cards from the left hand into the right hand. When you find the Seeker’s card, look at the card it faces and determine timing from that.
It will rarely, but on occasion, occur that the Seeker’s card is facing no card in the reshuffled deck. For instance, if you turn over the deck and find the Seeker’s card as the Q♠ as the first card, you will see that she is facing to the right, but that there is no card before her. In that instance, timing fails for the spread. You should not have the Seeker reshuffle. You will either have to use your intuition for timing or rely on a general time period, such as the 4-6 weeks mentioned for The Horns.
Sevens and the Moon
Sometimes the Seeker simply needs a question timed within a month. In that instance, look for the nearest 7 in the spread that the Seeker faces. The 7♦ is the first 7 days of the Moon’s age (from dark/new to first quarter); the 7♥, the second 7 days of the Moon’s age (from first quarter to full); the 7♣, the third 7 days of the Moon’s age (from full to third quarter); the 7♠, the fourth 7 days of the Moon’s age (from third quarter to dark/new). If no 7 appears in the spread, resort to reshuffling the deck, as noted above to find the closest 7 that the Seeker faces. In this instance, timing is more likely to fail because of the reduced probability that the Seeker may face a 7.
Even when the timing does not need to be within the month, after the spread is timed by the season and weeks, it is often helpful to look for the nearest 7 faced by the Seeker, anyway, as it will usually time some important event or a “next step”. For instance, The Three Steps example, we timed the reading to conclude by the following Summer, quite a ways away. However, if the 7♠ had been where the 3♠ was, we could advise the Seeker that the next important event (with reference to our predictions) would occur during the Moon’s fourth age.
Here ends this essay for the Witch of Middling Memory. The final part of this essay will be for the Witch of Exceptional Memory. Only a few interpretive points remain, so that final part will largely focus on spreads, the most important of which is The Great Throw, which uses the entire deck.
Part 3
Ace of Diamonds
A♦, 2♦ a gift of money
any ♦, A♦, any ♦ beginning a period of financial prosperity
A♦, 2♥ or 10♥ an engagement to be married; Kn♥ may be present
2♥, A♦ artistic creativity; if a K (power) or Q (truth) is the third card, it could be a creative genius
A♦, 3♠ losing money
A♦, 7♠ or 9♠ a letter containing sad tidings
A♦, 10♠ a destructive fire, if with A♥, in the home; with 6♦, in a car; if the 5♠ or 9♠ is nearby, there could be injuries.
Ace of Hearts
A♥, 4♦ contract to sell home or real estate license
A♥, 4♦, 8♣ real estate agent
A♥, 6♦ a garage
A♥, 2♥ family wedding
A♥, 3♥ redecorating the home
A♥, 3♠ or 9♠, 3♥ remodeling the home
A♥, 4♥ a condominium, or moving from house to apartment
4♥, A♥ moving from apartment to house
A♥, 6♥ motor home, RV
A♥, 8♣ or K♣ a builder, a businessman who builds homes
any ♠, A♥, any ♠ trouble, turmoil, aggravations in the home, the nature of which will be shown by the ♠s
A♥, 6♠ independence from family, moving away from family
A♥, Court family-oriented person
A♥, two or more Courts family reunion
Ace of Clubs
A♣, 3♦ new job duties, with small raise in pay
A♣, 10♦ new job duties, with large raise in pay
A♣, Q♦ a financial opportunity that is as good as it sounds
A♣, 9♥ the opportunity to fulfill your heart’s desire
9♣, A♣ wanting to change jobs and reaching that goal
♥ Court, A♣, 3♠ task of taking care of a family member
Ace of Spades
A♠, 4♦ a will; if the person who made the will is deceased, you will likely see the 7♠, 9♠, or 10♠ too, showing tears, grief
A♠, 2♥ a big decision about a relationship, generally favorable because ♥ falls second
2♥, A♠ ending a relationship (♠ falls second)
A♠, 8♣ a decision about work
8♣. A♠ quitting job
A♠, 4♠ inability to make a decision; confusion
A♠, 5♠ a decision that you will regret
A♠, 6♠ wrong decision
A♠, any 8 a decision to be made on the subject of the 8’s suit;
With the 8♠, a possible interpretation is inability to make a decision
any 9, A♠ reinforces the idea of the change indicated by the 9, making it a big change
Two of Diamonds
2♦, Court a telephone call; if the 2♦ falls first, the Seeker makes the Court, 2♦ call; if last, the Seeker receives the call; if the 6♦ is also present, the call is long-distance
2♦, 5♦ invitation to go out to dinner
2♦, 5♦, any ♥ gift of jewelry
2♦, 6♦ long-distance telephone call
any ♥, 2♦, any ♥ gift from a loved one
2♦, Kn♥ invitation to go on date; small gift to show appreciation
2♦, any Kn a communication or message, the content of which depends on the Knave’s suit
2♦, 8♥ invitation to a party, if the 4♠ follows, the Seeker is forced to go out of obligation
2♦, 2♥, 8♥ invitation to a wedding
2♦, 4♣, 8♥ invitation to a bar, to go drinking
2♦, A♥ invitation to someone’s home; look for cards indicating a friend or family member, distance, or travel, such as the 5, K, or Q of ♥, the 6♦ or 6♥, or two 10s together
2♦, 6♠ turning down an invitation; if with 5♠, because of illness
Two of Hearts
2♥, 3♥ an artist of some type; if with a ♦, dealing with words, like a poet or writer; with a ♥, more likely painting or music; with a ♣, more likely a craftsman; with a ♠, more likely a dramatic actor
2♥, 3♦, 6♣ writing a book
A♥, Court, 3♥ new love interest, developing love affair
2♥, 8♥ a wedding
2♥, 6♥ a honeymoon trip
4♣, 2♥, 5♦ bridal shop
Kn♥, 2♥, 5♣ a date to go dancing
2♥, 10♦, 10♥ a happy and successful marriage to a wealthy person; if the final card were a ♠, marriage solely for money or financial gain
8♠, 2♥ peace restored after strife
2♥, any ♠ trouble in relationship
2♥, 2♠, 6♠ divorce following period of separation
2♥, 6♠, another ♠ divorce , look for the K or Q of ♠ nearby; it is also possible that it will be the 10♥ representing the marriage
2♥, 6♠, 4♥ close to divorce, but makes up after separation
2♥, any ♠, Kn♠ lovesick person, unrequited love; may be the 3♥, instead
Two of Clubs
2♣ a doubling or repeating
With 2♥ or 10♥, second marriage
with 2♥, 6♥, a second honeymoon
with a Q and 3♥, a woman having another child
with 6♣, going back to school
with 8♣, changing jobs a second time
with a Court: that person is coming back into your life; if a ♥ Court or other ♥s are nearby, a former boyfriend/girlfriend comes back on the scene; also, 2♣, Court, and the A♥, 2♥, or 3♥, means getting a second chance at romance with a person
2♣, A♦, 10♥ second engagement; this time leading to marriage
2♣, 2♦ financial assistance or loan needed
2♣, 8♦ bank loan
2♣, 8♦, A♥ mortgage with bank
2♣, 8♦, 6♦ car loan from bank
2♣, A♣ business proposal
2♣, the Seeker will help a person do something, 2♣ a person will help the Seeker do something
– if with a ♦, possibly financial help
– if with a ♥, moral or emotional support
– if with a ♣, some practical assistance
– if with a ♠, to overcome a problem
A♥, 2♣, 3♦ Seeker receives minor financial assistance from a family member
2♣, 9♣ the Seeker helps someone get a new job
9♣, 2♣ someone helps the Seeker get a new job
Court, 2♣, Court two people helping each other or in partnership
2♣, any ♠ troubles in a partnership
Two of Spades
2♠, 8♣ conflict at work
2♠, 4♠ constant conflict, harassment; if with 9♠ or 10♠, possible stalking
2♠, 8♠ conflict, harsh words involving a group of people
2♠, 10♠ worry over separation
Court, 2♠ a person leaving your life, environment, etc.
2♠, Court a person who has left will be coming back
Three of Diamonds
3♦, 6♦, 10♦ small amount invested brings great profits
3♦, A♥ small amount spent on house or family
2♣, 8♣, 3♦ second job; moonlighting
3♦, 5♣ purse or handbag (small amount of money, practical, hand)
3♦, 5♣, 3♠ losing purse
3♦, 7♣ unexpectedly receiving small amounts of money
3♦, 9♣, 8♣ part-time employment turning full-time
8♣, 9♣, 3♦ full-time employment cut down to part-time
Three of Hearts
3♥, A♥ or Kn♥ a baby to be born
3♥, 5♥ childhood friend or child making a friend
3♥, 8♥ a baby shower
3♣, 3♥ new haircut; decorative garden
3♥, 8♣ hearing about a pregnancy at work
3♥, A♠, 3♠ miscarriage; the 5♠ may also be present
3♥, Court, any ♠ trying to get close to a person, but it won’t be successful
3♥, 2♠ or 6♠ breaking off relationship before it gets too serious
3♥, any Kn a young child
3♥, Court person loves children or wants children
Court, 3♥, Court two people falling love gradually; could also be the 2♥, but that would be love at first sight
Three of Clubs
3♣, 3♦ extra duties, but some extra pay, too
3♣, 10♦ extra duties, but great increase in pay
3♣, 5♥ herbalism; if with a Court, an herbalist
3♣, 8♣ on-the-job training
Three of Spades
3♦, 3♠ losing a small amount of money
5♦, 3♠ losing a piece of jewelry
2♥, 3♠ someone trying to break up a romance
3♥, 3♠ love triangle that causes problems or someone trying to break up a developing romance
3♠, 8♣ losing job
2♥, Court, 3♠ forcing attentions on someone that doesn’t want it; may be A♥ or 3♥, instead; and if it is the 10♠ instead of the 3♠, it is bordering on harassment or stalking
Four of Diamonds
A♦, 4♦, 3♦ opening new bank account with small deposit; if 10♦, then a larger deposit
4♦, 6♦ driver’s license, if also with 3♠ or 4♠, driver’s license suspended
4♦, 8♣ a license to practice a profession
4♦, any ♠, 7♦ overdrawn on a bank account
4♦, 4♠ legal documents
4♦, 2♠, 3♦ taking small amount of money from back account; if 10♦, then a larger sum
4♦, any ♠, any ♠ one’s financial security is threatened
any ♠, 3♣, 4♦ financial stability growing slowly
Four of Hearts
A♥, 6♠, 4♥ moving out of family home and getting own apartment
Four of Clubs
4♣ showing outside places:
with 4♦, a bank
with 5♦, a restaurant
but if another ♦ present, a store/shopping center
with 8♦ and 8♣, accountant’s office
with A♥, home office
with 2♥, museum or theater;
if 5♣ also present, a dance club
with 3♥, daycare center, nursery school;
if 5♣ also present, a playground
if 6♥ also present, children’s camp
with 3♥ and Q♥ or Q♦, beauty parlor
with 4♥, a hotel,
if also with 10♥, a seaside hotel
with 5♥, a place of amusement;
if with 3♥ also, an amusement park
if also with 5♣, a sports arena
if also with a ♦ or 7♣, a casino or betting parlor
if also with 8♣, the racehorse track
if also with a Q, possibly a ladies’ social club
with 7♥, a church
with 8♥, a bar;
if also with a K, possibly a men’s social club
with 3♣, park
with 5♣, a health club
with 6♣, a school or college
with 8♣, one’s office
with A♠, funeral home or cemetery
with 4♠, a court of law
with 5♠, hospital
if also with A♥, nursing home
with 8♠, covenstead
4♣, 5♦ a picnic
4♣, Kn, 7 if the Kn and the 7 are of the same suit, this combination indicates an elemental spirit attached to the land, of the nature shown by the suit – e.g., if the Kn♥ and 7♥, a spirit whose nature is consonant with water
4♣, any ♠ plans are not on a firm footing; faulty planning
Four of Spades
4♠, 2 or 10♥ unstable marriage
4♠, 3♥, 4♦ adoption of child
3♣, 4♠, A♠ jury duty; if the 2♦ instead of 3♣, then a summons to jury service
2♣, 4♠, 8♠ giving testimony in court; the 8♠ is the jury here; it may be the Q or K of ♠ to represent a judge, however
___, 4♠, ___ the area of instability will be shown by the cards surrounding the 4♠
10, 10, 4♠ trip hasn’t been planned well enough; expect problems
Kn, 4♠, Kn court case; the two Kns show attorneys
Five of Diamonds
5♦, 2♦ shopping
5♦, 3♥ buying new clothes
5♦, 3♥, 9♦ a makeover
2♣, 5♦, 8♣ waiter/waitress
3♣, 5♦, 8♣ caterer
5♦, 5♠ stomach problem; if with 9♠ or 10♠, possibly an eating disorder
Five of Hearts
2♥, 5♥ sexual relations
5♥, 3♥, Kn♥ ménage a trois
6♥, 5♥, 3♥ family trip to amusement park
Court, 5♥, Court friendship developing between two people
5♥, 2♣, 10♦ business venture with a friend; a lot of money will be made
K♣, 5♥, 7♦ or 7♣ psychic healing (the K represents power here); if the 7♥, instead, then faith healing
5♥, Kn♠, 5♠ sexually-transmitted disease
5♥, Q♠ sexual indiscretion; 3♠ may be present showing a third-party; if with 10♠, worry over sexual indiscretion
Five of Clubs
5♣ or 10♣, 4♠ working oneself into exhaustion; need to slow down
5♣, 10♦ working very hard, but the money makes it worth it
5♣, any Ace taking up a new hobby or sport;
With A♦, something intellectual
With A♥, something creative
With A♣, a sport or something done with hands
With A♠. maybe something dangerous, like
mountain climbing
5♣, 10♥ swimming
5♣, 10♥, 6♣ learning to swim
5♣, 10♥, 8♣ swimming instructor or working at a pool
5♣, 10♥, 2♣ lifeguard
5♣, 10♥, A♠ or 5♠ dangerous waters or water accident; any ♠ following the swimming cards is not good.
Five of Spades
5♠, 2♦ or 3♦ getting sick pay
5♠, any ♥ health will improve
8♥, 5♠ too much partying, drinking, revelry; getting drunk
8♥, 5♠, 8♣ bartender
8♥, 5♠, 7♠ alcoholism; 9♠ instead of 7♠ also possible
5♠, 2♣ nurse; 8♣ may be present
Court, 5♠, 7♠ going to doctor for tests
5♠, 2♠ operation
Six of Diamonds
6♦, any ♦ money spent on car; if it is A♦ or 10♦, probably a new car; otherwise, look to nearby cards to determine why the money is being spent (repair, decoration, etc).
2♦, 6♦, 3♦ paying off car loan bit-by-bit
6♦, 3♦, any ♠ putting some money into your car, but it doesn’t fix the problem
2♠, 6♦, 10♦ getting rid of old car, buying a new one
6♦, A♥ looking for a house; seeing it as an investment
6♦, 2♣ used car
6♦, 5♣ motorcycle
6♦, 7♣ investment
6♦, 7♣, 8♣ investment banker
6♦, 7♣, 3♦ or 3♣ investment growing slowly; if last card were 10♦ or 10♣, growing much better; better to have ♦s end the fan here than the ♣s
6♦, 8♣ mechanic
6♦, 10♣, 10♠ car trouble on trip, possibly a flat tire (because the ♣ is air; if it were the 10♥, a problem with car fluids)
6♦, any ♠ trouble with car
6♦, 3♠ losing on investments
6♦, 5♠ “sick car”, needs mechanic, if the 2♠ is the third card, the mechanic will tell you to get rid of it
Court, 6♦ person leaving for a journey
6♦, Court person returning from journey
Six of Hearts
6♥, A♣ making good progress toward goal
6♥, 4♣ camping trip; if with 4♥, to a rustic cottage; if with 6♦, a camping trailer
6♥, 4♣, 10♥ on holiday at beach, seaside
3♠, 6♥ overcoming small obstacles
Court, 6♥, Court deepening emotional bond between two people
Six of Clubs
6♣, 4♦ a diploma or school certificate
if with Kn♣, from a trade school
if with Kn♦, college degree
if with K♦, master’s degree
if with 5♠, doctorate
6♣, 4♦, 3♣ report card
6♣, 5♦ bookstore
6♣, 8♦ television
6♣, 9♦ computer
6♣, 9♦ or 10♦ very successful business trip; the A♦, 3♦, 4♦ would also show a successful outcome
6♣, 2♥ learning to dance
6♣, 8♣ education for a job
6♣, 9♣ education to change jobs
2♣, 6♣ teaching
2♣, 6♣ , 8♣ a teacher
Six of Spades
6♠, 6♥ walking away is walking toward something better; especially if another red card follows; “the best thing you could have done”; instead of 6♥, other goods cards here would be 9♥ or 10♥
5♦, 6♠ cleaning out closets, paring down household items; A♥ or 4♥ may be present
6♦, 6♠, 2♣ getting rid of car, getting another one, probably used car
6♠, 8♠ running with wrong crowd
Kn♠, 6♠, 5♥ troubled youth running away; he’s at a friend’s house
10, 10, 6♠ an ill-advised journey, beset with trouble
Seven of Diamonds
6♦, 7♦ poor investment
6♣, 7♦ studying psychism
6♣, 7♦, 3♣ studying psychism and making progress
7♦, Court person has psychic ability
7♦, 5♥, Court a psychic healer
7♦, 8♣ professional psychic
7♦, 8♣, Kn♠ a medium or necromancer or other psychic that works with the dead
2♠, 7♦, 10♦ astral projection; if the Kn♠ instead of 2♠, the projection will be made in fetch form; sometimes the 6♦ appears instead of the 10♦ because either may represent a journeying consciousness
Seven of Hearts
7♥, K♥ God, in general
7♥, Q♥ Goddess, in general
Court, A♠, 7♥ born-again Christian
7♥, 3♠, 6♥ several minor troubles in relationship, but things will improve; if 10♥, instead or 6♥, the relationship is a marital one
7♥, 2♠, 8♣ emotionally upset about conflict at work
7♥, any 8 prayer, involving a subject shown by the 8’s suit
Seven of Clubs
A♥, 7♣ occult work in the home
8♠, A♥, 7♣ home needs spiritual purification
7♣, A♦ money spell
7♣, 2♥ love spell
7♣, A♥ , any ♠ trouble at work affecting home life
5♥, 7♣ game of chance; if this combination is followed by a ♦, likely winning at a game of chance; if followed by a ♠, losing
7♣, 5♥ chance meeting with friend
6♣, 7♣ studying occultism
K♣, 7♣, 2♠ trouble with boss at work
Seven of Spades
A♥, Kn♠, 7♠ spirit in house, causing problems
10♥, 7♠, 2♠ marriage breaking up; divorce
K♥, 5♠, 7♠ going to doctor for tests
7♠, A♠, A♦ initiation into the Mysteries
Eight of Diamonds
8♦, A♦ making financial plans for new beginning
8♦, 3♦ budgeting money bit by bit, if the third card in the trio is the 6♦, for a car; if the A♥, a house; if the 6♥, a vacation; with the 5♦ or 9♦, for clothes, jewelry, etc.; if with a ♣, then some practical purchase
8♦, 4♦ savings plan
5♥, 8♦ going to the movies; 4♣ may be present, meaning movie theater
8♦, any ♣ need to work on budgeting money
8♦, any ♠ expense that cannot be afforded; unwise spending; need to budget
A♦, 8♦, K♠ paying taxes; K♠ is the government here; usually only appears if there is going to be a problem with taxes (hence the ♠ ends the trio), such as inability to pay (see combination 8♦, any ♠)
A♦, 8♦, 7♠ tax audit
Eight of Hearts
2♥, 8♥ lovers’ sweet talk
8♥, Kn♥ flirtation
4♣, 8♥ drinking at a bar or social club
9♣, A♣, 8♥ celebrating a promotion
Eight of Clubs
8♣, 6♠ quitting or leaving job
6♠, 8♣ losing job and looking for a new one
8♣, 9♣ interviewing for a new job
8♣, 8♦ an accountant
A♥, 8♣, 9 ♦ going back to work after being at home, with the 9♦ showing improved financial conditions
any ♥, 8♣, any ♠ do not mix business and pleasure; if the ♥ is the A♥, work is interfering with home life
8♣, 10♦ thriving business; if the 3♦, instead, business is less, but steady.
8♣, two or more Courts business conference, at a distance if 6♦, 6♣, or two 10s are nearby
Eight of Spades
8♠, 5♥ Sabbat
6♥, 8♠, 4♣ traveling to Sabbatstead
any ♥, 8♠, any ♥ imagines problems that don’t exist
8♠, Court person with poor attitude
Nine of Diamonds
4♣, 5♦, 9♦ or 10♦ a thriving business
Court ♦, 9♦, 10♦ a person of wealth and affluence
9♣, 9♦ change in job with finances improving
Nine of Hearts indicating the wish; sometimes you can tell what the wish is by the cards falling next to this card – a ♦, more money, the 3♥ for a child, 9♣ for a change of job, etc.
9♥, any ♥ or ♦ reinforces wish coming true
9♥, ♣ wish will come true, but requires work to maintain
9♥, A♥ traditionally, a fortunate combination meaning achievement of the heart’s desire in one’s own house
9♥, 3♥, Court wish for deepening love comes true; if the 5♥ replaces the Court, then friends become romantically involved
9♥, Court, 10♥ one’s dream spouse, if a 7 is also nearby, it is a strong karmic relationship in which the two people are perfect complements of one another
K♥, 9♥, Q♥ also one’s dream spouse
9♥, A♣, 3♠ opportunity lost for wish to be fulfilled
9♥, 4♠ unsure of what to wish for
9♥, Kn♥ or Q♠ a foolish wish or an unrealistic wish
9♥, ♠, ♠ wish fulfilled, but problems ahead; be careful what you wish for
any ♣, 9♥ work is necessary for wish to be fulfilled
any ♠, 9♥ delay or problem to be overcome before wish is fulfilled
Court, 9♥ wish fulfilled through the agency of the person represented; note the suit of the Court, however…if a ♠, possibly an enemy working against your wish
Nine of Clubs
9♣, A♣ change of jobs with new responsibilities
9♣, 10♦ changing jobs with a big raise in pay
6♠, A♥, 9♣ changing jobs and moving away
Nine of Spades
9♠, 4♥ getting what one deserves, come-uppance
any 5, 9♠, 5♠ injury to hands or feet
5♣, Kn♠, 10♠ possible spirit possession (not demonic); a difficult one to read; the 5♣ would indicate that the spirit had at least some control of the motor function; the combination may also be formed with some other 5s, but the suit of the 5 would indicate the spirit’s main focus (appetites, motor function, mind)
Ten of Diamonds
6♦, 10♦, 4♠ beware of get-rich-quick scheme
8♣, 10♦ business profits increase
4♠, 8♣, 10♦ business starts slowly, then takes off and prospers
5♥, 10♦, 10♥ health, wealth, and happiness (and opportunity to travel)
Ten of Hearts
4♣, 10♥ beach
6♥, 4♣, 10♥ trip to beach
10♥, 3♠, any ♠ lost at sea
2 or 10♥, 5♠, 9 or 10♠ an abusive marriage owing to some addiction
10♥, Court marriage is important to person
Ten of Clubs
6♦, 10♣, A♥ taking airplane trip to see family member at a distance; if with 5♥, visiting a friend; if with 10♥, to a wedding
10♣, 6♥ or 6♣ making good progress on a pile of work
10♣, 2♣, 10♦ taking a second business trip, and this time, sealing the deal
3♠, 10♣ lots of small tasks piling up
Ten of Spades
A♥, 10♠, 3♠ burglary of home
5♥, 10♠, 9♠ rape
any ♦, 10♠, 3♠ theft of money, valuables, or jewelry (if 5♦)
A♥, 3♣, 10♠ steps taken to protect the home from crime or accident
2♥ or 10♥, 10♠ worry about marriage or marriage partner; if the two 10s are in combination here, the worry is that the partner may leave for a time 2♥ with the 10♠ may also be fear of commitment
2♥, 3♥, 10♠ worried about the development of a romantic relationship
any 9, 10♠ fear of change, the type of change indicated by the 9’s suit
9♥, 10♠ afraid wish will not come true
6♦, 10♠ worried about car
Court, 10♠ Seeker is worried about a person and the person is worried
Combinations with Courts
K♥, ♥, another K a gay man, particularly where the middle heart is a 2, 3, 5, 9 or even 10; the same combination as Q♥, ♥, Q would indicate a lesbian
any ♣, K♠, any ♣ a politician
K♠, another K police
K♠, 4♣, another K jail
K♠, 4♠, another K arrest; instead of 4♠ (hemmed in by police), could also be6♠ (taken away by police), or 10♠ (criminal action interrupted by police)
K♠, 4♠, another K police investigation
Q♠, 7♠ covering up a lie
7♠, Q♥ uncovering the truth
Kn, Kn, 5♥ or 6♥ an outing with young people
♠ Court, Court, ♥ particularly where the ♥ is the 2, 4, 9, or 10, reconciliation between a separated couple
Court, Court, Court an event with a group of people; judge from the suits, particularly of the last card, whether the Seeker will have a good time if it is a social even or a successful outcome if a business event
Kn or K, Q of same suit A Kn or K with any Q of its own suit will show a couple if they are paired with a love card.
