by Hali Morag
9 of Spades
This card, as is evident from its well-known numerological interpretation, is the finishing point. The combination of the numerological meaning with Spades deals the hardest blow of all. The person is now at his lowest ebb, down and out, and does not know if he will ever be able to rise again.
10 of Spades
This card repeats the message of the Ace, but indicates that the querent is embroiled in a series of troubles (which may be discerned from the adjacent cards in the spread). A difficult card.
Jack of Spades
The Jack of Spades speaks of someone who is not close to the querent, a young, noble-minded individual, but with whom any connection means trouble! Even when the spread speaks of romance or successful business ventures, it warns that it will come to a bad end. If the card is interpreted as pertaining to the querent, it tells of someone who moves around in social circles but who cannot find a place for himself anywhere.
Queen of Spades
This is a difficult card. A widow, a hardened single woman - lonely and emotionally handicapped. Totally blocked! (Therefore, the remaining cards in the spread have no effect on her.) Be careful when this figure appears in a spread, particularly if it represents the querent. In Italy, it is known as “The House Witch.”
King of Spades
This indicates a difficult man, particularly when the card speaks of the querent. This card alludes to a man who is used to a rigid and fastidious lifestyle, and is trying to impose it on everyone around him. It is difficult to live in the vicinity of such a person and even more difficult to be under his authority.
Now that we know the playing cards, we will move on to the “tricks” used in interpreting them, and the various and special spreads for playing cards, including the differentiation between the different methods.
The English Method
Playing cards may be spread according to any spread which is applicable to the Tarot cards. However, there are also special and unique methods for spreading playing cards, and these will be discussed below. In general, the alternative methods are divided into two divisions: the English Method and the Italian Method.
In the English Method, each card has one meaning only. In other words, there is no significance to a direct or reverse card. All 52 cards are used, i.e. there are 13 cards in each of the four suits.
The basis of the English Method is the principle of “conscious choice”. The reader scrutinizes the querent (or acquires a detailed description of him), and chooses from the deck a unique card which will serve as the “Significator Card” in each and every type of spread he uses.
The Significator Card
The Significator Card is chosen according to gender, age and hair color of the querent. These factors are always divided into two categories: man/woman, age over 40/under age 40, light hair/dark hair.
Consequently, there are eight possibilities for the Significator Card (other cards cannot serve as the Significator Card in the English Method):
Man - light-haired - age 40+ corresponds to King of Diamonds
Man - light-haired - age 40- corresponds to King of Hearts
Man - dark-haired - age 40+ corresponds to King of Spades
Man - dark-haired - age 40- corresponds to King of Clubs
Woman - light-haired - age 40+ corresponds to the Queen of Diamonds
Woman - light-haired - age 40- corresponds to the Queen of Hearts
Woman - dark-haired - age 40+ corresponds to the Queen of Spades
Woman - dark-haired - age 40- corresponds to Queen of Clubs
After the reader chooses the appropriate Significator Card, he asks the querent to shuffle the deck; the reader then takes the cards and spreads them face down, in a fan shape.
The 18-Card Spread
The most popular spread in the English Method is the 18-Card Spread. The Significator Card is placed on the table facing downwards. The querent chooses a card from the fan of cards on the table and places it on the table, face up, at the upper left-hand corner of the Significator Card. The second card he chooses is placed above the Significator Card; the third, in the upper right-hand corner; the fourth, to the left of the Significator Card, and the fifth, to the right of the Significator Card, from left to right. Three additional cards are placed under the Significator Card. Finally, the ninth card is placed on top of the Significator Card, covering it.
Now, the remaining cards in the fan can be shuffled again (they can also be left unshuffled) and eight more cards are chosen. These are placed on the cards surrounding the Significator Card. (No additional card is placed on the Significator Card.) This concludes the spread... and now all that remains is to interpret the cards!
Note that we have nine pairs. Each pair of cards has a meaning pertaining to a certain area of life. The exact interpretation is determined by the two neighboring cards. During the second stage, it is determined by the cards adjacent to the pair. Also, the Significator Card is given a special interpretation in accordance with the actual situation of the querent.
The Significator Card is marked with an X.
Look at the diagram and remember:
The first pair speaks of the querent’s past when he was still dependent on his parents.
The second pair tells about the querent’s past from the time he reached adulthood and independence up until the present day.
The third pair is indicative of the past year.
The fourth and fifth pairs, on both sides of the Significator Card, speak of difficulties or breakthroughs in the querent’s life.
The sixth pair speaks of what is expected in the coming year of the querent’s life.
The seventh pair points to the querent’s future, for as long as he is independent and self-supporting.
The eighth pair tells about his future, when he will be dependent on others and supported by them.
The pair consisting of the ninth card and the Significator Card is actually the character analysis of the querent.
This spread is useful and easy to interpret. The use of two cards in each category supports the interpretation. Note that after taking in the information from the Significator Card, the interpretation must be done from left to right and from top to bottom: in other words, from the distant past to the distant future.
The Traditional Spread
Another spread, used mainly for reading playing cards with the English Method, is the traditional Gypsy Spread (as opposed to the Gypsy Spread used for Tarot cards).
In this spread, too, the reader first chooses the Significator Card and lays it on the table, face up. Next, the querent shuffles the cards, cuts the deck into two, and hands half a deck to the reader. The rest of the cards are put aside. The reader takes the cards and chooses 21 cards, spreading them in threes, from left to right. Note that in this spread, three consecutive cards are placed one on top of the other, face up. The final spread has 22 cards, similar to the Major Arcana of the Tarot.
Each group of three cards indicates a different area, and all cards are interpreted in accordance with the Significator Card “overseeing” them. The interpretation is done from left to right.
The Significator Card is marked with an X.
The first threesome teaches about the personality of the querent, his spiritual state and mental state.
The second threesome speaks about his present family status.
The third threesome points to his immediate aspirations.
The fourth threesome indicates his expectations for the future.
The fifth threesome brings destiny or the unexpected into the life of the querent.
The sixth threesome serves to predict the immediate future.
The seventh threesome serves to forecast the distant future.
This spread requires knowledge of the connections between the different cards. This is due to the fact that the circumstances o
f each threesome are actually determined by the balance of the three different cards, all the while taking into account the Significator Card.
In this spread, the presence of pairs or three of a kind, or of cards with special meanings is of utmost importance, as will be discussed later. Of great consequence is a situation when the Significator Card and the three cards are of the same suit.
The Holy Cross Spread
A third spread used in the English Method is the Holy Cross or Mystics’ Spread. Here, too, the reader chooses the appropriate Significator Card and places it in the center of the table. Next, after shuffling the cards, he arbitrarily picks a dozen cards from the deck. He now takes the Significator Card, adds it to the twelve cards, shuffles them all and sets them out one after the other.
The first question arising at this point is: Where will the Significator Card turn up? It may appear in the north-south line - the vertical line, and then the interpretation speaks of a person who is being led by destiny, by his environment or by circumstances. However, if the Significator Card appears in the east-west line - the horizontal line, the querent has control over his life and its circumstances. If the Significator Card turns up exactly in the middle, it indicates that the querent’s life revolves entirely around himself.
The vertical line is interpreted as the querent’s actual, present condition, the fourth card being the center of his life. The horizontal line, cards number 8 to 13 (including card number 4), teaches us about the causes and reasons for his present situation.
The Italian Method
The Italian Method of reading playing cards is essentially quite different than the English Method. First, in this method only 32 cards are used - the cards from the 7 to the Ace, which is higher than the King, and not card number 1 (although its interpretation is similar).
The second difference, just as significant, is that in the Italian Method each card has a direct and reverse meaning. When the cards are spread, it is immediately evident if a card is direct or reverse. (See below.) If you have a special deck of cards used for predicting the future by this method, mark the bottom of each card in the pack so that you will be able to determine immediately if the card you are choosing is direct or reverse.
Direct or Reverse?
Note that the meaning of direct or reverse is in addition to, or as a completion of, the basic interpretation discussed in the review of the suits.
These interpretations, which supplement the general interpretations of the suits, only apply to the Italian Method of reading playing cards. However, this method includes other suggestions which are also applicable to the English Method, or any other method of reading cards.
Diamonds
Ace - Good news. Marriage. A good message.
Reverse - Bad news.
King - A strong man.
Reverse - Scoundrel, traitor.
Queen - A woman with personal charm...and obvious malice.
Reverse - A Gossip.
Jack - A soldier, messenger, an unreliable man.
Reverse - A scoundrel, engenders wickedness.
10 - A change of workplace or residence.
Reverse - A mishap, bad luck.
9 - Inheritance, a win, a gift.
Reverse - A quarrel, family problems.
8 - A vacation, gift or pleasure.
Reverse - A break with a close person, a painful separation.
7 - Good luck, a new opportunity.
Reverse - Severe criticism, harmful gossip.
Clubs
Ace - A marriage of convenience, money, inheritance.
Reverse - Fatigue, the end of happiness.
King - A good person, helpful.
Reverse - A person who is not suited to the position he holds.
Queen - Widow, a hard-hearted woman.
Reverse - Deadly jealousy.
Jack - An admired and beloved young man.
Reverse - An irresponsible young man.
10 - Success, wealth.
Reverse - Economic troubles.
9 - Profit, good opportunities, a good marriage.
Reverse - Minimal profits. Thinking “small.”
8 - A great love, happiness.
Reverse - An annoying admirer (male or female). Quarrels.
7 - Mild worries.
Reverse - Major difficulties.
Hearts
Ace - Love, family, happiness.
Reverse - A change, an unexpected development.
King - A handsome, rich, generous man.
Reverse - A fickle, hasty, irresponsible man.
Queen - A beautiful, attractive, loving woman.
Reverse - A disturbing love, a suffering woman.
Jack - A dissolute, single young man.
Reverse - A young man who is untrustworthy and a liar.
10 - Happiness and wealth.
Reverse - Worry and instability.
9 - Dreams coming true.
Reverse - (temporary) Despair, difficulties.
8 - A good marriage, family, a good trip.
Reverse -Frivolousness.
7 - A balanced life, a person who is satisfied with his life.
Reverse - Health problems. A person who is disappointed with his life.
Spades
Ace - A business or work opportunity.
Reverse - Legal problems, schemes.
King - Widower. Conflicts “within the law.”
Reverse - An unscrupulous enemy.
Queen - A single, divorced or widowed woman.
Reverse - A sly woman, a (female) swindler.
Jack - A crude young man.
Reverse - A malicious or unscrupulous man; a traitor.
10 - Bad news. A traffic accident.
Reverse - Death, disease, prison.
9 - Bad luck, an obstacle.
Reverse - Treason. A stab in the back!
8 - Bad news.
Reverse - A family rift. Mourning.
7 - A quarrel, a change in environment.
Reverse - Falling flat on one’s face.
The Dominant Suit
First, we will discuss the phenomenon known as “The Dominant Suit”. This occurs when one suit dominates all the others in the spread. It is visible immediately, and it is not necessary to count the cards - what the reader sees at a glance is the determining factor! There will always be only one Dominant Suit.
When a Dominant Suit is present, the overall interpretation is directed as follows:
Diamonds - Life in general, but never in the family framework. The material realm over the spiritual realm.
Clubs - Business, money, social and other contacts.
Hearts - Family, love, sex.
Spades - Bad news!
Pairs, Three of a Kind, Four of a Kind
Situations in which cards of the same number or royal figure appear, such as a pair, three of a kind or four of a kind, are of great importance. Here, too, there is an interpretation of direct or reverse cards (which is not taken into account when applied to the English Method).
It is important to grasp what the interpretation of a pair, three of a kind or four or a kind, as direct or reverse means. In a pair or three of a kind, if one or two cards are reverse, the whole set is considered reverse. In four of a kind, only when three or four cards are reverse, will the set be considered reverse. Pay attention to this, as many readers are not sufficiently aware of this division. And remember - this only applies to the Italian Method. In the English Method, one looks only at the card - not at its direction. In all cases, in a pair, three of a kind or four of a kind, all cards in the set (two, three or four, accordingly) are seen as a uniform group regarding the direct/reverse positions.
Ace
Pair - An imminent marriage.
Reverse - A prob
lematic marriage.
Three of a kind - A love affair.
Reverse - A spouse’s betrayal.
Four of a kind - Financial damage, separation from the family and loved ones.
Reverse - Danger looming!
King
Pair - Great success.
Reverse - Caution. Danger expected!
Three of a kind - Successful business.
Reverse - Mishaps and obstacles (may be overcome!)
Four of a kind - Honor and respect. Success at objectives.
Reverse - Troubles.
Queen
Pair - A new acquaintance.
Reverse - Nasty gossip.
Three of a kind - A journey, hospitality.
Reverse - Jealousy, libel.
Four of a kind - Social activity.
Reverse - Scandal, treachery, fraud.
Jack
Pair - A fight, a financial loss.
Reverse - Deep trouble!
