Here we present the more modern adaptation of the entire pack of 52 cards to the fortune-teller's use. As the meanings differ materially from the ancient list just given, another complete list and several combinations are presented.
In the modern usage, Diamonds take precedence and are considered to mean money, riches and success.
Hearts next, love affairs, friendship, amusement and pleasure.
Clubs, business matters, whether investments, appointments or settlements.
Spades, losses or grief, trouble and anxiety, sometimes sickness and death.
The various combinations are supposed to either accelerate or mitigate the several meanings.
For instance—the ace of diamonds coming with the ace of spades, a railway journey—the nine of spades, usually taken to be a bad card, but coming with diamonds, speedy good luck, etc.
Diamonds.
Ace—An offer or a ring.
King—A fair man, a military man, or a diplomatist.
Queen—A fair woman, fond of pleasure and amusement.
Jack—The thoughts of either king or queen.
Ten—A legacy or property.
Nine—A good surprise about money.
Eight—Meetings about money matters.
Seven—A check or paper money; sometimes scandal.
Six—An offer of some kind, generally to do with money matters.
Five (supposed to be the best card in the pack)—Health, wealth and happiness.
Four—A short journey.
Three—Time, within three to four weeks.
Two—A secret or something unexpected.
Hearts.
Ace—The house.
King—A rather fair man in society; sometimes a sailor.
Queen—A fair woman in society, but kind and good natured.
Jack—Thoughts of either king or queen.
Ten—An entertainment or festivity.
Nine—Great happiness and the wish card.
Eight—Love making or friendship.
Seven—A puzzle or indecision, doubt.
Six—Love affairs, sometimes an offer.
Five—Marriage, sometimes a new admirer.
Four—A small invitation, such as a dinner or evening party.
Three—Time, within a week.
Two—Kisses or trifling present.
Clubs.
Ace—A letter.
King—A clever dark man, often a professional man, or in business.
Queen—A clever, amusing woman, sometimes a little satirical.
Jack—Thoughts of king or queen.
Ten—A new appointment, investment or settlement.
Nine—Relates to documents, papers, often a will.
Eight—A journey by road or vehicle.
Seven—A warning or unprofitable business.
Six—A very poor business offer or else money borrowed.
Five—News, either from the country or some one coming therefrom.
Four—A journey by land on business.
Three—Time, three to four months.
Two—A good friend, in some cases a slight disappointment.
Spades.
Ace—Spite, death, or worry; sometimes a large town.
King—A lawyer, widower or old man; a very dark man.
Queen—A very dark woman, a widow; a spiteful, malicious woman.
Jack—Thoughts of king or queen.
Ten—At night-time, imprisonment.
Nine (supposed to be a very bad card)—Grief, suffering, malice, and, with other black cards, death.
Eight—Across water, sometimes treachery.
Seven—Poverty, anxiety and annoyance.
Six—Delay, or a bad character.
Five—Temper, anger and quarrels.
Four—Sickness, sometimes a journey caused through sickness.
Three—By the water, or a very short journey across water.
Two—Tears and vexation, sometimes a removal.
The following is a rÉsumÉ of most of the cards and some curious combinations:
Four Aces—Honors, dignities, rise in society, or money, friendship with the great; but if all four are reversed, the contrary—debt, bankruptcy, ruin and even disgrace, therefore it is to be noticed particularly how they lie before reading the cards.
Four Kings—Great good luck, unexpected advancement, good and unlooked-for fortune.
Four Queens—Society, pleasure, amusements.
Four Jacks—Thoughts of either king or queen of each suit, friendly gathering.
Four Tens—Great gain, legacies, happiness.
Four Nines—Unexpected and sudden news; if two blacks together, not pleasant; if two reds, excellent.
Four Eights—New appointments, sometimes new associations; two black eights together, mourning; two reds, wedding garments.
Four Sevens—Intrigues, scandal, opposition and variance.
Four Sixes—A great surprise or change; two black ones together, vexations; two red ones, good.
Four Fives—A long and beneficial voyage, money, happiness and health; if two blacks are near, vexation first.
Four Fours—A birth; two blacks together, a male; two reds, a female.
Four Threes—Period of time from six to twelve months; sometimes gain or money returned.
Four Twos—Visitors; two blacks together, disagreeable; two reds, pleasant, and sometimes love-making.
Three Aces—Great good luck.
Three Kings—A new friend or acquaintance who will advance you in life.
Three Queens—Quarrels, disputes, backbiting.
Three Jacks—A lawsuit or treachery.
Three Tens—A rise in social life, but not necessarily happiness with it.
Three Nines—A good removal, unless accompanied by very bad cards.
Three Eights—Love dreams, and longing for the unattainable, but often wishes or desires postponed; in some cases fresh engagements, but a little worry in obtaining them.
Three Sevens—Losses of friendship or property; reversed, you will never recover your goods.
Three Sixes—A very large and brilliant entertainment; if the two black ones come together, disgrace or scandal.
Three Fives—A delightful and happy meeting with absent friends.
Three Fours—Strangers or visitors coming to the house from a journey.
Three Threes—Slight annoyances or vexation caused by malicious tongues.
Three Twos—A good and staunch friend, but one who will grieve you by a queer temper.
Two Aces—Strange news quick and speedy, often good luck; two blacks, a telegram; two reds, a pleasant invitation.
Two Kings—A partnership or friendship.
Two Queens—A good female friend.
Two Jacks—Unpleasantness, sometimes only thoughts of people.
Two Tens—Change of residence or profession.
Two Nines—A good removal, sometimes business projects or documents, in many cases relating to a will.
Two Eights—An extraordinary occurrence.
Two Sevens—Sometimes sudden and unexpected; two blacks, great treachery, especially if reversed.
Two Sixes—A good friend; two blacks, a nasty, deceitful person, or a great danger, possibly an accident.
Two Black Fives—Danger from falls, or possibly by water.
Two Red Fives—Joyful and unexpected news.
Two Black Fours—Separation or unfriendly meetings.
Two Red Fours—Good appointments, or good luck.
Two Red Threes—Pleasant and profitable visitors and friends.
Two Black Threes—Disappointment and tears.
Two Black Twos—A departure.
Two Red Twos—An arrival.
The Ace, Nine, Ten and Seven of Spades—Divorce.
Seven and Nine of Spades—Separation.
Eight of Spades and Seven of Clubs—Prison, or confinement.
Six and Four of Spades—Sickness and danger.
Eight and Five of Spades—Malignity, caused by jealousy.
Six and Seven of Spades—Treachery, scandal, vexation.
Seven and Two of Spades—Tears caused by unfounded reports—often a false friend.
Nine and Six of Spades—A bitter and implacable enemy; if good cards follow, you will overcome, but if bad ones, he or she will triumph.
Three and Two of Spades—A short and not agreeable journey.
Seven of Hearts and Three of Spades—A journey and a strange adventure thereon.
Seven, Six and Five of Spades—Thieves, or danger of robbery.
Queen and Jack of Spades—Widowhood.
Nine and Ten of Spades—Danger by fire.
Six and Seven of Spades reversed—A fall or injury.
Eight and Ten of Spades—News at night, but not very pleasant.
Ten, Eight and Five of Spades—Broken engagement, or unfulfilled promise.
Six and Eight of Spades—Delay, postponement.
Nine, Seven, Six and Five of Spades—Bankruptcy.
Ace of Diamonds and Ten of Hearts—A marriage engagement.
Ace of Diamonds and Nine of Hearts—Hopes fulfilled.
Ten of Hearts and Four of Hearts—Marriage.
Three Tens and Five of Hearts—Happy love returned.
Eight of Hearts and Seven of Hearts—Doubt and indecision about an offer.
Seven of Hearts reversed—A nice and good present.
Three of Diamonds and Three of Hearts—In nine days.
Nine of Hearts and Nine of Diamonds—A delightful surprise about money.
Nine of Hearts and Nine of Clubs—Something to do about a will, in which the consultor is generally successful.
Eight of Hearts and Nine of Hearts—Great good luck through love.
Ace, Nine, Seven and Four of Spades—Death.
METHOD B.
A pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled, and cut in three; the first ten are taken out, then three are missed; another nine are taken out, then two are missed; another seven out, five missed; seven out, three missed; three out, one missed; and the last of the pack is taken. They are now laid out in rows of eight each, eight having been counted every way, beginning from the significator. When all are finished, the two extremities are taken, paired and read; they are then gathered together, shuffled, and cut in four parcels; the first one of each parcel is taken off and put on one side. The packet that comes first is the one that should be read.
METHOD C.
What is Supposed to Happen Within a Month to Two Months.
A pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled and cut in three, each meaning being read as it turns up. The cards are then turned up one by one till a spade is found, which is not withdrawn, but the following card, which lay face uppermost on the table. If three spades are found in succession the first is missed, but the two next are taken out, as well as the following card, whether diamonds, clubs or hearts; this is continued to the end of the pack, then re-commenced without shuffling or cutting. Should the final card have been a spade, on beginning the pack afresh the first card should be taken out. The same operation is gone through twice more, in all three times. This having been done, they are laid in the form of a horseshoe in front of the dealer in the order in which they came, being careful to note that the significator is amongst them. Should it not appear naturally, it must be taken out and placed at the end. Seven are now counted from the one that represents the person consulting the oracle. When they have been read, and the relative meanings ascribed to them explained, one is taken from each end and paired, their various significations being interpreted as they turn up. These prognostications are supposed to come to pass within two months. A shorter way can be done by taking out thirty-two selected cards, viz:—ace, king, queen, jack, ten, nine, eight and seven of each suit; they are read in precisely the same way. This is taken to allow a shorter period to elapse, from ten days to a fortnight, but the former is supposed to be the better method.
METHOD D.
A pack of fifty-two cards is taken, and after being well shuffled they are turned up one by one, counting one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, jack, queen, king (here the ace counts as one). If any card should fall on the number counted—thus, supposing a five comes when five is counted, or a king when that card turns up, it must be taken out and placed on the table, face uppermost, before the dealer. After counting to a king the counting is re-commenced at one. Should two cards follow, such as three and four, eight and nine, etc., these must be abstracted, also three of a kind, such as three tens, three kings, etc., they must also be taken out; but if three of the same suit they may be passed by. When the pack has been carefully gone through, shuffled and cut, the process is gone through twice more, in all three times. They are now all laid out in rows of four and read. When this is done they are gathered together and laid two by two, thus:—
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, and so on till the pack is exhausted. Those at the top are the North, those at the bottom are the South, those at the right hand the East, those at the left hand the West. The North is to be read first, as that is supposed to happen first; the South next, the East next, and the West last.
METHOD E.
The pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled, and cut in three, the meanings of the cut being read first. Then the significator is taken out. The cards are spread on the table, face downwards before the dealer, and seven are drawn out at random. The topmost card of the seven is taken off and put on one side. The cards are again shuffled and cut in three, the cut again read as before; they are laid on the table, seven cards being taken off, the topmost being withdrawn. This is to be repeated the third time, still taking off the topmost card. The cards are again shuffled and cut, this time nine each time being drawn out and the topmost two removed. This maneuver has to be repeated three times, each time taking two of the topmost cards. In the first deal, where the first seven cards were removed, there will be eighteen cards; the second time there will be twenty-one remaining after having removed the two of each cut, thus:—The thirty-nine cards are spread out in five rows of seven, and four remaining underneath. The significator is now put in the center, and counting every way from it, these cards are taken to signify the past and present. The nine cards that have been taken from each sevens and nines are to be shuffled and looked at. These are supposed to refer entirely to the future. The three cards that are left out are useless.
METHOD F—THE STAR.
The pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled, and cut in three, the cut being explained as it is shown. The card representing the significator should be taken out and put in the middle. Three cards are now placed above the head, three at the feet, three to the left, and three to the right, three at the four corners, and three across the significator. They are interpreted as follows:—First, above the head, then at the feet, then to the right hand, and next to the left; each corner to be taken top and bottom opposite. When these are all explained (those across the significator last), they are then paired, beginning with the topmost cards and the bottom cards, from end to end.
METHOD G—A SHORTER STAR.
This is a much shorter way, and instead of placing the cards as they come, they must be first well shuffled by the person consulting, then laid face downwards on the table and nine cards withdrawn (the significator must be in the center). In this method the cards are placed round the card representing the consultor in the order in which they come, the first card drawn being put at the head of the significator, and the others in rotation. The nine cards are first explained as they lie, eight round and one over the significator. Then the consultor is desired to again draw nine, and these are put over the first nine; this is to be repeated a third time, combining all the cards as they lay one over the other, three deep, every way.
METHOD H.
The whole pack is taken, shuffled well, but not cut, every fifth card is picked out and laid by, the pack is gone through and every seventh card picked out, every third card must be taken, each fifth, seventh and third cards to be laid aside in separate packets; then each packet is carefully examined, whether the significator is amongst those withdrawn. If not, he or she must be abstracted and placed at the extreme end. Now the third pack is laid out in a row, the second next, and the first last, and all that is hidden is said to be shown you, counting three, seven and five from each row, beginning with the significator. Now two are taken from end to end and read till twelve are obtained; they are put on one side; then the rest are gone on with from end to end until all are exhausted. Then they are all taken up, including the twelve that were put aside, shuffled, the two first and last are taken off. These three form "the surprise"; then parcels of four are dealt, beginning with the first; they are all read in rotation and the small "surprise" last.
METHOD I.
The pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled, cut in three, and the meanings ascribed to the cut are explained. Then they are laid in rows of five till the whole pack is exhausted, except the two last, which are useless. The first row is to represent "the person for whom you are acting"; the second, "the house"; the third, "your wish"; the fourth, "the surprise," and the fifth, "what is supposed to come true." The first ten are now read lengthwise, the others in the same manner till the fifth row has been explained; then they are taken from end to end, each pair being interpreted as arrived at. In this case there is no significator, as the first row is supposed to stand for what will happen immediately to the consultant. They are all gathered together, shuffled and cut, and laid in packets of three. The consultor is desired to choose one of the three parcels, and that is laid out first and explained; then follow each of the other two, which must be also read in the same manner.
METHOD J.
The pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled and cut by the person consulting. They are cut in three and the meanings interpreted. Then they are laid out in rows of sevens, leaving the three last, which are not to be used. Then nine are counted every way, from the significator backwards and forwards, from left to right, and from right to left, up and down, always returning to the significator, then crossways from end to end. Then they are paired from corner to corner, each card being explained as it is arrived at, noticing if there should be any pairs, triplets, etc., amongst them. Then they are gathered up and shuffled well, then they are dealt in two packets, the consultant being desired to choose one. The one taken is supposed to represent the past and present, the other the future. They are laid out and read pretty much as before.
METHOD K.
A pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled and cut, and divided thus:—Every seven, nine and five are to be removed and put on one side. The six of clubs, the eight and ten of diamonds are to be withdrawn and put in a place by themselves. Then the rest are shuffled and five cards laid out face upwards till the pack is exhausted. It will now be found there are seven rows of five cards each, and two remaining; these two are placed with the nines, sevens and fives, to be used later. These cards are read, counting seven every way from the significator, then gathered together, shuffled and cut, the first group (seven in number) being first of all withdrawn, which must be added to the nines, sevens and fives already withdrawn. There will now be four groups of seven cards each. The first must be read, the second put aside, the third explained, and the fourth laid by. The second and fourth are left out entirely and not used. The nines, sevens and fives and the first group you have withdrawn are shuffled, cut in two packets, and laid out on the table before the dealer. If two red nines appear close together, it is taken to show honor, dignity and joy; if two red sevens and two red fives side by side, great and unexpected good luck, a legacy or money that you don't anticipate; if two red fives and the nine of hearts are near each other, a marriage of affection; if with the seven of diamonds, a moneyed marriage, but of love; if two red fives and two black sevens, a marriage for money which will turn out unhappily; if two red sevens and two red fives, and the nine of hearts appear, it is supposed to be the greatest and happiest prognostic you can have, whether married or single—luck, pleasure, money; if two black sevens and two black fives appear, it is considered very evil, and if accompanied by the nine of spades, unhappiness in marriage, divorce, scandal and sometimes violence caused through drink; if the eight of spades should be amongst those withdrawn and turn up with the aforesaid cards, violent death by murder or accident. It is taken to be the worst combination in the pack. These cards (viz: the nines, sevens and fives, and those which have been withdrawn from the group of fives) are laid in rows of sevens, counting seven every way from the significator; then the extreme ends are taken and paired, being read as they turn up. Next the whole is shuffled, including the six of clubs and the eight and ten of diamonds. These three cards are the index. Wherever they appear they are supposed to show good luck, happiness and prosperity; if they should happen between exceptionally bad cards, the luck is over, or marred through malignity; but as a rule they are taken to import great joy. The evil combination is thus: If the six of clubs is surrounded with spades, or the eight or ten of diamonds are between two black fives and the two black sevens are near, then the best laid scheme will come to nought; but if they are surrounded by the nine of hearts and nine of diamonds, then it is a very good omen. The eight and ten of diamonds are supposed to be extremely good if there are three or four nines to follow them, for then the nine of spades loses its evil significance, and should the seven of diamonds and seven of hearts follow, a good marriage and happiness; or, if the person is married, new prosperity or riches for the husband or sometimes the birth of an heir.
METHOD L.
The pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled and cut, and divided into two equal heaps. One of these is chosen by the consultant. Having decided this, the other heap is left alone; it is not to be used. The person consulting is now desired to shuffle the twenty-six cards remaining, cutting in three, the meanings being read as they turn up. They are now dealt in three packs, which are laid out in rows of eight, the last card to be left out, as that forms "the surprise." Four cards are now counted from the significator, which, should it not be in the pack chosen, must be abstracted and put at the end. When these have been fully explained, the same maneuver is repeated twice, in all three times, one card being always taken out for "the surprise." "The surprise" is turned up when those cards before the dealer have been examined and explained. Then they are all gathered together, and, after being shuffled and cut, they are turned up by fours. If a sequence should come up, such as six and seven, or six, seven and eight of any suit, they are taken out. If four of a suit, the lowest is taken out. This is only to be done once. These are now laid out in a row before the dealer and read from left to right, always taking note that the significator is amongst them, and counting four as above described. Then the two cards are taken from each extremity and each couple explained till all are exhausted.
METHOD M.
A pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled well and cut. Then it is divided into three equal parcels of seventeen cards each, and one over for "the surprise," which is to be laid aside. The first three cards of each packet is taken, and each three is put apart. That will leave fourteen in each group. The first and third packets of fourteen are taken up, the middle one being put aside. These are now laid out in four rows of seven, being sure that the significator is amongst them; or else the card which is supposed to represent the thoughts of the person consulting you, viz: the jack, may be counted from. Six are now counted, beginning from the next card to the significator; and after every sixth card, that card is not counted as one, but the following one. When these have been explained, which must be done till the significator is returned to, they are paired from end to end, and read as arrived at; then they are gathered together, shuffled and cut, and divided again into two groups of fourteen. These are not laid out again, but two being merely extracted from each of these, not forgetting the middle one, and adding them to the three packets of three placed on one side. The middle one is now taken up, shuffled well, and four cards taken from it, two from the top and two from the bottom, and added to the one put aside to form "the surprise." There are now four packs of five cards each:—One for the "consultant" and one for the "house," one for "what is sure to come true," and one for "the surprise." These are laid out in front of the dealer and read from left to right in rotation.
