You may have used an oracle deck or heard of tarot cards, but did you realize you could perform a reading with a standard deck of playing cards for a friend or yourself? Anyone is welcome to try this method of divination, known as cartomancy.
Here, we go into all there is to know about cartomancy, including its history, the meaning of the cards, how to perform readings, and more.
In This Article...
Can you use a Tarot deck to play cards?
With the exception of Minchiate, an extinct game that required 97 cards, a full Tarot deck, such as one for French Tarot, contains the full 78-card complement and can be used to play any game in the family. However, the smaller subsets (of 63, 54, 40, or even 36 cards) used in the Austrian-Hungarian Tarock and Italian Tarocco decks are exclusively appropriate for those games. The Latin suits of Cups, Coins, Clubs, and Swords are common in Italy and Spain, and the French suits of Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades are used in France, Quebec, West Germany, and the majority of the English-speaking world. Regional tarot decks frequently include culture-specific suits. For example, the German suits of Hearts, Bells, Acorns, and Leaves are used throughout most of Germanic Europe. Even non-Tarot decks, such those used in the German card game Skat, are following this pattern (played with a deck of similar-value cards as in the French piquet deck used for Belote; players in most of western Germany use French suits while players in Bavaria and eastern Germany use German suits).
Can you interpret your own tarot cards?
It most certainly is. Tarot is a technique that aids in deepening our understanding of the present moment, honoring our intuition, and predicting future possibilities. Although it might seem complicated, the technique is actually quite straightforward.
What does a deck of cards represent?
Each of the four major pillars of the Middle Ages’ economy is supposed to be symbolized by one of the card game’s suits: Hearts stood for the Church, Spades for the military, Clubs for agriculture, and Diamonds for the merchant class.
Who invented the tarot?
The first tarot decks were created in Italy in the 1430s by adding a fifth suit of 21 specially designed cards called trionfi (“triumphs”) and an odd card called il matto to an already existing four-suited pack (“the fool).
My Tarot deck needs to be cleaned.
There are occasions when you might want to perform something more particular and ritualized rather than simply shuffling the tarot deck to purify and clear the energy of the cards. Cleaning your deck could seem like a nice place to start if you’re just starting to understand tarot.
You might want to clean your tarot deck for a variety of reasons, including:
- beginning with a fresh deck
- readings for other people
- You think you need to recharge.
- Your card readings seem a touch “odd” or “disconnected”
- Your deck hasn’t been used recently.
- Your deck has been handled by others
- You think you’ve been utilizing your deck a lot. A LOT, especially for books with strong emotional content
Why should you cleanse or clear your tarot deck?
Tarot deck cleansing helps keep the energy flowing between you and your deck. To keep the link strong and clear, think of it as a little spiritual hygiene. It’s not necessary, but if you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, try a few of the energetic cleansing techniques listed below and note which ones seem to work the best for you.
How often should you cleanse your tarot deck?
This is another way of stating USE YOUR INTUITION: there are no hard and fast laws. Don’t worry about it if you don’t think your deck need it. Alternately, if you like to cleanse them once per week or once per month, that’s great. If it feels appropriate to you, you can even place your favorite crystal on the balcony each night.
If you frequently place crystals on your deck and store it on an altar while not in use, you might not feel the need to cleanse it frequently because this quick ritual will likely be sufficient to keep your deck feeling nice.
There are numerous ways to cleanse your cards, just as there are numerous reasons why you might desire to do so.
Different ways to cleanse your tarot deck
Use holy smoke. Light a dried rosemary, lavender, cedar, sage, or palo santo cleansing wand until it begins to smoke. Hold the smoke a safe distance below the deck while holding the burning herbs in one hand and the deck in the other so that the smoke drifts upward onto the cards. Turn the deck so that the smoke covers it from all angles. Next, safely put your deck to the ground and put out the fire.
On the deck, set a selenite stone (or a black tourmaline or a transparent quartz). Although an hour would suffice, I prefer to let it rest like this for the entire night.
Set them on display during a new moon. The New Moon is energy of a blank slate; you can purify the deck by setting it on a window sill on a new moon night. At this moment, you can also make a brand-new intention for your deck.
Place the cards in a salty dish. A strong and stabilizing cleaner is salt. My preferred choice for a thorough cleansing is this. Allow it to sit anywhere from one to eight hours in a dry area.
Shuffle in chaos. Spread the cards out on the ground, then shuffle them around like a child playing in dirt. This method’s freedom and randomization serve as an excellent reset.
the shuffle and sort. Set up the deck in rows of seven cards across, commencing with the Major Arcana numbers 0 to 22. (see photo above). Next, arrange the cards, Ace through King, one for each suit, as follows: Swords, Pentacles, Cups, and Wands. View the deck in this configuration, then mix everything up (like the chaotic!) and shuffle it thoroughly.
How can a game of cards foretell the future?
Hearts Ace
Love and contentment. A love letter from the house. This card, which is especially opportune, portends relief from difficulties.
Hearts 2
a friendly collaboration or interaction. This card, which is extremely favorable, denotes strength and assistance from a romantic relationship.
three hearts
When the entire spread is usually favorable, it brings love and pleasure. This may represent emotional issues and the difficulty to choose someone to love if the spread is challenging.
7 of Swords
An unexpected burst of luck. Someone looks out for you and shows genuine interest in you.
7 of Cups
Someone whose affection for you is erratic; someone with unpredictable interest in you. Lovesickness may be indicated by this card.
7 of Swords
The wishes card. a wish or dream realized. To find out what the reader wants, look at the card that comes just after this one.
Hearts 10
Success and good luck. This significant card denotes success following adversity.
The Jack of Hearts
a kind-hearted companion. A young individual with fair hair, or one whose horoscope is dominated by Water signs. This frequently indicates a younger admirer.
Princess of Hearts
A woman with fair hair and a pleasant disposition, or one whose horoscope is dominated by Water signs. kind counsel kind and considerate woman. This card may occasionally represent a mother or mother figure.
Royal Hearts
A man with light hair and a pleasant disposition; alternatively a man whose chart is dominated by Water signs. Fair and beneficial advice loving and considerate dude. Without saying much, this man assists you. His deeds show his concern and caring.
Clubs Ace
wealth, success, unanticipated financial gain. This money could, however, vanish nearly as rapidly as it appears in a complex spread.
3. Clubs
A favorable long-term investment is love and happiness, a happy marriage. a second chance, especially financially speaking.
Four of Clubs
Avoid lying or cheating at this time, and don’t accept anyone without question.
a 7 of Clubs
Business success, despite potential issues with the other sex. a change in the workplace that might have been anticipated or earned, like a promotion.
8 of ClubsWork/business issues that might be caused by envy. This is typically regarded as being very unfavorable.
Business success among the top ten. Happy financial luck. A trip taken now can lead to the meeting of a new love interest or buddy.
The Jack of Clubs
a fiery young person with dark hair. a well-liked young person who is also lively and kind. can also be used to denote a fan.
King of Clubs
a woman with dark hair and confidence; or a woman whose astrological chart is dominated by Fire. She might provide you wise counsel.
Crown of Clubs
Man with dark hair and a kind heart; or a person whose astrological chart is dominated by Fire. a kind and courageous man.
Ace of SpadesBad luck; frequently signifies a rocky conclusion; occasionally linked to death.
The two spades
Relationship ruptures and dishonesty a lapse in a crucial process in the asker’s life. When a query is asked about a specific love interest, it is regarded as a red flag that infidelity or separation is very possible.
Spade Three
Relationship ruptures Sometimes a sign that a third party is somehow intruding into a relationship.
Spades Five
Temporary opposition and hurdles can actually be a blessing. describes a person who is occasionally pessimistic or depressed.
Spades Seven
loss; advice that is best ignored. Success is hampered in some way, and this suggests that the respondent may be the source of those difficulties.
Spades Nine
Illness, misfortune, and accidents The respondent is experiencing a personal low.
King of Diamonds
woman who is widowed or divorced, or whose chart shows that air rules her.
The Ace of Spades
a man with dark hair; or a man whose astrological chart is dominated by Air. A man with ambition who could be self-serving.
three diamonds
an official letter. To prevent arguments, treat people with tact.
Diamond Five
Success and happiness. A better transformation. wonderful news for a child, such as a birth. New projects should be launched at this time.
Diamond Seven
a disagreement about money or at work. Usually anticipated to end happily.
Diamond Eight
A new job; a shift in employment. On a vacation, people of any age may find love.
Diamond Nine
a fresh business transaction, travel, unrest, or a move.
Jack of Diamonds 11
A young person who might be in uniform or a jealous person who might not be trustworthy. a carrier of news, typically unfavorable but not major.
a dozen Queen of Diamonds
a woman with fair hair, or a woman whose astrological chart is dominated by Earth. a rumor.
King of Diamonds 13
a man with graying or fair hair, or whose natal chart has a strong Earth element. a powerful, influential, or high-ranking man.
The only Tarot trump card still in play is the Joker. He shares some of the same meanings as The Fool in the Tarot and the standard playing card decks. He is a true “wild card,” as his number is zero. When the Joker shows up in a reading, it suggests that something unforeseen and unpredictable may happen. If you decide to utilize the Joker in your readings and your deck of cards has two Jokers, you just need to add one.
The focus placed on card combinations when reading playing cards is one notable distinction between reading the Tarot and reading playing cards. Large numbers of multiples are less possible due to the card spreads employed and the addition of the Trumps (Major Arcana), even if the notion is applicable to the Tarot and is undoubtedly used. Both decks have some combinations in common, particularly when it comes to the occurrence of numerous court cards. The interpretation of multiples of the same card in the same spread with various suits is shown in the accompanying chart.
There are numerous card combinations that different readers may find significant. A succinct list of some of the more typical pairings is provided below:
Do not cause rumors to circulate or proliferate; Seven and Eight of Diamonds will get back to you.
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Regular-sized Tarot cards with annotations:
Oversized Tarot cards with annotations:
What spiritual meaning does the joker card have?
Surprisingly, the Joker’s connection to the TAROT is NOT a coincidence.
purely because the Tarot inspired the entire deck of playing cards!
There are 78 total cards in the Tarot, which are split into the major and minor arcanas.
The main Arcana are 22 cards that are frequently referred to as “trump cards,” consisting of laws and principles that are given to the Quaballah and thus relate to different portions of the human body, which is essentially the Quaballah tree of life. The Minor Arcana, which consists of 56 cards, is related to life paths that come from one’s spiritual, emotional, cerebral, and physical bodies. So you might be wondering how this relates to a playing deck or the joker in general. Simple! The court cardsKing, Queen, Page, and Knights or Princesses in some decksas well as numbers 1 through ten are all part of the minor arcana. Princes and princesses are both male and female of the same energy, therefore their positions in the minor arcana reflect this. Since the court cards are the king, queen, and page, or more commonly known as (Jack), when the knight or, in some cases, the prince card is removed, the 56-card deck becomes a 52-card deck with the following suits: Clubs (wands or fire Spiritual Body), Hearts (cups or Emotional Body), Spades (swords or air Metal Body), &.
a diamond (Pentacles or coins physical body) This is now exactly like the minor arcana, and many readers just use the minor arcana because it is the journey and the major only clarifies the laws and principles you are working with. WOWWW!!! Amazing, huh? Therefore, how does the Joker fit in? The joker or fool is the highest card in the tarot. Because playing the fool helps safeguard the knowledgeable from the gullible masses. The fool’s number is 0, which denotes eternity and the highest level of spirituality one can achieve by controlling all the elements while traveling. However, the fool’s position in the deck is 22, which is the bridge between the major and minor arcanas, so despite being perceived as a trump card, it actually serves as a link between the two arcanas. The majority of readers are unaware that each card in the tarot represents a different aspect of the fool or the fool’s journey toward self-discovery or completion. As your mind but not your heart may trick you, the fool on the body symbolizes the heart, and the devil represents the mind. However, each card has a pro and con based on the card that comes after it to define the reading’s precise meaning. As a result, the idiot is occasionally shown as a traveling man, a youngster, the stupid fool, or a guy ravaged by the elements. Regardless of the artwork, the characteristics of any given tarot deck remain the identical. Once more, how does this relate to the joker or jokers in a deck of playing cards? The minor arcana, the four bodies of one’s self, and the adventures that arise from them are all included in the deck of playing cards, along with two trump cards. The black-and-white joker of the mind and the heart represents the mind of practicality and the joker of color representing the heart or occasionally imagination. The joker was returned to the deck rather than being added to it since it was dealt later. The tarot was originally scrolls or tablets from the Alexandrian library that were given to gypsies after the library burned down; it wasn’t until three hundred years later that they were transformed into cards. They have always been used for divination, but the game Tarot developed from it to cover up their meaning and be played for fun. Bridge is the name for playing Tarot without using the main arcana. However, playing card decks and Tarot decks can both be used for card games and divination. Of course, there are more specifics and background information, but that is the gist of it.
Questions you don’t really want answered
Even though it might seem apparent, it’s advisable to refrain from asking the tarot cards questions that you aren’t prepared to hear the answers to. That’s because answers to these questions can reveal information you’re just not quite ready to hear.
“Tarot can definitely come off as offensive if you’re not willing to hear the truth or consider an opposing point of view. Tarot reading Nicole Fortunaso
According to tarot reader and life coach Nicole Fortunaso, “tarot may truly come out as offensive if you are not willing to hear the truth of the problem or look at an alternate viewpoint.” She advises considering why you’re responding the way you are in order to reflect on the best way to address the underlying cause if you ask the question and are unsatisfied with the response.