Using a standard 52 card deck is a quick and easy way to delve deep into the psychological past, present, and future of an individual. It’s one of the easiest ways to do divination, or get a bit of guidance for the coming day, month, or year.
Just as there are four suits, there are four seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, four primary elements: water, fire, air, and earth, and four core themes of life: Health/Identity, Relationships, Work, and Money.
The Numbers of Cartomancy Explained
Before the face cards, come the pip cards, numbers 1-10. These cards prepare or lay the groundwork before entering into the royal kingdom or the face cards: the King, the Queen, and the Jack.
Ace – powerful beginnings, initiation, newness, and the start of a big change. After a burst of energy set forth by the Ace card, there is a need to bring together resources, hence the move to the second card.
2s – coming together, joining, connecting, juggling, combining. The second card is always connected to the Moon, the lunar principle, which has to do with comfort and resources. This number gatherers up what we have around us, be it ideas, courage, money, or relationships.
3s – breaking away and splitting apart; taking what you need, then leaving. Three can be a difficult Mars-like number, as it adds a one to the harmonious two, causing an imbalance that splits apart the energy.
4s – finding stability, sturdiness, support, constancy or continuity. After being split apart, energy comes back together again in a very harmonious and stable manner. Think of four legs on a chair, four wheels on a car, and so forth.
5s – uncomfortable but strictly necessary change, energetic push for something different. After stability comes expansion and change, signified by the number five. This is a Jupiter-ruled card.
6s – enjoyment, indulgence, ease that comes after a period of turbulent change. The ebb and flow of life naturally means that the number six will be peaceful, after coming out of the tension and change brought forth from the fifth card. This card number is ruled by Venus.
7s – death, limitations to the ego, ending or conclusion. This card number pertains to the planet Saturn, ruler of karma and ego-death. It’s at this stage that we gain maturity and discretion, right after enjoying the finer things in life in the six card.
8s – go within and confront what’s wrong inside before the external world changes; this is the path one takes before arriving at the next card. Card numbers after seven are not ruled by planets because they pertain to parts of life that are “beyond” the physical. Eight is like infinity, a loop that shows you a continuum of manifestation from within and without. Your internal state will determine external circumstances.
9s – the highest aspiration or greatest fulfillment of a particular suit; think of it like the 9 of Cups in Tarot, a form of complete satisfaction and enjoyment. This is where we release the toxic traits of a suit and embody the highest, purest form of it.
10s – the totality of the suit, all possibilities, all potentials, etc. The 10 is also a higher reflection of the ace. Think of it as wild card that could become anything.
The Face Cards of the Court
The Karma of all face cards is that they are here to live an enjoyable life of beauty and grace, they’re just doing it in different ways. The numbers they own all add up to six. Six is the number of Venus, material enjoyment.
The Jacks of a Suit– the Jack governs over the numbers 1, 2, 3
Jacks are like the Fool Card in Tarot, a fresh, new perspective and experience. They are here to start something, bring things together and juggle them, experiment with it, then separate from the whole thing. This face card is governed by Uranus, the eccentric genius.
- In any suit, the Jack brings a fresh, new experience to the table; this can mean mistakes or learning periods.
The Queens of a Suit – The Queen governs over the numbers 4, 5, 6
Queens like to get s@#t done — AND to be applauded for their contributions! They are here to stabilize, adjust, then enjoy the fruits. This face card is governed by Neptune, the dreamer.
- Whatever Suit the Queen sits in, she is gaining mastery over that particular area of life, to make it as good as it can possibly be.
The Kings of a Suit – The King governs over the numbers 7, 8, 9.
This is where the buck stops! The King has the final say. He is the judge, jury, and, rarely, the executioner. But he’s also lonely. A ruler will sit on the throne ALONE. When the King of Spades arises in a spread, it’s a symbol of power: the power to eliminate one’s obstacles and hurdles in life. This face card is governed by Pluto, god of the underworld.
- The king shows us where sacrifices must be made; this can be in terms of values and material things (diamonds), relationships (hearts), identity and health (spades), and work or ideas (clubs).
Hearts Suit Cartomancy: Meanings of Hearts
The Hearts are all about connection, feeling, enjoyment, and consuming. Think of the Hearts as the suit of Cups in the Tarot deck. This suit is associated with the Spring season, with fruit, and with growth.
Ace of Hearts: is the beginning of a new love connection or the process of moving to a new home.
Two of Hearts: is all about coming together with someone else to share in emotion and enjoyment.
Three of Hearts: is all about coming together on an emotional level, then splitting apart to develop something new. Experiment and get what you want from the connection. This is a card of emotional learning.
Four of Hearts: is all about stable, committed love or emotionally connecting to something on a steady, long-term basis.
Five of Hearts: is all about making changes to your emotional self and making changes to your emotional relationships too. Your home might expand by taking on a new pet.
Six of Hearts: is the ultimate enjoyment of life and love. This is about indulging in some area of life and feeling emotionally whole.
Seven of Hearts: is where we realize the limitations around love and connection. It might be the end of one thing and the beginning of another.
Eight of Hearts: is where we move within our psyche and delve into the most difficult parts of our own emotions.
Nine of Hearts: is about connecting to something divine, a social movement or a true cause.
Ten of Hearts: is all about coming home and fully embodying one’s emotional nature. There are so many hearts, an abundance of emotions and connections.
Spades Suit Cartomancy: Meanings of Spades
The Spades are all about the self, or your ego. It points to the physical or psychological structure that holds the spirit. When Spades are in a spread, you’re dealing with issues of WHO you are, how you feel about yourself, your physical health or lack thereof.
Imagine the spades suite as being the opposite of the hearts. They look a lot like upside down hearts that have been painted black.
Hearts make us feel emotionally positive and give us connection with others. Spades break connections and thrash the ego and often signify negative thoughts (spades are often painful). Spades are here to wake us up to our true nature. There’s something about YOU that needs to change.
Ace of Spades: The beginning of the end, death, a new sense of identity.
Two of Spades: Bringing two parts of yourself together and gathering internal resources.
Three of Spades: Overcoming mental blocks and physical limitations by experimenting with new ways of being.
Four of Spades: Stabilizing and managing issues in life, becoming resourceful and surviving with yourself and what you have closest to you. Temporary rest before moving on.
Five of Spades: Changing yourself or who you think you are, making health changes.
Six of Spades: Enjoying one’s self, easily moving through limitation or difficulty,
Seven of Spades: Death. It shows you limitations and where you can not go further.
Eight of Spades: Transforming or changing the body or health
Nine of Spades: The end of one’s struggle with the physical body or self, surrendering to the true self, or becoming dutiful towards one’s body.
Ten of Spades: All tens show an abundance of a particular suit and can signify all possibilities, good or bad for the ego, one’s physical health, or the mind.
Diamonds Suit Cartomancy: Meanings of Diamonds
Diamonds are the most practical, earthy, and concrete significators of four suits. They represent the things that we want: money, cars, diplomas, homes, investments, and the like. Think of Diamonds as the suite of Pentacles in the Tarot deck.
Ace of Diamonds is the beginning of a new investment opportunity, sum of money, educational opportunity, important documents or business agreements.
Two of Diamonds brings two investments or concrete situations together to be enjoyed. It could be a business partnership or a new opportunity that will involve putting two different things together.
Three of Diamonds is all about making a quick investment and getting out of it.
Four of Diamonds is what you want to see if you’re looking for stable, comfortable financial security or physical comfort.
Five of Diamonds is showing you that there is a lot of change and fluctuation with regards to your finances.
Six of Diamonds wants you to enjoy the physical fruits of life and indulge in the material side of things a little.
Seven of Diamonds brings us a realization that money and concrete material reality has its limitations and can even come to an end.
Eight of Diamonds will show up when you need to find your personal self worth, your core identity, and your self-esteem. When you have that, the money shows up.
Nine of Diamonds is about enjoying the highest version of the material. You may use your money for some greater good in humanity.
Ten of Diamonds is a lot like the 10 of Pentacles, there’s a lot of money and a lot of concrete material stuff.
Clubs Suit Cartomancy: Meanings of Clubs
Clubs are all about energy, ideas, work, passion, and getting busy doing things. Think of them as you would the suite of Wands in the Tarot deck.
Ace of Clubs: This shows a brand new work experience or a new creative idea.
Two of Clubs: You’ll need to bring two ideas together to invent something brand new.
Three of Clubs: Experimenting with new ideas and breaking free from old ideas or a bad job
Four of Clubs: Finding stable, consistent work, creativity, and flow of new ideas
Five of Clubs: It shows changing work conditions or changing your idea about something.
Six of Clubs: You could be enjoying one’s work or passion and having creative ideas.
Seven of Clubs: Discovering the limitations to one’s work and what ideas you can generate.
Eight of Clubs: You’ll need to go deep within your own soul to identify the wrong ideas that are holding you back from finding the work you’re meant to do.
Nine of Clubs: Dedicating your energy, your ideas, and your work to a higher purpose or cause. You are at the cusp of something new and letting go of the old; divine ideas.
Ten of Clubs: There’s tremendous energy and gusto to work on something special and an abundance of creative ideas and opportunities.
Where can I learn more?
If you’re interested learning about a specific cartomancy system that uses astrology, consider enrolling in Ernst Wilhelm’s course.
