Thirty-two cards are actually required for this method, altho only 21
of them are used. After shuffling the cards and cutting with the left
hand, the fortune-teller counts off the first 11 cards and lays them
aside. From the 21 which are left he takes the top card and lays it
apart, then he lays out the other 20 on the table before him. One card
must represent the inquirer, either a knave or a queen, according to
the sex. If this card is not among the 20 cards on the table the pack
must be dealt over. The meaning of the cards must then be considered;
if any set of 2, 3 or more of a kind occur their meaning should be read
also, as it may modify the general interpretation of the rest. The 20
cards should be read from left to right continuously to let each card
continue the meaning of the one before. The cards must then be put
together again and shuffled and cut as before. The top card is again
laid aside and the others divided into 3 packs, of which 2 contain
7 cards each and the last only 6 cards. The inquirer chooses one of
the packs, which is next turned with the face up and one after the
other the cards are to be read according to their significance. This
operation must be repeated 3 times.
The following will give an example of how these cards are to be
manipulated:
Let us take the Knave of Clubs as representing the inquirer, and the
21 cards selected are the following in their regular order: King of
Spades, Queen of Hearts (reversed), Ace of Hearts, Knave of Clubs, Ace
of Spades (reversed), Ace of Clubs, Knave of Hearts, King of Hearts,
Queen of Spades (reversed), Nine of Hearts, Knave of Diamonds, Ten
of Spades, Ace of Diamonds (reversed), King of Diamonds, Seven of
Diamonds, Eight of Diamonds, Eight of Spades (reversed), Seven of Clubs
(reversed), Nine of Clubs (reversed), Nine of Diamonds. The Surprise
placed apart.
On examining this list carefully we find there are 4 Aces, which
indicate danger and financial loss. The fact that one of them is
reversed shows that the trouble is somewhat lightened.
There are 3 Kings, which indicate that important matters will be
undertaken and carried thru successfully by the inquirer.
There are 2 Queens, both reversed, which show that the young man may
suffer thru his own faults.
There are 3 Knaves, which mean more worries and vexations thru which
the inquirer’s honor may be at stake.
Three Nines, however, are indicative of happiness and wealth, altho
there will be difficulties to overcome.
The 2 Eights indicate some love interest and flirtation.
And the 2 Sevens speak of mutual love and marriage, altho one being
reversed adds an element of regret.
We will now follow the cards as they lie before us from left to right:
The King of Spades is an unscrupulous man who is a dangerous enemy and
will cause trouble.
The Queen of Hearts, reversed, speaks of a woman who, while
good-natured, has had an unlucky love affair and on whom the inquirer
has set his heart.
The Ace of Hearts indicates that a love letter containing good news
will be sent to her by the inquirer.
The Knave of Clubs, a clever young fellow, is mixed up in the affair,
but some grief may affect his health as indicated by the Ace of Spades,
while the Ace of Clubs, coming immediately after, shows that this
sorrow may have something to do with money matters.
The 3 court cards which follow are indicative of a good time in which
the inquirer will have to deal with the Knave of Hearts, who is a young
bachelor devoted to enjoyments, the King of Hearts a man of generous
disposition, and the Queen of Spades, reversed, a dark, intriguing
woman.
The Nine of Hearts shows that the inquirer will have good luck and
pleasure, but the Knave of Diamonds, following immediately after, shows
that an untrustworthy friend is trying to bring him to trouble.
The Ten of Spades means considerable worry and is followed by the Ace
of Diamonds, reversed, which also indicates bad tidings in which the
King of Diamonds, an old soldier with a deceitful turn of mind and who
has a grievance against the inquirer, will have recourse to scandal and
slander, as indicated by the Seven of Diamonds.
Next comes the Eight of Diamonds, which shows that the inquirer will
indulge in love-making, but he is in for considerable worry as his
offer of marriage will be rejected.
The Seven of Clubs tells him that money matters will also cause worry
until the Nine of Clubs, reversed, indicates that a gift of money will
relieve the situation somewhat. However, there will still be vexatious
hindrances, as indicated by the Nine of Diamonds.
The “Surprise” may now be turned up, and contains, let us say, the King
of Clubs—a warm-hearted, true friend, straight in his dealings, thru
whom happiness and prosperity may come to the inquirer.
_The Significance of the Three Packs._
As before stated, after having read these cards as a continuous
message, the cards must be again shuffled and cut into three packs.
The inquirer is asked to choose one of the packs. We will take it for
granted that he takes the middle pack, containing 7 cards. Let us say,
for example, that this pack contains the following cards: Knave of
Diamonds, Seven of Diamonds, Ace of Clubs, Queen of Spades (reversed),
Ace of Spades, Ace of Diamonds, Eight of Diamonds. Reading these cards,
we notice three Aces, which indicate a lot of trouble—possibly a
faithless lover—to be followed by good news. The Knave of Diamonds, an
untrustworthy friend mixed up in a scandal which is shown by the Seven
of Diamonds, and is brought about by a letter relating to money, as
shown by the Ace of Clubs. A widow with an intriguing mind, shown by
the Queen of Spades, has something to do in this trouble. The Ace of
Spades foretells enjoyment—probably an offer of marriage or a letter,
as indicated by the Ace of Diamonds. The Eight of Diamonds foretells a
happy marriage after all these troubles.
The inquirer now selects another pack, which is to be read in the same
manner, and finally the third pack is to be similarly interpreted.