We will present an easy and generally accepted method of telling
fortunes by means of cards. Thirty-two cards are required, which are
shuffled and cut in the usual way. After being cut, the top card of the
lower pack and the bottom card of the upper pack are laid aside and
form the “Surprise,” then the packs are placed one upon the other. This
leaves 30 cards, which are dealt into three equal parts; the pack at
the left representing the _past_, the one in the middle the _present_,
and the one to the right the _future_.
The man or woman wishing to know what Fortune has in store is called
the “Inquirer”; he is represented by a card (supposing him to be a man)
which we will say is the Knave of Hearts. Let us now suppose that the
ten cards representing the _past_ are as follows:
Ace of Clubs (reversed)
King of Spades
Knave of Diamonds
King of Clubs
Nine of Hearts
Ten of Spades.
Seven of Spades (reversed)
Eight of Spades (reversed)
Seven of Clubs.
Nine of Clubs.
If we refer to the meaning of the cards as already given, we will find
the following as to the man’s past:
The Ace of Clubs shows that happiness has been of short duration.
The King of Spades denotes that an unscrupulous friend has been at work.
The Knave of Diamonds shows that this man has been a mischief-maker.
The King of Clubs indicates that a warm heart and true friend have been
of considerable assistance.
The Nine of Hearts shows that this man has brought good luck.
The Ten of Spades indicates that there has been considerable grief and
some loss of freedom due to circumstances over which the inquirer had
no control.
The Seven of Spades (reversed) shows that silly love-making has cast
its influence over the inquirer.
The Eight of Spades (reversed) shows, however, that the engagement has
been canceled or rejected.
The Seven of Clubs indicates that trifling financial matters have at
times made life sorrowful.
The Nine of Clubs indicates that this financial condition will be
solved by an unlooked-for inheritance.
The next pack being in the center represents the _present_, and we
find, perhaps, that the cards run as follows:
Ace of Diamonds
Ten of Diamonds
Knave of Hearts (reversed)
King of Hearts (reversed)
Seven of Diamonds
Nine of Spades
Eight of Hearts
Queen of Hearts
Seven of Hearts
Queen of Diamonds (reversed).
The reading of the cards will be as follows:
The Ace of Diamonds denotes the coming of an offer of marriage or a
letter.
The Ten of Diamonds, following immediately after, indicates that the
letter is about a voyage or a removal.
This is followed by the Knave of Hearts, and indicates that it is a
question of a young bachelor who is devoted to enjoyment.
Being followed by the King of Hearts (reversed), it indicates that his
dealings with the inquirer will be very disappointing.
The Seven of Diamonds, which follows, explains that the inquirer will
come in for considerable unkindly chaff.
The Nine of Spades (reversed) foretells a loss of one that is near and
dear, thru death.
The Eight of Hearts, which follows, tells that the inquirer is
harboring an affection for a fair lady. She is revealed to us in the
Queen of Hearts as a good-natured, lovable woman who, according to the
Seven of Hearts, is quietly and contentedly awaiting developments.
The Queen of Diamonds (reversed) tells him to beware of a woman who is
a spiteful flirt and apt to make trouble.
The third pack represents the _future_, and we have the following cards:
Queen of Clubs
King of Diamonds
Eight of Diamonds
Ten of Clubs
Nine of Diamonds
Eight of Clubs
Ace of Diamonds (reversed)
Ace of Hearts (reversed)
Knave of Spades (reversed)
Queen of Spades (reversed)
The Queen of Clubs indicates a dark-haired woman, rather loving but apt
to cause trouble.
The King of Diamonds is an old man who is also inclined to make
mischief.
The Eight of Diamonds shows that there have been some love passages
between the inquirer and the lady which may develop into a romance,
which, according to the Ten of Clubs, promises to be prosperous.
The Nine of Diamonds, however, shows that all will not be smooth
sailing, for, according to the Eighth of Clubs, a dark-haired man
is also paying attention to this woman and may make headway in his
attentions.
According to the Ace of Diamonds (reversed) the inquirer must be
prepared for evil tidings.
The Ace of Hearts (reversed) foretells a visit from a friend, which the
Knave of Spades (reversed) shows is a medical student, not of the most
refined character.
The Queen of Spades (reversed) shows that an unscrupulous and spiteful
woman is weaving her spell around the inquirer, and he had better
beware.
Again examining the cards of the _future_, we find two Queens, one
reversed, which means rivalry between the women influencing this
fortune. There are also two Eights, which indicate intrigue and
opposition.
This is but a brief summary of the way in which this method is
worked. A great deal depends, of course, upon the cleverness of the
fortune-teller in interpreting the cards according to the disposition
of the inquirer.