In most cases, the cards of an ordinary pack look the same whether
viewed one way or the other; in other words, if they were cut in halves
across the shortest dimension, each half would be exactly alike. But
this is not so in every case. Take, for instance, the aces of hearts,
clubs and spades; with these the tops and bottoms would be different,
though with the ace of diamonds, they would be the same. All the sevens
offer further cases where the two halves are not identical and the same
may be said of some of the eights. In addition, it must be pointed out
that all packs do not follow the same arrangement, so that a list of
these unbalanced cards cannot be given.
Astrologists have long considered that these cards, which are not alike
top and bottom, possess certain powers in deciding one's luck. This is
how they act:
Take a full pack and shuffle it thoroughly, then cut with the left
hand. After that, turn each card over, one by one, and it is advisable
to work slowly, as mistakes are easily made.
Look at every card in turn, count the pips on it that are the right way
up and those that are upside down. When the latter are more in number
than the former, you have a reversed card. Set it aside and continue
with the cards that follow. Note that it is not any card that permits
of being reversed, but only those that are actually reversed, that
should be set aside. Note, also, that a reversed card to you is not
reversed to someone sitting opposite you.
When the pack has been run through and all the reversed cards taken
out, note what you have found. Count up the number belonging to each
suit. If hearts are in the majority, you are indeed lucky; if spades
figure most, you are the reverse. Clubs are not quite so lucky as
hearts and diamonds rank a little below clubs.
Should any suit figure much more than the others, then the above
readings are strengthened.