Cartomancy: Playing Card Readings Online and At Home

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Written by Frederick Gimino

What is Cartomancy?

Cartomancy is a method of divination that uses standard playing cards. During the 14th century playing cards gained popularity across Europe. These cards believed to have been brought back from the crusades where used primarily for parlor games. However, it was not long before they made their way into the fortune-telling circle. One of the most famous cartomancers was Madame Lenormand. She gave readings to very prominent people in society including the likes of Napoleon Bonaparte.

This section of the site contains a playing card reading with several different spreads. These spreads resemble standard tarot spreads; however, the most popular cartomancy methodologies like “seven up” and “the wheel of fortune” are unique to playing cards. For reference, we include the “seven up” method and card meanings below the automated oracle spread selection so that if you care to try a reading at home using standard playing cards you may.

How to do a Playing Card Reading: Instructions and Reference

Instructions for an at Home Playing Card Reading using the "7 UP" Method:

First, you will need a standard deck of playing cards. Take the cards and remove the cards numbered two through six in all four suits. Next, shuffle the cards while you concentrate on your question.

Now, deal six cards face up in a straight line. Then shuffle the cards again while concentrating on your question. Deal six cards in the same straight-line slightly overlapping the first set of cards on the left side, but below the top card marker of the first card.

Finally, shuffle the cards a third time while concentrating on your question and deal them in the same straight line slightly overlapping the right side of the first line of the first six cards you dealt. You should now have three lines of six cards with two of these lines overlapping the first line of cards you dealt on the left and right, but slightly below the top card marker (near the mid-line of the first card is best).

In order to interpret the cards you must know what each line represents. The first set of three cards represents you. The second set represents your family. The third set of three cards represents your friends. The fourth set of three cards represents what you desire. The fifth set of three cards represents the unexpected. The sixth set of three cards represents the ultimate outcome or answer to your query. You may use the reference table provided here to discern the meaning of the cards. However, if you like you may also use any other cartomancy reference available to you.