Part 7

There have always been four suits in use, but the symbols used had varied in different countries. Originally they were cups, money, swords and clubs. These are still retained in Italian and Spanish cards. Old German cards have acorns, leaves, hearts and bells. The French cards used spades and clubs, hearts and diamonds. The word “spade” comes from the Italian word meaning a sword. The club sign was adopted from the three-leaf clover. Many of the packs used last century were very costly and artistic. They were painted by hand to represent historic characters.

Mystic Meaning

To many people a pack of cards comes next in importance to the Bible. To others they are supposed to be the devil’s own handbooks of destruction. They have exercised an irresistible fascination over the minds of men and women of all ages. A great interest attaches to the many possible combinations to be made from the cards in a pack. It has been pointed out that—

The fifty-two cards represent the 52 weeks in the year.

Thirteen cards in each suit represent the 13 lunar months, and the 13 weeks in each quarter.

The four suits represent the four seasons of the year.

The twelve court cards represent the 12 signs of the Zodiac.

Number of pips on all the plain cards = 220 Number of pips on the court cards = 12 Counting each of the court cards as 10 = 120 Number of cards in each suit 13 ——- Total equals the number of days in the year 365

The Charm and Power of Cards

We have nothing to do in this book with cards used for gambling purposes, but as instruments of Cartomancy we find them full of charm and interest. Every person has a certain amount of superstition in his nature and desires to take a look into the dim and mysterious future. No one need be ashamed of confessing a certain amount of interest in the unseen and occult. Strange coincidences are happening all the time, and there are many inexplicable occurrences that meet us at every turn. Educated men and women are taking an interest in the occult to a greater extent than ever before, altho in the past the great statesmen and famous women of France, even the great Napoleon himself, were believers in the power of cards to foretell the future. Divination by cards is of great antiquity and is still as popular as ever. Formerly it was connected with astrologers’ incantation and religious practices. Now, however, it is indulged in principally as a means of amusement. Of course no one need be warned against the danger of taking a pack of cards as a guide in matters of importance requiring judgment and discretion.

What the Cards Signify

There are several systems of telling fortunes by cards. In each the meaning of the cards and the mode of laying them out differ. The meaning of a card is modified when the card is reversed. As our modern packs are practically the same, looking at them from either end, it is well to mark the cards so that you can tell which is the top and which is the bottom. This could be done before starting to use the pack.

MEANING OF THE VARIOUS CARDS.

Hearts are especially connected with the work of Cupid and Hymen. The suit has also close reference to affairs of the home and to both the domestic and social sides of life.

Diamonds are representative of financial matters, small and great, with a generally favorable signification.

Clubs stand for prosperity, a happy home life with intelligent pleasures and successful undertakings.

Spades forebode evil. They speak of sickness, death, monetary losses and anxieties, separation from friends and dear ones. They are also representative of love, appealing exclusively to the senses.

MEANING OF THE HEARTS.

Ace.—A love letter, good news; (reversed) a removal or a visit from a friend.

King.—Fair man of generous disposition; (reversed) a disappointing person.

Queen.—Fair, good-natured woman; (reversed) she has had an unhappy love affair.

Knave.—A young bachelor devoted to enjoyment; (reversed) a military lover with a grievance.

Ten.—Antidote to bad cards, happiness and success; (reversed) passing worries.

Nine.—The wish card, good luck; (reversed) short sorrow.

Eight.—Thoughts of marriage, affections of a fair person; (reversed) unresponsiveness.

Seven.—Calm, content; (reversed) boredom, satiety.

MEANING OF THE DIAMONDS.

Ace.—A letter, an offer of marriage; (reversed) evil tidings.