Part 10

METHOD L.

The pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled and cut, and divided into two equal heaps. One of these is chosen by the consultant. Having decided this, the other heap is left alone; it is not to be used. The person consulting is now desired to shuffle the twenty-six cards remaining, cutting in three, the meanings being read as they turn up. They are now dealt in three packs, which are laid out in rows of eight, the last card to be left out, as that forms "the surprise." Four cards are now counted from the significator, which, should it not be in the pack chosen, must be abstracted and put at the end. When these have been fully explained, the same maneuver is repeated twice, in all three times, one card being always taken out for "the surprise." "The surprise" is turned up when those cards before the dealer have been examined and explained. Then they are all gathered together, and, after being shuffled and cut, they are turned up by fours. If a sequence should come up, such as six and seven, or six, seven and eight of any suit, they are taken out. If four of a suit, the lowest is taken out. This is only to be done once. These are now laid out in a row before the dealer and read from left to right, always taking note that the significator is amongst them, and counting four as above described. Then the two cards are taken from each extremity and each couple explained till all are exhausted.

METHOD M.

A pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled well and cut. Then it is divided into three equal parcels of seventeen cards each, and one over for "the surprise," which is to be laid aside. The first three cards of each packet is taken, and each three is put apart. That will leave fourteen in each group. The first and third packets of fourteen are taken up, the middle one being put aside. These are now laid out in four rows of seven, being sure that the significator is amongst them; or else the card which is supposed to represent the thoughts of the person consulting you, viz: the jack, may be counted from. Six are now counted, beginning from the next card to the significator; and after every sixth card, that card is not counted as one, but the following one. When these have been explained, which must be done till the significator is returned to, they are paired from end to end, and read as arrived at; then they are gathered together, shuffled and cut, and divided again into two groups of fourteen. These are not laid out again, but two being merely extracted from each of these, not forgetting the middle one, and adding them to the three packets of three placed on one side. The middle one is now taken up, shuffled well, and four cards taken from it, two from the top and two from the bottom, and added to the one put aside to form "the surprise." There are now four packs of five cards each:--One for the "consultant" and one for the "house," one for "what is sure to come true," and one for "the surprise." These are laid out in front of the dealer and read from left to right in rotation.

THE PREFERRED ORACLE--WITH 32 CARDS

We now come to the most important and approved method of telling fortunes by cards, the method preferred and practiced in nearly all countries. This widely accepted method requires but 32 cards of the 52 found in the pack, consisting of eight cards of each suit, as follows: Ace, king, queen, jack, ten, nine, eight and seven only. To these may be added, in some cases, the Consultant card, concerning which we have spoken earlier in this work.

To enable this oracle to be read with an intelligent and proper understanding it is important that one be fully informed as to all the possible values or interpretations of the cards, singly and in combination. Hence we shall devote a number of pages to these definitions in very complete form before proceeding to elucidate for you the various methods of dealing, laying and reading the cards. We give first the simple and primary meanings, followed in detail by their secondary or synonymical meanings, the whole constituting a valuable work of reference for all who practice the art, enabling them to give a full, fair and wise reading of every possible "fall" of the cards. The primary meanings, while sufficient for the amateur, will soon be seen by the student to be lacking in that completeness and flexibility demanded by the adept. Their natural amplification into their secondary and more extended definitions gives the interpreter the fullest scope to exercise his powers of reading any possible layout of the cards intelligently, and with satisfaction both to himself and to the person consulting the oracle.

DICTIONARY OF PRIMARY DEFINITIONS

Used in Interpreting the 32-Card Method of Telling Fortunes.

Diamonds.

KING

Upright--Marriage. A military man. A man of fidelity. A dignitary of the state. A very fair person. A man of tact and cunning.

Reversed--A country gentleman. A difficulty concerning marriage or business. Threatened danger, caused through the machination of a man in position or office.

QUEEN

Upright--A blonde female. A lady resident in the country. A woman given to gossiping and scandal.

Reversed--A country gentlewoman. A malignant female, who seeks to foment disadvantage to the consultant, and who is to be greatly feared.

JACK

Upright--A country man. A young man of light complexion, of a lower grade in society. A messenger. Postman. A tale-bearing servant, or unfaithful friend.

Reversed--A servant. An intermeddler, who will be the cause of mischief. A messenger bearing ill-news.

ACE

Upright--The ace of diamonds, whether upright or reversed, signifies a letter, a petition, a note, a paper, a document.

Reversed--The ace of diamonds, reversed or upright, designates a letter to be shortly received, a petition, a note, a paper, or a document.

TEN

Upright--The ten of diamonds, either upright or reversed, represents coin, gold, water, the sea, a foreign city, and change of locality.

Reversed--The ten of diamonds, whether reversed or upright, designates bullion, coin, gold, water, the ocean, a foreign city, a journey and change in locality.

NINE

Upright--Enterprise. Separation. Advantage.

Reversed--Delay. Annoyance. Poverty. A family feud, or a quarrel among intimate friends.