METHOD A.
Using 52 Cards and the Foregoing Interpretations.
Take a pack of fifty-two cards and shuffle them three times well over, and making the significator whichever queen you please (if a lady performs the operation for herself; or king, if a gentleman), then proceed to lay them on the table, nine in a row, and wherever the operator finds himself placed, count nine cards every way, not forgetting the said significator, then it will be seen what card the significator comes in company with, and read from that.
When several diamonds come together, the interpretation is that some money will soon be received; several hearts, love; several clubs, drink and noisy troublesome company; several spades, trouble and vexation.
If two red tens come next to the significator marriage or prosperity, the ace of hearts is the house, the ace of clubs a letter, the ace of spades death, spite, or quarreling (for this is supposed to be the worst card in the pack), the ten of diamonds a journey, the three of hearts a salute, the three of spades tears, the ten of spades sickness, the nine of spades sad disappointment or trouble, to the nine of clubs is ascribed a jovial entertainment or reveling, the nine of hearts feasting, the ten of clubs traveling by water, the ten of hearts some place of amusement, the five of hearts a present, the five of clubs a bundle, the six of spades a child, the seven of spades a removal, the three of clubs fighting, the eight of clubs confusion, the eight of spades a roadway, the four of clubs a strange bed, the nine of diamonds business, the five of spades a surprise, the two red eights new clothes, the three of diamonds speaking with a friend, the four of spades a sick bed, the seven of clubs a prison, the two of spades a false friend, the four of hearts the marriage bed.
If a married lady doth lay the cards, she must then make her husband the king of the same suit she is queen of; but if a single lady, she must make her lover what king she may think proper. The jacks of the same suits are supposed to be men's thoughts, so that they may know what they are thinking of, counting nine cards from where they are placed, and it is said if any lady should wish to know whether she shall obtain her desires in any particular subject, matter, or thing whatsoever, let her shuffle the cards well, most seriously and earnestly wishing all the time for one thing; she must then cut them once, particularly observing at the same time what card that is which she cuts, then shuffle them and deal them out in three parcels, and if that said particular card which she has cut doth come next herself, or next the ace of hearts, it is taken that she will have her wish, but if the nine of spades is next to her she judges the contrary, as that is supposed to be a disappointment; however, she may try it three times, taking the major number of testimonies as a ground whereon to place her judgment. This method of using the cards is both innocent and will afford amusement.
MODERN USE OF 52 CARDS
Here we present the more modern adaptation of the entire pack of 52 cards to the fortune-teller's use. As the meanings differ materially from the ancient list just given, another complete list and several combinations are presented.
In the modern usage, Diamonds take precedence and are considered to mean money, riches and success.
Hearts next, love affairs, friendship, amusement and pleasure.
Clubs, business matters, whether investments, appointments or settlements.
Spades, losses or grief, trouble and anxiety, sometimes sickness and death.
The various combinations are supposed to either accelerate or mitigate the several meanings.
For instance—the ace of diamonds coming with the ace of spades, a railway journey—the nine of spades, usually taken to be a bad card, but coming with diamonds, speedy good luck, etc.
Diamonds.
Ace—An offer or a ring.
King—A fair man, a military man, or a diplomatist.
Queen—A fair woman, fond of pleasure and amusement.
Jack—The thoughts of either king or queen.
Ten—A legacy or property.
Nine—A good surprise about money.
Eight—Meetings about money matters.
Seven—A check or paper money; sometimes scandal.
Six—An offer of some kind, generally to do with money matters.
Five (supposed to be the best card in the pack)—Health, wealth and happiness.
Four—A short journey.
Three—Time, within three to four weeks.
Two—A secret or something unexpected.
Hearts.
Ace—The house.
King—A rather fair man in society; sometimes a sailor.
Queen—A fair woman in society, but kind and good natured.
Jack—Thoughts of either king or queen.
Ten—An entertainment or festivity.
Nine—Great happiness and the wish card.
Eight—Love making or friendship.
Seven—A puzzle or indecision, doubt.
Six—Love affairs, sometimes an offer.
Five—Marriage, sometimes a new admirer.
Four—A small invitation, such as a dinner or evening party.
Three—Time, within a week.
Two—Kisses or trifling present.
Clubs.
Ace—A letter.
King—A clever dark man, often a professional man, or in business.
Queen—A clever, amusing woman, sometimes a little satirical.
Jack—Thoughts of king or queen.
Ten—A new appointment, investment or settlement.
Nine—Relates to documents, papers, often a will.
Eight—A journey by road or vehicle.
Seven—A warning or unprofitable business.
Six—A very poor business offer or else money borrowed.
Five—News, either from the country or some one coming therefrom.
Four—A journey by land on business.
Three—Time, three to four months.
Two—A good friend, in some cases a slight disappointment.
Spades.
Ace—Spite, death, or worry; sometimes a large town.
King—A lawyer, widower or old man; a very dark man.
Queen—A very dark woman, a widow; a spiteful, malicious woman.
Jack—Thoughts of king or queen.
Ten—At night-time, imprisonment.
Nine (supposed to be a very bad card)—Grief, suffering, malice, and, with other black cards, death.
Eight—Across water, sometimes treachery.
Seven—Poverty, anxiety and annoyance.
Six—Delay, or a bad character.
Five—Temper, anger and quarrels.
Four—Sickness, sometimes a journey caused through sickness.
Three—By the water, or a very short journey across water.
Two—Tears and vexation, sometimes a removal.
The following is a résumé of most of the cards and some curious combinations:
Four Aces—Honors, dignities, rise in society, or money, friendship with the great; but if all four are reversed, the contrary—debt, bankruptcy, ruin and even disgrace, therefore it is to be noticed particularly how they lie before reading the cards.
Four Kings—Great good luck, unexpected advancement, good and unlooked-for fortune.
Four Queens—Society, pleasure, amusements.
Four Jacks—Thoughts of either king or queen of each suit, friendly gathering.
Four Tens—Great gain, legacies, happiness.
Four Nines—Unexpected and sudden news; if two blacks together, not pleasant; if two reds, excellent.
Four Eights—New appointments, sometimes new associations; two black eights together, mourning; two reds, wedding garments.
Four Sevens—Intrigues, scandal, opposition and variance.
Four Sixes—A great surprise or change; two black ones together, vexations; two red ones, good.
Four Fives—A long and beneficial voyage, money, happiness and health; if two blacks are near, vexation first.
Four Fours—A birth; two blacks together, a male; two reds, a female.
Four Threes—Period of time from six to twelve months; sometimes gain or money returned.
Four Twos—Visitors; two blacks together, disagreeable; two reds, pleasant, and sometimes love-making.
Three Aces—Great good luck.
Three Kings—A new friend or acquaintance who will advance you in life.
Three Queens—Quarrels, disputes, backbiting.
Three Jacks—A lawsuit or treachery.
Three Tens—A rise in social life, but not necessarily happiness with it.
Three Nines—A good removal, unless accompanied by very bad cards.
Three Eights—Love dreams, and longing for the unattainable, but often wishes or desires postponed; in some cases fresh engagements, but a little worry in obtaining them.
Three Sevens—Losses of friendship or property; reversed, you will never recover your goods.
Three Sixes—A very large and brilliant entertainment; if the two black ones come together, disgrace or scandal.
Three Fives—A delightful and happy meeting with absent friends.
Three Fours—Strangers or visitors coming to the house from a journey.
Three Threes—Slight annoyances or vexation caused by malicious tongues.
Three Twos—A good and staunch friend, but one who will grieve you by a queer temper.
Two Aces—Strange news quick and speedy, often good luck; two blacks, a telegram; two reds, a pleasant invitation.
Two Kings—A partnership or friendship.
Two Queens—A good female friend.
Two Jacks—Unpleasantness, sometimes only thoughts of people.
Two Tens—Change of residence or profession.
Two Nines—A good removal, sometimes business projects or documents, in many cases relating to a will.
Two Eights—An extraordinary occurrence.
Two Sevens—Sometimes sudden and unexpected; two blacks, great treachery, especially if reversed.
Two Sixes—A good friend; two blacks, a nasty, deceitful person, or a great danger, possibly an accident.
Two Black Fives—Danger from falls, or possibly by water.
Two Red Fives—Joyful and unexpected news.
Two Black Fours—Separation or unfriendly meetings.
Two Red Fours—Good appointments, or good luck.
Two Red Threes—Pleasant and profitable visitors and friends.
Two Black Threes—Disappointment and tears.
Two Black Twos—A departure.
Two Red Twos—An arrival.
The Ace, Nine, Ten and Seven of Spades—Divorce.
Seven and Nine of Spades—Separation.
Eight of Spades and Seven of Clubs—Prison, or confinement.
Six and Four of Spades—Sickness and danger.
Eight and Five of Spades—Malignity, caused by jealousy.
Six and Seven of Spades—Treachery, scandal, vexation.
Seven and Two of Spades—Tears caused by unfounded reports—often a false friend.
Nine and Six of Spades—A bitter and implacable enemy; if good cards follow, you will overcome, but if bad ones, he or she will triumph.
Three and Two of Spades—A short and not agreeable journey.
Seven of Hearts and Three of Spades—A journey and a strange adventure thereon.
Seven, Six and Five of Spades—Thieves, or danger of robbery.
Queen and Jack of Spades—Widowhood.
Nine and Ten of Spades—Danger by fire.
Six and Seven of Spades reversed—A fall or injury.
Eight and Ten of Spades—News at night, but not very pleasant.
Ten, Eight and Five of Spades—Broken engagement, or unfulfilled promise.
Six and Eight of Spades—Delay, postponement.
Nine, Seven, Six and Five of Spades—Bankruptcy.
Ace of Diamonds and Ten of Hearts—A marriage engagement.
Ace of Diamonds and Nine of Hearts—Hopes fulfilled.
Ten of Hearts and Four of Hearts—Marriage.
Three Tens and Five of Hearts—Happy love returned.
Eight of Hearts and Seven of Hearts—Doubt and indecision about an offer.
Seven of Hearts reversed—A nice and good present.
Three of Diamonds and Three of Hearts—In nine days.
Nine of Hearts and Nine of Diamonds—A delightful surprise about money.
Nine of Hearts and Nine of Clubs—Something to do about a will, in which the consultor is generally successful.
Eight of Hearts and Nine of Hearts—Great good luck through love.
Ace, Nine, Seven and Four of Spades—Death.
METHOD B.
A pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled, and cut in three; the first ten are taken out, then three are missed; another nine are taken out, then two are missed; another seven out, five missed; seven out, three missed; three out, one missed; and the last of the pack is taken. They are now laid out in rows of eight each, eight having been counted every way, beginning from the significator. When all are finished, the two extremities are taken, paired and read; they are then gathered together, shuffled, and cut in four parcels; the first one of each parcel is taken off and put on one side. The packet that comes first is the one that should be read.
METHOD C.
What is Supposed to Happen Within a Month to Two Months.
A pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled and cut in three, each meaning being read as it turns up. The cards are then turned up one by one till a spade is found, which is not withdrawn, but the following card, which lay face uppermost on the table. If three spades are found in succession the first is missed, but the two next are taken out, as well as the following card, whether diamonds, clubs or hearts; this is continued to the end of the pack, then re-commenced without shuffling or cutting. Should the final card have been a spade, on beginning the pack afresh the first card should be taken out. The same operation is gone through twice more, in all three times. This having been done, they are laid in the form of a horseshoe in front of the dealer in the order in which they came, being careful to note that the significator is amongst them. Should it not appear naturally, it must be taken out and placed at the end. Seven are now counted from the one that represents the person consulting the oracle. When they have been read, and the relative meanings ascribed to them explained, one is taken from each end and paired, their various significations being interpreted as they turn up. These prognostications are supposed to come to pass within two months. A shorter way can be done by taking out thirty-two selected cards, viz:—ace, king, queen, jack, ten, nine, eight and seven of each suit; they are read in precisely the same way. This is taken to allow a shorter period to elapse, from ten days to a fortnight, but the former is supposed to be the better method.