Telling Fortunes by Cards / A Symposium of the Several Ancient and Modern Methods as Practiced by Arab Seers and Sibyls and the Romany Gypsies

by Mohammed Ali

WISHES

Having finished all the different methods of laying the cards, various indications will now be given which are supposed to show whether the one who is consulting will obtain his or her wish. These are done in various methods, and each is given in order.

WISH NO. I.

The pack of thirty-two selected cards having been well shuffled and cut, proceed by turning them up by threes; if an ace appears amongst the three, those three cards must be taken out; and if the nine of hearts and the significator appear, they must also be taken out with the cards that accompany them. This operation has to be repeated three times, and if in the three times the four aces, the significator and the nine of hearts come out in eleven or nine cards, then the wish is taken to be certain; if they do not appear under twelve or fifteen, it is said the wish will not come to pass. To make the meaning perfectly clear, we will suppose that a dark man, represented by the king of clubs, is making the essay. Having well shuffled and cut the cards, they must be turned up in threes.

In the first come the king of diamonds, ace of spades, and king of clubs—the person who is making the essay; the next three are king and queen of spades and ten of diamonds—these are useless; the next three, the ten of hearts, six of diamonds and king of hearts—these are laid on one side; then the seven and eight of spades and ace of diamonds—these are withdrawn and are put over the other three, with the ace and significator; the next three—nine of diamonds, eight of clubs and ace of clubs, these come out; likewise the jack of clubs, ten of spades, and ace of hearts, and the two left are the jack of spades and nine of hearts—the other cards are useless. Fourteen cards are now left, they are shuffled and cut, and again dealt in threes.

The ace of spades, nine of hearts, king of spades remain; the next three, ten of spades, ace of hearts and nine of diamonds also remain. The following triplet: king of diamonds, king of clubs and jack of clubs all come out. The seven of spades, ace of diamonds and eight of clubs remain, as also the two last—eight of spades and ace of clubs. This makes eleven cards, so that the wish is considered to be gained; but if it is tried the third time, and more cards come out, then it is supposed that it will be very speedily accomplished.

WISH NO. II.

Shuffle and cut the pack of thirty-two selected cards. Put them together, and turn up in threes. Supposing there should be two of one suit, and one of another, the highest is taken out. Should there be three of one suit, all are to be withdrawn and laid on the table in front of the dealer, in the shape of a semi-circle or horse shoe. If three of equal value, such as three kings, or three tens, they are likewise to come out. The pack is gone through, then shuffled and cut again. When the end of the pack is arrived at, this is repeated a third time, acting in the same manner. Now count from the significator, or if that should not appear naturally, use the jack (which is taken to represent the thoughts of the person consulting); seven are counted each way till it is come back to, then the cards are paired from end to end, being read as arrived at; then all the cards are shuffled together, cut in three, and dealt out in packets of four, face downward. Each packet is taken up and looked through, the cards being turned up one by one till an ace is come to. Should there be no ace in the parcel it is put on one side—it is useless. The cards are shuffled and cut again, being turned up as before, and dealt in three packets, stopping each time at the ace, as before. The third time they are shuffled but not cut, and dealt in packets of two, and proceeded with as before. Should the four aces (in the last deal) turn up without another card, the wish is supposed to be sure, and to come at once. If they come out with hearts, or diamonds, there will be some delay, but if the nine or seven of spades makes its appearance with the aces, then it is said to be a sign of disappointment.

WISH NO. III.

A pack is taken of thirty-two selected cards, and cut with the left hand; thirteen cards are then dealt out. If amongst these is to be found one or more aces, lay them aside. The remaining ones are shuffled and cut and thirteen again dealt; the aces are withdrawn as before, and again shuffled, cut and dealt. If in these three deals all four aces make their appearance, it is supposed that the wish will be granted. If all the aces come at the first deal, the answer is taken to be in the highest degree favorable. If in the three times only one or two appear, it is considered that the wish will not be granted.