Fortune Telling with Tarot pt 2

Fortune Telling

with

Tarot

Part Two

CHAPTER XI

Important Questions

How to answer them—Specimen questions—Cupid and Venus at work.

How to Answer Them

WHEN an answer to an important question is required, and the inquirer wishes to consult the cards on the subject, the following simple method may be adopted.

Let the question be asked by the inquirer, then let the dealer take the pack of thirty-two cards, which must be shuffled and cut in the usual manner. The dealer throws out the first eleven cards, which are useless, and proceeds to turn up the others upon the table. The answer is determined by the absence or presence of the special cards applying to each question among the exposed twenty-one.

Specimen Questions

We will give some examples. Suppose the question to be:—"How far off is the wedding?"

The needful cards in this case are the queen of spades, who should come out with or near the queen of hearts, and the ace of spades, which should accompany the eight of diamonds. These must be taken in conjunction with the other eights—each of which signifies a year; the four nines—each of which stands for a month; and the four sevens—each of which represents a week. Supposing the above-named cards—the two queens, the ace of spades, and the eight of diamonds—should not come out in due order, or be absent altogether, it may be feared that the date is postponed to vanishing point.

"Have I real cause for jealousy?"

If the seven of diamonds comes out in the first fifteen cards, the answer is "Yes." If the five of hearts and the seven of clubs appear instead among the first fifteen, it means "No."

"Shall we be parted?" or "Shall I sustain the loss of my goods?"

If the four nines are included in the twenty-one cards, the answer is "Yes." Should the four kings and the four queens come out, the meaning is "No, never! "

"Shall I succeed in my present or projected undertaking?"

To ensure a favourable answer the four aces and the nine of hearts must come out. Should the nine of spades appear just before the card representing the inquirer, it prognosticates failure, sure and certain.

"Will the change of residence or condition that I am considering be satisfactory?"

Should this question be asked by the master or mistress of a house, or an employer of labour, a favourable answer is secured by the presence of the four knaves, the eight and ten of diamonds, and the ten of clubs. In the event of the inquirer being an employé, or a paid worker of any grade, the twenty-one cards must include the ten and seven of diamonds, the eight of spades, and the four queens, to ensure a satisfactory reply. In both cases the nine of diamonds means hindrances and delay in attaining success.

"What fortune does the future hold for this child?"

The four aces foretell good luck and a suitable marriage. If the child in question be a girl, the four eights and the king of hearts should come out to secure peace and concord for her ie the home of her husband.

Cupid and Venus at Work

Among the many ways in which cards can be used to provide entertainment, seasoned with a spice of the unexplainable, the following round game may be given a prominent place.

The ace of diamonds is the most valuable asset in winning tricks, as it takes all the other cards. The pack of fifty-two cards is used.

The queen of hearts represents Venus.

The knave of hearts stands for Cupid.

The knave of diamonds, The knave of clubs, The knave of spades—all represent sweethearts.

The ace of hearts—a new house.

The ace of clubs—conquest.

The two of diamonds—the ring and marriage.

The twos of clubs, spades, and hearts—good luck.

The threes—show surprise.

The fours—that present conditions will remain unchanged.

The fives—lovers’ meetings.

The sixes—pleasure.

The sevens—disappointment.

The eights—mirth.

The nines—changes.

The tens—marriage settlements.

The queens represent women.

The kings represent men.

Any number may take part in the game. The dealer Is chosen by lot, and when this has been settled, he or she proceeds to deal out the cards, leaving ten face downwards on the table. The stakes are agreed upon, and each player puts into the pool, the dealer being expected to pay double for the honour done to him by the fates.

The cards are then taken up, and each player looks at his own hand. The dealer calls for the queen of hearts, Venus, who ranks next to the ace of diamonds in value. Should any one have the ace of diamonds in his hand, he plays it straight out. Should the ace not be among those that have been dealt round, the queen of hearts is supreme, and the happy holder of Venus may look confidently forward to standing before the altar of Hymen during the current year. The ace of diamonds only counts as one card, but should any lucky player hold both Cupid and Venus in his hand he is entitled to clear the pool, and so end the game right off. In the event of the holder of these cards being married, their presence promises him some special stroke of good fortune.

When the matrimonial cards are out, or proved absent, the game is played on similar lines to whist, the same order of precedence being observed in taking tricks, and the larger the number secured the better the luck of the winner during the current year.

The nine of spades is the worst card in the pack, and the unfortunate holder has to pay for its presence in his hand by a treble stake to the pool. Should any player fail to win any tricks, he must pay in advance the stakes agreed upon for the next game.

Marriage by Lot

For this appeal to the fates we require a pack of cards, a bag, and stakes either in money or counters. When the players have fixed upon their stakes and placed them in the pool, one of those playing must thoroughly shuffle the pack of cards and place them in the bag. The players then stand in a circle and draw three cards in turn from the bag as it is handed to each of them. Pairs of any kind win back the stakes paid by the holder, and promise good luck in the immediate future. The knave of hearts is proclaimed to represent Hymen. He wins double stakes, and is a happy augury that the holder will soon be united to the partner of his tit her choice. Should Venus, the queen of hearts, be found in the same hand, the owner takes the pool and wins the game. Fours and eights are losses and crosses, compelling a pre-arranged payment to the pool in addition to the usual stakes. A lady who draws three nines may resign herself to a life of single-blessedness, and the one who has three fives must prepare to cope with a bad husband.

Your Fate in Twenty Cards

Only three or four girls are required to pursue this search for hidden knowledge. All the kings, queens, knaves, aces, and threes must be taken from the pack and dealt round to the players. Each one examines her hand for an answer to her inward questionings. The one who holds the most kings possesses the largest number of friends. The one with most queens has a proportionate number of enemies. Where kings and queens are united, there is the promise of speedy and happy marriage. Should a queen come out with knaves, we may be sure that intrigues are being woven round some unlucky person. Knaves by themselves represent lovers. Threes are evil omens betokening great sorrow. A knave with four threes means that the fair holder will not enter the holy estate. A king with four threes encourages her to hope, for she has a good chance of matrimony. A queen with four threes is the worst combination a girl can draw, for it speaks of sorrow deepened by disgrace. Mixed hands have no special significance, nor is there any great meaning attached to the four aces. Where only two or three of one kind of card fall together, the meaning ascribed to the four collectively is lessened in proportion to the number held.

Hearts are Trumps

This game might by some be called an apology for whist. Four players, or three and a dummy, are necessary, and the whole pack is dealt out in the usual way. Hearts are trumps in every deal, and carry everything before them. The highest card is the queen, who is the goddess of love, and takes precedence of the ace, which only counts as one. The person on the left hand of the dealer leads trumps, and the stronger the hand the better the chances for love and marriage. The one who wins the largest number of tricks has, or will have, the most lovers. The presence of the king and queen of trumps in one hand is the sign of a speedy union of hearts, and of the approaching sound of wedding bells. A sorry fate awaits the luckless maid or youth who is without a heart—in the hand—for Cupid and Hymen have turned their faces away, and no luck will come of a love affair in that quarter. Where only one or two small trumps can be produced, the holder will have to wait long for wedded bliss. Each one plays quite independently of the others, and the one who undertakes dummy must not connect its cards in nay way with those he holds himself.

Another Lottery

Put a well-shuffled pack of cards into a bag deep enough to prevent the contents from being seen. An uneven number of girls must then form a ring round the one holding the bag, and each must draw a card. The cards thus drawn must then all be exposed, as they have to be compared. The lucky lady who draws the highest card will be the first to be led to the altar. She who draws the lowest will have to emulate Mariana of the Moated Grange, and resign herself to the fact that "he cometh not" for many weary days to follow. Any one drawing the ace of spades may cheerfully prepare for the pleasures of a bachelor life. The nine of hearts is the presage of serious trouble, coming to the holder through loving "not wisely but too well"

CHAPTER XII

How They Tell Fortunes in Italy

Italian method—An example—Notice the groups—How the pairs work out—The five packs.

Italian Method

ONLY thirty-two cards are used for the Italian method of fortune-telling, all the numbers under seven, except the ace, being taken out of each suit. This reduced pack—containing the ace, king, queen, knave, ten, nine, eight, and seven of the four suits—must be carefully shuffled and cut, with the left hand of course, by the inquirer. The one who is going to act as interpreter then takes the pack, and turns them up three at a time. Should three cards of one suit be turned up at once, they are all laid upon the table, face upwards; if only two of a suit come out together, the higher card is selected; if all three belong to different suits, they are all rejected.

When the pack has been dealt out in this manner the cards that have not been chosen are taken up, shuffled, and cut a second time. The deal by threes is then repeated until there are fifteen cards upon the table. They must be placed in line, from left to right, as they appear.

It is absolutely necessary that the card representing the inquirer should be among those on the table. Some authorities maintain, however, that in the event of its not coming out during the deals, the whole process must be repeated until it makes its appearance. Others again take the card out, and place it on the table when fourteen others have been selected.

The next step is to count five cards from the representative one and to continue counting in fifths from each fifth card until all have been included, or the counting has come back to the representative. The signification of every card is read as it is reached, due notice being taken as to whether it is reversed or not, and the surrounding circumstances must also be balanced by the interpreter.

When this reading is complete the fifteen cards must be paired, one from each end of the line being taken and read together, while the remaining odd one must be dealt with separately.

The third process is to shuffle and cut the fifteen cards, and deal them out into five small packs: one for the lady herself; one for the house; one for those who do not expect it; one for those who do expect it; one for the surprise; and one, which is not to be covered, for consolation. When the fifteen cards have been dealt out, it will be seen that four of the packs contain three cards, and the fifth only two. These must all be turned face upwards and read in separate packs, but with the connecting idea that they all refer to the fortune of the inquirer.

An Example.

Let us imagine that a very fair lady, represented by the queen of diamonds, is seeking to read her fortune.

The fifteen cards come out in the following order:—

The queen of diamonds; nine of diamonds, reversed; queen of hearts; king of spades; ten of diamonds; seven of diamonds, reversed; knave of hearts, reversed; ten of hearts; knave of diamonds; ace of diamonds, reversed; knave of spades; nine of spades; king of clubs; ten of spades, reversed; ace of hearts.

We begin to count from the queen of diamonds, the representative card, and find the nine of diamonds to be the fifth from it. By this first count we see from the nine being reversed that there is a love quarrel troubling the inquirer. Starting again from the nine we come to the queen of hearts, a mild, good-natured, but not very wise woman, who is probably the tool of the next fifth card, the king of spades, a crafty, ambitious man, and an enemy to the queen of diamonds.

Our next count is to the ten of diamonds, which speaks of a journey for the inquirer. Passing on to the seven of diamonds, reversed, we get hold of a foolish scandal connected with, if not entirely caused by, the next count, which is the knave of hearts, reversed, and stands for a military man who is very discontented with the treatment he has received at the hands of the fair inquirer. She will, however, triumph over this foolish annoyance, for the ten of hearts comes next in order, and counteracts the harm involved by the other cards.

Our gentle lady has, unfortunately, an unfaithful friend in the knave of diamonds; and he is followed by the ace of diamonds, reversed, which portends a letter on the way containing bad news. The writer of this is a dark young man of no social position, and he probably is the servant of one who is dear to the queen of diamonds. The bad news is found in the next count, the nine of spades, which tells of sickness affecting the king of clubs, the warm-hearted, chivalrous man who occupies the first place in the inquirer's affections. The last count but one brings us to the ten of spades, reversed, by which we know that the lady's sorrow will be but brief; and it is followed by the ace of hearts, a love letter containing the good news of her lover's recovery.

Notice the Groups

Before proceeding to pair the cards, we may as well note the groups as they have come out in the fifteen. The six diamonds point to there being plenty of money; the two tens tell of a change of residence, either brought about by marriage, or by the journey read in the ten of diamonds; the presence of three knaves betokens false friends, though as one is reversed, their power of doing harm is lessened; two queens indicate gossip and the revealing of secrets; the two aces imply an attempted plot, but it is frustrated by the one being reversed; the two nines also point to riches.

How the Pairs Work Out

The two end cards of the fifteen are taken up together, so that the pairs shall work out thus:—The queen of diamonds and the nine of spades, implying that sickness and trouble will affect the inquirer; the ten of diamonds pairs with the ten of

hearts, and they signify a wedding; the knaves of diamonds and spades coming together show evil intentions towards the inquirer; the king of clubs and the ace of hearts tell of the lover and the love letter; the inverted nine of diamonds pairing with the knave of spades, tells of a love quarrel, in which a dark young man, wanting in refinement, is concerned; the reversed seven of diamonds pairs with the knave of hearts, also inverted, and tells of a foolish scandal instigated by the ungallant soldier who is suffering from wounded vanity; the inverted ace of diamonds comes out with the queen of hearts, telling of a letter containing unpleasant news from a fair, good-natured woman; while the remaining card, the ten of spades, being inverted, speaks of brief sorrow for the inquirer.

The Five Packs

Our next step is to deal out the five packs as already directed. The first one—for the lady herself—contains three cards, two of which are bad, but their harm is largely discounted by the ten of hearts. In the nine of spades we read of the trouble caused by her lover's illness; the ten of spades betokens the tears she will shed while the beloved life is in danger; the ten of hearts speaks of happiness triumphing over sorrow.

The second pack—for the house—contains a flush of diamonds, the ten, the ace, and the knave. There is plenty of money in the house: the ten speaks of a journey, possibly resulting in a change of residence; the ace, being reversed, tells of a letter on the way containing unpleasant news (probably connected with the removal), from the knave, who is a faithless friend, and is to blame for the annoyance.

The third pack—for those who do not expect—consists of three court cards, which taken together foretell gaiety of some sort. We find the inquirer, personated by the queen of diamonds, in the society of the knaves of spades and hearts, the latter reversed, and consequently we know that she will be troubled by some unfriendly schemes, in which the dark, undesirable young man and the disappointed officer will be concerned. The inversion of the one knave counteracts the intended harm.

The fourth pack—for those who do expect—contains the queen of hearts, the king of spades, and the seven of diamonds, inverted. These indicate that the fair woman of gentle and affectionate nature will be exposed to scandal, seven of diamonds reversed; through the agency of the king of spades, an ambitious untrustworthy lawyer who is her enemy.

The fifth pack, consisting of only two cards (the ace of hearts and the nine of diamonds), is for the surprise, and we learn that a love letter, the ace, will be delayed, the nine; but the consolation card is the king of clubs, the dark, warm-hearted man, who will come in person to his lady-love.

The above example has been taken in the plainest, most straightforward manner with just the most apparent reading of the cards given as an illustration of the method. Those who spend time and thought on the subject will soon get to see more of the "true inwardness" of the cards with respect to their relative positions, and their influence one upon another. Various experiments with this plan of fortune-telling will give rise to curious combinations, and perhaps startling developments, as the one acting for the inquirer gains in knowledge and confidence.

CHAPTER XIII

The Master Method

Knowledge is power—Four twos added to the usual pack—The thirty-six squares and their significance—Tendencies of the suits.

Knowledge is Power

WE have here a detailed and exhaustive method by which the cards can be read. The beginner may feel somewhat alarmed at the mass of explanatory matter there is for him to study, but when once the information has been acquired, the would-be cartomancer will find he possesses a sense of power and comprehension, that will give both confidence and dexterity to his attempts to unravel the thread of destiny.

Four Twos Added to the Usual Pack

The selected pack of thirty-two cards, which have been mentioned in connection with several of the preceding methods, are in this case augmented by the addition of the four twos, one of which is sometimes taken as the representative of the inquirer. There is no hard and fast rule about this, however, and another card may be taken if preferred. The accompanying table shows that not only has each card its own signification, but that every position upon the table within the cube in which the cards are arranged has its own meaning. These must be carefully studied, first separately and then together. It would be a help to the beginner to make a separate chart for his own use, and to have it at hand when laying the cards according to this system.

THE MASTER METHOD

TABLE OF THE POSITIONS AND THEIR SEVERAL MEANINGS.

The thirty-six cards must be shuffled and cut in the usual way, and then placed upon the table in six rows of six cards each, starting from the left-hand corner where square No. 1 is marked on the chart. The position of the inquirer must be carefully noted, and then all the cards in his immediate neighbourhood must be read in all their bearing, individually, and with regard to their position, and their influence upon the representative card.

The Thirty-Six Squares and their Significance

We will take the meanings of the thirty-six squares in connection with the several cards that may cover them.

No. 1. THE PROJECT IN HAND

When covered by a heart, the inquirer may hope that the project will be successfully carried out.
When covered by a club, kind and trusty friends will help forward the project.
When covered by a diamond, there are serious business complications in the way of the project's accomplishment.
When covered by a spade, the inquirer will have his trust abused and those in whom he has confided will play him false, to the detriment of the project in hand.

No. 2. SATISFACTION

When covered by a heart, the inquirer may look for the realisation of his brightest hopes and his dearest wishes.
When covered by a club, satisfaction will be derived by the help of true friends, who will do all in their power to promote the inquirer's happiness.
When covered by a diamond, there will be jealousy at work to mar the inquirer's satisfaction.
When covered by a spade, the hope of success will be well-nigh shattered by deceit and double-dealing.

No. 3. SUCCESS

When covered by a heart, the inquirer may hope for complete success.
When covered by a club, any success will be due to the help of friends.
When covered by a diamond, the success will be but incomplete.
When covered by a spade, all chance of success will be eventually destroyed by underhand means.

No. 4. HOPE

When covered by a heart, the inquirer may look for the fulfilment of his dearest hopes.
Covered by a club, hopes will be realised through the agency of helpful friends, or be due to the obstinate determination of the inquirer.
Covered by a diamond, it shows that the hopes are groundless and impossible of realisation.
Covered by a spade, wild hopes are indicated, tending to mania, and provocative of grave trouble, or even tragedy.

No. 5. CHANCE—LUCK

Covered by a heart, good luck will attend the hopes and plans of the inquirer.
Covered by a club, means moderately good luck, especially due to the kindly offices of friends.
Covered by a diamond, does not promise much luck to the inquirer; rather an evil than a good influence.
Covered by a spade, bad luck, robbery, financial ruin, disaster, and possibly death.

No. 6. WISHES—DESIRE

Covered by a heart and surrounded by good cards, it promises the immediate fulfilment of the inquirer's highest desires.
Covered by a club, a partial gratification of the inquirer's wishes may be expected.
Covered by a diamond, the earnest efforts of both the inquirer and his friends will only be crowned with imperfect success.
Covered by a spade, disappointment and non-fulfilment of desires.

No. 7. INJUSTICE

Covered by a heart, any injustice done to the inquirer will be rectified and withdrawn, so that the passing cloud will turn to his ultimate advantage.
Covered by a club, the wrong already done will require long and courageous efforts to efface its effects, and the inquirer will need the support of his best friends.
Covered by a diamond, the harm done will not be entirely remedied, but the inquirer's good name will be re-established.
Covered by a spade, injustice will bring about sore trouble and serious misfortunes.

No. 8. INGRATITUDE

The four suits have exactly the same influence upon the situation in this number as in the preceding one.

No. 9. ASSOCIATION

Covered by a heart, the partnership will be successful and have the best results.
Covered by a club, good results of co-operation or partnership will be effected through the agency of true friends.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will need to use all possible caution and diplomacy, and even then the results will be but unsatisfying.
Covered by a spade, the connection will not benefit the inquirer, in fact he may suffer terribly from it, but his friends will profit thereby.

No. 10. LOSS

Covered by a heart, shows loss of a benefactor, which will be a great grief to the inquirer.
Covered by a club, the loss of dear friends and the failure of cherished hopes.
Covered by a diamond, loss of money, goods, property, and personal effects.
Covered by a spade, the best interests of the inquirer will be seriously compromised, and he will have to renounce them.

No. 11. TROUBLE

Covered by a heart, very great trouble caused by near relations, or born of love for another.
Covered by a club, trouble with friends.
Covered by a diamond, money troubles.
Covered by a spade, trouble arising from jealousy.

No. 12. STATE OR CONDITION

Covered by a heart, the conditions of life are steadily improving.
Covered by a club, the improvement will be slower and more uncertain; hard work and good friends are essential to ensure advancement.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will only attain to a satisfactory position in life after he has overcome numerous and powerful enemies. He will never get very far however.
Covered by a spade, the inquirer's circumstances are bound to go from bad to worse, in spite of all he may do.

No. 13. JOY—DELIGHT

Covered by a heart, deep, unruffled delight, joy of a pure and disinterested nature.
Covered by a club, joy from material causes, better luck or greater prosperity.
Covered by a diamond, joy springing from success in profession or business, gained in spite of jealous opposition.
Covered by a spade, joy from having been able to render a service to a superior, who will not forget it.

No. 14. LOVE

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will be blessed and happy in his love.
Covered by a club, he may rely absolutely upon the fidelity of his beloved.
Covered by a diamond, love will be troubled by jealousy.
Covered by a spade, love will be slighted and betrayed.

No. 15. PROSPERITY

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will enjoy complete and well-merited prosperity.
Covered by a club, betokens moderate prosperity, due to hard work and the kindly offices of friends.
Covered by a diamond, prosperity will be damaged by the jealousy of others.
Covered by a spade, serious misfortunes will arise in business, brought about by the malice and fraud of other people.

No. 16. MARRIAGE

Covered by a heart, the inquirer may look forward to a happy and well-assorted marriage.
Covered by a club, foretells a marriage prompted by practical or financial considerations alone.
Covered by a diamond, the married life will be troubled by the jealousy of one or both partners.
Covered by a spade, inquirer will lose the chance of a wealthy marriage, through the deceit and jealousy of his enemies.

No. 17. SORROW—AFFLICTION

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will pass through a love trouble, but it will only be of short duration.
Covered by a club, trouble will arise from a quarrel with a dear friend, but it will end in complete reconciliation.
Covered by a diamond, there will be sorrow caused by jealousy.
Covered by a spade, bad faith and underhand dealings will bring affliction upon the inquirer.

No. 18. PLEASURE—ENJOYMENT

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will enjoy the bliss of mutual love, undimmed by even passing clouds.
Covered by a club, there will be love of a more imperfect and superficial character.
Covered by a diamond, love will be tormented and distracted by jealousy.
Covered by a spade, love will be unreal and evanescent, unable to bear the test of time, or to survive the first disagreement.

No. 19. INHERITED MONEY OR PROPERTY

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will come into a large inheritance, to which he has a legitimate and undisputed right.
Covered by a club, a friend will bequeath a portion of his property or money to the inquirer.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will lose part of his rights, owing to the jealousy of another person.
Covered by a spade, an entire estate will be stolen from the inquirer by intriguing rivals.

No. 20. FRAUD—DECEIT

Covered by a heart, the deceiver will be caught in the trap he has laid for the inquirer.
Covered by a club, by the aid of true friends the inquirer will escape from the effects of an act of treachery.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will have to suffer great pain from the consequences of deceit, but it will only be a passing trouble.
Covered by a spade, deceit and underhand dealings will culminate in calumny which will cost the inquirer many friends, and have serious consequences for him.

No. 21. RIVALS

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will obtain his desire in spite of powerful or puny rivals.
Covered by a club, rivals will be overcome with difficulty, and with the help of generous friends.
Covered by a diamond, a rival will so far outwit the inquirer as to obtain some of the advantage, wealth, or favour for which he is striving.
Covered by a spade, the rival will triumph over the inquirer, robbing him, and plunging him into disgrace both with his benefactors and with members of his own immediate circle.

No. 22. A PRESENT OR GIFT

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will have a very handsome and unexpected present.
Covered by a club, the inquirer will receive a gift that is bestowed upon him from motives of self-interest, or in a spirit of vulgar display.
Covered by a diamond, points to a gift intended to act as a bribe.
Covered by a spade, indicates a present which is given to further the deceitful ends of the donor.

No. 23. LOVER

Covered by a heart, the lover or the lady, as the case may be, will be both fond and faithful in life and death.
Covered by a club, the beloved will be faithful, but somewhat faulty in other respects.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer may be prepared to find the beloved both jealous and disposed to sulk.
Covered by a spade, the beloved will prove faithless, selfish, and vindictive.

No. 24. ADVANCEMENT

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will soon see a rapid improvement in his worldly position, and it will exceed his wildest hopes.
Covered by a club, there will be a moderate and satisfying advance in the inquirer's circumstances, which will be the result of his own hard work, aided by the sympathy and help of his friends. He will be contented and happy.
Covered by a diamond, advancement will only be obtained after a hard struggle against difficulties, caused by the jealous ill-will of others.
Covered by a spade, the underhand dealings of his enemies will destroy all hope of a rise in the world.

No. 25. KINDNESS—A GOOD TURN

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will receive a kindness which far exceeds both his expectations and his deserts.
Covered by a club, this good turn will be well deserved, but only obtained by the help of disinterested friends.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will only obtain a modicum of kindness, and that after he has surmounted serious obstacles built up by the jealousy of his enemies.
Covered by a spade, the inquirer will not benefit by the good turn which he well deserves, but he will have to see it diverted from him by double-dealing.

No. 26. UNDERTAKING—ENTERPRISE

Covered by a heart, whatever undertaking the inquirer has in hand will meet with signal success.
Covered by a club, the enterprise will be a financial success, owing to the help of friends.
Covered by a diamond, the success of the undertaking will be hindered and decreased by the jealousy and self-seeking of some people concerned in it.
Covered by a spade, the inquirer must prepare for failure in his enterprise, owing to the malicious intrigues of his rivals.

No. 27. CHANGES

Covered by a heart, the change contemplated by the inquirer is a good one.
Covered by a club, a change for the better will take place in the inquirer's circumstances, owing to the good offices of friends.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will make an earnest attempt to change his position in life, but his efforts will be fruitless.
Covered by a spade, a change, very much for the worse, is to be apprehended. It will be brought about by the malice and double-dealing of those who seek to harm him.

No. 28. THE END (OF LIFE)

Covered by a heart, by the death of a relation or friend the inquirer will come into a considerable fortune.
Covered by a club, a handsome legacy from a friend may be expected by the inquirer.
Covered by a diamond, one who wishes ill to the inquires will depart this life.
Covered by a spade, this portends the untimely death of the inquirer's greatest enemy.

No. 29. REWARD

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will be rewarded out of all proportion to his efforts.
Covered by a club, a due and fitting reward will be meted out to industry and perseverance.
Covered by a diamond, a well-merited reward will be hindered and reduced, by the unscrupulous action of others.
Covered by a spade, the inquirer will be done out of his just reward, by the double-dealing and dishonesty of certain people.

No. 30. DISGRACE-MISFORTUNE

Covered by a heart, misfortune will come to the inquirer, but it will not do him any permanent harm.
Covered by a club, the inquirer will suffer through the disgrace of a friend.
Covered by a diamond, misfortune will be brought about by jealousy, and will indirectly affect the inquirer.
Covered by a spade, dishonesty and double-dealing will cause disgrace, from which the inquirer will suffer long and acutely.

No. 31. HAPPINESS

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will experience unexpected happiness which will be both deep and lasting.
Covered by a club, a stroke of luck will come to the inquirer, through the good offices of friends.
Covered by a diamond, the jealousy and ambition of false friends will result in good fortune to the inquirer.
Covered by a spade, the life of the inquirer will be in danger from the malice of his enemies. Their murderous schemes will be happily defeated by the vigilance of his friends.

No. 32. MONEY—FORTUNE

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will rapidly acquire a large fortune, by making a hit in his profession, or by a lucky speculation.
Covered by a club, by hard work and sustained effort the inquirer will secure a competence, and will receive both help and encouragement from his friends.
Covered by a diamond, through misplaced confidence in unworthy friends the inquirer will see his fortune pass into dishonest hands.
Covered by a spade, not only will the inquirer be tricked out of his money by dishonest acquaintances, but he will have to suffer for their misdeeds in his business or profession.

No. 33. INDIFFERENCE

Covered by a heart, thanks to his indifference and want of heart the inquirer will lead an unruffled, if somewhat joyless, life.
Covered by a club, lack of interest and energy will allow the inquirer to let slip things that would give him pleasure.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will forfeit the love and regard of valuable friends owing to indifference and utter unresponsiveness.
Covered by a spade, as a result of culpable indifference the inquirer will be robbed and impoverished.

No. 34. FAVOUR

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will enjoy all that love can bestow upon the beloved.
Covered by a club, the inquirer will honestly seek and acquire the favour of influential persons.
Covered by a diamond, the favour of the great will be long and earnestly sought by the inquirer, who will not succeed single-handed.
Covered by a spade, no effort of any kind will admit the inquirer to the favour to which he aspires.

No. 35. AMBITION

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will shortly arrive at the highest point of his ambition.
Covered by a club, the moderate ambition of the inquirer will be realised.
Covered by a diamond, the lawful ambitions of the inquirer will be partially frustrated, by the ill-will and jealousy of certain acquaintances.
Covered by a spade, the principal ambition of the inquirer will be defeated by underhand transactions, and he will even suffer from the consequences of perfectly justifiable steps which he may take to accomplish his desire.

No. 36, SICKNESS—ILL-HEALTH

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will suffer from passing ailments, that will leave no bad results.
Covered by a club, a rather serious illness may be expected.
Covered by a diamond, an acute attack of a definite disease.
Covered by a spade, a very severe illness, that may materially interfere with the inquirer's career or happiness.

Tendencies of the Suits

It will be seen in the foregoing definitions that hearts are almost invariably the sign of good luck, love, and happiness. Even where the position is indicative of misfortune, the presence of a heart has a mitigating effect upon the evil. Clubs rank next in order of good fortune, and seem specially connected with the precious gift of true friendship.

Diamonds seem accompanied by the disquieting elements of jealousy and rivalry, which strew obstacles in the path to success and happiness, while for sheer bad luck and dire disaster the ill-omened suit of spades stands unrivalled.

CHAPTER XIV

Signification of Suits in the Master Method

Court cards—Plain cards—An example of the Master Method.

Hearts

THE King of Hearts.—In this method he represents a married man or a widower. Should the inquirer be a woman, and this card fall upon either of the squares, 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, he then denotes a lover. Should the inquirer be a man, the king falling in the above-named squares signifies a rival.

When this card falls on either of the following numbers, 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 29, 23, 24, 29, 31, 32, 34, the situation is favourable, and the inquirer will have his wishes granted with respect to the special meaning of the square.

When the king falls on No. 1, 5, 6, 9, 12, 22, 26, 27, or 28, it foretells a satisfactory solution of any matter connected with the subject represented by the squares.

Should he fall upon an unlucky square, namely, No. 7, 8, 10, 11, 27, 20, 22, 30, 33, 35, or 36, he mitigates the evil fortune of the positions.

The Queen of Hearts.—She signifies a married woman or a widow who desires the happiness of the inquirer, and does her best to promote it.

If the inquirer is a man, this card falling on the squares 24, 22, 23, 24, or 32, represents his lady-love. In the event of his being already engaged, his fiancée will possess all the most lovable and desirable qualities.

When the inquirer is a woman, and the queen of hearts falls on either of the above-named squares, it shows that she has a rival to reckon with. Should she be engaged, it indicates that her future husband is both young and well equipped for social and professional success.

When a very elderly person consults the cards, the above combination foretells a peaceful, contented old age.

To any one interested in agriculture, the same combination promises abundant crops.

The Knave of Hearts.—This card represents a good-natured, amiable, but rather insipid young man, devoid alike of violent passions and exalted aspirations.

When a young girl consults the cards, this knave falling on the squares 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, may be taken to personate her fiancé.

When the inquirer is a young, unmarried man, the same combination indicates that he will marry the object of his choice, after he has surmounted considerable obstacles by his tact and quiet determination.

The Ten of Hearts.—The signification of this card does not differ from that given in the general definitions save in the following cases:—

When it falls on square No. 10, it signifies success.

When it falls on square No. 14, it signifies success in love.

When it falls on square No. 16, it signifies a happy marriage. If, in the last-named case, a knave or a seven falls on No. 7, 15, 17, or 25, there will be several children born of the union.

If the ten of hearts falls on squares 18, 19, 31, or 32, it foretells wealth, intense enjoyment, and real happiness.

The Nine of Hearts.—The only addition to the general signification is, that when this card falls near the seven of clubs, it denotes that a promise already made to the inquirer will shortly be fulfilled.

The Eight of Hearts.—This card is the special messenger of good things when it falls on one of the following squares: 5, 9, 15, 18, 19, 22, or 31.

The Seven of Hearts.—If this card falls on No. 14, 23, 23, 24, or 32, when the inquirer is a bachelor, it signifies that he will very soon take unto himself a wife.

The Two of Hearts.—This is frequently taken as the representative card, and in that case is entirely influenced by its position on the chart, taken in connection with the cards that touch or surround it.

The Ace of Hearts.—This card represents the house of the inquirer as it does in other methods. It is very important to note its position on the chart and its surroundings.

Clubs

The King of Clubs.—Taken generally, this card represents a married man or a widower, whose worth as a friend is not to be excelled.

When the inquirer is a young girl, and this king falls on No. 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, she may rejoice, for she will shortly be united in marriage to the man she loves.

Should a young man be consulting the cards, this king falling on any of the above-named squares denotes a generous, high-minded rival who will meet him in fair fight, and who is far above anything like taking a mean advantage.

When this card falls on No. 18, 19, 20, 27, or 28, it represents the guardian of a minor, whose line of conduct will be determined by the cards which surround or touch it.

The Queen of Clubs.—When a bachelor consults the cards, and this queen falls on No. 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, it promises him a lady-love whose beauty shall be her strongest attraction.

Should a woman be seeking to know her fate, this queen falling on either of the above-named squares warns her that she has a rival. In the case of the inquirer being a married man or woman, this card represents a woman of high position and great influence who is attractive, to the inquirer, and who will be the means of bringing him or her valuable and pleasing intelligence.

In the case of a business man the above combination denotes that he will be entirely successful in the enterprise which is engrossing all his thoughts at the moment.

The Knave of Clubs.—This card may be taken to represent a sincere and lasting friendship founded upon a basis that will endure.

When the inquirer is a young girl, and this card falls upon either of the matrimonial squares, namely, 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, it signifies some man who wants to marry her.

In the case of a bachelor, this card on the same squares tells him that he has a rival, either in love or in his business career.

The Ten of Clubs.—This card is the harbinger of good luck if it falls on No. 3, 5, 15, 18, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, or 32.

Should this card fall on squares 10, 17, or 36, it implies that the inquirer will be asked for a loan in money, which he will be unable to lend.

The Nine of Clubs.—This card means a present, and if it follows a club, the gift will be in money; if it follows a heart, the inquirer may look for a present of jewellery; if it follows a diamond, the gift will be but trifling in value; and if it follows a spade, the recipient of the present will derive no pleasure from it.

The Eight of Clubs has no special significance outside the general definition.

The Seven of Clubs.—This represents a young girl capable of the highest self-devotion, even to risking her life in the interests of the inquirer. The exact nature of her relations and services to the object of her affection will be decided by the surrounding cards.

In the case of a bachelor, this card falling on any of the squares 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, represents the lady of his choice.

In the case of an unmarried girl or a widow, the same combination points to a generous rival.

Whenever this seven comes out near the nine of hearts, the wish card, it is a token of some signal success for the inquirer.

The Two of Clubs.—This represents the trusted friend of the inquirer, and the square on which it falls will give the requisite information, if its meaning be taken in conjunction with those of the surrounding cards.

The Ace of Clubs.—This card is the sign of a well-ordered life and legitimate hopes, and foretells success in an ordinary career, or the attainment of celebrity in special cases.

Should the inquirer be a soldier by profession, it signifies a fortunate turn of events, that will secure him a rapid rise in the army.

To one interested in agriculture, it promises plentiful crops.

To a traveller, it foretells a most satisfactory result from his journey.

To an actress, it promises phenomenal success in a leading rôle. Should the inquirer or one of his parents be a dramatic or lyrical author, this card is the augury of theatrical success.

Diamonds

The King of Diamonds.—Should the inquirer be a young girl, she will do well to note whether this card falls on any of the matrimonial squares, 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, for in that case her present admirer is not to be trusted, unless he has cards of good import touching him, or is preceded by either a heart or a club.

The Queen of Diamonds.—If this card falls on any of the matrimonial squares, 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, it signifies to a bachelor that he will be engaged to one whose character is to be read in the surrounding cards. If this queen be preceded by a heart or a club, it promises good luck on the whole; but if by a diamond or a spade, the augury is bad.

Should the inquirer be a young unmarried woman or a widow, this card falling on the above-named squares indicates that she has a rival whose character is revealed by the cards touching it.

The Knave of Diamonds.—For an unmarried woman or a widow, this card represents a lover from a foreign country. If it is accompanied by a heart, he has many good points to recommend him; if by a club, he is kind and generous; if by a diamond, he is bad-tempered, exacting, and jealous; if by a spade, he is an undesirable, and she had better have nothing to do with him.

The Ten of Diamonds.—The general meaning of this card is a journey.
If it falls between two spades, the journey will be long.
If it falls between two hearts, the journey will be short.
If it falls between two clubs, the journey will be successful.
If it falls between two diamonds, the journey will have bad results.
The Nine of Diamonds.—This card signifies news. If preceded by a heart or a club, the news will be good. If preceded by a diamond or a spade, the news will be bad.
The Eight of Diamonds.—This card signifies a short journey. If it fall between two hearts, the expedition will be an enjoyable pleasure trip.
If between two clubs, it denotes a satisfactory business journey.
If between two diamonds, it signifies a trip begun for pleasure and ending in misadventure.
If between two spades, it signifies an unsuccessful business journey.
The Seven of Diamonds.—This card stands for a young girl of foreign birth and breeding. Taken by itself it means love-sorrows and heart-searchings.

Should the inquirer be a bachelor, and this card fall on one of the matrimonial squares, 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, it signifies a lady-love as above described.

This seven is an excellent augury when it falls on No. 2, 3, 15, 16, 18, or 27.

The Two of Diamonds has practically the same signification as the deuce of clubs, unless it be selected as the representative card.

The Ace of Diamonds.—The signification of this card is a letter.

If preceded by a heart, it is a letter from a lover or friend.
If preceded by a club, it is a letter on business or one containing money.
If preceded by a diamond, the letter is dictated by jealousy.
If preceded by a spade, the letter contains bad news.

Spades

The King of Spades.—When the inquirer is an unmarried woman or a widow, this card falling on one of the squares, 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, is indicative of a false lover whose character is mean and base.

When the inquirer is an unmarried man, the above combination signifies that he has a rival.

This card falling on the squares numbered 10, 18, 19, 20, 27, 28, or 29, represents a guardian or the executor of a will.

To a married man, this king is a warning that there are domestic ructions in store for him.

To a married woman, the card cautions her to be very much on her guard when in the society of an attractive but unprincipled man whom she has to meet frequently, and who will bring scandal upon her if she is not most careful.

The Queen of Spades.—When the inquirer is a bachelor, this card falling on No. 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, represents the lady to whom he will be engaged.

In the case of an unmarried woman or a widow, the combination signifies a rival in love.

The Knave of Spades, the Ten of Spades, the Nine of Spades, and the Eight of Spades have no special signification other than that given in the general definitions.

The Seven of Spades.—This card signifies all troubles and worries connected with the tender passion.

Should the inquirer be a man, this seven falling on squares 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32 foretells faithlessness on the part of his fiancée, a betrayal of trust by some other woman, or a robbery.

When the inquirer is a woman, this card on any of the same squares points to a rival who will be preferred before her.

The Two of Spades may be taken as a representative card, but otherwise has no special signification.

The Ace of Spades is a card of good omen, meaning perseverance followed by possession, a happy marriage, success, and rapid advancement in business or profession.

An Example of the Master Method

We have taken the deuce of hearts as the representative card of the inquirer, who is a fair young girl seeking to know her fate. We will give the order in which the thirty-six cards come out, but intend to leave the bulk of them for the reader to solve according to the instructions given.

We have taken the inquirer and her immediate surroundings as an example of the working of the method, and feel sure that any intelligent reader will be able to complete the reading for himself.

We find the inquirer in No. 16, which square when covered by a heart indicates a happy and well-suited marriage. On her left in No. 15 (prosperity) she has the queen of diamonds, a very fair woman who is fond of gossip, and somewhat wanting in refinement of feeling. She will interfere with the inquirer's prosperity through jealousy, but on the whole she will bring good luck because she is preceded by a club. To the right in No. 17 (sorrow) we have the king of spades, a dark, ambitious, but unscrupulous man, who is the inquirer's legal adviser, and will bring grave sorrow upon her by his underhand dealings. Immediately above her we have in No. 10 (loss) the seven of spades, a card representing troubles connected with a love affair. This square being covered by a spade indicates that she will be unjustly compelled to relinquish her rights, and her chance of marriage may be lessened or postponed by the loss of her fortune.

On the left above her we get in No. 9 (association) the ten of hearts, a most cheering and excellent card, promising her success and happiness in a partnership which she is contemplating. On the right, above, in No. 11 (trouble) we have the nine of spades, a bad omen, signifying the failure of her hopes through the jealousy of some other person.

Immediately below her we find in No. 22 (a gift) the king of clubs, who is her true and valued friend, either a married man or a widower. He will make her a present, and will be actuated by certain motives of self-interest in so doing; but she may keep a good heart, for his presence in that position on the chart indicates that she will soon be united to the man of her choice. On the left, below, in No. 21 (rival) we find the knave of spades, a legal agent whose influence will be instrumental in enabling a rival to triumph over and bring discredit upon the inquirer. On the right, below, we have in No. 23 (a lover) the nine of clubs, which in this case means a gift in money. We may take it that her faithful lover, uninfluenced by her pecuniary losses, has decided to make her a present, probably in the form of marriage settlements.

The remainder of the chart will provide the student with many more interesting particulars regarding the fate of this fair inquirer, and at the same time prove an excellent exercise in the art of cartomancy.

CHAPTER XV

Combination of Nines

How to Work it

THE fifty-two cards must be shuffled and cut into three packs by the person who wishes to have his or her fortune told, and the fortune-teller must be careful to note what cards appear as the various packs are turned face upwards, as this will be found to assist the reading.

The card representing the inquirer must first be selected according to the rules given in Chapter VII; it is not to be withdrawn, but shuffled and cut with the pack.

Then lay the cards nine in a row, beginning from right to left with each row; only seven will be in the last row. The cards being in order on the table, you must begin by counting nine from your representative card and nine again from the ninth, until you come to a card that has already been counted.

The court cards represent the various people with whom the inquirer is brought into contact, and their relation and attitude are easily determined by the import of the cards between. Three deals are necessary for a good reading.

An Example

I give an example of fortune-telling by the combination of nines, because an illustration is of practical help.

The pack having been dealt with in the manner described, we find the cards have resolved themselves thus, reading from left to right in each row:—

First line.—Seven of clubs, seven of spades, king of spades, ace of diamonds, ace of hearts, knave of clubs, four of hearts, eight of hearts, knave of spades.
Second line.—Two of diamonds, three of diamonds, two of hearts, six of hearts, king of diamonds, five of clubs, two of clubs, five of spades, three of hearts.
Third line.—Five of hearts, six of diamonds, four of clubs, queen of clubs, five of diamonds, three of spades, king of hearts, four of diamonds, ten of spades.
Fourth line.—Nine of spades, queen of spades, eight of diamonds, six of clubs, ace of spades, queen of diamonds, king of clubs, knave of hearts, six of spades, nine of hearts.
Fifth line.—Ten of diamonds, eight of clubs, seven of diamonds, ace of clubs, nine of clubs, nine of diamonds, knave of diamonds, ten of hearts, ten of clubs.
Sixth line.—Eight of spades, queen of hearts, seven of hearts, four of spades, three of clubs, two of spades.

We will take the queen of hearts to represent the inquirer, and, as she is in the lowest line of all, will count upwards. The ninth card is the knave of clubs, and the next ninth the six of hearts, then the three of spades, the ace of spades, and nine of clubs, which last brings us back to our queen.

According to the signification given by this method the reading would be as follows

The First Reading

My general reading of this would be that if the queen of hearts were an unmarried woman she was in danger of making an unhappy marriage, which would bring the displeasure of her friends upon her. If she will avoid forming hasty friendships, and take the advice of a man who is older and darker than herself, she will avoid much misfortune.

If married, the queen is the victim of an ill-assorted union, but she must be careful not to give too much credence to the reports of friends, and must guard her own conduct carefully. We will now proceed with the next deal, to see if we can find a more favourable augury in the Book of Fate.

The Second Reading

First line.—Eight of clubs, queen of hearts, six of spades, eight of spades, eight of hearts, six of diamonds, ten of hearts, nine of clubs, six of hearts.
Second line.—Three of spades, ace of spades, three of diamonds, king of spades, ace of diamonds, ace of hearts, king of diamonds, king of clubs, ace of clubs.
Third line.—Ten of spades, five of clubs, two of hearts, five of hearts, ten of diamonds, four of hearts, two of clubs, knave of spades, three of hearts.
Fourth line.—Five of spades, four of clubs, six of clubs, queen of diamonds, four of diamonds, king of hearts, nine of spades, five of diamonds, seven of clubs.
Fifth line.—Knave of clubs, ten of clubs, three of clubs, nine of diamonds, queen of spades, seven of spades, knave of hearts, eight of diamonds, seven of diamonds.
Sixth line.—Seven of hearts, four of spades, queen of clubs, two of spades, knave of diamonds, two of diamonds, nine of hearts.

Here our inquirer does not prove to be a very wise person. In spite of the warning and displeasure of friends, regardless of the affection of a good man, and elated through unexpected riches, she listens with credulous mind to one who will cause her much unhappiness. Let us hope she will stop short of one fatal step, and take the good honourable love that is awaiting her.

The ninth card is the king of clubs, and the five of the same suit following in our arranged plan, then the five of diamonds, the ten of clubs, the two of diamonds, the six of hearts, and the three of spades complete this reading. A reference to the signification will show the importance of these cards.

Perhaps in the third reading we may have more success.

The Third Reading

First line.—Ace of clubs, eight of clubs, queen of hearts, ten of spades, king of clubs, five of diamonds, ten of clubs, nine of spades, knave of spades.
Second line.—Three of spades, two of spades, six of hearts, tight of spades, five of spades, knave of clubs, seven of hearts, four of spades, queen of clubs.
Third line.—Five of hearts, two of diamonds, three of diamonds, queen of diamonds, eight of hearts, three of clubs, five of clubs, ace of diamonds, six of diamonds.
Fourth line.—Four of diamonds, six of clubs, seven of dubs, seven of diamonds, six of spades, nine of diamonds, knave of diamonds, nine of hearts, eight of diamonds.
Fifth line.—Ten of hearts, king of spades, two of hearts, ten of diamonds, ace of hearts, four of hearts, king of hearts, king of diamonds, queen of spades.
Sixth line.—Two of clubs, seven of spades, knave of hearts, nine of clubs, three of hearts, four of clubs, ace of spades.

The cards here are of better promise, though still full of warning. The ninth card is the seven of hearts, which means unfaithfulness, followed by another card indicating domestic dissension. The next is the knave of diamonds, and treachery is to be apprehended. But there is considerable success if care is exercised, and later on there appears to be a happy marriage with comfort and even luxury.

Throughout her life the inquirer would have to be on her guard against forming hasty friendships, and refrain from listening to scandal about those near and dear to her. In this case I should think there would be two marriages, the first not happy (which would probably be dissolved by the law), then a happier time later on in life, with one who had been content to wait.

CHAPTER XVI

Your Heart's Desire

The wish with fifteen cards—Another way—The wish with thirty-two cards—What the four aces tell—The wish in seven packs—The wish card again.

The Wish with Fifteen Cards

HAVING shuffled the cards well, select according to the second method the card which will represent the inquirer—a king for a man, a queen for a woman—and place this card on the table; then request your subject to wish for some one thing whilst he or she is shuffling the pack (which must only include the selected thirty-two cards). The pack must be cut once.

Take the cards, and holding them easily in your own hands, let the inquirer draw fifteen cards, placing them face downwards on the table, one on top of the other in the order drawn. The fifteen cards having been drawn, discard the others, and place the selected ones in position according to the following plan: The representative card is to be in the centre, and the other cards are to be placed to the left—to the right—above—below—and on the centre, one by one. Thus on the left you will have the first, sixth, and eleventh; on the right, the second, seventh, and twelfth; above, the third, eighth, and thirteenth; below, the fourth, ninth, and fourteenth; and on the representative card you will have placed the fifth, tenth, and fifteenth. (See diagram.)

Then take the left packet and turn and read according to the meaning in the combination of sevens. The next packet to be taken is the one on the right, then the one above, and following that the packet below. The left and top packets...

represent events that may influence your wish in the future; the packets on the right and below show those events which have influenced it in the past; whilst those cards covering the representative card indicate affairs that may be expected immediately, and are to be read in strict reference to the wish.

Another Way with Fifty-two Cards

Let the inquirer shuffle the cards well, and cut them into three packs, having first selected your representative card, as in the former method, and placed it in the centre of a circle.

Take up the packs and lay the cards in a circle, using forty-two, and with the remaining nine form a triangle inside the circle. The cards must be laid face down.

Now let the inquirer choose any fifteen cards, which must be faced upwards as he makes his selection. When fifteen cards are chosen, read the signification according to the meaning given in the combination of nines.

Generally speaking, if diamonds predominate the fortune will be fair; if hearts appear in the ascendant, love affairs are prosperous; clubs will show how material interests are progressing; and spades will prepare us for sorrow.

The Wish with Thirty-two Cards

Take out all the twos, threes, fours, fives, and sixes from an ordinary pack. The inquirer must then shuffle the remaining thirty-two, cut with the left hand, and wish from the depths of the heart. The dealer places eight cards, face downwards, upon the table in a row before him. He next turns them up one by one, beginning from the left, and as soon as a pair of any kind, it does not matter what, be exposed, they must both be covered by cards taken from the pack in his hand. If they all pair off exactly, it may be taken as a sign that the inquirer's wish will be gratified, but if at any moment there are no pairs exposed, the fates are unpropitious, and the search for a favourable answer must be abandoned. Should most of the cards pair off, leaving only one, two, or three unmated, it portends delay and disappointment before the realisation of the desire.

What the Four Aces Tell

Take the thirty-two cards up again, shuffle them, and mentally register your wish. The first thirteen cards must be turned up, and a careful search made for any aces that may be there. If found, place them on one side. The rest of the cards must be shuffled again and thirteen more dealt out, with a second search for aces. This is done a third time if all the four have not appeared; and if they still refuse to come, there is no hope of the wish being granted. It is the best possible omen if the four aces come out in the first deal, and very good luck if they arrive with only two attempts; but the third is the last chance, so the turning up of those thirteen cards is fraught with much excitement.

The Wish in Seven Packs

This is a very simple method, but it is by no means always propitious to the inquirer; if, however, he does get the desired answer, we take it that the capricious goddess is in a very smiling mood.

Thirty-two cards are required, and they must be arranged in suits in the following order: Ace, king, queen, knave, ten, nine, eight, seven. The cards must not be shuffled, but the arranged pack is cut, with the left hand, into seven smaller packs, and all are placed face downwards upon the table.

The dealer must then proceed to turn up the top cards of each pack, and as a pair of queens, nines, knaves, or whatever they may happen to be becomes visible, he must remove them from the packs. Should all the cards pair off in this manner, the wish may be taken as one that will speedily be granted. Should the cards come out awkwardly, literally in sixes and sevens instead of pairs, the inquirer must adapt his desires to the inevitable with the best grace he can.

The Wish Card Again

Yet a sixth way, which will give some idea if the heart's desire will be gratified, is as follows:—

Shuffle the whole pack of cards and give them to the inquirer, who must then divide the pack into three, wishing intently all the time. Take up the packs separately and glance through them; the nine of hearts is the most important card, as that is the symbol of the wish. Should this be in juxtaposition to the card—the king or queen—representing the inquirer, and with favourable surroundings, then you may conclude that the things hoped for will come to pass. Also, if the wish card is in combination with cards that are an indication of the inquirer's desires, it is a favourable augury.

For instance, if the wish referred to business, and the suit of clubs surrounded the nine of hearts, then it might be concluded that the matter would terminate in a prosperous manner. Diamonds, as they foretell wealth, would also pro muse prosperity; hearts imply good wishes and good will, whilst spades carry a sinister import.

CHAPTER XVII

A Rhyming Divination

Diamonds—Hearts—Spades—Clubs

THERE are those to whom the more elaborate forms of fortune-telling by cards may seem a trifle wearisome, or possibly too intricate to be followed without a somewhat exhausting effort of attention. The method which we give in this chapter has the advantage of being at once simple, diverting, and varied.

As the rhyming significations concern both sexes, a great deal of fun can be provided where there is a party of young people, and who can tell whether the long arm of coincidence may not use this old-time practice to bring some loving pair together?

Take a new pack of cards, or at any rate one in which there are no tell-tale marks on the reverse sides, and spread them face downwards upon the table. Before any one draws a card, he or she is requested to close the eyes, place the right hand on the heart, and say, "Honi soit qui mal y pense." The card must then be drawn with the left hand, and its meaning will be read by the one who holds the key contained in the verses which we now give.

Diamonds

Ace. Since that this ace is now your lot,
You will wed one that's fierce and hot;
But if a woman does draw it,
She will wed one with wealth and wit.

Two. Hast thou not drawn the number two?
Thy spouse shall be both just and true.
But if a woman this now have,
Beware a sly and crafty knave!

Three. You that have drawn the number three
Great honour will your fortune be;
But if a female draw the same,
She must beware of fickle shame.

Four. The man that draws the number four
Shall quite forsake his native shore;
But if the same a woman finds,
Both hand and heart in love she joins.

Five. He that draweth the number five,
Where he was born he best will thrive;
But if it's drawn by womankind,
Good luck abroad they sure will find.

Six. He that can catch the number six
Will have cunning and crafty tricks;
But if a woman draw the same,
Twill show that she is free from blame.

Seven. Since that the seven does appear,
Crosses thou hast great cause to fear;
Women, whene’er the same they draw,
Shall not fear crosses more than straw.

Eight. Hast thou then drawn the number eight?
Thou sure wilt be a rascal great;
Females that chance the same to take,
They never will the truth forsake.

Nine. Hast thou turn’d up the merry nine?
Then guineas will thy pocket line;
She that doth draw it to her hand
Will die for love or leave the land.

Ten. O brave! the ten, ’tis very well!
There's none in love shall thee excel.
Only the maid who draws the ten
May wed, but nobody knows when.

King. This noble king of diamonds shows
Thou long shalt live where pleasure flows!
But when a woman draws the king,
Sad, melancholy songs she'll sing.

Queen. Now is the queen of diamonds fair,
She shows thou shalt some office share;
Oh, woman! if it fall to you,
Friends you will have not a few.

Knave. Is now the knave of diamonds come?
Be sure beware the martial drum;
Yet if a woman draw the knave,
She shall much better fortune have.