Some General Rules of Thumb (Old Wives’ Tales) about Card Reading
There are some general observations cartomancers have made over the years about the presence or absence of certain cards in a spread. A predominance of certain cards can lend further nuance and interpretation to the reading.
• If most of the cards in a reading are red, the outcome of the matter will be positive.
• If most of the cards in a reading are black, the inquirer is in for something of a roller-coaster ride, with a lot of ups and downs.
• A predominance of spades indicates changes, obstacles, unexpected events, mysteries and even danger. The inquirer will have to act, speak, and move with care during this period.
• A predominance of clubs indicates a varied, interesting and stimulating period ahead. The inquirer could likely make some new friends during this period. If most of the cards in the reading are clubs, then it’s a caution the inquirer may be tempted to take on more responsibilities and obligations than they can handle.
• A predominance of hearts indicates a period of laughter, happiness and joy, and frequently indicate success in some endeavor. If most of the cards in a reading are hearts, then it’s a warning the inquirer could overindulge in a lot of ways, and show little concern for others.
• A predominance of diamonds indicates important financial and business matters, and having to deal with the practicalities of life. Mostly diamonds in a spread is a warning the inquirer may be a little too obsessed with money, and neglecting other areas of life.
• If most of the cards in a spread are high ones, say eights and above, particularly aces and court cards, then the inquirer is about to experience some major changes in their life.
• If most of the cards in a spread are the low-value numbers, then the inquirer’s life will continue on as usual. They need not expect any major changes for the foreseeable future.
• Three Aces in a spread can indicate new opportunities and dynamic action. The inquirer should be prepared to go for it.
• Four Aces in a spread can indicate either potential success in every area of the inquirer’s life or a success achieved after much effort and hard work.
• Two, three or four Jacks in a reading are traditionally held to indicate disagreements, friction or arguments. Remember, Jacks are youths. They may just be talking, but it’s just as likely, they’re arguing.
• Two, three or four Queens in a reading are traditionally held to indicate gossip, slander, or backbiting; certainly, the inquirer is being talked-about. Hopefully, in a good way.
• Two, three or four Kings in a reading can indicate good fortune, great fortune, or success and honors; the more Kings, the greater the inquirer’s fortune. The only other omen this positive is having all four Aces turn up in a reading.
I have reasons to believe that Spade element is Fire and Club is Air.
I have seen that same attribution of element-ownership, Spades=Fire and Clubs=Air somewhere, but I can’t recall exactly where. Since Clubs seemed to me to be roughly-analogous to Wands in function (both get waved in the air), and Spades struck me as being roughly-analogous to Swords in function (both cut), the elements I assigned to both followed-on from that. But your correspondences make sense. Clubs and Swords are weapons (which are wielded in Air), and Spades and Wands are tools. Also, Clubs are associated with communications, which is a very ‘air’ thing. Richard Webster, in his book “Playing Card Divination for Beginners” says Spades=Fire and Clubs=Earth(!). I always thought Diamonds were Earth, since Diamonds are analogous to Pentacles/Coins. I’m going to have to do more research on this matter. Thank you for mentioning this!
Hi! Great information in this article & thank you for sharing.
Question, for Spades the Section of Medieval is missing. What is their medieval section?
Thanks!
Thank you for calling this to my attention! I overlooked that detail. It is now corrected.