CONCLUDING REMARKS
I find Piquet deck divination to be accurate, but giving minimal, rather basic information. At least, the Six-Pile lay-out does. Personally, I found the Piquet to be frustratingly general and vague, in a kind of ‘yes, I knew that, but what else?’ sort of way. The only other symbol-set I’ve found which can be as frustratingly general and vague is Morgan’s Tarot, which, to be fair, merely reflects the time and culture from which it sprang. Get into that mind-set, and it works. But your mileage may vary.
Also, it’s hard not to bring the general meanings of each card into consideration when you’re reading the playing cards as a regular 52 or 53-card deck. For example, Miall’s description of the King of Diamonds’ meaning in the Piquet deck is, “A good-looking or white-haired man. He may be rather fickle, obstinant and unfriendly.” But like Madame LeNormand, I’ve found the King of Diamonds can indicate a deceitful person; a thief or a con artist of any gender. That’s a bit different in character from ‘a good-looking or white-haired man who is fickle, obstinant and unfriendly.’ So when reading the Piquet deck, I encourage any would-be reader using this method to draw on all they know of that card, whether it’s Piquet-related or not. It’ll probably give you a better, more-informative reading.
Still—if you need to do an on-the-spot reading, and all you have available is a Piquet deck; if you’re on a trip, taking limited-luggage with you, and the only thing which would fit in your limited-luggage is a Piquet deck, it’s certainly better than nothing. And reading with the Piquet deck, you’re part of a tradition of card reading stretching-back at least two hundred years, if not longer. Who knows? You may find Piquet deck divination is the only form of cartomancy you need!
EXERCISES:
- Do a card reading, for either yourself or someone else, using the Six-Pile method. Given the answers and what you know about the individual read-for, was it accurate? Note the answers you receive and set your notes aside for a few days. Did the individual achieve their wish as indicated in the fifth pile? Did the ‘what comes next’ pile transpire as predicted?
- Do a card reading, for either yourself or someone else, using the Gypsy method. How does this card reading method compare to the Six-Pile method? Did you find it more informative, or more confusing?
- Using either card-reading method outlined above, and the non-Piquet deck of your choice, do another reading, and note your answers. Compare and contrast this deck in this lay-out, with the same lay-out which you did earlier, using the Piquet deck. Was the information you received from this second deck equal-to, superior-to, inferior-to, or complementary-to the Piquet deck?
- Under what circumstances would you use a Piquet deck for a reading? Is the Piquet deck a form of cartomancy you would return to again? Would you use this form of card-reading for certain people, but not others? Are there any other decks of your acquaintance which you prefer over this one?