Telling fortunes by cards : $b a symposium of the several ancient and modern methods as practiced by Arab seers and sibyls and the Romany GypsiesAli, Mohammed
Religion
Telling fortunes by cards : $b a symposium of the several ancient and modern methods as practiced by Arab seers and sibyls and the Romany Gypsies
Ali, Mohammed
Card games; Fortune-telling; Fortune-telling by cards
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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