Back on my old blog, I posted my grandmother’s method of reading playing cards. This is a continental style, German specifically, and uses only 32 cards. I realise that as a result it’s not for everyone – most people seeming to favour playing with a full deck 😉 – but it might appeal to some. As it was my most popular post, I brought it along to this blog – A German Method of Fortune Telling with 32 Playing Cards.
Oma’s meanings were very terse. Often only a word or two per card. At the time, I promised to come back and post some expanded meanings that I’d developed over time, and now, better late than never, here they are.
Some of these are just logical extensions of the basic meaning; others are a bit more subtle and only became apparent during readings.
I don’t use reversals with playing cards. But I usually pull a minimum of 5 cards, and I take into account the overall tone of the spread. If a spread is generally positive, with one negative card, then that card’s meaning can be ameliorated or lightened by the other cards. If the spread is generally negative, then a positive card’s impact may be lessened, or it may take on a negative or shadow aspect.
The table below lists each card with Oma’s “short” meaning followed by my additions. I will add to this list as more nuances present themselves.
| Clubs | |
| Ace | news, gift |
| Something you're given, impersonal news vs. the personal messages of the Jack of Clubs, something new, knowledge, talent/ability, conversation, advertising, external forces, support | |
| With negative cards: bad news, not being given something/having something withheld, something you have no control over | |
| King | Doctor or Official |
| Judge, judgement, decision, important, someone hardworking, successful, intelligent | |
| As a person, he represents a problem male | |
| Queen | false woman, evil alignment (way of thinking) |
| Malicious actions or intent, a bad or unhelpful mindset, wrong thinking, bad habits | |
| As a person, she represents a problem female | |
| With positive cards: a gossip, a busy-body | |
| Jack | luck, message |
| A message specifically for you vs. the impersonal news of the Ace of Clubs, a friend, a student | |
| Traditionally, a pleasant surprise | |
| As a person, s/he represents a good friend | |
| 10 | travel, big (official) house, hospital |
| Legal matters, work place, prison, travel out of necessity, somewhere you have to go to, something you have to put effort into, far away/distance | |
| 9 | good change |
| Improvement, opportunity | |
| 8 | Worry over a small way (for a short time) |
| Imagined worries, temporary/short-term, confusion, a misunderstanding | |
| 7 | tears, separation, obstacle |
| Frustration, delay | |
| With positive cards: forgiveness | |
| This card represents the querent’s feelings about a situation; the distress/delay is generally temporary (see the 7 of Spades) | |
| Hearts | |
| Ace | house |
| Family, domestic life, privacy, security, safety, comfort, a privately-owned business | |
| With 10 of Clubs can indicate being away from home | |
| King | He |
| Male significator, querent’s most important/significant male (in relation to the question) | |
| Queen | You |
| Female significator, querent’s most important/significant female (in relation to the question) | |
| Jack | love |
| Focus, desire, attraction, emotion | |
| With negative cards: obsession, dependency, indifference | |
| As a person, s/he represents a child or someone dear to one’s heart | |
| I’ve had this card appear as truce, relief, forgiveness and “Don't give in to emotion”. Your mileage may vary. | |
| 10 | invitation |
| Offer, communication, possibilities | |
| 9 | Great joy or Good event |
| This is my “yes” card | |
| 8 | happy reunion |
| Connection, meeting, partnership, wedding, celebration/party, two, visit/visitor, memories | |
| Traditionally, this card can represent new clothes and I have had that come up in a reading | |
| 7 | prospect of love |
| Hope, expectation, attraction, fun, flirtation | |
| With negative cards: unrealistic expectations, wishful thinking | |
| Spades | |
| Ace | fright, sickness |
| Unexpected, a shock, sudden, a sick situation, serious illness vs. 8 of Spades “minor illness”, failure | |
| With positive cards: protection, defiance | |
| King | elderly gentleman |
| Establishment, tradition, wisdom, teacher, precise | |
| With negative cards: controlling, restrictive | |
| As a person, he represents an older male | |
| Queen | dark (evil) woman, widow or single |
| A rival or rivals, alone, lonely, one | |
| With negative cards: jealous, desperate | |
| As a person, she represents an older female | |
| Jack | false friend |
| Dishonesty, a bad situation, something false or misleading - appearances vs. 9 of Spades “words” | |
| As a person, s/he represents a bad friend. | |
| 10 | profession |
| Work, occupation, expertise, sense of self-worth, beliefs, higher education | |
| 9 | slander, falsehood in the near future |
| Not true, wrong, miscommunication/misinformation - words vs. Jack of Spades “appearances” | |
| This is my “No” card | |
| With positive cards: correction | |
| 8 | danger, illness, anger |
| Stress, resentment, mystery. Minor illness vs. Ace of Spades “serious illness” | |
| Traditionally, this card can indict night/night-time | |
| 7 | grief, loss, strife, inconvenience |
| Conflict, aggression | |
| This card represents external circumstances affecting the querent; the grief/loss is generally permanent or long-term (see 7 of Clubs) | |
| Diamonds | |
| Ace | letter |
| All paperwork, ring (traditional), something sent, something square/rectangular | |
| King | younger man |
| Charming, energetic, fun-loving; excitement, restlessness, indecision | |
| With negative cards: selfish, faithless, unreliable, neurotic | |
| As a person, he represents a younger male | |
| Queen | girl or woman |
| Excitable, immature; aspirations, aspirational | |
| With negative cards: high maintenance, over-emotional | |
| As a person, she represents a younger female, or your best friend (not necessarily female) | |
| Jack | happiness |
| Success, getting what you want, contentment | |
| Some sources say this is the “best” card. Perhaps so – 9 of Hearts is situational happiness; this is an internal state of happiness | |
| 10 | money, profit |
| Finances, benefit, to profit from | |
| 9 | business advantage |
| Business gain, material advancement/well-being, promotion, a good plan, learning/education | |
| 8 | business news |
| A change in circumstances (possibly negative/uncertain), opportunity, choice, a new job, progress, transaction: "money coming and going" | |
| When the 8 of Diamonds is between two other cards I have sometimes found it to mean the first card brings or leads to the second card. Examples – 9S, 8D, 7D: misinformation leads to arguments; AC, 8D, 9H – gift brings joy | |
| Traditionally, this card can represent eyes or eyeglasses | |
| 7 | Money or Child |
| Actual money (as opposed to 10 of Diamonds “finances”), responsibility, something small, reducing/becoming less | |
| With negative cards: worries, arguments, not enough money | |
| It can represent an actual child or children, perhaps not as “dear” as the Jack of Clubs, or someone/something that needs looking after | |
If you do have any questions or observations, though, please leave a comment. I love to “talk shop”.
