Expanding on the "German Method" playing card meanings

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

And there you have it. As with all good cartomancy, these meanings are simply those that I’ve encountered while working with the cards. The meanings you find are the right meanings for you.

If you do have any questions or observations, though, please leave a comment. I love to “talk shop”.