Message From the Author
Thank you for believing in the independent artist. What you hold in your hands is a potent magickal tool, a deck of playing cards. The best-kept secrets are always hidden in plain sight. The playing card deck is one of those secrets.
The secrets of the playing cards lie in the suit’s symbolic magical associations. When we learn these magickal associations the cards can become a tool that allow us to work through the layers of our psyche. By doing this we will be able to go through the alchemical process of self-actualization. This is a process where we can reach the true potential of our self and understand better the world around us.
This text will go over the magickal associations, how you can use the cards to cast a fortune, and the individual meanings of each card.
Notation
I have made an attempt to notate where specific information comes from to the best of my abilities. While everything is in my own words I also want to be able to show you sources and where to find the information online.
At this time I am using a modified Chicago notation system that has a footnote number matching the bibliography.
Part 1: The Cartomancer’s Magick
Cartomancy
Playing cards have been in existence for a very long time. A quick brush of history will tell you that playing cards go back to at least the 14th century. Since then, the playing card deck has been used not only in games but for casting fortunes. Those that use a deck of cards for this purpose are known as cartomancers.1
The Path and Playing Cards and their Magickal Associations
The Path and Playing Cards resemble what we know as a playing card deck. All the symbols are there, but the deck is augmented. The first thing you will notice is the spectrum of color used in the design. Each card is colored based on their elemental associations.
To understand these color associations is also to know the western elements understood by the teachings of the Golden Dawn.2 These color schemes are what allow us to unconsciously connect with the meaning of the elements. I have included an excerpt about the western elements from the Path and Elemental deck guide book.3 The section is as follows.
Each element can be understood as the sum total of all the tarot cards in that elemental set. The western elements can also be an analog for the spectrum of your conscious states. Breaking your consciousness down into five separate elements can help you understand them individually. You will also begin to see that certain elements harmonize well.
What follows is the interpretation of each of the four western elements in my own words. I have omitted spirit due to the fact that it does not appear in the playing card deck. Each of the descriptions also contain the meaning of the numbered cards as they relate to the Path and Tarot deck.4
Fire
The element of fire is transformative. It burns away impurities in your psyche and allows a clean slate. In nature forest fires are dangerous, but they serve a purpose. They burn away all the dead trees to allow new growth.
Fire can bring vitality to your spirit. It is a lively element and allows your character to become animated.
Fire is active masculine energy. You will experience dominance, might, creation, conflict, victory, courage, haste, authority, domination, persistence, drive, dedication, and energy.
Water
The element of water is pervasive and will get into every part of your psyche. Water is the foundation of your emotions and contains all the ups and downs that go with it.
Water is passive feminine energy. You will experience relationships, plenty, excess, disappointment, enjoyment, delusion, abandonment, bliss, completion, innovation, extremity, contemplation, and imagination.
Earth
Earth is your physical reality and is everything you can touch, see, and hear. The element of earth is the substance of your material world. Earth’s elemental power will help you learn the structure of your reality.
Earth is passive and feminine energy. You will experience balance, great work, command, loss, accomplishment, promises, prudence, growth, wealth, creativity, determination, revitalization, and engagement.
Air
The element air helps us move and take action in the world around us. With the element of air, you will be able to focus on communication and thought. Your mind is powered by the element air and is the foundation for your mental processing.
Air is active masculine energy. You will experience tranquility, grievance, recovery, defeat, triumph, volatility, imprisonment, hopelessness, annihilation, revenge, cognition, coldness, and imbalance.
The Magickal Associations of Playing Cards
The playing card symbols have relations to the not only the western elements, but the tarot as well. The multiple associations is what make the playing card symbol a powerful symbol of meaning. The associations are as follows.
The spade is the element of air. It is a yellow triangle. The associated colors are yellow, violet, and sky blue. The spade is associated to swords in the tarot.
The club is the element of fire. It is a red triangle. The associated colors are red, green, and red vermilion. The club is associated to wands in the tarot.
The heart is the element of water. It is an upside-down blue triangle. The associated colors are blue, sea green, and orange. The heart is associated to cups in the tarot.
The diamond is the element of earth. It is an upside-down black triangle. The associated colors are citrine, olive, russet, yellow-orange, black, and white. The diamond is associated to pentacles in the tarot.
Deck Structure
I have taken the liberty of adding a fourth court card to this playing card deck. I chose to do this so that it connects with the tarot. The cavalier (also known as the knight) has been added to the court cards of this playing card deck. This addition maintains the sub-elemental associations found in the court cards of the tarot.
The court cards are designed to have all their associated symbols superimposed. This was done as a way to create a unique design scheme and to align with the design choices of the Path and Tarot deck.
The playing card deck has the same structure as the minor arcana of the tarot, ace through ten with four court cards. While they share the same structure, the meanings are very different. This gives the playing card deck a unique feel when used in fortune-telling. You will find that the playing cards are rooted in real-life situations and people.
I recommend you treat the Path and Playing Card deck as a companion to the Path and Tarot deck or even the Path and Element deck. All the decks can be used together with great effect.
Using the Path and Playing Card Deck Deck With a Tarot Deck
The easiest way to incorporate the Path and Playing Cards into a tarot reading is to draw from it in succession with a tarot deck. Once you have drawn out a handful of cards you will be able to identify elemental connections.
More advanced divination’s can be achieved when you devise your own way of incorporating the playing cards into your regular methods.
Tired reading? Take a break and watch this demo video on how to use the Playing Card deck.
Part 2: Beat the Devil and Divination
Beat the Devil is a solo card game that is mysterious as it is magickal. There is very little written about this card game. As far as I know I am the only one who writes about it online. Please contact me if you locate other resources about this card game.
This card spread relies on the rules of beat the devil, and extends them to allow for fortune-telling. The original rules of beat the devil use a fifty-two-card playing deck with no jokers.
These are the original rules of beat the devil.
Shuffle the cards well and remove the first card from the top of the deck. Place the card onto the playing space to make the first pile. Take the second card and place it next to the first pile. If these two cards match then draw one card on top of each of the matching piles. If the cards do not match, draw another card and place it in a separate pile. Keep drawing cards to make matches or make new piles. You have up to eight piles to use in a game. You win when you have used up all the cards in the deck. You lose if you can’t use all the cards.
The rules are simple enough but there are further considerations.
Match the cards according to their value. 2’s with 2’s and so on. Suits do not matter when matching the cards during play.
You cannot open up another pile if there are available matches to cover.
There can be cases when there are more than one match. The player must choose which match to cover. Again, you cannot open a new pile unless you have covered all available matches.
As you draw cards to cover matches you may see other matches form. You must complete the sequence of covering the match before attempting to making other ones.
A rare occurrence in beat the devil is seeing three or four of a kind. When you encounter this you will treat it as you do with a pair, draw a card onto each of the matching piles. This will not happen often.
With these rules, you should be able to beat the devil … eventually. The chances of winning a game with these rules are about one in ten using a fifty-two-card deck and eight piles.
Fortune Telling With Beat the Devil Rules
To perform fortune-telling with the game rules a little augmentation has to occur. The result is called the Path and Devil.
To perform the Path and Devil reading you will use the rules for beat the devil. Remember your deck has fifty-six cards instead of fifty-two. Because of this, you will use nine piles instead of eight.
If you win, the reading will carry a positive outcome. If you lose, we could say that the intention was not well-formed.
If have lost the game then you can choose to play again. You can do this as many times as you wish. In loosing you can still read the cards, but read them as they are on the table, do not re arrange them or look into the piles.
If you have won the game find the pile with the most cards, and read them in the order they appeared. If there are piles with the same amount of cards, choose the pile that has the face value on top. Consult the meanings in this booklet to create a narrative with the cards.
After you read the cards in order, you can arrange them in any order or shape. You may be able to uncover hidden patterns this way.
The Path and Devil card spread uses nine piles instead of the original eight. The odds of winning will be increased to make up for having four more cards. You will see more pairs happen, and the struggle for victory won’t be as staggering.
The Nine Card Elemental Spread
This card spread has been adapted from the Path and Elemental and Path and Tarot deck guide books.5 Because the card spread relies on elemental associations it can be used for divination with the Path and Playing Card Deck. The card spread is as follows.
Set your intentions and begin by shuffling the deck well. Cut the deck once and draw the top card. Place this card in the center of your reading space. This is the beginning card and represents the current situation.
Draw the next card and place it in any space around the center card. In this way, you will be surrounding the center card with eight others. Keep drawing until you have created a three-by-three matrix.
As you place the cards you have to know the following.
Air matches with Air or Fire. Air miss matches with Water and Earth.
Fire matches with Fire or Air. Fire miss matches with Water and Earth.
Air and Fire are active energies.
Water matches with Water or Earth. Water miss matches with Air and Fire.
Earth matches with Earth or Water. Earth miss matches with Air and Fire.
Water and Earth are passive energies.
Matching the elemental associations help expand the influence of the active or passive elemental sets. Miss matching elements create demarcation points in the reading. This helps define the borders of the energies present in the readings.
Reading the card matrix you have to consider what sort of matches have you made? What patterns have emerged? What is the most important element at work and where does it lead? Use all the possible directions in the nine card matrix to learn about your intention. Use the card meanings to help build your narrative for the reading.
Playing Card Meanings for Cartomancy
Card Meanings
A♠: misfortune, end of a cycle, the death card.
A♣: startling wealth or knowledge, new prosperity.
A♥: understand your desire, newfound happiness, emotional attainment.
A♦: future news, new beginnings, material opportunities.
2♠: hard choice, warning of a departure, examination.
2♣: difficulties, conflict with another person, loss of friendship.
2♥: new partnership, emotional connection, happy balance.
2♦: the juggler of opportunity, synchronization, positive direction.
3♠: future bad news, third person breaking a union, temporary impairment.
3♣: long-term proposition, new creativity, another chance.
3♥: social engagement, expanding partnerships, uncertain emotions.
3♦: money negation, avoid group animosity, tactful monetary boundaries.
4♠: resolving a crisis, financial anguish, reward through struggle.
4♣: draining entourage, unchecked compliance, dishonesty abound.
4♥: strong emotional foundation, appropriate change.
4♦: lock-box for money, sage advice, financial growth.
5♠: temporary resistance, discovery, inner strength.
5♣: new alliances, new habits, act on plans.
5♥: emotional crossroads, jealousy in close company, potential disturbance.
5♦: new enterprise, financial development, realization of success.
6♠: development, perseverance, create limits.
6♣: good luck, correct instinct, good balance.
6♥: teamwork, good fortune, someone is interested in you.
6♦: disengagement, partitions, boundaries.
7♠: hindrance to achievement, change of perspective, imagined loss.
7♣: unexpected loss in finances, sudden change, waste of resources.
7♥: uncertainty with relationships, unreliable friends, unpredictable.
7♦: progress through adversity, good investment choice.
8♠: affliction, intervention required, steady steps for resolution.
8♣: contemplation, unfavorable conditions.
8♥: strong union, abrupt gift, unexpected opportunity.
8♦: new opportunity through craftsmanship, an announcement for work.
9♠: restlessness, left behind, misfortune.
9♣: abrupt fortune, wealth, achievement of goals.
9♥: fulfillment, content relationships, expanding relationships.
9♦: preparing for harvest, conservative success.
10♠: rock bottom, overwhelm, buried.
10♣: legacy and complete success, well-established prosperity.
10♥: success through hard work, good fortune, completion.
10♦: reaping the rewards, household richness, hard work paying off.
Jack♠: aggressive young person, toxic individual, rebellious behavior.
Jack♣: playful young man, admirer, reliable yet inexperienced.
Jack♥: innocent and sweet young man, admirer, naive and impetuous.
Jack♦: envious young man who brings news, deceptive person.
Cavalier♠: intellectual, courageous young man, dashing.
Cavalier♣: driven, energetic young man, generous.
Cavalier♥: extreme, graceful young man, a dreamer.
Cavalier♦: determined, a responsible young man, trustworthy.
Queen♠: bossy and malicious woman, separated woman, a woman of power.
Queen♣: well-grounded woman, mature woman, practical.
Queen♥: caring woman, maternal role, warm guidance.
Queen♦: charismatic woman, a rich woman entering your life.
King♠: dark determined man, self-absorbed man, a man of power.
King♣: experienced man, generous man, high spirits.
King♥: caring man, fair and helpful male figure, affectionate man.
King♦: authoritative man, high status or influence, possible risky business.
The Path and Playing Card Deck actually contains 22 major arcana cards making it a tarot deck! You can learn more about the major arcana cards and the tarot cards in my web guide, or you can also use these keywords to help gain a quick insight into the majors. The keywords that follow are from the OpenAI ChatGPT torot meaning article here. In a curious way, the AI did very well at creating a useful list of all 78 tarot card meanings.
0 The Fool: A new beginning or a fresh start. Taking a risk or trusting your intuition.
I The Magician: Using your skills and resources to achieve your goals. Creativity and communication.
II The High Priestess: Intuition, mystery, and the unconscious mind. Keeping secrets or seeking knowledge.
III The Empress: Fertility, abundance, and creativity. Nurturing and mothering.
IV The Emperor: Authority, leadership, and structure. Masculine energy and determination.
V The Hierophant: Tradition, spirituality, and guidance. Seeking a mentor or seeking enlightenment.
VI The Lovers: Love, relationships, and choices. Making a commitment or finding balance.
VII The Chariot: Victory, determination, and control. Overcoming obstacles and achieving success.
VIII Strength: Inner strength, courage, and determination. Overcoming challenges and using your power.
IX The Hermit: Solitude, introspection, and wisdom. Seeking answers or taking time to reflect.
X The Wheel of Fortune: Change, cycles, and luck. A turning point or a new opportunity.
XI Justice: Fairness, balance, and truth. Making decisions or seeking resolution.
XII The Hanged Man: Sacrifice, letting go, and understanding. Finding a new perspective or waiting for the right time.
XIII Death: Endings, transformation, and rebirth. Letting go of the old to make way for the new.
XIV Temperance: Moderation, balance, and harmony. Finding balance and creating harmony.
XV The Devil: Temptation, materialism, and limitations. Breaking free from negative influences or unhealthy attachments.
XVI The Tower: Chaos, upheaval, and revelation. Experiencing a major life change or a sudden realization.
XVII The Star: Hope, inspiration, and aspiration. Finding guidance and following your dreams.
XVIII The Moon: Fear, anxiety, and the unknown. Trusting your intuition and facing your fears.
XIX The Sun: Happiness, success, and fulfillment. Achieving your goals and feeling contentment.
XX Judgement: Accountability, judgment, and redemption. Facing the consequences of your actions or seeking edemption.
XXI The World: Completion, accomplishment, and integration. Achieving your goals and finding wholeness.
A Note on the References and Sources
The meaning set for each of the playing cards is written in my own words to the best of my abilities. However, these meanings have their own sources, and these sources also have their sources. The oldest and most credible source is P. R. S. Foli’s Fortune Telling by Cards.6 As much as I could discern all of the web articles I cross-referenced pointed to P. R. S. Foli’s material in some way.
Notes
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartomancy
2. Cicero Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero, Golden Dawn Magic: A Complete Guide to the High Magical Arts (Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications), 52, 99.
3. path and elemental guide not done
4. https://pathandtarot.com/the-path-and-tarot-web-guide/
5. https://pathandtarot.com/the-path-and-tarot-card-spread/
6. P. R. S. Foli – Fortune Telling by Cards can be found hosted on these websites:
Sacred Texts dot com https://sacred-texts.com/tarot/ftc/index.htm
Bibliography
Aquarian Insight dot com (Webmaster and Author is Jay) https://www.aquarianinsight.com/playing-card-meanings/
Art of Cartomancy dot com
(Webmaster and Author J. David Arcuri) https://artofcartomancy.blogspot.com/2019/09/locating-lost-objects-with-cartomancy.html
Cafe Astrology dot com
(Webmaster is Annie Heese. The author is anonymous) https://cafeastrology.com/fortunetellingcards.html
Cicero, Chic, and Sandra Tabatha Cicero. Golden Dawn Magic: A Complete Guide to the High Magical Arts.Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications, 2019.
Cicero, Chic, and Sandra Tabatha Cicero. Golden Dawn Ritual Tarot: Keys to the Rituals. Symbolism, Magic & Divination.Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications, 1991.
Cicero, Chic, and Sandra Tabatha Cicero. Self-Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition.Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.
Guardian Angel Readings dot com
(Webmaster is Padre. The author is Padre or unknown/anonymous) https://www.guardian-angel-reading.com/blog-of-the-angels/cartomancy/?media=BLOG&campaign=cartomancy
Labirinto Ermetico dot com https://www.labirintoermetico.com/02Tarocchi/Foli_P_R_S_Fortune_Telling_by_Cards.pdf
Latin Cards dot com
(Webmaster is anonymous/unknown. The author is unknown/anonymous) http://latin.cards/cartomancy/
P. R. S. Foli – Fortune Telling by Cards can be found hosted on these websites:
Sacred Texts dot com https://sacred-texts.com/tarot/ftc/index.htm
Wikipedia Resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartomancy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playing_card
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-actualization
PathandTarot Web Resources
Beat The Devil
Introducing Divinity With Beat The Devil
Playing Card Meanings for Cartomancy
Beat The Devil With Multiple Decks
The Path and Tarot Card Spread
Buy The Path and Playing Card Deck
Buy the Path and Elemental Deck
The Path and Elemental Guide
Buy the Path and Tarot Deck
Book A Tarot Reading
About the Path and Tarot Deck
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