Mastering Modern Cartomancy

So you want to master Modern Cartomancy… where do you begin? There are 52 playing cards, and each card carries a multitude of meanings. The playing card suit symbolism must also be understood because the suits determine how the cards interact in a spread. Then there is also the number symbolism which can add important significance to the overall interpretation of a cartomancy card layout. Other than the suit symbols, there are no images to help with memorizing all of this information. It can be overwhelming for the beginning cartomancer.

Do not be discouraged. There is an easy way I’ve found to master the playing cards through regular practice by analyzing the simple three-card spread. I advise drawing three cards every morning for insight into the coming day. Analyze the cards for all the possible meanings that come to mind. Contemplate the cards individually and in combination. Suit interactions and overall intuitive impressions should also be noted. Get a feel for what the cards mean before referring to a book or your notes. Record the resulting interpretations in a cartomancy journal including significant internal and external influences such as time of day, weather, moon phase, moon sign, mood, etc.

You will discover that mood can have an effect on the cards you draw. You may find that your readings are clearer during certain times of the moon phase or when the moon is in a particular zodiac sign. You might be surprised by how often the weather will appear in your daily cards.

Shuffle the cards while you focus on your question. I like to ask, “What will I experience today?” If you prefer a more structured reading, you can decide ahead of time to apply special significance to each card position, such as “morning, noon, night” or “past, present future” or “premise, situation, outcome.” I prefer to keep the reading fluid and allow the cards to speak to me freely.

Then at the end of the day examine your cards to determine how they reflect the energies of your day, and which of your predictions prove accurate. When something occurs in your day that was clearly predicted in the cards, but you missed seeing that morning, consider it a valuable learning experience. The next time this card combination appears, you will automatically remember the new interpretation.

If you find that you are unable to relate the events of your day to the cards, keep referring back to the reading over the coming week. Sometimes the predictions in a cartomancy daily draw can take up to a week to manifest in your life. Meditate on the particularly challenging combinations. Your Higher Self is fluent in the language of the cards.

As you continue this practice, you will easily assimilate the card meanings, and the subtle ways the cards interact in a spread. The experience you gain will enable to you tackle larger card spreads with ease. In time this daily practice will help you build new card associations. You will move beyond the meanings you learned in a book, and begin to develop your own personal meanings for the cards (To get you started, my two favorite resources for Modern Cartomancy card meanings are It’s Written in the Cards by Dr. Leo Louis Martello, and The Card Reader’s Handbook by Regina Russell).

An Example of a Daily Card Analysis from My Own Cartomancy Journal

Date: January 19, 2015
Time: 8:34 a.m.
Moon Phase: waxing (one day away from new moon)
Moon Sign: 15° Capricorn
Weather: chilly and clear
Mood: feeling calm and creative

Question: What will I experience today?
Daily Card Draw:
10 of Clubs, 6 of Spades, 2 of Clubs

Analysis:

Predominately clubs = active day, dealing with practical matters.
Clubs + Spades = service and sacrifice… taking care of work responsibilities and social obligations. 10C and 6S are both cards of movement—travel, making progress.

10C = travel, business, commerce, boat, water, sink, beach, rain
6S = progress, cleansing, moving forward, transportation, car, move, ending, relocation, bathroom, garbage, responsibilities
2C = help, benefits, service, work, employee, wheels, and tires

10C + 6S = a trip by car, a boat, bathroom sink, bathtub, drain, garbage disposal, rain storm, beach erosion, business responsibilities, a business trip, a business move/relocation, moving forward with a business deal, plumber, car dealership, hardware store.

6S + 2C = car mechanic, car tires, bicycle, motorcycle, bathroom work, plumber, sanitation worker, moving forward/making progress brings benefits.

10C + 6S + 2C = a plumber provides service, cleaning the bathroom, help with a car trip, car tire dealership, trip by bicycle or motorcycle, cruise ship employee, moving forward with a business plan brings benefits. I receive help with moving my business forward.

Immediate Impressions:

Today is a good day to move forward with practical plans, and take care of any work responsibilities or social obligations. I already plan to scrub the bathroom tub today, so perhaps that will be the highlight of my day. Yes, the daily cards can really be that mundane.

End of Day Observations:

Well, I did end up scrubbing my bathtub today as planned (the 10C represents water and also the bathtub, the 6S is the bathroom and also cleaning, and the 2C is benefits, or a service provided).

I also had a phone client ask me if I offered distance cartomancy mentoring. Up until now I’ve only ever offered classes and mentoring in person. The request got me thinking about the possibility of expanding my cartomancy mentoring service outside of my local area. I would say that qualifies as receiving a helpful (2C) suggestion about moving forward (6S) with a business plan (10C). It’s not an earth-shattering validation (daily cards rarely are), but it is certainly relevant based on the cards.

It’s not unusual for the cards to mean more than one thing, and for two or more interpretations to prove valid and accurate. I will stay alert over the next few days for any experiences or events that may also be predicted by today’s cartomancy card draw.