The Cartomancy Career Spread

My Career Spread is a variation of the Overview Spread that I created for quickly revealing the heart of any situation.  The Career Spread can pinpoint the consultant’s employment strengths and weaknesses, and will suggest career areas where the consultant will be happy and fulfilled.

The Significator

First the 8 of Clubs is removed from the deck and placed on the table. The 8 of Clubs will serve as the significator to represent the consultants job and career prospects.  The remaining cards are shuffled and then deal out in the following pattern:

Card Positions

The Card Above

The card above the significator is the most important card of the spread. It will reveal what is on the querent’s mind in terms of job and career.

The Card Below

The card below is also very important for deciphering the current situation. It will reveal what the querent dreads or wishes to avoid in relation to his future job prospects.

The Cards to the Left of the Significator

The cards to the left represent past influences leading up to the current situation, prior job experience,  innate talents, education, etc.

The Cards to the Right of the Significator

The cards to the right represent future job prospects, or may describe the ideal job situation.

Sample Cartomancy Career Spread

This cartomancy reading is for a 37 year old man who is unhappy in his present career path, and is asking for help in determining the best course of action for making a change.

Keywords:

Ace of Diamonds = new beginning, something totally new

2 of Diamonds = account billing, insurance, talents, imagination, writing ability

2 of Spades = resentment, removal

8 of Diamonds = account management, credit, bookkeeping, financial forecasting, cost management

K of Clubs = authority, management, organization

4 of Clubs = customer service, sales, phone work, cold calling

The first thing I look at is the Card Above because it will provide a glimpse into where the querent’s head is at regarding career matters. The Ace of Diamonds indicates that the querent is looking for a complete change in career direction, and not simply a new position within the same general field of interest.

Next I look at the Card Below because it shows what the querent hopes to avoid regarding his future job prospects. The 4 of Clubs reveals that the querent is not interested in dealing directly with consumers.  He confirmed that he currently holds a sales position in a large call center, and he hates both the sales and phone work.

The two cards on the left will provide some clues regarding the querent’s talents, education and prior experience. The 2 of Diamonds indicates that he is very talented, but the 2 of Spades shows that his talents have not been utilized in the past, and he is unfulfilled in his current job.  The cards show that the querent is intelligent and imaginative. He has good writing skills, and he has prior experience with account billing.  He would thrive in a position where these talents and abilities are utilized.

Finally, the two cards on the right show future prospects, and the type of work that would be ideal for the querent.  The 8 of Diamonds indicates math skills, and the querent confirmed that he always enjoyed math in school.  The King of Clubs represents authority and management, and indicates that the querent would be most fulfilled in a position where he can take charge and exercise responsibility, working on his own rather than as part of a team.  Based on the cards, the querent would excel in a behind-the-scenes position in money management or finance such as credit reporting, account management, cost management, accounts payable clerk, etc.

The querent agreed that this line of work would be more rewarding, and shared with me that he had seriously considered a career in accounting when he was in high school, but ended up foregoing college to help support his family after his dad passed away.  I encouraged him to investigate the business schools in his area where he could earn a degree in his spare time to prepare for a career in accounting.  In the mean time, I advised him to keep his eyes peeled for any entry-level finance jobs that open up in his current place of employment, and also to check the newspapers regularly for this type of position.

Overview Spread: The Wayward Son

This is an actual reading illustrating the Overview Spread that was done for a female client who was estranged from her 27 year old son. A the time, the querent had had no contact with her son for almost a year, and she had no idea where he was or how he was getting along. She was deeply concerned, and wanted to know that her son was safe, and if she would have contact with him soon.

For significator I chose the Jack of hearts to represent the querent’s son because he is the focus of the reading.

Here are the cards that appeared in the spread…

The first thing I kept in mind is that the focus of the reading is the son, as he is represented by the significator ( Jack of hearts ). Therefore, all of the cards will describe him, his circumstances, his intentions, etc. I would not apply any of these cards to the querent directly, or to her life beyond the relationship with the son.

In this spread my eye was immediately drawn to the 9 of spades because it indicates a serious problem. The card falls in the the significator’s past, so we can assume that it was this problem that caused the estrangement with the mother. The 9 of spades represents a very stressful situation. The son was being harmed in some way, and he felt trapped and overpowered by the situation.

Next I was drawn to the card beneath the significator. It indicates what harms the son, or what he dreads. And there we find the Queen of spades. We already know that the mother and son are estranged, so it becomes clear that the mother is the problem. She was an overbearing influence in the son’s life, and he felt trapped and smothered by her. His wish (9 of hearts ) was to break free of this influence, and gain control of his own life. This must be what motivated him to cut his mother out of his life.

I suggested to the mother that her son may have felt that she was an overbearing influence in his life. At first she completely rejected the notion, but after I asked her to tell me why she thought her son broke off contact with her, she was forced to face the truth of the situation. She finally admitted that she did try to ‘influence’ her son’s life because she did not think the son capable of making his own choices and decisions.

The card above the significator describes what’s on the son’s mind, or what governs him. The 7 of diamonds is money card, so his current focus is on financial matters. This card also represents public recognition and status, so we can see that the son is making his own way in the world. His focus is on establishing a life for himself separate from his mother’s influence.

The mother admitted that she and the son had shared a joint checking account. She has continued to deposit funds into the account, but since he ‘took off’ the son has not touched the account. The mother is worried because she does not believe the son is capable of financially supporting himself. Although not stated, I got the impression that the woman was quite wealthy, and that the son had never had to work a day in his life before disappearing. I advised the querent that she had no reason to worry– based on the cards the son was very capable of financially supporting himself.

Finally, we can look to the two cards on the left to show us how the situation will continue to develop. The 2 of hearts is very positive card. It represents harmony, and good news, and positive emotions. It’s important to keep in mind that this card relates to the son, and not to the querent directly. It shows that emotionally the son is doing very well. He has set the stage for good things to happen in his life. The 3 of clubs is a card of practical growth, learning and understanding. It suggests that the son will learn as he goes and continue to do well on a practical level too.

From these cards we can answer the querent’s first question about whether or not her son is okay. His significator is surrounded by hearts– he is safe and doing very well both emotionally and physically.

So, will the son contact the mother? The answer is not so obvious, and we need to make a judgement based on the cards. How does the son feel about his mother? She is represented by a spade in the reading, so we can see that he sees her as a threat or as the enemy. This idea is confirmed by her card appearing in the position of what he dreads or does not want to know about. Therefore, I advised the mother that she would not hear from the son soon. The 2 of hearts indicates that he is working through some emotional issues that will lead to personal growth, and eventual understanding (3 of clubs).

I felt that he would eventually come around, but not until he is able to create a stable life for himself, free from his mother’s influence, and gain the perspective he needs to resolve his feelings about his mother.

I never heard from this woman again, so I do not know what happened with her son.

Cartomancy Health Reading

Health readings can be tricky, but if we trust the cards they will usually unravel the mystery of any health issue. I’d be remiss if I didn’t reiterate that it’s important to always keep in mind that unless you are a licensed health professional, you should never diagnose or prescribe. When presented with a health question, I always advise the client that I am not a health professional, and that I’m happy to relate what I see in the cards, and I encourage them to consult a physician for any health related concerns.

I recently received feedback on an interesting health reading that I thought I would share here on the blog. The client was a younger male– probably in his 20s, and although anxious for some information regarding his health concern, he was reluctant to elaborate on the problem. He asked what I saw in the cards regarding his ‘issue,’ but would not say more.

I was up for the challenge, and drew the following Answer Spread to address the vague question:

In the Answer Spread, the first column relates to the present or recent past in reference to the question. The two Jacks did not give me a lot of information, and I thought they may simply refer to client having been well
(Jack of Clubs ♣) and then not so well (Jack of Spades ♠ ).

The center column holds the answer to the question. The 6 of Hearts ♥ refers to all things masculine, and based on the client’s reticence it immediately occurred to me that this must be a delicate masculine issue. In health readings the Ace of Diamonds ♦ can have several different meanings. It can represent a needle– and therefore, ‘a vaccination,’ or fire– and therefore, ‘a burning sensation.’

The third column will usually provide important information that should be considered. In health readings the 7 of Spades ♠ will usually refer to the need for some kind of medication, and as the pivot card it is a clear indication that medication will relieve the problem. The 10 of Diamonds ♦ should either describe the kind of medication, or it’s purpose. At first I was stumped by these cards. The 10 of Diamonds ♦ usually refers to the chest and lungs, and I’ve previously had this combination refer to cough medicine or an asthma inhaler. But the middle column seemed to point to some kind of infection, and so these ideas didn’t make a lot of sense. Then it hit me. The 10 of Diamonds ♦ refers to raw power– jet propulsion, atomic energy, nuclear fission– potentially destructive energies that are harnessed and used for good. Of course! The 10 ♦ and 7 ♠ refer to an antibiotic.

I asked the querent if he was experiencing pain while urinating, and he launched into a long diatribe about why he thinks he may have contracted an STD. At this point it occurred to me that the two jacks could be indicate the union which caused the problem.

I advised the that although I could not diagnose his problem, the cards do point to some kind of infection, and I urged him to see a doctor as soon as possible. The 7 of Spades ♠ as the pivot card indicates the need for medication, and also warns that the problem will worsen if it is not treated.

I had not heard back from the client, so I didn’t know what the medical diagnosis was, but this is one of those times when the cards seemed so clear in their message that I had no doubts that antibiotics were prescribed for some kind of infection.

Feedback: It was over a year before I heard back from this client. He thanked me for encouraging him to see a physician because he did in fact have a kidney infection. It turns out that it was not an STD. The infection was caused by a kidney stone that the client had no idea he had. The stone was too large to pass, and required surgery. I’m sharing this reading because it’s a perfect example of how important it is to encourage a client to see a doctor for any health concerns regardless of what may appear in the cards.

Cartomancy Health Reading: a Clogged Ear

Health readings can be a slippery slope. On the one hand, we want to meet our querent's needs; but on the other hand, most of us are not health professionals, and we are not qualified to diagnose a health problem-- neither are we qualified to offer medical advice. In fact, to do so is against the law in most countries. So what do we do?

I don't shy away from health questions. I will advise the querent up front that I am not a health professional, and that a health matter should never be decided by a card reading. I remind the querent that even the best card readings can be only 80% accurate, and only a licensed health professional can diagnose and treat an ailment.

Having said that, what I will do is agree to look into the cards to see what they show about the health issue. Interestingly, I find that 9 times out of 10 the cards will suggest that the querent visit with a doctor. Even when that is not the case, I still encourage the querent to visit the doctor anyway. What I won't do is offer a definitive diagnosis nor will I prescribe a treatment.

Happily in most cases when a querent asks about a health issue, he or she has already seen a doctor, and is interested in the outcome of the doctor's prescribed treatment.

Sample Health Reading

The following reading was done for a family member. The querent is a young man who has recently recovered from a nasty head cold. Despite feeling healthy and strong, he is suffering from a lingering clogged ear. The querent asks...

Will the ear unclog on its own without having to see the doctor?

I drew the following line of 5  cards...

Who the heck are all these lovely ladies?

The reason I wanted to share this particular reading is because it illustrates a special combination that has appeared in my cards time and again. You probably won't see this combination in any book; although (Who Knows?) you may because there is a universality to the card meanings. In any case, the combination I'm referring to is the 4 of spades surrounded by court cards. In my readings, this combination always signifies a communicable disease-- a contagious illness that is passed from person to person. I have found that 99% of the time, when this combination appears in my cards, it indicates a viral infection (most common bacterial infections are not contagious) which ends up being the flu or the common cold.

My immediate thought is that the ear problem is due to the lingering effects of the head cold, and would probably not respond to antibiotics. (I should mention at this point that despite this suggestion I still encouraged the querent to visit the doctor if the ear continues to be a problem.)

So what about the ladies? Well, digging deeper into the spread, I see the Jack of Hearts as representing the querent himself and his body (health). The Queen of Spades is the infection that brought on the head cold (4 of Spades). The three queens in the spread represent gossip or advice. The Queen of Hearts is the mother or the wife. She represents care and love and nurturing. The Queen of Diamonds is full of good information. The combination suggests "old wive's remedies." The suits show that with proper care (heart) the problem will improve (diamond card ending the row). I suggested that the querent also talk with his mom and other female family members to ask if they have any home remedies that might help relieve the clogged ear.

Feedback: The querent did end up seeing his doctor. The doctor examined the nose, ears and throat, and said there was no redness or irritation visible. The doctor did not think there was a bacterial infection, but he was willing to prescribe an antibotic just in case. The querent declined the antibiotic since he has a history of antibiotics causing complications with his digestion. The querent mother (QH) suggested home remedies that she used on him when he was a child to help clear up (QD) the clog.

How to Interpret the Three Card Draw

The 3 Card Layout:

The 3 Card Layout is the perfect spread to use for daily guidance, or to answer a question quickly.   This layout provides a good amount of information regarding a specific question, topic or situation.  I like to use the 3 Card Layout at the end of a longer reading to address any questions the querent may still have, or to provide more information on a topic the querent wants to know more about.

For this layout I choose 3 cards at random and lay them out in the order in which I chose them.

The cards are then read from left to right like reading a sentence on a page: 

• The first card can be read as “the premise” of the situation, or it may
  indicate the past influences on the matter.


• The second card represents the actual question, problem or situation, and
  often reflects the current influences on the matter.


• The third card indicates the outcome or result, and has the strongest
  effect on the final interpretation of the layout.

The interpretation of each card in the layout is influenced and modified by the card falling on top of it to the right.  The final card bears the most influence, and if a “good” card falls last, it can nullify the negative effects of any “bad” cards falling under it.  If the issue at hand is a specific question, the final card will provide the answer.

The action in the layout also moves from left to right:

• The first card indicates what action the seeker takes.


• The second card indicates what action the seeker shares.


• The third card indicates what action the seeker receives.

For yes/no questions, 2 red cards indicate a “yes,” and two black cards indicate a “no.”

Sample 3-Card Layout:

Here is an example of an actual 3-Card Layout I did this morning, May 16, 2007.  I asked the cards a specific question about a female friend from college that I have not heard from in a couple of years.  My question was: “Will this friend contact me?”  Here are the  playing cards I pulled:

• 4 of Clubs


• 3 of Clubs


• Queen of Diamonds

I was surprise at first by the Queen of Diamonds because I wouldn’t have immediately associated my friend with this particular card.  I did expect a queen to show up, but I guess I thought she would be more in line with my friend’s physical coloring.  But then I realized that the Queen of Diamonds is the best card to represent her energy and intelligence.

The 4 of Clubs can indicate a form of electronic communication such as a telephone call or an email.  So I can see right away that the cards are on track with answering my question.  Because the 4 of Clubs falls first, in the spot that would indicate me taking action, it looks like I’m going to be the one to initiate the contact and reconnect with my friend.

The 3 of Clubs indicates good luck and success, so if I make the effort to track her down, I should not have a problem finding her.  All Clubs indicate activity, thinking and talking, so it may be that I can reach my friend through other mutual acquaintances.  Also in the number 2 spot of “shared action,”  the 3 of Clubs would indicate that she’s been thinking about contacting me a well.

The Queen of Diamonds represents my friend, and as the final card also represents the outcome, result or answer to my question.  The red suits of the playing cards are usually considered positive, so the basic answer to my question is “yes.”  My friend will contact me, but only after I make an effort to reach her first.

Now I understand why the cards chose to represent my friend as the Queen of Diamonds as opposed to the expected Queen of Spades based on her dark hair and eyes.  If the Queen of Spades had fallen last, it would have indicated a definite “no” to my answer.  And this layout would have indicated that although I would probably have been successful in reaching her, she would not have responded to my contact.

How to Recognize a Curse in a Modern Cartomancy Reading

Every so often I encounter a client who is experiencing a streak of bad luck, and is convinced that he or she is the victim of a curse. The client will ask for confirmation of the psychic attack in the cards. In most cases, the bad luck is the result of poor decision making or bad money management on the client’s part. But every now and again I do see sinister forces reflected in the cards.

The pivotal card I look for in a reading to suggest a curse is the Ten of Spades-- particularly when it appears in a cluster with other spades, and especially with the 9 of Spades which will warn that the querent is being harmed by the black intentions. The surrounding cards will usually describe the source and effects of the psychic attack.

Here are a few cartomancy meanings I associate with psychic and spiritual matters that can describe both white magick and black magick…†

10 of Spades = black magick, psychic attack, evil forces at work
9 of Spades = harm, injury, being coerced, graveyard
7 of Spades = oils, potions, washes, bath
3 of Spades = a ritual or spell, incense
King or Queen of Spades = an enemy or a rival, a deceased person
5 of Clubs = crossroads
3 of clubs = herbs, roots, powders
Ace of Hearts = the soul
3 of Hearts = prayer, affirmations
7 of Hearts = healing
8 of Hearts = a Saint, an angel, a spirit guide, protection, an ancestor
Ace of Diamonds = the spirit, the astral body, the spirit world, a candle flame
4 of Diamonds = altar
6 of Diamonds = divination
8 of Diamonds = a spirit being, rootwork, balancing spiritual energies
9 of Diamond = psychic ability, clairvoyance, mind power
10 of Diamonds = mediumship, contact with the spirit world, white magick
King or Queen of Diamonds = an energy worker/root worker

†This list is by no means exhaustive.

Sample Cartomancy Reading: How to recognize Psychic Attack

The querent had a confrontation with a woman he suspects is using magick against him. He has been experiencing a streak of bad luck, and suspects that he may be the victim of a curse.

Question: Is the woman using black magick against me?

10S…..8H…..QD
4C……AD…...JS

The first column represents the premise of the question. It describes the current situation in reference to the question. The 10 of Spades is the key card I look for to indicate black magic, and the 4 of Clubs shows a sympathetic connection with the querent. These cards suggest that someone has tried to send evil intentions toward the querent. Specifically, the 4 of clubs suggests a form of sympathetic magic in which a prop is used, such as a candle or doll, to represent the querent. The negative intentions are put into the object (10S → 4C) that connects with the energy of the querent.

The middle column answers the question, and suggests that this attack has not been successful. The 8 of Hearts is a card of protection, and the Ace of Diamonds is spirit. These cards suggest that the querent is protected and watched over by spirit. Although the curse may be creating minor problems, the malevolent energy cannot do him serious harm.

The final column reveals additional information to be considered. The Queen of Diamonds is a female energy worker. The Jack of Spades describes her nefarious thoughts. This woman is angry and resentful, and she harbors malicious intentions toward the querent. She is projecting her negative thoughts (Jack of Spades).

I find this reading to be particularly interesting because the answer to the question is “yes,” the querent's suspicions are affirmed. The woman is using black magic against him. This answer is confirmed by the Jack of Spades as the pivot card showing negative intentions. But the middle column shows that querent is protected from serious harm by his spirit guide, or perhaps by an ancestor (8 of Hearts) in spirit (Ace of Diamonds). Notice how the Jack turns away from the Ace. Spiritual protection is redirecting the negativity away from the querent. The Ace of Diamonds also suggests that a candle offering to the spirit being (8 of Hearts) will further strengthen the protection.

The Answer Spread

The Answer Spread is a 6-card expanded version of the three card draw. It is designed to answer one question in detail.  I have encountered this spread in several books on both tarot and playing cards, but my favorite version comes from Regina Russell's book, The Card Reader's Handbook.

The Answer Spread is my 'go to' spread for answering a specific questions. It provides a more detailed information that the simple three-card spread while maintain a sharp focus on the question.

How to Draw the Answer Spread

The querent shuffles the cards while focusing on the question. Then the cards are fanned out face down on the table. The querent is asked to randomly select 6 cards keeping them in the order in which they were chosen.  The cards are laid out as in the following diagram:

• The cards are paired and read in vertical columns only. The cards are never combined or read across the horizontal rows.

• The two cards in the first column on the left set the premise for the matter in question, and reveal how past influences affect the current circumstances surrounding the question.

• The two cards in the middle column provide the answer to the question.

• The two cards in the column on the far right provide additional information, or show contributing factors yet to be considered in the matter. The cards in this position do not show the final outcome, but they can indicate the results from following advice given in the middle column.

• The bottom card of the final column (card 6 in the diagram) is known as the "pivot card" because the outcome of the question may turn on that single card. Sometimes the pivot card will provide the answer to the question.

The Answer Spread can work well for yes-or-no questions.  A predominance of red cards would indicate a positive answer, and a predominance of black cards would denote a negative response.  If an even number of red and black cards appear, the answer is not yet set and may be influenced current actions or future events.

Sample Reading – The Answer Spread

Here is an example of an actual reading done for a male client in June of 2012:

The querent was travelling south to spend a few days with his ex-wife. The couple had been divorced for less than a year, and the ex-wife had recently broken up with a new boyfriend.

When the querent and his wife separated, she took custody of their dog. They have no children together. The visit was ostensibly for the querent to spend time with the dog, but he was hopeful that the ex-wife was interested in a reconciliation.

His question: “Will my ex-wife and I get back together?”

Jane Lyle’s The Fortune Teller’s Deck © 1996 St. Martin’s Press

Keywords:

• 10 of Clubs = travel, business, promotion
• 2 of Diamonds = something definite, curiosity, exchanging ideas, searching for answers
• Q of Clubs = a sincere, practical woman
• 7 of Spades = setbacks, frustration, stagnation
• A of Diamonds = news, a message, a fresh start
• 3 of Diamonds = unsustained efforts,  a temporary situation

My first impression is that there are no Heart cards in the spread. That is usually not a hopeful sign for a relationship inquiry. There is a predominance of small Diamonds which represent restlessness, and only modest success. There are an equal number of red and black cards which suggests that the yes-or-no answer may go either way, and is dependent on future actions and events.

The first column represents the premise behind the question. The 10 of Clubs represents the man's upcoming trip to visit his ex-wife, and the 2 of Diamonds shows his curiosity and desire to exchange ideas with his ex-wife. He is looking for answers regarding a possible future for the relationship. This search for answers is what has motivated the trip. The 2 of Diamonds can also represent something definite. It’s certain that the trip will happen.

The middle column almost always contains the answer to the question. The Queen of Clubs represents the ex-wife. The suit of Clubs describes her sincerity and friendly intentions toward the querent. The 7 of Spades represents setbacks and frustrations. The Queen of Clubs is not interested in moving forward and resuming the relationship. She frustrates the possibility of a reconciliation.  As a Club, her intentions are friendly, but not romantic.  Her invitation is honestly about allowing her ex-husband visitation with the dog. Therefore the answer to the question is “no, the couple will not get back together– at least not during this trip.”

The third column provides additional information, or factors contributing to the problem or situation. In most cases, the information in the final column will help clarify the answer. The Ace of Diamonds represents the new beginning that the querent hopes for, but the 3 of diamonds shows a temporary situation or a lack of commitment. Perhaps neither one of them is willing or able to put forth the effort necessary to begin anew.

The 3 of Diamonds in the pivot position is always hopeful because it shows that with the right amount of intelligent effort success is possible. but in most cases the card denotes a lack of follow-through. It’s clear from the middle column that the ex-wife is not interested in starting over. He desires a fresh start,  but he may not be able to supply the consistent effort necessary to earn that second chance. Intuitively I have the impression that he will need to prove himself to her. Otherwise, the new beginning represented by this trip will be temporary at best.