by: Sam Stevens
You don't necessarily need an expensive Tarot deck to divine the future from cards. You can use a regular deck of playing cards. All you have to remember is that the four suits equate to the following
Hearts represent love or equate to Cups in the regular deck Diamonds represent money or Coins or Disks Spades represent hardship or Swords Clubs represent opportunity or Wands
Perhaps the simplest layout is a three-card spread that represents past, present and future. Or you can choose one card from the deck and meditate on its meaning for the day. I have found that an ordinary deck of cards is also easily adapted to the Celtic Cross, as well as the Horoscope Spread (which involves laying twelve cards out in a circle with each card representing what is going on in each house). Below is a quick guide to the meaning of the cards.
Hearts (Cups)
Ace: triumph in love, perfection, union, happiness
King: Honesty and affection. A generous, temperamental, and passionate man. Usually fair haired or fair complexion - card can also mean unreliability or a bad decision.
Queen: A loving and attractive woman, fidelity, devotion, usually a fair-haired woman. Can mean vanity or delusion.
Jack: A good friend or close friend. Can mean a reunion of separated lovers. Usually a fair-haired young person.
10: good luck, satisfaction, balance, peace, happiness in family or home.
9: good news, relief, the desires of the inquirer will come true,
8: an approach, invitation or proposal (traditionally to a party or celebration.)
7: a severe disappointment, broken promises, cancelled promises
6: sudden windfall, good fortune, generosity (can also mean unwelcome guests)
5: indecision, insecurity, jealousy, and obsession
4: postponement of a date or important matter, can also signify a delayed or canceled marriage
3: a warning to be sensible, watch for deception, bad decisions
2: friendship, a positive connection, a loving trusting relationship
Spades (Swords)
Ace: bad news, a separation or split, conflicts, a doomed love affair, endings, death. Can mean an ambition but thoughtless man. Usually dark haired.
Queen: betrayal, gossip, sabotage, malice, treachery. Can mean a widow or divorcee. Usually signifies a dark haired woman
Jack: obstacles, laziness, and hindrances. A lazy, but indolent, young man. Self-destructive.
Usually dark haired
10: emotional anguish, cruelty, worry, grief, and a turn psychologically for the worse
9: delays, quarrels, opposition, conflict, bad luck,
8: secret enemies, disappointments.also a rival pretending to be a friend
7: loss of friendship, loss of trust, and a battle not worth fighting
6: gradual improvement, ambition, discipline and the efficient carrying out of plans
5: being at the threshold of a project, anxiety about money, financial exchanges.can sometimes indicate great success in business
4: delays, emotional issues, troubles with business or money, illness
3: infidelity, a love triangle, a love or marriage that is ending
2: division, scandal, and deception gossip
Diamonds (Coins)
Ace: new job, promotion, cash windfall, an engagement ring,
King: an old regime, the patriarchy, inescapable boundaries and rules...can mean a stubborn but powerful man. Usually fair haired man
Queen: sophistication. society, control. Can mean a mean spirited woman or a flirt. A vain woman. Usually fair haired woman.
Jack: bad news, unreliable or shaky circumstances. Unwanted visit from a relative. Destructive or
sullen young man usually fair-haired.
10: life changes, a move, a trip for business or money reasons
9: a happy financial surprise or opportunity and surprises, travel, adventure, excitement
8: a new relationship, a renewal of vows late marriage or new relationship, reunion
7: gossip, lies, rumours, , criticism, sarcasm, and bad luck at gambling or love
6: reconciliation, early marriage; sometimes premature end to a relationship.
5: business success, happy news, unexpected windfall, patronage, a loan
4: power, an inheritance, good fortune...sometimes betrayal in business
3: divorce, legal or domestic battles, quarrels, violence
2: a love affair thriving despite great odds, a soulmate
Clubs (Wands)
Ace: artistic talent, inspiration, a love for life, achievement, honour, professional success,
King: prosperity, good business, faithfulness, and philanthropy. An honest, reliable, generous man. Usually a dark haired man.
Queen: Intelligence, flexibility, fairness. Organization.An attractive, caring soul. Usually dark
haired woman.
Jack: a reliable friend, sincere but impatient
10: unexpected gift, money or good fortune, a silver lining in a cloud
9: an affair, an infidelity, a new romance..Sometimes disagreements with friends
8: bad decisions, opposition, bad luck in gambling, a loan that is not repaid,
7: success, prosperity, competition, can sometimes mean dealing with rivals in romance
6: a profitable business or partnership, a successful project
5: aid or support from a friends or family, sometimes marriage with a wealthy woman
4: interference, unexpected ill will, failure of a project, bad planning
3: marriage or union...sometimes a long engagement or sex without marriage
2: opposition, disappointment, lack of acceptance in business or social circle.
Have fun!