In this article you will find some examples of combinations using the Vera Sibilla. Most of these combinations are handed down by tradition. Studying and decoding combinations is a very good way to improve your cartomantic vocabulary, but bear in mind that the exact meaning of a combination depends on many other factors, such as the context of the question and the other cards in the spread, so I would encourage you to keep an open mind. As a rule, you will find that if you do not pose a question and these combinations come up, they will mean what the tradition says they mean 3 times out of 5. Also, keep in mind that it’s useless to try to combine every card with every other card beforehand so that no surprises will ever come up in a spread, just as it is useless to try to combine every word in a dictionary with every other to study a language. That time is best spent actually practicing.

NOTE:
R = Reversed
U/R = Upright or Reversed (doesn’t matter)
* = This combination has to come up in this specific order
3♦ = The Gift (Omaggio)
8♦ = The Handmaid (Donna di Servizio)
C = Cuori (Hearts)
F = Fiori (Clubs)
Q = Quadri (Diamonds)
P = Picche (Spades)

Four of Hearts (4♥) – Love (Amore)

4♥ + 2♦ = a love letter
4♥ + 3♦ + 7♠ = a strange (and rather common) traditional combination that shows a breakup due to incompatibility (the 3♦ represents one’s “gift” and therefore what one brings to the table. It also represents values and one’s values)
4♥ + 9♥ = a pure or faithful love (9♥ stabilizes love)
4♥ + 10♥ = stability or dependability in love
4♥ + 10♣ = an easy love that doesn’t mean much, a flirt

4♥ + 4♦ = insincerity in love
10♦ + 4♥ = it’s a symbol of betrayal and cheating
4♥ + 4♠ = a sick way of showing love | loneliness
7♠ + 4♥* = it can mean being struck by love
4♥ + 7♠ = usually, a breakup (in itself it is not irreversible, but if also 5♠, then yes)

4♥ + J♠ or Q♠ = a rival
4♥ + 10♠U/R = cheating | the need to fight for one’s happiness in love, sometimes

4♥R + 5♠ = lack of feelings | a very unbalanced emotional life
4♥R + 7♥R = a distorted sexuality
4♥R + 7♦U/R + 10♠R + PersonR = pedophilia

Four of Clubs (4♣) – Friend (Amica)

4♣ + A♣ = a partnership or a common project (8♣ or K♦ may be present)
4♣ + Q♠ = a friend who is really an enemy, a backstabber
4♣ + 3♠ = loss of friendship
4♠ + 4♣ = a nurse or similar profession
4♣ + J♦ + A♥ (+K♦) = a trade union (the J♦ represents mediation, the 4♣ protection and support)

3♥ + 4♣ = the visit of a friend
10♣ + 4♣ + A♦R = a friend will carelessly reveal a secret
4♥ + 2♠ (+A♥R) + 4♣ = love cooling off and turning into a friendship
K♦ + 4♣ = it can be a friend from work | more broadly, a supportive work environment
A♥ + 4♣ = talking to a friend or meeting her, obviously | it can be a support group

2♦ + 4♣R = a letter of recommendation
K♣ + 4♣R = the help of a doctor or a boss
4♣R + K♣R + 4♦ = a recommendation in exchange for favors (+A♣R, for sex, +6♥ for money, +3♦ for gifts or some kind of advantage in general)
4♣R + 6♦ + K♠U/R = a higher up or politician pulling some strings for you (the 6♦ can represent ideology and the K♠ is the government, so it shows you probably belong to the same party)
4♣R + 4♦R or 3♦R or 2♣ or 5♣ or 8♥ = a help or recommendation that will solve your problem

Four of Diamonds (4♦) – Falseness (Falsità)

4♦ + 2♥ = lies in the family or a negative home environment | a house with hidden issues (especially with 2♥R) don’t buy! | the facade
9♥ + 4♦ = lies, ulterior motives | someone whose transparency and genuineness are just a front
3♣ + 4♦ = a broken car or one with hidden issues | with other cards, it can show the car has been tampered with, don’t drive!
6♦R + 4♦ = very negative plans or one who is completely deluded | with other cards, it can mean sending evil energies toward someone, the “evil eye”

4♦ + 9♦ = a huge blunder | a very negative group | someone who is completely unreliable
4♦ + 10♦ = betrayal, cheating
4♦ + 10♦ + 8♠ = the traditional combination for a fraud, scam or swindle
4♠ + 4♦ + 6♠ = a hypochondriac (the 6♦ may be present, showing thoughts)
4♦ + 10♠R = a well-covered lie

4♦ + K♠ = something not quite right with the authority or judge | it can simply mean that a judge is ill-disposed toward you for no good reason (but if K♠R, it would confirm that something is iffy)
4♦ + 9♣U/R = sometimes it can mean false happiness, pretending to be happy for someone or about something
4♦ + Person = 4 times out of 5, a person not to trust | sometimes, acquired family (like adopted, step-, ecc.)
6♣ + 6♠ + 4♦ = a traditional combination showing that if you’ve lent someone money, you are unlikely to see it again (the 6♣ may be substituted with other money cards or with the 8♣ and 6♥. The 10♦R may also be present, being connected with insolvency, but at that point the cards are speaking of serious economic damage done to the querent)

A♥ + K♦ + 4♦R = a job interview that will go well and will solve the querent’s work problems
9♥R + 4♦R = discovery of a betrayal or of someone cheating
10♦ + 8♠ + 4♦R = discovery of a swindle or scam or fraud (usually, in time to avoid the worst)
4♠ + 7♠ + 4♦R = a surgery that brings relief
J♠ or Q♠ + 4♦R = uncovering an enemy
4♦R + A♠ = the discovery of a lie or a betrayal brings sorrow (however, in the long run it will be for the better, or the 4♦R wouldn’t have come up)

Four of Spades (4♠) – Sickness (Ammalato)

K♦U/R + 4♠ = unemployment | an illness you get from working at your job (e.g. where you manipulate chemicals, etc.)
4♠ + 4♥ or 9♥ = a sick love | can mean loneliness
4♠ + 3♣ = a “sick” car
7♦ + 4♠ = an illness that is typical of children or a small indisposition
3♦ + 4♠ = a “sick” object | an offer that is “sick”, not to accept

4♠ + 5♠ = a very serious illness
4♠ + 5♠ + positive cards = the end of illness or unemployment or loneliness
4♠ + 8♦ (+6♣) = sick pay or unemployment benefits (K♠ would show the government) | with just the 8♦ it could be a positive evolution of the illness
A♥U/R or 3♥R + 6♣ + 4♠ = it can represent an illness that is “caught”
4♠ + K♣ + 7♠ = a surgical procedure

9♣U/R + 4♠ = it can be food poisoning
4♠ + 6♥R + 8♠ = slipping into (heavy) debt due to illness
4♠ + 2♣ or 5♣ = healing (if 2♣ and then K♥ and maybe 8♥, miracle healing. K♥ is God)
4♠ + 7♥ + 6♣ = it can be a health insurance
5♥R or 6♥ + 4♠ = it can be a hereditary disease

4♠R + 9♠ = traditionally, prison
4♠R + 2♥U/R + 9♠ = house arrest
6♦ + 4♠R = being blocked in the elaboration of something (+2♦, writer’s block) | in love, being on a break to think things over
K♦ + 4♠R = also unemployment, but if the querent is emoloyed, they might garnish his or her wages (look around for cards that explain the story or confirm the money being taken from them)
10♣R + 4♠R + A♥R or J♦R = it can mean being blocked by someone on social media so that communication can’t happen (the 10♣R represents the internet. The 9♠ may be present. Instead of the 10♣R, you may find the 3♥ + 2♦)

4♠R + K♠ = can be a church, in the proper context | the government is “avaricious”, which means if you asked for money you are unlikely to get it
5♦ + 4♠R = being stuck in the past or not letting go of disappointment
4♠R among positive money cards = good handling of one’s finances
4♠R + positive cards = end of a period of blockage
Positive cards + 4♠R + negative cards = beginning of a period of blockage