In cartomancy with playing cards, the Ace of Spades is the death card. This is another almost universal card, like the Ace of Hearts, and it keeps its meaning in most systems.

All aces in cartomancy have to do with beginnings, but because the suit of Spades is negative, it turns the meaning into the opposite, that of ending. Ending comes in many forms, although the most vivid archetype of change is, of course, death. This meaning, however, is drastic and should only be applied when with other horrible cards. More often than not, the Ace of Spades brings change. We have another card in the deck that brings change, namely the Five of Diamonds. In the case of the Ace of Spades, though, the change is drastic and likely to be less gradual and more important, often (but not always) negative and usually rather traumatic even when it ends well.

The Ace of Spades is connected through the notion of death to the idea of cutting and therefore to all sharp instruments. Think of a scythe fatally swinging through the barley, felling it. The accent, in this card, is on what ends, rather than what begins, even if what begins is positive.

Death is the last thing we experience in life, so the Ace of Spades is connected to everything that is last, as opposed to the Ace of Diamonds which is everything that is first. It represents the poor (the last in society), it represents a country’s borders (the last thing before the country ends), a last place in a competition, etc. Figuratively, the last thing in something is its extremity, so the Ace of Spades also represents extreme things, extremism, excess, violence.

Aces also have to do with the idea of source, and the Ace of Spades is definitely a source of trouble or of grief. Figuratively, it becomes a thorn, something that makes you suffer. When surrounded by Hearts, it can mean that the querent suffers emotionally (with other negative cards it can point to traumas and great disappointments, sometimes leading to depression). With Diamonds it points to financial hardships, while with Clubs it shows obstacles of all kind, especially of an objective nature, hardships at work and difficulties realizing your plans. If the cards are bad, the Ace of Spades bring failure, the abandonment of a plan.

In love readings, sometimes the card describes a widow or widower (especially when near a Spade Face card). At other times it can signify someone who has come out of an important story, not necessarily due to the partner going legs up. Broadly, the Ace of Spades is a card of great suffering, but when bombarded by positive cards it shows positive, if drastic, changes.

In more material affairs, the card is very seldom positive. It announces stressful times where the querent’s nerves will be put under great strain. It can, of course, announce a will or inheritance with the appropriate cards.

Psychologically and spiritually this is not a good card. It brings great worry, grief even at times, and in general it shows a nervous mind, often due to great uncertainty or owing to a sharp change of direction in the querent’s life. With very positive cards following it, it announces a new way of thinking or even a conversion.

Some Combinations:

A♠ – 3♠ – 9♠ = Death (often other bad cards show up)
A♠ – 9♠ = a bad combination in general. It augurs ill.
A♠ – 3♠ – A♣ and/or 4♦ – 7♦ or 10♦ = inheritance
K♠ – A♥ – A♠ – 2♠ = eviction
A♠ – 9♥ = a drastic change that leads to the fulfillment of your wishes