Category Archives: Card Meanings

Card Meanings, Cartomancy, Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Playing Cards, Tarot, Vera Sibilla

The Door Knockers – A Deep Dive into Italian Cartomancy

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In almost all cartomancy systems, Italian or otherwise, the Ace of Hearts/Cups is the house. Here the Sibilla is an exception, since it relegates the House to the Two of Hearts, although the Ace of Hearts still has connections to the idea of family and people living together. In the second most widespread Sibilla deck in Italy, which is the Sibilla Regionale, which uses the suits of the Neapolitan cards, the Ace of Cups is once again the house.

One thing I have so far never found in non-Italian systems, which on the contrary is very widespread in Italy, is the concept of the door knockers, also known as ‘close to home’. This is a meaning that is found in many regional Italian cartomancy systems, and keep in mind that almost everything in Italy is regional, since regions have a much older history as separate states than Italy itself, if we discount the Roman Empire.

When I was taught to read playing cards, my teacher told me that the Two of Hearts is “al martel di porta”, knocking at the door. This refers to the way old house doors are made in many European countries, including Italy, where door knockers were used back when you couldn’t ring at the door. At least in Italy door knockers are still very much en vogue, though mostly as a decorative element.

The idea of the Two of Hearts as “the door knockers” is a reference to the fact that door knockers usually come in twos and to the fact that the Two of Hearts comes right after the Ace, which is the house, so that the Two is quite literally close to the home.

This meaning is also found in many systems for reading Piacentine cards, where the Two of Cups takes on that meaning (in some other systems this meaning is given to the Two of Wands) as well as in the Bolognese Tarot, where it’s the Ace of Swords that depicts it, due to the odd shape of the picture.

In some systems I am aware of, there are two distinct cards: the door knockers and the roof of the house. This is true for some systems employing Piacentine cards, where the Two of Cups is the door knockers and the Four of Wands is the roof.

This distinction is also found in the Bolognese tarot, where the Ace of Swords depicts the door knockers and the Seven of Cups the roof of the house. In the oldest surviving system for reading the Bolognese tarot, which dates back to before the French revolution (I talk about it here), the Knight of Wands indicated the door knockers and the Ten of Cups the roof of the house. Clearly, therefore, this symbolism is deeply ingrained in Italian cartomancy.

According to the person who taught me the 45-card system of Bolognese tarot, the Ace of Swords, the door knockers, tends to show something close to home in a temporal sense (about to happen) whereas the Seven of Cups, the roof, is more connected to everyday life, to our close environment and to the protection of people surrounding us, as well as to the family in a more extended sense. Germana Tartari, who initiated me to the 50-card system, which she was taught by her grandmother and by some of her grandmother’s friends, uses the Nine of Cups as ‘the staircase to the house‘, again mostly in a temporal sense as something about to happen.

On the other hand, in the system for reading playing cards that I was taught, the Two of Hearts covers both possibilities: it indicates something about to knock at the door or it can show family situations, people who are close to us etc.

I have never found this symbolism in other non-Italian systems. If you did, feel free to drop me a line, as it would be very interesting. Manuel Arcuri, an American reader who was taught to read playing cards by his Italian grandmother, says somewhere that his grandmother called the Two of Hearts “l’attesa”, which means waiting or expectation, as of something about to happen. He doesn’t mention door knockers though.

Furthermore, many card reading systems I have read about assign the meaning of “within two weeks” to the Two of Hearts, which once again gives us the idea of something about to knock at the door. Interestingly, Regina Russell‘s playing card system uses the Two of Hearts to indicate excitement for something that is about to happen, expectation and even pregnancy (expecting a child).

MQS

Card Meanings, Cartomancy, Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Tarot

Tarot Encyclopedia – The Seven of Pentacles or Coins

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(Note: this is a collection of the meanings attributed to the cards by some occultists in the past centuries. It does not reflect my own study or opinion of the cards. It is only meant as a quick comparative reference as I develop my own take.)

The Seven of Pentacles from the Builders of the Adytum (BOTA) tarot deck

Paul Foster Case (and Ann Davies)

The time period is the third decanate of Taurus, under the rulership of Saturn, May 11 to 20. Meanings:
Well-Dignified: slight gains, but of small account; much labor for small returns.
Ill-Dignified: something promising turns out badly; loss in speculation and unprofitable employment; financial restriction; unrealized hopes and
wishes.
Keyword: Loss
(From the Oracle of Tarot course)

A. E. Waite

A young man, leaning on his staff, looks intently at seven pentacles attached to a clump of greenery on his right; one would say that these were his treasures and that his heart was there. Divinatory Meanings: These are exceedingly contradictory; in the main, it is a card of money, business, barter; but one reading gives altercation, quarrels–and another innocence, ingenuity, purgation. Reversed: Cause for anxiety regarding money which it may be proposed to lend.
(From The Pictorial Key to the Tarot)

The Seven of Pentacles from the Rider Waite Smith tarot

Aleister Crowley

The Seven of Disks is called Failure. This suit gives the extreme of passivity; there is no positive virtue in it below the Abyss. This card is ruled by Saturn. Compare it with the three other Sevens; there is no effort here; not even dream; the stake has been thrown down, and it is lost. That is all. Labour itself is abandoned; every thing is sunk in sloth.

[…]

The number Seven, Netzach, has its customary enfeebling effect, and this is made worse by the influence of Saturn in Taurus. The disks are arranged in the shape of the geomantic figure Rubeus, the most ugly and menacing of the Sixteen. (See Five of Cups.) The atmosphere of the card is that of Blight. On the background, which represents vegetation and cultivation, everything is spoiled. The four colours of Netzach appear, but they are blotched with angry indigo and reddish orange. The disks themselves are the leaden disks of Saturn. They suggest bad money.
(From The Book of Thoth)

The Seven of Disks from the Thoth Tarot

Golden Dawn’s Book T

A WHITE Radiating Angelic Hand issuing from a cloud, and holding a white rose branch. Seven Pentacles arranged like the geomantic figure Rubeus. There are only five buds, which overhang, but do not touch the five uppermost Pentacles. Above and below are the Decan symbols, Saturn and Taurus respectively.

Promises of success unfulfilled. (Shewn, as it were, by the fact that the rosebuds do not come to anything.) Loss of apparently promising fortune. Hopes deceived and crushed. Disappointment, misery, slavery, necessity and baseness. A cultivator of land, and yet a loser thereby. Sometimes it denotes slight and isolated gains with no fruits resulting therefrom, and of no further account, though seeming to promise well.

Netzach of HB:H (Unprofitable speculations and employments; little gain for much labour).
Therein HB:HRChAL and HB:MTzRAL are ruling Angels.

Etteilla

Money
Upright. This card, as far as the medicine of the spirit is concerned, means, in its natural position: Money, Wealth, Sum, Coin. – Silver. – Whiteness, Purity, Candor, Innocence, Naiveté, Moon. – Purgation, Purification.
Reversed. Restlessness, Torment of spirit, Impatience, Affliction, Remorse, Concern, Solicitude, Care, Attention, Diligence, Application. – Apprehension, Fear, Distrust, Misgiving, Suspicion.

MQS

Card Meanings, Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Tarot, Uncategorized

Tarot Encyclopedia – The Seven of Swords

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(Note: this is a collection of the meanings attributed to the cards by some occultists in the past centuries. It does not reflect my own study or opinion of the cards. It is only meant as a quick comparative reference as I develop my own take.)

The Seven of Swords from the Builders of the Adytum (BOTA) tarot deck

Paul Foster Case (and Ann Davies)

The time period is the third decanate of Aquarius, February 9 to 18, under the rulership of Venus.
Well-Dignified: partial success; the Querent is too easy-going or does not draw sufficiently on his reserve force; he has good opportunities but may not make the most of them; he is likely to compromise too easily.
Ill-Dignified: love of ease and display cause loss; the Querent suffers from the insolence of others and may be insolent himself; there is danger that his own confidence may be betrayed, or that he may be led into betraying the confidence of others.
Keyword: Instability.
(From the Oracle of Tarot course)

A. E. Waite

A man in the act of carrying away five swords rapidly; the two others of the card remain stuck in the ground. A camp is close at hand. Divinatory Meanings: Design, attempt, wish, hope, confidence; also quarrelling, a plan that may fail, annoyance. The design is uncertain in its import, because the significations are widely at variance with each other. Reversed: Good advice, counsel, instruction, slander, babbling.
(From The Pictorial Key to the Tarot)

The Seven of Swords from the Rider Waite Smith tarot

Aleister Crowley

The Seven of Swords is called Futility. This is a yet weaker card than the Seven of Wands. It has a passive sign instead of an active one, a passive planet instead of an active one. It is like a rheumatic boxer trying to “come back” after being out of the ring for years. Its ruler is the Moon. The little energy that it possesses is no more than dream-work; it is quite incapable of the sustained labour which alone, bar miracles, can bring any endeavour to fruition. The comparison with the Seven of Wands is most instructive.

[…]

Netzach, in the suit of Swords, does not represent such catastrophe as in the other suits, for Netzach, the Sephira of Venus, means victory. There is, therefore, a modifying influence; and this is accentuated by the celestial rule of the Moon in Aquarius.

The intellectual wreckage of the card is thus not so vehement as in the Five. There is vacillation, a wish to compromise, a certain toleration. But, in certain circumstances, the results may be more disastrous than ever. This naturally depends upon the success of the policy. This is always in doubt as long as there exist violent, uncompromising forces which take it as a natural prey.

This card, like the Four, suggests the policy of appeasement. The symbol shows six Swords with their hilts in crescent formation. Their points meet below the centre of the card, impinging upon a blade of a much larger up-thrusting sword, as if there were a contest between the many feeble and the one strong. He strives in vain.
(From the Book of Thoth)

The Seven of Swords from the Thoth tarot deck

Golden Dawn’s Book T

TWO Angelic Radiating Hands as before, each holding three swords. A third hand holds up a single sword in the centre. The points of all the swords “just touch” each other, the central sword not altogether dividing them.
The Rose of the previous symbols of this suit is held up by the same hand which holds the central sword: as if the victory were at its disposal. Symbols of Moon and Aquarius.

Partial success. Yielding when victory is within grasp, as if the last reserves of strength were used up. Inclination to lose when on the point of gaining, through not continuing the effort. Love of abundance, fascinated by display, given to compliments, affronts and insolences, and to spy upon others. Inclined to betray confidences, not always intentionally. Rather vacillatory and unreliable.
Netzach of HB:V (Journey by land: in character untrustworthy).
Herein rule the Great Angels HB:HHHAL and HB:Ma’aKAL.

Etteilla

Hope
Upright. This card, as far as the medicine of the spirit is concerned, means, in its natural position: Hope, Expectation, Expectation, Pretending, Founding, Overestimating, Founding, Designing, Willing, Wanting, Wishing, Vowing, Wanting, Taste, Fantasy.
Reversed. Wise opinion, Good advice, Salutary warnings, Instruction, Lesson. – Observation, Reflection, Note, Caution, Thoughtfulness. – Reprehension, Reprimand. – News, Announcement, Posting. – Consultation, Admonition.

MQS

Card Meanings, Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Tarot

Tarot Encyclopedia – The Seven of Cups

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(Note: this is a collection of the meanings attributed to the cards by some occultists in the past centuries. It does not reflect my own study or opinion of the cards. It is only meant as a quick comparative reference as I develop my own take.)

The Seven of Cups from the Builders of the Adytum (BOTA) tarot deck

Paul Foster Case (and Ann Davies)

The time period is the third decanate of Scorpio, November 11 to November 20, under the subrulership of the Moon.
Well-Dignified: possible victory, but the person to whom the card applies may be too indolent to take advantage of his opportunities for commanding circumstance. Success may be gained, but not followed up; necessity for choosing only the highest objectives.
lll-Dignified: illusionary success; lying and deceit; drunkenness; violence, even lust.
Keyword: Illusion
(From the Oracle of Tarot course)

A. E. Waite

Strange chalices of vision, but the images are more especially those of the fantastic spirit. Divinatory Meanings: Fairy favours, images of reflection, sentiment, imagination, things seen in the glass of contemplation; some attainment in these degrees, but nothing permanent or substantial is suggested. Reversed: Desire, will, determination, project.
(From The Pictorial Key to the Tarot)

The Seven of Cups from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot Deck

Aleister Crowley

The Seven of Cups is called Debauch. This is one of the worst ideas that one can have; its mode is poison, its goal madness. It represents the delusion of Delirium Tremens and drug addiction; it represents the sinking into the mire of false pleasure. There is something almost suicidal in this card. It is particularly bad because there is nothing whatever to balance it-no strong planet to hold it up. Venus goes after Venus, and Earth is churned into the scorpion morass.

[…]

This card refers to the Seven, Netzach, in the suit of Water. Here recurs the invariable weakness arising from lack of balance; also, the card is governed by Venus in Scorpio. Her dignity is not good in this Sign; one is reminded that Venus is the planet of Copper, “external splendour and internal corruption”. The Lotuses have become poisonous, looking like tiger-lilies; and, instead of water, green slime issues from them and overflows, making the Sea a malarious morass. Venus redoubles the influence of the number Seven.

The cups are iridescent, carrying out the same idea. They are arranged as two descending triangles interlaced above the lowest cup, which is very much larger than the rest. This card is almost the “evil and averse” image of the Six; it is a wholesome reminder of the fatal ease with which a Sacrament may be profaned and prostituted.

Lose direct touch with Kether, the Highest; diverge never so little from the delicate balance of the Middle Pillar; at once the holiest mysteries of Nature become the obscene and shameful secrets of a guilty conscience.
(From The Book of Thoth)

The Seven of Cups from the Thoth Tarot

Golden Dawn’s Book T

THE seven cups are arranged as two descending triangles above a point: a hand, as usual, holds lotus stems which arise from the central lower cup. The hand is above this cup and below the middle one. With the exception of the central lower cup, each is overhung by a lotus flower, but no water falls from these into any of the cups, which are all quite empty. Above and below are the symbols of the Decanate Venus and Scorpio.

Possible victory, but neutralized by the supineness of the person: illusionary success, deception in the moment of apparent victory. Lying, error, promises unfulfilled. Drunkenness, wrath, vanity. Lust, fornication, violence against women, selfish dissipation, deception in love and friendship. Often success gained, but not followed up. Modified as usual by dignity.

Netzach of HB:H (Lying, promises unfulfilled; illusion, deception, error; slight success at outset, not retained).
Herein the Angels HB:MLHAL and HB:ChHVYH rule.

Etteilla

Thought
Upright. This card, as far as the medicine of the spirit is concerned, means, in its natural position: Thought, Soul, Spirit, Intelligence, Idea, Memory, Imagination, Understanding, Conception, Meditation, Contemplation, Reflection, Deliberation, Viewpoint, Opinion, Feeling.
Reversed. Plan, Design, Intention, Desire, Will, Resolution, Determination, Forethought.

MQS

Card Combinations, Card Meanings, Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Tarot, Uncategorized

Bolognese Tarot – How to Tackle Combinations

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Life is a recipe, and the art of living consists in large part in detecting the ingredients to know if and how to mix them differently. Divination is a mirror of life, and oracular systems usually have some kind of vocabulary to create descriptions of life.

In traditional divination by cards, each card carries small bits of meaning that must be mixed together to form coherent pictures. If divination mirrors life, then it stands to reason that the recipe for something in real life should be mirrored by a recipe for that same thing in the divinatory language. This is how all card reading systems I know work, and that’s how the Bolognese tarot works, with the exception of a couple of universal combinations with odd meanings (Angel + Devil = Good news or satisfaction; Sun + Moon = sorrow; Angel + Death = yes, confirmed).

Let us make an example. What are the ingredients of an inheritance in real life? I would say the ingredients are: death (no inheritance without someone croaking); family ties (usually we inherit from someone whom we are related to, though not always); the law (inheritances are generally regulated by the law and require a bureaucratic mechanism to be set in motion); material possessions (the things we inherit).

In the language of the Bolognese tarot, these ingredients correspond to the following cards: Death: Death; Family ties: Ace of Cups and/or Seven of Cups; The Law: Justice and/or King of Coins; Material Possessions: The Star and/or a money card.

Do we need all the cards to be present? It much depends on the context. If the question is directly about an inheritance, then we could do without many of these cards, while if it is a general reading then the more cards, the clearer the message. But we might also find other cards to flavor the basic recipe: the Moon is also connected with death (the realm of shadows); tears may sometimes be expected, so the Seven of Coins could come up; the court card of the deceased person could show up, etc.

Let us make another example. Let’s take surgery. What’s the recipe for surgery in real life? I would say: a hospital, a bed, a doctor, a cutting instrument. In the Bolognese tarot these same ingredients are: Hospital: The Tower; Bed: The Chariot; Doctor: King of Coins; Cutting instrument: Knight of Swords.

Again, there can be additions and variations. The doctor or the bed might be absent, while the Ten of Cups (blood) or the Moon (unpleasantness) or the Eight of Swords (suffering) might be present. A King or Queen of Swords may take the doctor’s place to show someone holding the knife. Just like my lasagne recipe might differ from yours, but it would still be recognized as lasagne, so the way the deck mixes the ingredients might vary slightly from time to time, but the broad picture remains the same.

One last example. Let’s take marriage. In many situations, a marriage requires the following ingredients: a commitment; love (let’s assume the best intentions in this case); a celebrant. The same ingredients are, in the language of the Bolognese tarot: Love: Love; Commitment: Ace of Wands or Ace of Swords; Celebrant: The Stranger. This is the basic recipe. But we might also expect the main significators to show up. A marriage is a celebration, so the Ten of Cups (fun) might be expected; the family life is certainly impacted, so some Cup cards could be there.

Once we start recognizing that life is made up of ingredients mixed together, it becomes easy (or at least easier) to see how the tarot might mix its own ingredients, the cards, to match the recipe. In many cases, while it is useful to reason out the combinations handed down by tradition, it is much easier to understand the basic principles and be flexible in our observations.

Ultimately, divination starts with logic, not with psychic powers, even though psychic abilities may occasionally be of help. The more we immerse ourselves in the logic of divination, the easier it becomes to decode its messages.

MQS

Card Meanings, Cartomancy, Divination, Divination Master Post, Everyday Oracle, Fortune-telling, Sibilla della Zingara, Vera Sibilla

Vera Sibilla Cards That Indicate Protection or Improvement

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Two of Hearts – The House
In most situations, the House card is relatively neutral, as it often indicates the person’s home environment or family, or some other place depending on the combinations. However, in itself the card, when upright, symbolizes a protective environment where the querent feels safe and taken care of. Figuratively, it shows situations that are solid, positive and protective (so you feel at home).

Eight of Hearts – Hope
The Hope card’s main meaning is that of representing the hopes and wishes of the querent, and the cards following it will tell us if they come true or not. However, it also indicates the solution of trouble or compensation for it, as the card says “there is hope”. This is especially the case when the Eight of Hearts comes up after a negative sequence of cards. Sometimes the Hope card’s intervention may not be enough to give us what we want, but it will make sure that we come out of a situation still alive and breathing, and with some kind of hope.

King of Hearts – The Gentleman
The King of Hearts is, in most situation, a neutral person card, indicating a married man or an older man. However, it does indicate someone who has our interest at heart (unless it is reversed or surrounded by cards of dubious moral quality). He is the archetype of the philanthropist who is out to help others. For this reason, in spiritual readings, it represents God or a saint.

Two of Clubs – The Peacock
The best card in the deck, the Two of Clubs represents divine intervention (due to its symbolism of completeness and rebirth). It often shows up to protect us from the worst that could happen, or to increase the quality of something that is already good. It often shows positive undercurrents that do not manifest immediately in all their positive import, but which will save us, protect us or enrich us when they do manifest. For this reason it is known as the talisman card.

Five of Clubs – Fortune
While the Two of Clubs indicates divine intervention, the Five of Clubs represents gifts from heaven in the form of good luck. It often indicates positive turns of events, a turn of the wheel that brings us something we want us, or at least something good. Unlike the Two of Clubs, it retains its positivity when reversed, but it becomes delayed or less blatant, maybe a bit less satisying

Seven of Clubs – Gratification
The Seven of Clubs is a card of satisfaction, but it also represents our ability to reach our aims and ambitions in the real world. It represents the achievement of goals and reaching of landmarks in one’s life (marriage, promotion, property, recognition, etc.) However, the card can also represent “a light at the end of the tunnel” when it falls after negative cards, indicating, as it were, our ability to pick ourselves up.

Ten of Clubs Reversed – Levity
The Butterfly is a symbol of carefreeness, lack of focus and lack of attention. When it is reversed, however, it shows carefulness with one’s finances and, even more importantly, the arrival of good occasions that need to be seized. Although it is not a card of protection per se, it does show us a way out (a new therapy, a new job opportunity, a new meeting, etc.)

Three of Diamonds Reversed – The Gift
Again, not a card of protection, but still a welcome sight. It shows situations that somehow sort themselves out, at least in part. It is a relatively weak card, so the presence of very difficult situations may be mitigated only in part, and often it shows some kind of improvement rather than triumph.

Four of Diamonds Reversed – Falsehood
When upright, the cat brings falseness and negativity in general. Negativity is to be understood broadly as situations that are negative or bad for us (even when there is no direct lying involved). When it is reversed, the same card brings positivity, relief, solution of trouble.

MQS

Card Combinations, Card Meanings, Cartomancy, Fortune-telling, Tarot

Bolognese Tarot – Some Examples of Combinations

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This is a short selection from a much longer list. Although there are a couple of traditional combinations that are not easy to read unless studied beforehand (like Sun + Moon or Angel + Devil), most of the times the combinations of cards are logical. For this reason I have omitted many obvious combos: Page of Coins (words) and Love is sweet talk or words about love. Thank you very much. The following list is just an example: I will talk more about combining cards in the future. Plus, always remember that much depends on the context of the question and of the other cards. Be flexible. The comments in brackets are my own.

Ace of Cups + Ace of Wands = 1. married life 2. a business (the interpretation depends on the question or on the surrounding cards. For instance, + Love, married life; + Star, business)

Ace of Cups + Seven of Cups = things related to the family, or strong family or family-like relationship

Seven of Cups + Sun or Angel = protection, either from the family/friends or whoever is specified in the spread

Seven of Cups + Juggler = small city or your hometown (where you grew up)

Seven of Cups + World = large city or foreign city (not necessarily in another country though)

Ten of Cups + Love = falling in love, usually being at the stage where love is more fun than hard work (if also + Juggler or + Fool, fun but immature love)

Ten of Cups + Moon = there is no happiness (the Moon covers it)

Ten of Cups + Hermit = traditionally for women it shows their period being blocked, and if the Juggler appears it can show a pregnancy

Ten of Cups + Knight of Swords = 1. Hurting yourself and bleeding (with cards showing hospitalization, an operation) 2. More metaphorically, the fun or joy is cut short

Page of Cups + Ace of Wands = prostitute, according to tradition (it can still be like this nowadays, but look at the context of the question and the other cards. Also, prostitute can sometimes simply indicate a slutty individual, especially if no money card is involved)

Page of Cups + Juggler = son and daughter or a young girl

Knight of Cups + Angel = peace, agreement, reconciliation

Knight of Cups + Person card = the person is gentle, kind or agreeable

Ace of Wands + Love = a love relationship

Ace of Wands + Star = success at work or in business, can be the signing of a contract

Ace of Wands + Fool = “baronate” in Italian/Bolognese dialect, meaning fun sex without much thought

Eight of Wands + World = travel, removal

Eight of Wands + Hanged Man = 1. danger on the road 2. A road or path that ends abruptly

Eight of Wands + Juggler = A trip, but can have other interpretations in context

Ace of Coins + Tower + Hermit = serious money trouble and the need for making sacrifices (I guess instead of the Hermit any other troublesome card would suffice)

Ace of Coins + Ten of Coins = finances (in itself good finances, material well-being)

Ace of Coins + Ten of Cups = 1. prosperous finances 2. Can be a festive table

Ace of Coins + King of Coins = a banker or someone commanding lots of money

Seven of Coins + Fool + Moon = the blues

Seven of Coins + Ten of Coins = having little money

Ten of Coins + Ace of Cups = spending a little money on the family or home (I guess depending on the context it can also be a little money coming from the family or home)

Page of Coins + Queen of Coins = clarification or explanation (words that give you the truth)

Page of Coins + Juggler + Hermit = stuttering (probably mataphorical as well)

Knight of Coins + Page of Swords = 1. Post 2. Good news by message

Knight of Coins + Ace of Coins = good financial developments, money coming easily

Queen of Coins + Moon = hiding the truth, lack of clarity

Queen of Coins + King of Coins = expert

King of Coins + Justice = legal or bureaucratic matters (in itself can be a lawyer, notary, red tape, etc.)

King of Coins + Chariot = a doctor

King of Coins + Angel = 1. powerful protector (the one you’d ask to pull some strings, for instance) 2. A positive entity

Ace of Swords + Page of Swords = letter coming soon

Ace of Swords + Justice + Tower = prison (here the Ace of Swords is the handcuffs)

Eight of Swords + Ace of Swords + Devil = addiction (A bond to the devil for something that torments you. But it can mean being dependent from someone or something in a negative way)

Eight of Swords + Love + Devil = strong jealousy (probably pathological)

Page of Swords + World = message from afar (nowadays also probably messaging with people around the world)

Page of Swords + Moon = 1. secret correspondence 2. Letter whose content displeases us

Queen of Swords + Seven of Coins = affliction (obviously it can also mean a sad woman or a woman who causes sadness, depending on the context)

Queen of Swords + Devil = witch (or, more probably, a negative woman)

King of Swords + Juggler = an immature man or a young boy, or two sons

King of Swords + Justice = law enforcement

Fool + Juggler = bewilderment, disorientation

Fool + Ten of Cups = creativity or levity (in a medical context, since the Fool is the head and the Ten of Cups is blood, if there are negative cards it can indicate blood clots, brain strokes, etc.)

Fool + Hanged Man = estrangement from reality (+ Moon and/or + Seven of Coins, serious mental suffering)

Fool + Devil = excesses (either excessive character or using funky stuff. It can probably also indicate a negative situation that confuses us)

Juggler + Ace of Wands = conception or inception

Juggler + Moon + Devil = untrustworthy character, dangerous individual

Juggler + Page of Cups + King of Swords = children or young people

Juggler + Wheel = gambling (but it can mean other things in context)

Stranger + Fool = overturned expectations (I have experimented this combination as overturning the status quo as well)

Stranger + Moon = disappointment (unexpected bad things)

Stranger + Star = can mean a gift (unexpected object)

Love + Ace of Swords + Stranger = Marriage (the Stranger here is a priest or celebrant, the Ace are the rings. I think the Ace of Wands might be there instead of that of Swords. Without the Stranger it can still show a relationship or, if you’re single, love about to knock at the door)

Stranger + Devil + Moon + Ace of Swords = black magic (here the Stranger is the person celebrating the ritual, the Ace of Swords is the creation of magic bonds. I’m wondering if the Angel and Sun came up instead of the Devil and the Moon if it would indicate white magic)

Love + Hanged Man + Queen of Swords or King of Swords = cheating

Love + Temperance = lasting love

Chariot + Ace of Wands = sex

Chariot + Death = deathbed (but unless the question is specific or there are other cards it probably means something else)

Chariot + Moon = sickness

Justice + Ace of Wands = marriage, partnership or important contract

Justice + Moon = injustice (can probably be interpreted in various ways, such as something being wrong or unfair or mistaken)

Hermit + Person = person is indisposed (or blocked within the context)

Hermit + Temperance = lasting blockage

Hermit + Page of Wands or Knight of Wands = person is shy or solitary (has inner blockage)

Wheel + Stranger = chance meeting (probably with a person card next to it, otherwise maybe also unexpected chance)

Strength + Hermit + Moon = exhaustion, weakness, ill-health

Strength + Ace of Wands = person is very willful (I’ve noticed that the Ace of Wands next to a person card also makes them very willful)

Strength + Devil + Knight of Swords = fights

Hanged Man + Death = paralysis (literal or metaphorical)

Hanged Man + Tower = ending

Death + Wheel = what’s been set in motion cannot be stopped (probably also a change for the better, if the Wheel is upright and/or followed by positive cards)

Death + Tower = 1. Tragedy 2. Disruption

Death + Justice + Ace of Cups + Star = inheritance (the Star here refers to material possessions. I think a money card could be there instead as well.)

Temperance + Hanged Man = end of something (that lasted a while)

Temperance + Ace of Swords = short (short-ish) timeframe (here the Ace of Swords reduces the slowness of Temperance. It can probably also indicate a lasting bond.)

Ace of Coins + Temperance + Ten of Cups = finances slowly flourishing

Page of Coins + Devil = angry words, fights

Devil + Angel = great satisfaction or good news (regardless of the order of the cards)

Devil + Ace of Wands = great passion (primarily sexual but to be adapted to the context)

Tower + Chariot + King of Coins = hospital (other cards like the Moon, the Seven of Coins etc. may be present)

Tower + Chariot + Knight of Swords = surgery (I’ve already experimented this combination. The Queen of Swords was present indicating the female surgeon. Otherwise a King of Swords would be probably a man or the King of Coins would generically indicate the doctor)

Tower + Ace of Coins = financial sacrifice, financial limitations, bankruptcy with other bad cards

Tower + Fool + Moon = mental breakdown

Star + Ace of Coins = a well-paid job

Star + Temperance = stable job (if followed by cards of ending like the Hanged Man, temporary job)

Star + Queen of Coins = intellectual job (but I think it depends on the context)

Chariot + King of Coins + Star = therapy, prescription (here the Star indicates meds)

Moon + Person card = traditionally a dead person (someone who is no longer visible to us. But it needs to make sense in the context. It can probably also mean someone who is sad or is hiding something)

Moon + Eight of Wands + Hanged Man + King of Swords = danger on the road at night (probably due to a man)

Sun + Moon = Sorrow (if the cards are swapped around, with the Sun last, it is still sorrow but it is lessened or it goes away more quickly)

Sun + King of Coins = the doctor’s cure works (probably to be extended to any kind of professional help)

Sun + Devil or Ace of Wands = strong vitality or energy

Angel + Queen of Coins = faith

Angel + Page of Coins = prayer (probably also good/positive words)

Angel + Juggler + World = pregnancy (the World is the belly)

Angel + Death = yes, for sure (either to a question or to the cards preceding them)

World + Person card = person is not yet known or comes from far away (keep in mind that once upon a time even the next town was far away) or travels

World + Star + Ace or Ten of Coins = commerce (but it can probably mean other things too)

Three Aces together = “Tre assi son tralasci”, three aces equal abandonment. Radical change, leaving the old for the new.

Four Aces together = “Quattro assi fan fracassi”, four aces make a lot of noise. Destabilizing situations, chaos, pandemonium

Three Kings together = Success

Four Kings together = Triumph

Three Queens together = Problem*

Four Queens together = Failure*

Three Knights together = Good news, Speed

Four Knights together = Speedy good news, great speed

Three Pages together = gossip, talking

Four Pages together = slander, bad people

*Some (including one of my teachers) see the Queens less unfavourably, as delays (Queens, in this case, are probably seen as taking a long time to deliver the heir/result)