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

Bolognese Tarot – Introduction to Combinations

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The Tarocco Bolognese is famous in Italy for relying heavily on combinations of cards. Rather than each card being a full picture, the cards are like small tiles in a mosaic, and need to be interpreted as a whole. No individual card can tell us much of anything. Let’s take the most favorable card in the deck, the Angel. In itself a wonderful card of protection and solution. Yet, alone, the Angel merely says “protection” or “solution” or “friendship” or any other keyword. We still don’t know if this protection exists, is longed for, is missing, is crumbling, or what effects it will have.

In this, the Bolognese tarot is much closer to the Sibilla or Playing Cards or other traditional oracles than to how tarot is often read nowadays (but regular tarot did use to be read in a combinatory manner in the past, before the Waite deck became popular and people started focusing on illustrations).

Since each individual card doesn’t say much by itself, the spreads tend to rely on a larger number of cards. The smallest traditional spread done with the Bolognese tarot is the thirteen card spread, which I have already shown, and which I will cover again. This is a small tableau of three columns of four cards (or four rows of three cards) plus one at the end. In this small tableau, the cards are interpreted in their interaction with one another.

Often, therefore, it is necessary to be able to see the big picture when interpreting the Bolognese Tarot. Occasionally, all cards are important and need to be considered. At other times, one or two cards come up in the spread that we don’t know how to interpret and don’t make sense to us, and there is no point in banging our head against them, trying to fit them into the interpretation at all costs: we should be able to see where the answer to our question lies, where the cards that are clearly forming a message are clustering, and go from there.

Look at the spread as if it were a bunch of people in central square. Some are there to meet other people and discuss something important or go somewhere interesting together. Others are simply sitting there because their wife kicked them out so she can finish waxing the floor in peace, so they just sit alone. They don’t have much to add. They are just there. Or, if you prefer the image of the mosaic I used earlier, some tiles go together to show the cool angel warding off the horde of demons, while other tiles are just vaguely blue and form the sky in the background.

This sounds complicated but it isn’t necessarily, once we have developed an eye for which cards tend to go together. Don’t fixate on rigid 1+ 1 + 1 + 1 +1 = 5 kind of combinations. In cartomancy, 1 + 1 +1 + 1 +1 often equals a bunch of crap if you are not careful. Who says that it’s 1 + 1 +1 +1 +1, and not 1 + 1 on one hand and then 1 +1 +1 on the other? Or 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 and then one left over? Who says the cards add up, instead of detracting from each other? The Angel is good, but followed by the Hermit and the Tower it is diminished. Strength makes you strong, but Strength followed by the Moon? Not so much.

Look at the flow and apply logic to it. See how the small meanings of the cards cluster together to form one coherent bit of mosaic. That coherent bit of mosaic may be next to another bit that is coherent in itself, without the two going together: in one corner you may have the scene with the angel warding off the demons, but right next to it you could have God creating Adam and Eve. Mix them the wrong way and you’ll have the angel warding off God, while the demons create Adam and Eve. Not good on the angel’s resume.

Also, don’t fixate rigidly on methods like “the first card is the noun and the second is the adjective” that were popular some time ago in the Lenormand community. I don’t use Lenormand, don’t know if that’s how they work, but it certainly doesn’t help with the Bolognese tarot. Again, the big picture is essential. Once we have that down, we can carefully add the details.

Finally, go for concrete life. The cards can talk about many things, from the most mundane to the most deep, including spirituality, psychology and so on. Do keep in mind, though, that the card readers of yore didn’t ponder too many questions we (often deludedly) consider deep. Not because they were dumb (they weren’t) but because they had other priorities: they were too occupied seeing if they could put away enough food for the winter or if the doctor would be able to come in time from two towns over on his rickety buggy to see what was wrong with little Guido.

Ordinary life is our starting point. It is in it that more spiritual or introspective topics are nestled. Without real life, spirituality falls into the void, failing to manifest, and it therefore remains an abstract collection of feel-good statements. But just because we start from real life doesn’t mean the tarot can’t talk about it in sometimes strikingly deep or metaphorical ways.

The tarot is highly metaphorical. Never forget that the old card readers had entire poems, folk songs, stories and even Bible books committed to memory. They were often capable of seing meaning in things we consider bland. Again, they were practical, not dumb. Life is highly metaphorical and symbolic if you know how to look at it, and the tarot is a good lens. Of course Truth (Queen of Coins) and Love can mean a true love, but what does it mean that your job is true? Think about it.

MQS

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

Bolognese Tarot – The Major Arcana

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While the number of Minor Arcana differs from system to system, being usually comprised of the aces, court cards and a variable number of pips, the Major Arcana of Bolognese Tarot the are always the same: eighteen classically recognizable trumps (the regular ones, minus the Emperor, Empress, Pope/Hierophant and Popess/High Priestess), plus any number of Moors (from zero to all four, depending on the school of thought). For more information on the peculiarities of this deck read here.
NOTE: when I was kindly taught the 45-card system, the person who taught it to me considered the Moor card to be part of the suit of swords, possibly due to the spear. I include it in the Major Arcana simply because the four Moors are replacements for the four missing trumps.
NOTE 2: The Bolognese major arcana sequence is older than the one we are used to, and quite different. I stick to the sequence we know just to avoid confusion. It has no divinatory implications either way.

The Fool, The Juggler, The Moor, Love in the Bolognese Tarot

The Fool
A neutral card, with both positive and negative implications. It represents oddity and strangeness, but also carefreeness and thoughtlessness, and possibly confusion, uncertainty, mental trouble, lack of restraint, etc. Its meaning is very sensible to how the cards surrounding it modify it. It is always a bit of a question mark in many spreads, so much so that a teacher and friend said that there is a tradition, when the cards are unclear and the Fool is among them, to put the deck back together and knock on it, asking the Fool to be more clear. It is also a card of creativity and inspiration, if it makes sense within the context. For instance, it can show a line of work where one needs to follow their own sensibility, vision or intuition.

The Juggler
Again a neutral card that heavily depends on the others. It is mainly the significator of children. For this reason, it is important when we talk about pregnancies or the family, or when we explore someone’s childhood. It also has the implication of childishness or of things that are small and of little literal or moral value, or something that hasn’t found its footing or stability. For this reason, depending on the combinations, it can represent someone who is not to be trusted. It can also signify situations where we are like children, that is, powerless or passive. According to others it can also sometimes depict a beginning. According to most, it is also the card of pets.

The Moor or The Stranger
In the 45-card system I know, only one of these cards is used, namely the one with the earring and the spear. It represents a stranger, and therefore things that disrupt regular life, hence the ideas of surprise, unexpected events or meetings, hiccups along the way, etc. The other cards will tell us if the unexpected situation is good or bad. In itself it can be mildly annoying, as we tend not to like disruptions to our routine. It is also traditionally associated with a priest (oddly enough) and therefore with all kinds of ceremonies.1

Love
It means mostly what it says on the tin: love. It is possibly the single most important card in the single most requested type of consultation, i.e., about relationships. Whether the love is strong or weak, childish or mature, increasing or declining depends on the cards surrounding this one. It also represents one’s emotional world, emotions in general, and it is a card of good heart and good feelings. When not talking about love, it can show something that involves your heart (you are emotionally invested for good or ill), or something you love. In itself it is positive, signifying joy.

The Chariot, Justice, The Hermit and the Wheel of Fortune in the Bolognese Tarot

Chariot or The Bed
This is where the Bolognese Tarot is at its oddest. In the card’s design, the Chariot appears to be still, with the horses resting on each side, and the man looks unhappy. For this reason, the Chariot has been called the Bed card. This led to interpreting it exactly the opposite way as most would: instead of movement, stasis. In itself it is a negative card of tribulation, illness, static situations, tiredness, exhaustion. It can also signify nooky time with other cards (like the Ace of Wands). Mostly, though, it signifies illness, either literal or figurative (e.g., an unhealthy love, an unhealthy way of expressing anger, etc.) Still, some card readers retain the traditional idea of moving toward a goal quickly, and attribute it to the card when surrounded by good cards.2

Justice
Mainly this is the card of everything legal and justice-related. When talking about wills, fines, trials, bureaucracy and similar things, Justice is an important card, as the cards surrounding it can tell us if the situation is going to go well or not. It is also the card of fairness or of things that are just or ok, or equilibrated. It represents control, controlling, testing, etc. (including in a medical or academic sense). Justice next to a person can mean a just person, the person’s sense of justice, or someone wearing a uniform.

The Hermit
The Bolognese variant of this card has none of the introspective undertones that it has been attributed in other traditions. This is a bad card: it is called blockage (in italian Blocco or Incaglio, the latter word indicating a ship that has run aground). It shows big obstacles that delay a situation, whether indefinitely or momentarily depends on the rest of the spread. It is also the card of small ailments, either seasonal (cold, flu), obnoxious but not life-threatening (like toothache) or age-related. Obviously it can also indicate a character that is reserved or tending to isolation, as the blockage can be inner as well as outer.

The Wheel
This is the only card in the Bolognese tarot whose reversal is discernible and is read accordingly. Look to the left: if the crowned figure is ascending, the card is upright. If the young boy is ascending, it is reversed. According to some, when upright the Wheel represents good luck, when reversed bad luck. According to others, the Wheel represents movement and evolution of circumstances in general, but when upright it brings stability (stable good luck, decisive chances, etc) while when reversed it shows instability (unstable luck, with ups and downs, requiring effort). I have been taught according to the second school. Much also depends on the surrounding cards. Still, unstable luck is always more likely to turn into bad luck when surrounded by bad cards.

Strength, the Hanged Man, Death and Temperance in the Bolognese Tarot

Strength or Fortitude
Considered a very good card, Strength brings energy, decisiveness, steadfastness, focus in meeting obstacles and taking action. The cards following it, however, can block it or diminish it, so it is important to pay attention to them as well. In itself, when coming up at the end of a sequence or with positive cards, it shows a situation that is reliable (“strong”) or a person (if next to a court card) who is strong in a positive sense, usually to help us. When following negative cards it can indicate the ability to pick yourself up or stand your ground. It always indicates an active stance in the matter.

The Hanged Man or The Traitor
Here we enter the realm of history. In spite of the many mystical interpretations of the Hanged Man that started popping up during the occult revival, traditionally the card was inserted in the oldest packs to represent how traitors were punished in the Middle Ages (namely, by being hanged by a foot), and thus served as a cautionary tale to those playing tarot games never to betray the church or the government: “Know your place and stay there. Don’t try to overreach, or we’ll hang you upside down, so instead of moving upward in life, you’ll be going downward to hell.” That’s the message. The Bolognese tarot retains this old tradition, as the Hanged Man is mainly the card of treason. The treason can be literal (cheating, betrayal, etc.) or it can be metaphorical (a situation that betrays you, stabs you in the back when you are heading for the finish line, that makes you feel cheated on or sorely disappoints you). It is one of the worst cards in the pack, and it can show situations that end badly (like traitors in the past), or that are being upended. Even when no one is betraying anyone in particular, it can still symbolize life kicking you in the nuts, so you feel betrayed by it, as if you’ve ended up in a bad place or situation. Sometimes, in my experience, the upending can be good, but only when the querent’s expectations are negative and the cards following the Hanged Man are positive. In this case, the negative expectations are betrayed. In itself, though, the upending tends to be of the negative kind.

Death or Thirteen
This card is never actually called by its name, but by its number (tredici, i.e., thirteen). Different schools of thought interpret it slightly differently. It largely depends on the context though. Its first meaning is that of physical death, but this is rare and never by itself. In itself it shows the end of something. It can also indicate an inner sense of loss or death (“mortificazione”, which has the same root as the Italian “morte”, death, but indicates inner devastation and mortification). When, however, Death cannot be interpreted as ending, it can act as confirmation: “tredici conferma”, “the thirteenth card confirms”, or, if you will, “as sure as the fact we all die”. For instance, when it is surrounded by positive cards, it acts as a highlighter, confirming them. Same with negative cards: it makes them stronger and more important in the querent’s destiny. It can also indicate a situation that changes radically. Suppose, for instance, the cards preceding it are bad and those following it good: in this case it shows the end of the bad situation.

Temperance
The old diviners must have taken a look at this card and thought it looked like an hourglass, because the main meaning is that of time, the passage or flow of time. It is usually a slow card, which slows down the reading. It is connected with such concepts as waiting, patience, stagnation, but also of things that last a long time, take a long time or happen after a lot of time has passed. For instance, if it is followed by cards that show falling in love, it might mean that we will fall in love after a long time, while if it is preceded by cards of love it indicates that the love will last a long time. Use your commonsense. I have also found that, when it falls in the first few lines of a spread, the cards surrounding it, and especially those preceding it, tend to either talk about the past (a long time ago) or have started a long time ago and still drag on. Finally, some card readers connect it with the flow of water, and therefore water in general. I haven’t verified this connection but it does make sense.

The Devil, The Tower, The Star in the Bolognese Tarot

The Devil
In Italian “Diavolerie”, i.e., things that bedevil you. It is a deeply negative card, but with some redeeming qualities. In the main it is connected, traditionally, with anger, which depending on the context can range from annoyance to rage, due to things, people or circumstances bedeviling you. In general, though, it can indicate all passions that seize us and we fail to control. When falling with a person card, it is usually a sign the person is negative for us (depending on the context it can show jealousy or envy as well). When it describes a situation, it is bad for us. It is a card of excess all around, but it can indicate sexy energy, when with cards that talk about it, and it can also represent a strong energy when surrounded by very positive cards. Finally, it is one of the cards connected with magic.

The Tower
The image shows a burning building, and the main meaning is consequently that of places we’d rather not find ourselves in, mostly prison or hospital (or, if next to the Ace of Cups, our home). However, it can also signify a metaphorical prison, that is, a situation that is strongly limiting for us and prevents us from fleeing or moving freely, where we must sacrifice our hopes and aspirations or resources at least in part (“sacrificio” is one of the main Italian keywords for this card). Whether this card can indicate neutral or positive places is up for debate, as it depends on the school of thought. I guess in the appropriate context and with the appropriate cards it might, but generally, in my experience, it mostly shows negative places or negative situations. It can, however, show neutral places of authority (like a city hall, where there is an authority above us) or very large or foreboding buildings.

The Star
Another peculiar card. The main keyword is “roba”, i.e., stuff, especially referred to one’s objects, belongings and possessions. This is because the image shows three people holding some unspecified object. Some say they are the three Wise Men bringing gifts to Jesus, others say they are merchants. Either way, the emphasis is on objects and materiality. This is the card of business, belongings, objects, work (either one’s work life or working on something). It can represent study (which is the student’s work). In health readings it shows the objects used in medicine, that is, meds (and therefore therapy in general). This card can represent gifts when coupled with other specific cards. To summarize: business, work, stuff (material/practical life), study, gifts.

The Moon, The Sun, The Angel / Judgement and the World in the Bolognese Tarot

The Moon and the Sun
The reason I talk about these two cards together is that they complement each other. They are also called “le due rosse”, “the two red (cards)”. Their main meaning is temporal: the Moon shows things happening by night or in the evening, the Sun shows things happening by day. But they are also two polar opposites. The Sun indicates positivity, life, energy, clarity, success, happiness, vitality. When coupled with other cards it slants them positively. The Moon indicates negativity, death, lethargy, secrets, falsity, dissatisfaction, sadness. When coupled with other cards, it slants them negatively.

The Angel or Judgement
The best card in the deck, the Angel is the card of goodness, peace, friendship, protection. It brings solutions to difficult situations. However, if followed by cards indicating obstacles or impossibility, it can show the solution is delayed or impossible. When coupled with a person card, it can signify the person is an angel for us, helping and protecting us, or that they are good. It is also the main card connected with spirituality.

The World
“Around the world“, “the world outside“. It is the card of travel and journeys, as well as of distance. It signifies movement, whether literal or metaphorical. Often it shows actual journeys, relocations and removals. The journey doesn’t have to be very long, however traditionally, when falling next to a court card it can show a person we don’t yet know (the person comes from the outer world, i.e., is not part of our daily life), although, depending on the context, it can also show someone who travels or someone who lives distant from us. It can indicate a stranger, though again, how much of a stranger depends on the context. It shows situations that are open, in motion, and it gives the sense of something big or large or important (as opposed to the Juggler, which is something small). It can be symbolic of life (the great journey). Finally, some attach the idea of something recurring to it (like recurring thoughts, etc.)

MQS

  1. In other reading systems with more cards, where more Moors are used, the priest is often associated with the Moor with the hat, who is also the doctor. ↩︎
  2. How positive or negative (or neutral) the card is depends on the system as well. In systems with more cards, where there is a specific illness card (the Moor with the hat) the Chariot is more neutral. In the 45-card system, it is more negative. ↩︎
Card Reading, Cartomancy, Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Playing Cards, Tarot

An Assault (Example Reading)

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I don’t often pick three cards for the day, and usually when I do they show very minor situations, for the very good reason that most days are very minor in themselves. The day before yesterday I shuffled the Bolognese Tarot and this came up for the following day:

Three cards for the day

The Sun and Moon, in the Bolognese Tarot tradition, indicate sorrow or tribulation. Usually, when the Moon falls last, the sorrow is serious or lasting, while if the Sun falls last it eventually overcomes the Moon, so the sorrow is shorter or less impactful. Still, what we have here, is sorrow knocking at the door, even though it’s passing. Curious, I decided to deal out some other cards, even though I wasn’t sure the cards would keep talking about the same thing. This came up:

The rest of the deck

Clearly this is not a happy string of cards, and it seems to be dealing with a young woman (the Page of Cups). I wasn’t sure if the young woman had anything to do with me or was experiencing something herself, so I left it at that.

Yesterday, aside from being a mentally taxing day for me, a friend of mine was assaulted by a junkie while walking the dogs, but she managed to make it out of it with nothing more than a big scare and a broken fingernail. She alerted the police, and she asked me what I thought would come of it. This time I whipped out the playing cards.

What will be the consequences of the assault?

The Jack of Spades immediately calls attention to himself, showing a criminal in this case. It is surrounded by two Spades, so trouble or inconvenience for him. The Four is also a card of violence, but I don’t think it has anything to do with it: they are describing what happens to him. Then the spread takes a sharp turn for the better (for the criminal, that is): things change (Five of Diamonds) and he walks (Two of Clubs). I doubted there would be serious consequences. Note also the absence of the law (the King of Spades) or of the prison card (the Five of Spades).

The man was stopped, since he is known around town for being a weirdo, but my friend is probably not going to press charges since she was told there were no witnesses and it would turn into an endless battle of he-says-she-says for what, in the eyes of the law, was a minor scuffle on the streets between two adults. I’ll update the post if anything new happens.

MQS

Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Robert Fludd’s Geomancy – Book II Pt. 5

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Fludd discusses the meanings of Puer, Puella, Fortuna Major and Fortuna Minor.

Puer

in the First House, hope, marriage, the cheerful manner of a child, who loves nothing but to sing and spend time with music and the company of women.1
In the Second House, profits in commerce, good fortune, good profit, company of women, reception of debts.
In the Third House, joy on account of brothers and neighbors, charming and cheerful neighbors, a good journey, a good dream, and delightful news.

In the Fourth House, fights, no acquisition of the desired object, refusal of the thing that one desires, water.
In the Fifth House, joy, good children, news and letters, good news, pleasures, love, delights with women, musical instruments.
In the Sixth House, good servants, foolish women, children born from fornication, good animals, and long or prolonged illnesses.

In the Seventh House, evil and foolish women,2 fornication and bad company, marriage of children.
In the Eighth House, death and disease.
In the Ninth House, a journey by land, false belief, lewdness of the church.3

In the Tenth House, litigations over women, or for servants, or children in judgment or before a judge, (being in) the service of some master.4
In the Eleventh House, joy, luck, good love, love of women and men due to lewdness.5
In the Twelfth House, victory, a bad man, dangers, prisons, the failure of that which is equired about, good animals, strong and bad enemies.

In the Thirteenth House, joy and profits come from great people, letters, news, life, joy and travels.
In the Fourteenth House, danger but later a good end, drinking well, eating well, news and love.
In the Fifteenth House, temperance, profit in all things, and the completion of goods.6
In the Sixteenth House, all good.7

Note, when this figure is in the first house, it signifies a young man, handsome, and of good looks, with a fine beard, luxurious, fond of instruments and music, monks, hypocrites, and scholars.

Puella

In the First House, happiness of friends, food, having children, lewd and licentious words, lying, full of superfluous speech.8
In the Second House, profit, a tendency to extravagance.
In the Third House, love of relatives, good company, good relatives, much talk, weariness on the journey, and sometimes robbers.

In the Fourth House, profits in works of love, from father and mother,9 from inheritances, small fruits, talk, lewdness and dishonesty in the house.
In the Fifth house, happy children, news, letters, delights, superfluous words about lewdness, love of women, liars, and cowards.
In the Sixth House, evil women, disease of slaves, profit from animals, slaves (who are) full of boastful and lustful speech, diseases, that is, ulcers, swellings, bruises and the like.

In the Seventh House, marriage, profitable partners, women’s joys, many talkative and lustful women, harlots and dishonest women who touch others without merit.
In the Eighth House, the death of parents or sisters, inheritance from the dead, many words, the death of slaves in a foreign country.
In the Ninth House, profits on the way, sagacity, a man who loves joy and cheerfulness more than prayers and divine worship, dreams, news without much merit, good understanding in one’s teaching, singing, disturbance for the church.

In the Tenth House, happiness and profits on the way of one’s lord,10 good master and duties, but much talking done before.
In the Eleventh House, good friends, profit from slaves and beasts and good fortune, much talk, lust and fornication.
In the Twelfth House, talkativeness, profits from beasts and servants, enemies full of quarrels, beasts quite good.

In the Thirteenth House, profitable journey, profits from some lords.
In the Fourteenth House, good luck, profit from danger.
Note, when this figure is found in the First House, it denotes a man having a small body, and a short neck, a large head, teeth badly arranged, a fine intellect.

Fortuna Major

In the First House, thoughts of kings, treasures, old men, a man of good life, good fortune in all matters of profit and honor of the seeker, steadfastness, good hope.
In the Second House, wealth, profit, and especially from animals, a rich man, good luck, acquisition, joy, sense of gain.
In the Third House, good journey, but a little delayed, a good brother, good and rich relatives, a good dream, good news, joy, profit.

In the Fourth House, a good estate, the acquisition of the inheritance of great lords, treasures hidden in the earth, a good house, great advantage in all things stable,11 a good end, a good father and mother.
In the Fifth House, good children, good news, good letters, good love with wife, security of heart,12 change and honours.
In the Sixth House, long illness and pain, good animals, good servants, faithful and stable.

In the Seventh House, a good marriage, a good and chaste and prudent woman, great wealth, conquering one’s enemies, both in legal proceedings and in battles, strong and stable enemies,13 good in commerce, receiving one’s desire in other countries, the gathering of men and women.
In the Eighth House, rich enemies, riches from the dead, profits in a foreign country; where it is noted that this figure is good, but the house is terrible.
In the Ninth House, good journeys, though slow, good dreams.

In the Tenth House, good judgment, good decision in the place where the figure is duplicated, peaceful kings and kingdoms; a peaceful and firm state of the lords, the acquisition of one’s desire, reward and lasting honor from the lords.
In the Eleventh House, good fortune, noble and faithful friends, profits in trade, good hope of riches from the king and prince, joy and happiness.
In the Twelfth House horses, good and useful animals, a long and dangerous imprisonment, a dangerous disease, long debts, long tribulations, strong enemies14, evil for journeying.

In the Thirteenth House, a good journey and good fortune, acquisition from the king, absence, happiness in riches and joy.
In the Fourteenth House, deliverance from diseases, escape from prison and debts, good luck, sudden riches for the absent, good company, good friends and security in hope.
In the Fifteenth House, a good judgment, a good end, a good outcome for joys, and if it comes from good Witnesses, it will give the petitioner security in all good things, and the good is witnessed in the place (in the chart) where the figure is found.

Note, when Major is in the First House, it means an old man, a merchant of precious cloths, affable, of average stature, well dressed, good hair.

Fortuna Minor

in the First House, goodness, a good journey to princes and lords, a rich and fortunate man, also a king,15 a prince, a leader, a man of great authority, knowledge, good animals, a good and humble wife.
In the Second House, the acquisition of a house by a master or a great man, and indeed without effort.
In the Third House, good brothers, and wealth and profit from them, good neighbors, good knowledge and good faith, good travels, especially by sea, a good woman.

In the Fourth House, treasures of kings or magnates, good journeys to parents, noble inheritance, and acquisition of inheritance.
In the Fifth House, good children, good news, a good journey towards children, joy and comfort, useful journeys,16 pleasures and delights of nobles.
In the Sixth House, the insults of kings and princes and their injuries from other lords,17 as well as victory from them, fear of losing their dominion or kingdom, proud servants.

In the Seventh House, a good woman, beautiful and rich, but it will be doubtful that she will be destroyed by foolish love, murder committed by a great man, denotes to one’s son a noble marriage and good travels.18
In the Eighth House, the death of kings, or the fear of kings, so that he who has become a problem may fear them, and if Rubeus is found in the Seventh House, death due to loss of blood, it is not good to go out of the country or to travel, for imprisonment or violent death are to be feared.
In the Ninth House, a good journey, a good relationship with kings or superiors to obtain favor, a faithful man, of good faith and God-fearing.

In the Tenth House, a good king and a ruler with good virtues, victory, good for migration by sea and making journeys, the acquisition of property from a prince or king, acquisition thanks to the love of judges, profit and honor.
In the Eleventh House, good hope, good friends, good fortune, good company, good fortune in beasts and servants.19
In the Twelfth House, good animals, coming out of prison, poverty for the petitioner due to that, where the figure is duplicated, and especially in the Tenth House, it denotes the loss of the kingdom to the king, either due to himself or his children.

In the Thirteenth House, profits on the way, and receiving one’s wish from some lord.
In the Fourteenth House, a long life, good fortune, and profits in the business one hopes for.
In the Fifteenth House, a good result in all good things, a good end, good company, honor and glory.

Note, Minor in the First House signifies a king or queen, a handsome and brave man, clothed in scarlet, who likes to travel often, covered with gold.

MQS

Footnotes
  1. Puer and Puella are the two most confusing figures in traditional texts. Here we find mixed together attributions that, in contemporary geomancy, have been attributed to one or the other. ↩︎
  2. Fludd seems to attribute Puer to women, and since the Seventh House is the house of enemies, it causes the women to be evil. ↩︎
  3. Here seems to emerge the typical sexual theme that some today attribute to Puer. ↩︎
  4. Possibly meaning being subservient to another. ↩︎
  5. Possibly indicating homosexuality. ↩︎
  6. Puer cannot be the judge. ↩︎
  7. This is possibly the only time that Fludd discusses the Reconciler (also knwn as Judge of the Judge) ↩︎
  8. Similar traits are assigned by others to Puer. However, let us also not forget that in those times, sometimes women were considered deceitful by default. ↩︎
  9. Note that typically the Fourth House is assigned to the father and the Tenth to the mother. However, when considering one’s parents in general, they are both Fourth House matter, since the Fourth is the house of the family and the home. ↩︎
  10. “In via de Domino”. I don’t understand what this means. ↩︎
  11. Major is considered one of the most stable figures. ↩︎
  12. The heart is often assigned to the Fifth House, and Major gives steadfastness. ↩︎
  13. In this interpretation, the power of Fortuna Major is in favor of the enemy, ruled by the Seventh House. ↩︎
  14. In the Twelfth House, Major causes prison sentences to be steadfast, that is, long. ↩︎
  15. Fludd seems to attribute worldly honors more th Minor than to Major. ↩︎
  16. I don’t understand the connection to journeys. ↩︎
  17. possibly due to the negative effect of the house. ↩︎
  18. Much of what is said here is hard to understand logically. ↩︎
  19. The connection with animals and servants is odd. ↩︎

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

Bolognese Tarot – The Minor Arcana

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It wouldn’t make sense, at this point, to talk about each single card individually, but I think the cards do warrant a bit more discussion. I am referring to the 45-card system, even though most considerations will apply to the other systems as well.

The Aces

The four Aces in the Bolognese Tarot

Ace of Cups. This is the card of the home environment and of the family, as in many fortune-telling and divination traditions. Its presence usually indicates that the issue somehow relates to the family or the house. However, the card can also occasionally function as a sort of adjective, in that it can indicate a situation or environment is like family. Broadly speaking, the cards surrounding it generally show us whether the family is positive or negative, or is going through a rough patch, etc. I have found that sometimes, when the home or familiar situations simply cannot be part of the interpretation, the Ace of Cups can hint at the intimate life of a person, their inner side, or the intimate relationship between two people.

Ace of Wands. This is a somewhat more complex card. In the main it is a card of sex and sexual interest (or interest in general). However, it represents anything done by two people together, especially marriage (or a strong relationship) or partnership. It portends great vigor, energy, creativity. Another important meaning of this card is that of achievement, personal triumph or personal success, i.e., the ability to reach one’s aims and fulfill one’s aspirations. It is a powerful, active card.

Ace of Coins. In the most ancient set of meanings, this is the card of the table, and it therefore represents sitting together for whatever reason. This meaning has been retained, as well as its metaphorical extensions (conviviality, etc.) It represents daylight. Its most frequent meaning, however, is that of representing finances. Compared to the other money card, i.e., the Ten of Coins, the Ace represents a bigger amount. Whether the amount is coming or going depends on the question and cards surrounding it. Metaphorically it can sometimes portend great satisfaction or a prize.

Ace of Swords. The most common meaning found attached to this card is that of symbolizing the door knockers (see design). The image of the door knockers is widespread in Italian cartomancy and is found in many traditional Italian card reading systems. It symbolizes something about to happen, because it is knocking at the door. However, the card symbolism has also been interpreted as representing two wedding bands being exchanged or a pair of handcuffs. Broadly speaking, therefore, it can show a commitment or a binding situation for better or worse, from marriage to prison, from a contract to an obligation, from an oath to an addiction. The emphasis here is on the binding aspect of it, which limits us, whereas in the Ace of Wands the emphasis is more on doing or achieving something together with someone else.

The Sevens

The two Sevens in the Bolognese Tarot

Seven of Cups. Called the card of the roof or the rooftops. Like all cups, it is strongly connected to the home environment. It is still a card of familiarity and closeness, but in a more extended sense than the Ace of Cups. Therefore, it also symbolizes the city or homeland (depending on the scope of the question). Due to its connection to the roof, it carries a certain connotation of protection with it. It is also another card that can show a quick timeframe.

Seven of Coins. The Seven of Coins is the card of tears. It shows melancholy, sadness, dissatisfaction. In itself it is not a tragic card, but it does indicate loss of heart, feeling down or blue, etc. When it falls together with other difficult cards, though, it compounds their effect, making it worse and showing that it affects the querent emotionally. On rare occasion, when with very positive cards (like the Sun and the Angel) it can show tears or joy, emotional relief in general. This is rare though. Note: some diviners use the Six of Coins instead of the Seven to symbolize tears.

The Eights

The two Eights in the Bolognese Tarot

Eight of Wands. The Eight of Wands is the card of the road or path. The road can be literal, representing a short journey (as opposed to the World), even just going out to meet or visit someone, or it can be metaphorical, indicating something that is moving or requires movement or evolution (e.g., a professional path, a study course, the trajectory of a relationship, etc.) In itself, the card tends to be positive, indicating a situation that is ‘open‘ (like a road) and still developing, but with negative cards it can show the opposite. It can also represent something that is on the way, and therefore, like the Ace of Swords, is about to happen. Note that some diviners use the Six of Wands instead of the Eight.

Eight of Swords. This card is traditionally called ‘passione’, i.e., passion, but more in the sense of the passion of the Christ. It represents torment, suffering and similar fun concepts. It is connected to pain in all its manifestations, whether physical, mental, psychophysical or of different kind. It is also connected with addictions, again literal or metaphorical (as when you make yourself dependent on what your ex thinks or does). Some diviners use the Six of Swords instead of the Eight.

The Tens

The two Tens in the Bolognese Tarot

Ten of Cups. As the image suggests, this is the card of all things that bloom and flourish. It shows rebirth and increase in all fields of life, and situations that metaphorically sprout, bringing mirth. It is the card of fun, of jollity, of parties and of drinking, so with cards showing excess it can indicate alcoholism. It is also the card of blood, so if the other cards seem to point to a stay at the hospital, it doesn’t mean the querent is having the time of his life, only that he is being cut open and blood is coming out.

Ten of Coins. This is again a money card, but its amount is smaller than the Ace. Still, by itself it is a positive card, showing satisfaction and well-being. It represents a positive flow of things, a situation that is calm, tranquil, without major ups and downs (unless the surrounding cards are negative, in which case the calmness is denied, as it were.) With negative cards it can show the querent has little money or little satisfaction.

The Pages

The four Pages in the Bolognese Tarot

Page of Cups. The Page of Cups has the traditional name of ‘coppina‘, i.e., little/young female cup-bearer. It signifies a young, younger or youthful woman, usually belonging to the family or to the querent’s everyday life. With negative cards confirming it, it can represent a rival in love (the fresh young thing snatching hubby from you) or an immature woman. When exploring a woman’s past, it can show “when she was young”. This is one of the hardest cards for me to read, as sometimes it shows up seemingly for no reason, even though there is no young woman involved. I have figured that in these situations she is still a small cup-bearer, cups being joyful, so it can represent the arriving or giving of small joys or satisfactions.

Page of Wands. In the Tarocchino Bolognese, we have not only cards for the male and female querents, but also for their thoughts. The Page of Wands represents the female querent’s thoughts, beliefs, plans, memories, character and inner side.

Page of Coins. This is the card of words, talks, conversations, dialogues. It heralds the arrival of meetings where situations are talked over, agreed on, clarified, etc. Cards surrounding the Page will show either the nature of the words (angry, loving, etc.) their content (work, love, money) or their outcome (agreement, disagreement and so on).

Page of Swords. Traditionally the letter card. Like the Page of Coins, it is a card of communication, but usually written or, nowadays, in the form of messages. It can symbolize documents and things made of paper. It also embodies the broader notion of contacts, developing contacts, coming into contact with others. This is especially relavant when we are not talking about a single specific letter or message.

The Knights

The four Knights in the Bolognese Tarot

Knight of Cups. In Italian, ‘accomodamento’, literally adjustment, compromise, agreement or even repair. This card’s main meaning is simple, but its applications are many: it shows situations that bring conciliation (or reconciliation), healing and the solution of trouble, or at least a way of dealing with it positively. It heralds harmonious interpersonal relationships, smooth sailing ahead, the ironing out of disagreements or difficulties, positive developments.

Knight of Wands. This is the male counterpart to the Page of Wands: the Knight represents the thoughts of the male querent or of a male figure that is involved in the situation. It is the thoughts, beliefs, character, memories and inner side of this male figure. Note, however, that sometimes, when it doesn’t make sense for this (and the Page) to represent thoughts, it can be taken as a secondary significator for the querent: if I show up not as a physical person (King) but as my thoughts (Knight) I am still there, the spread still talks about me.

Knight of Coins. This is the card of the ambassador, as it brings news, developments and similar things connected with the situation we are exploring. It can indicate knowledge of facts from third parties or other sources, but in general it is the card of news. In itself the news is implied to be good news (one of its traditional names is ‘cavallo di buona nuova’, ‘the horse(man) of good news’), because it brings a coin, and coins were considered good in traditionally poor Italian society. However, if the cards surrounding it are bad, the news may be less than positive, or the good news may be blocked or delayed. Sometimes this card can be ‘christened‘ as a young man, if you’ve run out of court cards.

Knight of Swords. The Knight of Swords is the opposite of the Knight of Cups. Where the Knight of Cups adjusts and irons out, the Knight of Swords complicates, twists, brings trouble, difficult situations that are not linear nor smooth (note the curved sword). Where the Knight of Cups conciliates, the Knight of Swords attacks. In interpersonal relationships it brings disagreements, misunderstandings and hurtful words (one of its names is ‘malalingua’, literally evil tongue). If the Knight of Cups brings healing and goodness, the Knight of Swords brings suffering and evil. One of its main symbolic connections is with cuts, either literal (cutting yourself, getting hurt, being cut open by a surgeon, wounds, breaking something) or figurative (cutting words, situations that hurt, etc.)

The Queens

The four Queens in the Bolognese Tarot

Queen of Cups. A mother or a woman in your family, usually. If not in your family, then a friend or someone who acts in your interest. Or should. Always look at the cards surrounding her, as she can be a bad mother or friend if they confirm it, but one who is emotionally invested in you somehow. Mostly, though, it represents the figure of someone who holds you (look how she holds the cup) and has your back. Traditionally she is dark-haired or of dark complexion. Others say she is of medium complexion. Either way, we obviously need to be very careful with descriptions. The Queen of Cups can indicate femininity.

Queen of Wands. If the querent is female, then the Queen of Wands is going to represent her, and the Page of Wands her thoughts. If the querent is male, the Queen can be his partner, or it can be a woman who is somehow important in the situation. Note that when we are talking about triangles, the Queen of Wands is the person who is in the male querent’s heart, regardless of whether she is the official partner.

Queen of Coins. Traditionally ‘the truth‘. This is rarely a physical person. More often than not, it represents truth, reality, authenticity, wisdom, knowledge, education, exactitude, clarity, understanding and the like. It can also say that a situation is as it seems. Or isn’t, if it is surrounded by cards of deceit, indicating the truth is hidden. According to some, it can also sometimes stand for a blonde woman or a wise woman. A traditional phrase attached to this card is ‘di verità conferma’, meaning ‘confirming the truth’ or ‘and that’s the truth’: sometimes this card comes up at the end of a spread or of a group of cards, and acts like a sort of period, as if saying “and that’s exactly it.”

Queen of Swords. Its traditional name is ‘affliction.’ When this card doesn’t represent a woman, it indicates a situation that brings affliction, either physical or psychological. More often than not, though, it does indicate a woman. Tradition says she is gray-haired or a redhead. Others say she is dark. Again, I would advise caution. The Queen of Swords isn’t necessarily evil: she is another woman, usually less accomodating than the Queen of Cups, but not bad. She can be rigid, or she can be a competent but stern professional. With bad cards then she is a rival, the other woman, or a woman who is out to get you.

The Kings

The four Kings in the Bolognese Tarot

King of Cups. The King of Cups is the male counterpart to the Queen of the same suit. He is typically the father or a man in your family. If not in your family, a friend, a wise male influence, someone who has a good word for you, who will help you (like the Queen, he can be a good boss or coworker). It can embody masculinity in general.

King of Wands. As with the Queen so with the King. This is the male querent, or the female querent’s partner, or another man that is important in the question at hand. The Knight of Wands indicates his thoughts. Again, in a triangle this is the man in the querent’s heart, regardless of whether he is the official partner.

King of Coins. It has several titles in the tradition: ‘uomo/vecchio da soldi’ (man/old man bringing money), doctor, important person, a good lord etc. More than a particular person, it represents a role: that of a professional, of someone who has an important job and/or money. Traditionally it shows someone with a degree, from back when degrees were something special. Being called the doctor, it indicates situations that bring healing and care for the querent’s needs. It can indicate a boss or superior. It can also indicate a situation, whether a job or a relationship or something else, which is helpful or nourishing or ‘important’. Traditionally the King is a man for obvious socio-historical reasons, but nowadays it can indicate a woman as well, especially if next to a female court card.

King of Swords. The male counterpart to the Queen, his traditional name is ‘spadino’, i.e., little/young sword-bearer. It can represent a man who is young and/or immature, like the Page of Cups, such as a son or nephew. When exploring a man’s past, it can indicate ‘when he was younger’. It can show a new entry in the querent’s love life, someone who hasn’t yet been promoted to King of Wands. He can be a rival or a problematic man, if with negative cards, or a problematic or immature situation in general. More often than not, it is a literal male figure. Whether positive or negative, it is shown by the other cards. In some traditions it can show a military man, a soldier, a policeman or similar. Look at the other cards for confirmation.

MQS

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

Bolognese Tarot – Master Post

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Here I gather all my writings about my explorations with the Tarocco Bolognese or Tarocchino Bolognese (literally Small Bolognese Tarot), a traditional Northern-Italian fortune-telling deck. There are traditionally several ways of using this deck, almost all of which require the reader to create a reduced pack (hence the ‘small tarot’). The most common systems use a reduced pack of 50 or 45 cards, with the 45-card deck being probably older. Although I quickly introduce both systems, I currently focus mainly on the 45-card system.

Introductory Articles

A Quick Intro to the Bolognese Tarot
Introduction to the 50-card Deck
Introduction to the 45-card Deck
Making Sense of the Various Systems as a Beginner

Card Meanings and Combinations

Meanings of the Minor Arcana
Meanings of the Major Arcana
Introduction to Combinations
Some Examples of Combinations
How to Tackle Combinations

Spreads

Great Spread N°1: The Bed Sheet
Great Spread N° 2: The Staircase
Great Spread N° 3: The Significator Spread
The Thirteen Card Spread
The Cross Spread (with Example)
Three Variants of the Couple’s Spread

Book Reviews

Germana Tartari’s Tarocchino Bolognese. Storia Divinazione
Maria Luigia Ingallati’s I Tarocchi Parlano
Rossella Giliberti’s Manuale Pratico di Lettura di Tarocchino Bolognese
Lia Celi’s Manuale di Cartomanzia

My Articles on the Bolognese Tarot

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

Tarot Encyclopedia – The Six 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 Six of Pentacles from the Builders of the Adytum (BOTA) tarot deck

Paul Foster Case (and Ann Davies)

The time period is the second decanate of Taurus, under the rulership of Mercury, from April 30 to May 10. Meanings:
Well-Dignified: practicality and determination; discretion and diplomacy; gain by letters, writing, travel, speaking, teaching, commissions and through advertising, study, books and all things ruled b Mercury.
Ill-Dignified: Loss through the same things.
Keyword: Prosperity.
(From the Oracle of Tarot course)

A. E. Waite

A person in the guise of a merchant weighs money in a pair of scales and distributes it to the needy and distressed. It is a testimony to his own success in life, as well as to his goodness of heart. Divinatory Meanings: Presents, gifts, gratification another account says attention, vigilance now is the accepted time, present prosperity, etc. Reversed: Desire, cupidity, envy, jealousy, illusion.
(From The Pictorial Key to the Tarot)

The Six of Pentacles from the Rider Waite Smith Deck

Aleister Crowley

The Six of Disks is called Success; the ruler is the Moon. This is a card of settling down; it is very heavy, wholly lacking in imagination, yet somewhat dreamy. Change is soon coming upon it; the weight of earth will ultimately drag the current down to a mere eventuation of material things. Yet the Moon, being in Taurus, the sign of her exaltation, the best of the Lunar qualities are inherent. Moreover, being a Six, the solar Energy has fertilized her, creating a balanced system for the time being. The card is worthy of the name Success. Remember only that all success is temporary; how brief a halt upon the Path of Labour.

[…]

The Number Six, Tiphareth, as before, represents the full harmonious establishment of the Energy of the Element. The Moon in Taurus rules the card; and this, while increasing the approach to perfection (for the Moon is exalted in Taurus and therefore in her highest form) marks that the condition is transient.

The disks are arranged in the form of the Hexagram, which is shown in skeleton. In the centre blushes and glows the light rose-madder of dawn, and without are three concentric circles, golden yellow, salmon-pink, and amber. These colours show Tiphareth fully realized on Earth; it reaffirms in form what was mathematically set forth in describing the Ace.

The planets are arranged in accordance with their usual attribution; but they are only shown as disks irradiated by the Sun in their centre. This Sun is idolized as the Rose and Cross; the Rose has forty-nine petals, the interplay of the Seven with the Seven.
(From The Book of Thoth)

The Six of Disks from the Thoth Tarot deck

Golden Dawn’s Book T

A WHITE Radiant Angelic Hand holding a rose branch with white roses and buds, each of which touches a Pentacle. Pentacles are arranged in two columns of three each:

* *
* *
* *
Above and below are the symbols Taurus and Moon of the Decan.
Success and gain in material undertakings. Power, influence, rank, nobility, rule over the people. Fortunate, successful, liberal and just.
If ill dignified, may be purse-proud, insolent from excess, or prodigal.

Tiphareth of HB:H (Success in material things, prosperity in business).
Herein rule the Angels HB:NMMYH and HB:YYLAL.

Etteilla

The present
Upright. This card, as far as the medicine of the spirit is concerned, means, in its natural position: Present, Presently, Now, Immediately, At the instant, At this time, Today, Attending, Witnessing, Contemporary. – Attentive, Careful, Vigilant.
Reversed. Desire, Vow, Ardor, Haste, Passion, Searches, Cupidity, Want, Jealousy, Illusion.

MQS

astrology, Cartomancy, Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy, I Ching / Yi Jing, Occultism and Esoterism, Playing Cards, Tarot, Vera Sibilla

Why I Don’t Do Horoscopes, Taroscopes Or Interactive Readings

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Some weeks ago I got asked why I only present readings I did for myself or others, and don’t do interactive readings which may be useful to more people. The question was asked in good faith and in good faith I answered. But I thought it made for a nice article. As usual, I will be brash and abrasive, because I’m not an easy person, but I mean no disrespect to any particular individual.

Horoscopes. In reality, horoscopes are more the invention of journalists than of astrologers: astrologers just unwittingly lent themselves to the farce. Horoscopes are predicated on the fundamental misunderstanding that the place the Sun occupies at birth automatically has something to say about us. This is a relatively modern invention in the long history of astrology, and anyone who thinks about it seriously for even five minutes must conclude that, in order to say anything at all about one twelfth of the world population purely based on their month of birth, one needs to water down everything one says to the point that nothing is said at all except playing into the belief that everyone is adorably quirky (oh those Aries boys who ram through everything, oh those Gemini girls always being nutty). That some astrologers, realizing this, feel the need to add Moon signs, Rising signs etc. into the equation does not improve matters at all: a fundamentally silly idea multiplied by itself remains silly.

Taroscopes. Taroscopes are an even more modern invention. They substitute or complement the reading of a sun sign chart with a broad card reading (usually tarot, hence the name). They started popping up on social media some ten years ago as a way of feeding the sludgeflow of nonsense that is required to keep the algorithm satisfied. I am pretty sure they started out as a silly game, then some saw that it was good for business. I am even aware of established readers who haughtily denounced taroscopes for the travesty of divination that they are, only to bend the knee once it was clear the current flowed in one direction only.

Interactive Readings. Interactive readings are the height of silliness, and the perfect exemplification of the words ‘internet slop‘. Choose between Deck One and Deck Two and listen to why he doesn’t deserve you because you are such a special, intuitive an free-minded queen. Choose between the butterfly and the butter knife and listen to why all the narcissists in your life hate you for being such an authentic empath (somehow those buying into this nonsense are always surrounded by narcissists, yet they are never narcissists themselves). That’s the essence of interactive readings as a further development from taroscopes.

The reality is that divination is already hard as it is, being an imprecise and complex art due to the amount of factors to be considered and the fallibility of humans in considering them. Trying to extend it to a whole swath of people who randomly happen to bump into your video or post is beyond ludicrous.

In attempting to justify this to themselves, some readers are eternally caught between two stances: “if you bump into it, it is meant for you” and “if it doesn’t resonate it’s not the right message”, logic being the first thing to fly out the window once someone decides to be a brave and empowered little witch. Of course you’ll always find someone who responds to an interactive saying “I chose the butterfly. That’s exactly it, that’s me to a T”. And those are the unlucky ones, because they get roped into a world of self-delusion and meaningless hype: the universe seems to be constantly cooking up something big for you, according to interactive readers, so you better stick around for the next video!

So yeah, that’s why I stick to traditional readings.

MQS

Card Combinations, Card Reading, Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Reading Example, Tarot, Uncategorized

The Main Problem (Cross Spread Example Reading)

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Those who read my Sibilla and Playing Cards sections are probably familiar with the cross spread I use with those decks. Turns out, the same spread can be used with the Bolognese tarot.

This querent is the same I read for here and had a crush on a colleague. The cross spread I present here is a prequel to that spread.

A general cross spread

The cross spread may be used to look at a person’s life in general or to answer general questions (“tell me about my career”). In this case it was general. I’ll keep it short:

  1. Above the head position (what the querent would like or is thinking about): King of Cups, Juggler/Magician, Ace of Cups. This screams “pucture perfect family” with a husband (King), children (Juggler) and a hearth (Ace of Cups)
  2. Under her feet (what she doesn’t want or what she has trouble with): Love, Ace of Wands and Eight of Wands. Love and Ace of Wands together represent a relationship, and the Eight of Wands is a road or path, so it could indicate a love life. Note that this position could indicate that she doesn’t want a relationship, but considering what the cards on her head are saying, it is more plausible that she wants a relationship but has trouble obtaining it.
  3. To her left (past or present): Star, King of Coins, Death. This position talks about work. After checking with her, I discovered she had lost her job in the months prior to the reading and had found a new one.
  4. To her right (near future): Page of Swords, Fool, Seven of Cups. This speaks generically about confusing messages concerning the home.
  5. Center (in her heart): Angel/Judgement, Devil and King of Wands. Well, Angel and Devil together represent, traditionally, great satisfaction, connected to a man. This seems to be the cards’ polite way of saying she’s turned on by him.
  6. To the side (for her): Ace of Swords, Knight of Coins, Ace of Coins. Speedy positive news about money. Probably connected to the near future position, but we didn’t look further into it.

And the reason we didn’t look further into it is that the most important cards (those comprising the central column, i.e., above, heart and below) are all connected with love. This is how the spread about the colleague was born. Note, however, that this spread, when done in general, can give us brief messages about the most disparate fields of life, and it is up to us then to expand on them by either adding cards or doing other spreads.

MQS

Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Robert Fludd’s Geomancy – Book II Pt. 4

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Fludd explains some of the meanings of Caput Draconis, Cauda Draconis, Albus and Rubeus.

Caput Draconis

In the First House, good and sweet fortune, a man wise, eloquent and prudent, and who keeps his affairs secret, and has firm and stable thoughts in all things. This figure is very good.1
In the Second House, profit and gain in commerce, wealth, good fortune, and secret acquisition of all things.
In the Third House, good relatives, good neighbors, good faith, slowing down the journey for something good.2

In the Fourth House, profit and the acquisition of inheritance, a good house, a good estate, a discreet father, a good end, peace in one’s work.3
In the Fifth House, love of children, good children, joy, secret letters, pregnant women, being honestly satisfied with the love of a woman, good love.
In the Sixth House, a long illness, profitability in all things, secret and discreet servants, good and useful animals, a long secret illness.

In the Seventh House, a good marriage, a good and chaste woman, good company, subtle and strong enemies, good change (or removal), good profits in trade, bad for going away.4
In the Eighth House, death or illness,5 gain of money, love and recovery of lost property, secret death, receipt of money from death, security from fear.
In the Ninth House, journeys and return of him who is abroad, letters, good faith, slowness of a journey, good faith, a holy man of the church, knowledge in all arts, good for the church, honor.

In the Tenth House, good judgment, much wealth, a wise king, great honor of dominion and office, much riches, conciliation through the grace of the judge,6 and a discreet judgment.

In the Eleventh House, good luck, happiness, good and faithful friends, good hope, good profit.
In the Twelfth House, poverty, long imprisonment, good animals, good letters.7

In the Thirteenth House, the return of one who is abroad, one’s superior’s profits, good news from the absentee, a profitable and good change.
In the Fourteenth House, good fortune, good hope, long life, and profit in everything.
Note, when this figure is in the first house, it denotes a prince or judge of good counsel, having fair hair, who is proud

Cauda Draconis

In the First House,8 bad for acquisition, poverty, bad journey, harassment and anger, no acquisition of the desired thing, a bad and angry person.
In the Second House, loss of all good and misfortune in all matters.
In the Third House, anguish of a relative and little gain, a bad brother, bad relatives and neighbors, a bad journey, a bad dream, evil in all.

In the Fourth House, a bad house, bad inheritance, and a decrease in profit.

In the Fifth House, loss due to evil (deeds) by bad children, through fruits,9 by enemies, bad tidings, bad letters, bad children, sadness of heart, vexation and anger, doubt lest the child perish in the womb, no loves or kisses, but quarrels and strife with one’s woman, and all evil according to the house.
In the Sixth House, death or illness, illness of animals, bad luck, serious illness and distress, bad servants, evil to receive dowries from women,10 injuries.

In the Seventh House, an evil woman, a thief, robbery, an evil companion, a quarrelsome woman, a lustful woman, robbers, all evil for (buying or selling) merchandise, or for all matters of travel and news, nothing but the discovery of evil in the place where one intends to go and do business.
In the Eighth House, death, loss of goods, property and inheritance, loss in a foreign country, fear, despair, loss from death, surrender, loss from the enemy of the petitioner, anger and confusion.
In the Ninth House, leaving of a high place of dominion, a bad journey and tears (if it is multiplied in the figure, it is a bad sign of treachery, whippings and wounds on the way), a bad dream, evil for the church and for the people of the church, useless skills and knowledge; teaching will bring no good or profit.

In the Tenth House, coming out of a good place and dominion,11 which someone will lose, it is also a sign that someone has been conquered, and expelled from his lands and benefits; it threatens much evil according to the nature of the house.
In the Eleventh House, the discovery of hope,12 believing enemies to be friends, friends who are lascivious, evil, traitors and liars, bad luck, loss in merchandise, a sign that the thing (sought) will be lost, the return of the absent (won’t happen), or that it will be repelled by a stronger hand,13 bad hope and being met with hatred.
In the Twelfth House, escape and flight due to debts, death of a sick person, release from prison, loss of animals, an enemy, terror, a wounded horse; rebellious and ferocious enemies, traitors and deceivers.

In the Thirteenth House, bad for recovering lost things, a change of path, the dangerous anger of the querent,14 disputes and bad luck.
In the Fourteenth House, enemies instead of friends, loss in merchandise, a bad end for what is claimed, bad in all.
Note, when this figure is found in the first house, it denotes loss and a man of average stature, a round face, a long nose, a large mouth, large teeth, a bald head, and a large beard.

Albus

In the First House, the attainment of the desired thing, happiness, good letters, a prudent man, rich, receiver of all goods, but (this figure) will delay journeys for some positive thing, white and useful things
In the Second House, money and profit in merchandise, riches in silver, reception of promised things, multiplication in all things.
In the Third House, getting one’s desire, good brothers, good relatives, good parents, good neighbors and benefactors, good faith, good news, business a little delayed.

In the Fourth House, gaining a lot from the father and mother, a good house, a good estate, a good position for the father, a good and happy end.
In the Fifth House, good children, good letters, joy, good white fish, hugs and kisses from one’s lady or beloved.
In the Sixth House, serious disease, profit from beasts and servants, comfort and good fortune in white beasts.

In the Seventh House, a good and peaceful woman, a good company, profits in trade, peace from enemies, useful marriage.15
In the Eighth House, mortality and a diseased state, security from fear, profit in a foreign country, lost wealth, good change and a good journey.
In the Ninth House, profit on the journey, faithfulness but some delay in the journey, good skills, a well-educated man, a wise man of an ecclesiastical order, a faithful man.

In the Tenth House, joy, health, good fortune, good to the king and the kingdom; if it is found in the Twelfth or Eighth house, it denotes the enemies of the king,16 a good judgment from the judge, the obtaining of what is desired from the superior, and good service.
In the Eleventh House, good luck, good friends, profits in trade, hope, peace, love.
In the Twelfth House, profitable beasts, good debtors, slow to come out of prison, weak enemies who ask for peace.

In the Thirteenth House, profits on the road and from some lord.
In the Fourteenth House, profit from friends and escape from enemies.
Note that this figure, found in the First House, represents a white man, 17well-bearded and often engaged in white things, and he stays near the water.

Rubeus

In the First House, blood, fights, wars, an angry man, full of rage, danger from fire and blood on the journey and elsewhere, enemies and bad change.18

In the Second House, poverty, loss of money through violence, harmful things.
In the Third House, wrath, bad faith, good siblings or good friends angered towards their fathers and parents and neighbors.19

In the Fourth House, blood, dryness and heat in the air, few seeds, loss of parents, loss of inheritance and patrimony and of all firm things, burning of houses, invasions and conquests of castles, shedding of blood, evil in everything, evil end.
In the Fifth House, bad children, bad life, bad letters, bad news, wild and choleric children.
In the Sixth House, diseases from red choler20 or blood, such as abscesses, ulcers, heat of the blood, evil beasts, bites from rabid dogs, injuries, dejection, armed men.

In the Seventh House, quarrels, wars, bad marriage, false company, a bad woman, hot-tempered and quarrelsome, aggressive with insulting words, robbers, murderers, quarrels with public enemies, deceptions and the like.
In the Eighth House, bloodshed, fear, loss of inheritance, loss by force, bad death by arms or by the sword, death in a foreign nation, loss of enemies, fear of death, loss to him who goes away, all evil for the absent party, hindrance of all gain to those making the journey, who will not find anything profitable in the place where they (plan to go).
In the Ninth House, falsity, a bad journey, robbers on the road, corruption on the road, a man of bad faith, little knowledge in his art or teaching, violence in the church, departure from favors and lies.

In the Tenth House, evilaction of the lord, false justice, wrath and anger of the lord, evil for the kingdom, evil for profit, departure from office by violence, refusal of dominion, bad sentence by the judge, execution.
In the Eleventh House, rigor and litigation, refusal by the master, bad luck, bad officials, bad children, bad hope, bad in dealing with friends and in having ownership.
In the Twelfth House, enemies, debts, evil thoughts, loss, death in prison, evil beasts, a vicious condition, damage by beasts, fierce and passionate enemies, evil and hellish prisons, diseases, imprisonment or death of those imprisoned, the rigor of justice.

In the Thirteenth house, loss from the superior, bad journey and change, loss for the absent party, short life for the one who hides himself from his enemies.
In the Fourteenth House, loss and anger, poverty, bad luck, accumulation of evil, reception of nothing , evil for all business; and this should be for the house of the geomantic shield, when it is generated by evil figures, or is associated with them.21
Note, when this preceding figure is in the First House, it signifies a red man, and of clever speech, longing for battles, and delighting or rejoicing in the shedding of blood, and whose work is connected with fire.

MQS

Footnotes
  1. The connection with stability comes from Caput’s entering or incoming quality. The connection with secrecy, which Fludd uses a lot, is unclear to me. ↩︎
  2. Fludd considers Caput a somewhat slow figure. ↩︎
  3. “Magisterium” ↩︎
  4. Because Caput implies arriving rather than going away. ↩︎
  5. It is unclear to me why Caput would indicate death. However, in very old texts, both lunar nodes are associated with evil things and sometimes with death. ↩︎
  6. I don’t understand this. Possibly it implies conciliation thanks to the judge’s intermediation. ↩︎
  7. I don’t understand the connection with letters. ↩︎
  8. Fludd doesn’t seem to share here the idea that finding Cauda in the First House warrants the destruction of the figure ↩︎
  9. Probably fruits from the earth, signified by the Fourth House. ↩︎
  10. Dowries are usually signified by the Eighth House, which is the second from the Seventh. Here, Fludd gives it to the Sixth which is the second from the Fifth, which rules love affairs. It doesn’t make much sense. ↩︎
  11. The same description is used for the Ninth House, but it applies more to the Tenth, which is the high place of the chart. ↩︎
  12. “spei inventionem”. It probably means making up a hope, which is therefore illusory. ↩︎
  13. I don’t understand this. ↩︎
  14. The Thirteenth House is the Right Witness, given usually to the querent. ↩︎
  15. From an economic standpoint, probably. ↩︎
  16. I don’t understand the reference to the Eighth House, but the Twelfth is quite obvious. Note that Albus is given to Mercury, which is always somewhat morally dubious. ↩︎
  17. White man doesn’t mean ‘white’ in the current ethnic or cultural sense. ↩︎
  18. As with Cauda, Fludd doesn’t seem to think Rubeus in the First House invalidates the figure. ↩︎
  19. This is very odd. Rubeus in the Third should indicate wrathful siblings or neighbors. ↩︎
  20. One of the humors of traditional Western medicine. ↩︎
  21. This sentence is a bit obscure, but it possibly means that a figure stemming from evil figures is worse than when it comes from good ones. ↩︎