In this article you will find some examples of combinations using the Vera Sibilla. Most of these combinations are handed down by tradition. Studying and decoding combinations is a very good way to improve your cartomantic vocabulary, but bear in mind that the exact meaning of a combination depends on many other factors, such as the context of the question and the other cards in the spread, so I would encourage you to keep an open mind. As a rule, you will find that if you do not pose a question and these combinations come up, they will mean what the tradition says they mean 3 times out of 5. Also, keep in mind that it’s useless to try to combine every card with every other card beforehand so that no surprises will ever come up in a spread, just as it is useless to try to combine every word in a dictionary with every other to study a language. That time is best spent actually practicing.
NOTE:
R = Reversed
U/R = Upright or Reversed (doesn’t matter)
* = This combination has to come up in this specific order
3♦ = The Gift (Omaggio)
8♦ = The Handmaid (Donna di Servizio)
Two of Hearts (2♥) – House (Casa)
2♥ + 4♥ = the consolidation of love, moving in together | a house where the querent feels loved or love for the family
2♥ + 4♥R = A house where the querent doesn’t feel loved
2♥ + 5♥ = the house of relatives | an engagement at home
2♥ + 6♥ = A rich house or household | A bank | Can be a house from the past, maybe the one the querent grew up in
2♥ + 7♥ = a real estate contract | a male family member | Depending on the surrounding cards it can be a school (e.g. +6♦) a library (e.g. +2♦) or another type of building coherent with the 7♥‘s meaning
2♥ + 3♣* = moving into a house
3♣ + 2♥* = moving out of your house
2♥ + 4♣ = the house of a friend | a house where solidarity among people is important
2♥ + 6♣ = a traditional combination showing a happy event at home or in the family
2♥ + 7♣ = can be owning real estate, a property you derive money from
2♥ + 8♣ + 9♣ = A family reunion or a party at home
2♥ + 9♣ = may be a restaurant or place where people have fun, like a night club (look at the other cards, for instance the 10♠R is the night, so it would reinforce the idea of night club, if 8♦ it’s more likely a restaurant)
2♥ + K♣ = A clinic
2♥ + 2♦ or J♦ = arrival of news at home | can be a post office
2♥ + 6♦ = depending on the other cards, it can be a real estate speculation, plans concerning the house (e.g. + A♥R, to renovate) or a school or other type of building
2♥ + 10♦ = enmity in the family | someone is jeopardizing the family’s or couple’s unity | a break-in (only with cards such as 7♠, 9♦, J♠, Q♠. It would be more common for the House to come up reversed. If 10♠U/R and/or A♠, risk of violence, if also with 5♠, well…; with cards like 6♥R and/or 2♠R, money or valuables are stolen, with 3♦, objects)
2♥ + 10♦R = a house or place the querent would rather not be, look around for why (e.g. + K♥R +9♣R, the father or husband is a debauched prick)
2♥ + K♦ = the workplace | working from home
2♥ + 2♠ = can be granny’s house | an old house | if followed by negative cards, it can show the couple’s stability is declining
2♥ + 3♠ = not being at home | home alone or feeling alone at home even if you aren’t
2♥ + 4♠ = a hospital | sickness at home or, figuratively, a “sick” family life
2♥ + 10♠ = can be a difficult family environment | a gym | the police’s headquarters
2♥ + K♠ = the seat of an authority | a courthouse | it could represent a family where not much affection is shown, but in itself it’s not overly negative, unless there are other bad cards
2♥R + 4♥R = a brothel (look for the 7♥R for confirmation) | a house where depravity rules
2♥R + 5♥R = betrayal in the family | very unstable family relationships
3♣ + 2♥R + 3♠* = running away from a house you hate (+10♠R, running away in secret, if 4♣ or 9♥ before the 3♣, maybe you crash at friend’s house)
2♥R + 4♠ = more clearly a hospital than if the House is upright, as here hospitalization is implied (+K♣ or K♠ and 7♠, surgery takes place)
2♣R + 2♥R + 3♠R + 9♠ = the house or family has been hexed
6♦R + 2♥R + 9♦ + 5♠ = the house is haunted (especially if with 10♦R) | can also be a house where someone’s evil plans create great imbalance and fractures)
2♥R + 9♦ + 7♠ = traditionally it would show the house being destroyed by a natural disaster or fire, but there’s plenty of other possible interpretations before you get to this one, which only makes sense if a specific question is asked or if other negative cards are present
2♥R + 9♠ = prison (4♠R or 10♦R might be present)
10♠ or K♠ + 2♥U/R + 4♠R = could be house arrest
2♥R + K♠ = more clearly a courthouse than if the House is upright
Two of Clubs (2♣) – The Peacock (Superbia)
A♥ + 2♣ = a conversation that solves a problem, solemn words, an oath, beautiful words
2♣ + 2♥ = a beautiful house (+3♦, a majestic palace or mansion) | if renovations are shown, this combination could also show expanding the house, as the 2♣ is a card of completeness and totality
2♣ + 7♥ + 6♦ = a genius
2♣ + 8♥ = realization beyond one’s hopes | in a specific question, or if specific cards appear, a strong faith (2♣ would be the God power here)
2♣ + 10♥ = a beautiful city or a tourist hotspot within the city | generally, success
2♣ + 5♣ = traditionally the combination of great fortune
2♣ + 3♦ = a beautiful object | opulence | an offer you’d be an idiot to turn down
2♣ + 4♦ = a white lie or a lie that will have no consequence
2♣ + 4♦ + 7♠ = can be cosmetic surgery
2♣ + 4♦R = another combination of good luck
2♣ + 6♦ = a great idea
2♣ + 6♦R = psychic abilities | It could mean that you will be protected from an evil plan
2♣ + 8♦ = nobility (look for the 3♦ to be certain)
2♣ + 5♠ = a sharp positive turn in the querent’s life (it might be painful though)
2♣ + 7♠ = an accident with no consequences (if too many negative cards are present, then with no major consequences. The peacock will snatch you from the jaws of death by your hair in that case) | can be a sudden, positive event
2♣ + 9♠ = the overcoming of obstacles, being freed of a bond or limitation of some kind (same with other cards of blockage like 4♠R or 10♦R)
2♣ + 10♠ = it can show great resilience
2♣ + 10♠R = the occult in a neutral sense
2♣R + 6♣R = pride before the fall, overconfidence causing a miscalculation (10♣ might be present, showing carelessness)
2♣R + 4♦ = a strong distortion in your perception of reality
4♥ + 7♠ + 2♣R + 8♣R = lack of reconciliation due to pride or having been hurt in your ego
2♣R + 3♠R = a black magic ritual (look for other clues, don’t go around diagnosing curses for a couple of bad cards)
2♣R + 8♠R = it intensifies the ideas of egocentrism and haughtiness | in a specific context, it can show a psychic attack
2♣R + 10♠R = the occult in a negative sense
Two of Diamonds (2♦) – Letter (Lettera)
2♦ + A♥ = Invitation to a meeting | Can be a chat (look for 3♥ for confirmation)
2♦ + 5♥ = Invititation to an engagement party
2♦ + 6♥ = a check or financial papers
2♦ + A♣ = Invitation to a wedding
2♦ + 9♣ = Invitation to a party
2♦ + 10♣ = can be a misplaced document or a document it would be careless to sign, maybe one that’s been put together in a haste, for instance
2♦ + 4♦ = false or incomplete documents | don’t sign!
2♦ + 6♦ = a school test or a report card | elaborating a plan
2♦ + 7♦ = A birth certificate | Announcement of a birth
2♦ + 10♦ = a document lost or stolen
2♦ + J♦ = Important communication, can be a telegram (if the Jack is reversed, it’s negative)
2♦ + 3♠ = a communication that doesn’t arrive or is lost
2♦ + 3♠R = communication of someone’s passing (look for the 5♠ to be sure; if with 8♣ and/or K♠, invitation to a funeral)
2♦ + 4♠ = a diagnosis (if K♣, it can also be a prescription)
2♦ + 9♠ = a pregnancy test (look for 7♦ to be sure)
2♦ + 10♠ = traditionally, a draft card | A fine or ticket (look for 8♦R to be sure)
2♦ + 10♠R = anonymous calls (look for J♠ or Q♠ to be sure, in which case someone is truly your enemy; if 9♣ and/or 10♣, it’s just a prank, but if 9♣R, a prank that goes too far)
2♦ + K♠ = A communication from an authority, in general
2♦ + K♠R = a fine | a summons | a negative communication from an authority, in general
[Note: in all these combinations, the 2♦ may appear reversed and it wouldn’t change its meaning]
Two of Spades (2♠) – The Crone (Vecchia Signora)
2♠ + 2♥ = an old house
2♥ + 2♠ + 4♠R = a retirement home, Shady Pines, Ma | also with 8♥, can be a convent or other similar place
2♠ + 4♥ = an old love or an old woman in love
4♥ + 2♠* = feelings cooling off, declining
2♠ + 5♥ = an old relative, usually an aunt or something
2♠ + 9♥ = can be a distant relative
2♠ + Q♥ = can be an ex (if Q♥R, she hasn’t been nice to the querent)
2♠ + 3♣ or 8♦ or J♦ = traditionally, a visit
7♣ + 2♠ = a decline in one’s social or economic position
2♠ + 3♦ = an heirloom
2♠ + 7♦ = granny and her grandchild
2♠ + 3♠ = granny and grandpa
K♦ + 2♠ + 5♠ = retirement
2♠ + 6♠ = traditionally, a long life
2♠ + Q♠ = a mother in law | a negative old woman
2♠R + A♥U/R or 8♣U/R = inability to get along
2♠R + 4♥ = a sharp cooling off of feelings | fights in the relationship
2♠R + 5♥U/R = a mean old relative
2♠R + 6♥ = it can mean the inability to accept the past | A sharp decline in one’s financial status | If 6♥R, it can also means avarice, hoarding, possessiveness, not letting go
2♠R + A♣ = it can herald separation
2♠R + 6♦ = outdated thinking, strategy, etc. | conservatism (in a negative sense. If 2♠, in a more neutral and less extreme sense)
