Category Archives: Divination

Card Reading, Cartomancy, Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Playing Cards, Reading Example

Reading the Colors and Suits – Cartomancy with Playing Cards

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In playing card divination, a lot of emphasis is given to the two colors and the four suits. The two aspects must not be separated from one another as they give us valuable information. However, since the two colors are a binary distinction without much refinement, they tend to describe general trends that can be easily overruled by other considerations. It’s best to leave them out unless they strike you.

In general, red cards indicate life and movement, but an excess of red can show instability. On the other hand, black cards show inertia and slowness, but when there’s too many of them they create obstruction. A good mix of red and black shows a balanced situation. This is especially true if we are describing a situation rather than predicting an outcome. For instance, I remember once doing a reading for a friend on the beach. She had just met a new guy. The spread was:

2♥ – 7♥ – 8♥ – J♥ – 3♥

Obviously, this spread consists only of Hearts and it is only red. This is consistent with the newness of the relationship, but it also shows us that there is nothing except some infatuation going on. The cards don’t predict a breakup, but they show that the relationship won’t last after the initial excitement has gone. We would need some black cards to anchor the red ones. We don’t even need to interpret the single cards, although we could. This is a fun summertime romance. Let’s leave it at that. Result: they broke up in winter.

Here is another example. A woman was asking if there would be reconciliation with her husband.

3♣ – 2♠ – 4♣ – 6♣ – 5♣

The Three of Clubs is the marriage and the Two of Spades is the argument. My question to the querent was how long ago the breakup had happened. She said it had been less than a week. The cards are obviously predominantly Clubs and all black. Therefore, they show that inertia will prevail. They don’t show reconciliation proper. They simply show that the breakup wasn’t really a break so much as an argument. The situation is unsatisfactory, and there is no love, but the cards show that it will go on.

Now, suppose that the same question had been asked by the same person and that she had gotten the same cards, but this time the breakup had happened three months ago. There is no reconciliation in the cards, and a new status quo has set in, which will tend to preserve itself (black color)

Red and black

Let us now analyze the suits. Suits tend to reinforce their particular meaning: Spades bring sorrow and blockage, Hearts feelings and joy, Clubs work and toil, Diamonds money and energy. In the first example, we only have Hearts, which shows feelings. It would be helpful to get Clubs, because Clubs show effort, and we all know that true love is a full time job. In fact, in a larger spread, it would even be nice to see some Spades in the past position, together with positive cards showing that the couple has gone through a lot and now has reached a point of stability.

In the second example, however, we have mostly Clubs. Here there is no fun left, and the situation goes on simply because it has been going on for a while, but it remains just drudgery.

Another important thing to take notice of is when a card that symbolizes either a person or a significator for a specific question shows up surrounded by cards of the same suit, or at least by cards that give us a coherent picture.

Here’s an example. A man asked about his relationship.

4♠ – Q♣ – 5♠ – 3♣ – K♦

The woman shows up as the Queen of Clubs, surrounded by two Spades. We don’t care about which Spades. The point is that she cannot move. She is impeded in some way. The reason is given by the Three of Clubs and the King of Diamonds: she is married.

Here is another example: a man asked if his new business venture would flourish.

K♣ – J♥ – 5♣ – 8♦ – 6♣

We don’t need to spend much time fiddle-farting with card meanings. The Eight of Diamonds, the card of business, is hemmed in by Clubs. No, the business will not flourish. It won’t go belly up, but at least for a very long time it will be just toil with little rewards. Yes, we could add that that Jack of Hearts shows he’s naive, but let’s not complicate things, for now. Sometimes the prediction is just obvious.

Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, I Ching / Yi Jing, Reading Example

A Sport Prediction with Wen Wang Gua (I Ching)

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As I’m currently dabbling in Chinese philosophy and metaphysics, I have inevitably come into contact with an incredible system of reading the I Ching that I had never heard of. In the Western world, the I Ching (or Yi Jing) is mostly associated with tossing coins and reading passages in an old book.

However, a couple of other different systems of interpretation exist, including Mei Hua Yi Shu, or Plum Blossom, and my new favorite, Wen Wang Gua, or King Wen Oracle. Plum Blossom is essentially a form of Horary Astrology (another huge interest of mine.) You don’t really cast a hexagram: you deduce it from the time the question is asked (although there are other methods as well.)

Wen Wang Gua, on the other hand, is a mix of Horary and regular divination. Like horary, it takes into account the current astrological climate (using Chinese astrology in the form of Ba Zi, the eight characters or four pillars.) However, it also involves using coins or yarrow stalks to cast a Hexagram with a varying number of changing lines. The answer is not read in a book, but deduced almost mathematically by applying a set of interpretive rules.

I am by no means a master of anything in life, and even less of Wen Wang Gua, whose rules I still struggle to keep in mind (there’s way too many,) let alone apply coherently. However, I tried making a prediction today on a soccer match. Now, I couldn’t give a rat’s behind about soccer, and the match I chose to predict I picked at random from an online newspaper. I know nothing about the teams.

It was Frosinone versus Atalanta, two Italian teams. In order to predict a competition in Wen Wang Gua, we need to assign a Subject and an Object. In this case it doesn’t really matter which team is assigned to what, as long as this is done beforehand. I cannot go into the subtleties of the system. I will start talking about it once I’ve managed to get the basics down. This is my Hexagram (original plus resulting Hexagram) and my line of reasoning.

Subject: Atalanta
Object: Frosinone
Focus line: Officer (because it is a fight) although I’m doubtful that a Focus line was needed. After all, the objective of a match is to beat the opponent, not to win something else

The Wen Wang Gua cast for the match. The program I used is Four Pillars & Feng Shui

Subject (Wu, Horse) is extremely weak, being jailed by the Month Branch and exhausted by the Day Branch. Furthermore, the line moves to become void. Object Zi controls Subject Wu (Water controls Fire.)

Object (Zi, Rat) is technically void, but because it is generated by a moving line, it is not. It is also generated by the Month Branch and forms two Water Triangles, one with the Officer and the Day Branch Dragon and one with the Wealth Dragon and the Month Branch Monkey. This strengthens it. Officer also moves to generate it. Line 6, the Dog, moves to attack it, but it is dispersed by a clash with the Day Branch.

However, the Hexagram is a six-clash gua, and the Body line Mao does not appear, which indicates uncertainty, so it cannot be a unilateral triumph. Furthermore, Subject seeks to control Officer, and while it is too weak to win (furthermore, Officer is at the Month Branch), still it shows that the losing team doesn’t go down without a fight, especially considsting the White Tiger at Subject. Subject also moves to become the Ox and attack the Object, although, again, the Ox is void, so it doesn’t accomplish much. Finally, the Object Zi is not especially strong in itself, although it is a good deal stronger than the opponent.

In short, a mixed picture where Object (Frosinone) should prevail but not triumph.

I cast the hexagram at around midday of the day of the match. The match started at 18.30. The result:

The Frosinone – Atalanta match
Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Puer / The Boy (Geomancy Figures)

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Name of the Figure: Puer (The Boy); sometimes called Beardless
Element: Air
Planet: Mars (direct)
Sign: Aries (Sometimes given as Libra)
Quality: Exiting
Fortune: Bad (but in practice neutral, sometimes positive)

Puer is a much misunderstood figure in Geomancy. Because it is assigned to Mars, it is sometimes given as invariably bad. In reality, the figure is mostly neutral, and much depends on the question, where it comes up and with what other figures. Symbolically, the Puer glyph is said to represent a phallus or a sword, which is fitting considering the Mars association. The sword is a symbol of war, justice and action. Indeed, these are all potential meanings of Puer.

Illustration for the geomantic figure Puer, the Boy

The main meaning, however, is that of representing a man (not necessarily young) Very often, Puer shows the influence of a man in the question. Man means man, not your lesbian aunt who looks like Super Mario and has been called “sir” once by a distracted store clerk. On the other hand, in my limited experience I have found that trans men do show up as Puer and trans women as Puella. Needless to say, the influence of this man in your life or question will depend on the other figures, and is not in itself negative.

As an extended set of correspondences, Puer also indicates all manly things, the male side of existence. This can go from traditionally man-related things (trousers, ties, drills etc.) to traditionally man-related action, such as taking action and fighting. The figure, however, is called Puer, boy, so there is always the martian tendency to be rash and take action without putting much thought in it. Interestingly, Puer and Puella both tend to be rather unstable figures, but for different reasons. Puer is instability due to lack of foresight and forethought.

Sometimes, Puer can be exactly what is needed to break a stall: sometimes you just need to go “the hell with it” and do your thing. However, Puer lacks patience and the ability to reconcile oppositions, and this can be the cause of trouble. Also, sometimes Puer is associated with sex due to the Mars correspondence, but I see it more as the ardor or drive toward sex (in other words, horniness) but I see sex as a prerogative of Conjunctio.

Common Keywords: A boy, A man, All things manish or masculine, Justice, Doing what’s right, Action, Energy, Strong drive, Thoughtlessness, Danger from rash action, Cutting instruments, Fights, Litigation, Arguments

Puer in the Geomantic Houses (these are only examples. Use context to guide your interpretation)

HousePossible Meaning
FirstEnergy, Action, Manish behavior, Justice, Rashness
SecondRash action, Overspending, Energy in enterprise
ThirdArgument with siblings or neighbors, False rumors
FourthControversy, Fights, Useful to take action, Discovering hidden treasures
FifthA baby boy, Bad intermediary, Happiness, Having fun
SixthSurgery, Danger from doing the wrong thing, Need for toil
SeventhDivorce, Marriage or partnership too soon, Energy in enterprise, Picking fights
EighthLittle gain from other people, Danger with sharp instruments
NinthGood for travel, bad for learning, False science
TenthGreat enterprise in job, Loss of job, Manual work, Infamy
EleventhArguments with friends, Being friends with the bad boys, Minor contrarieties in getting one’s wish
TwelfthTrouble with the law from doing something silly, Quick liberation, Backstabbing
ThirteenthQuerent has energy, Takes action, Has been rash in the past, There has been fighting
FourteenthQuerent will need to put more energy into it, There will be fighting
FifteenthPuer cannot be the Judge
Possible meanings of Puer in the various Geomantic Houses. Note that this is not meant to be exhaustive, and it only serves to jog your interpretive muscles
Card Combinations, Card Reading, Cartomancy, Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Playing Cards

Basics of Card Interpretation – Cartomancy with Playing Cards

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As I did for the Sibilla, I shall now write a series of articles on the concrete interpretation of playing cards in divination. Some of what I said for the Sibilla applies here, so make sure to check that article.

Keep in mind that you cannot learn card reading in theory. I am among those who believe that, without some grounding in theory, practice tends to be shallow. I’ve met plenty of “intuitive readers” who basically spend their querents’ time saying “how powerful this reading is” without actually saying anything of consequence except some pseudo-empowering truisms (“It’s time for you to get out of your own way”). There is nothing wrong with empowering the querent, but the advice needs to be taylored to their specific situation, and reading the querent’s specific situation requires some study of the theory.

That being said, there is also such thing as too much theory. If you want to be a card reader, read cards. Do it for friends, acquaintances, relatives. Sooner than you think you are going to amass a wealth of practical insight into the nature of the cards which is going to be more valuable than anything anyone may write.

Playing Cards are usually read one after the other in a linear fashion. If you feel called by positional spreads (“This is his heart, this is his past, this is his wish, etc.”) by all means go ahead. However, playing cards are great at creating broad pictures by combining with one another.

The first thing to remember is that Hearts tend to be positive and Spades negative, with Diamonds and Clubs fluctuating somewhere in between. Unlike in the Sibilla, where red cards tend to be weak and black cards strong and assertive, in playing cards Hearts are just as strong as Spades. This means that much of the interpretation depends on which card falls first and which last.

For instance, let’s say you have the 2♥ followed by the 2♠. In this case, an argument or some kind of vexation is coming up next. The Two of Hearts is a rather broad card in terms of meaning, often just showing that something is about to knock at the door. However, if it were 2♠ followed by 2♥, then whatever negative thing the Two of Spades signifies is likey to be overcome by harmony (the Two of Hearts indicate a distance being bridged).

Diamonds and Clubs are broadly neutral, although Diamonds tend slightly toward the positive and Clubs slightly toward the negative. This means that they are strongly influenced by the Hearts and Spades in the spread. For instance, one of the main associations of Diamonds is with money, but in itself we do not really know if it’s money gained or money lost. This depends on how the card falls in the spread, and whether with Hearts or with Spades. Clubs, on the other hand, indicate effort, so a Heart can make the effort pleasurable or positive, while Spades can make it in vain. In general, accumulations of Clubs indicate difficulties.

Note that although Clubs are neutral and Hearts are positive, which prevails still depends on which card falls first. For instance, 6♥ + 7♣ shows that there are difficulties in overcoming a separation or in healing from sickness. In itself, this combination is slightly positive because the Seven of Clubs is not a Spade, so it leaves the door open, but it is not satisfactory. If we had 7♣ + 6♥, then a problem would be overcome rather easily.

In general, a Spade falling last indicates failure. However, you need to be careful. If you are only pulling three cards, this may very well be so. However, the more cards make up the row of cards you are interpreting, the less a Spade falling last can overcome very positive card, especially if it’s not a hugely negative Spade. Suppose you have five or seven cards in a row that show that the querent will get his wish, but then a Spade falls last. In this case we would interpret the spread as “you will get what you want, but then a problem will arise.” What kind of problem will be shown by the cards themselves. In case, do another spread.

These are just some preliminaries. Playing cards tend to be rather straightforward, so you will soon find yourself understanding the cards in context better than I could ever describe them in an article.

Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Fortuna Minor / Lesser Fortune (Geomancy Figures)

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Name of the Figure: Fortuna Minor (Lesser Fortune); sometimes called Exiting or Outgoing Help
Element: Earth
Planet: Sun (setting)
Sign: Taurus
Quality: Exiting
Fortune: Bad (but in practice mostly good)

Fortuna Minor is the opposite of Fortuna Major in many ways. From an elemental standpoint, it has exactly the opposite configuration. Whereas Major has one point in the passive elements (Water and Earth) and two points in the active ones (Fire and Air), Minor has one in the active elements and two in the passive ones. If we take one point to indicate that the element is manifest or activated, then Fortuna Minor plays its hand very differently from Fortuna Major. Wheras the latter represents calm, focused, long-term action, Fortuna Minor may indicate a quick onrush of energy which is immediately expended.

Illustration of the geomantic figure Fortuna Minor, Lesser Fortune

In some old manuscripts there are indications that Fortuna Minor may have been considered a bad figure. However, when the same manuscripts indicate the effects of the figure in the various houses, they give it as mostly good. I believe this is due to the fact that, being the opposite of the more regal Fortuna Major, Fortuna Minor was considered negative, but being a figure of the Sun, it was still good enough to have a positive effect.

In general, its effect is very quick, and often manifests in the form of an unexpected chance that needs to be taken as it arises, or it will disperse quickly. Being a figure of the setting Sun, Minor may further indicate the last chance one has to make things right, but this needs to make sense within the contest of the question. In general, Minor is more positive than Major when you need something done quickly. However, it can show that the situation may either deteriorate or need constant upkeep in the long run.

Fortuna Minor retains many of the basic qualities of its sibling, being connected with money, gold, courage, nobility, etc. However, these qualities are understandably of lesser value. Also, the adjective “minor” may on occasion indicate that the result will be satisfying, but not wholly satisfying. Maybe some sacrifices will need to be made. Again, this needs to be checked against the whole chart.

Common Keywords: unexpected help, a stroke of luck, a chance to be taken, quick results but possibly unstable in the long run, the last chance, money, health, nobility, moderate satisfaction, etc.

Fortuna Minor in the Geomantic Houses (these are only examples. Use context to guide your interpretation)

HousePossible Meanings
FirstGood person, honorable, active, healthy, lucky, noble
SecondGain, A sum of money (not big), Quick wealth, Objects, Possessions of good value
ThirdGood relationship with siblings and neighbors, partly true rumors, Good for short trips
FourthA small inheritance, Discovering hidden treasures, Good relationship with the father, buildings, etc.
FifthGood luck in matters of art, gain through it, Helping children or help from one’s children, Good relationship with them, Joy, Celebration
SixthQuick recovery from illness, toil won’t be in vain, Small vexations from servants
SeventhA chance meeting with someone, gain through acquaintances, Protection from theft, Marriage
EighthGain through the spouse or partnership, help getting out of a fear-inducing situation, Honorable death
NinthQuick return from journey, Change of place, Good faith, Mostly good science and knowledge
TenthNoble people, Employment, Good chance, Good relationship with the mother
EleventhMoney from the government, Opportunity, Help from friends
TwelfthQuick return to freedom for the prisoner, safety from hexes and magic, Loss of honor
ThirteenthHonor, Good faith, Past chance
FourteenthLack of honor, Lack of chances, Chance in the future, Future good luck
FifteenthQuick good outcome, Fame, Honor, Gain
Possible meanings of Fortuna Minor in the various Geomantic Houses. Note that this is not meant to be exhaustive, and it only serves to jog your interpretive muscles

MQS

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

Playing Cards | Health Correspondences

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This is the list of health correspondences for playing cards. As said for the Vera Sibilla, be wise and know your limits.

Ace of hearts (A♥) = the inside of the body, can indicate the need for rest, convalescence

Two of Hearts (2♥) = eyes, things that run in the family, behavioral issues

Three of Hearts (3♥) = blood, pills

Four of Hearts (4♥) = sexual organs, reproductive system

Five of Hearts (5♥) = overweight, pregnancy, womb, stomach, food

Six of Hearts (6♥) = recovery, bladder

Seven of Hearts (7♥) = unexpected recovery or relapse (depending on the cards), chronic disease

Eight of Hearts (8♥) = liver, bladder, kidneys

Nine of Hearts (9♥) = heart

Ten of Hearts (10♥) = circulation, blood vessels

Jack of Hearts (J♥) = things typical of kids, can be lack of self-care or not taking madication

Queen of Hearts (Q♥) = feminine things, feminine body parts, feminine illnesses, a good female nurse, being taken care of

King of Hearts (K♥) = masculine things, masculine body parts, masculine illnesses, a good male nurse, good diagnosis or prescription

Ace of Clubs (A♣) = outside of the body, skin

Two of Clubs (2♣) = legs and feet

Three of Clubs (3♣) = ligaments, joints, cartilage

Four of Clubs (4♣) = mouth, throat

Five of Clubs (5♣) = muscles, hands

Six of Clubs (6♣) = tiredness, exhaustion,

Seven of Clubs (7♣) = physical resistance, immune system

Eight of Clubs (8♣) = arms, muscles

Nine of Clubs (9♣) = chronic illness, long or lasting illness

Then of Clubs (10♣) = digestive tract, health related journey

Jack of Clubs (J♣) = can be the need for help (e.g., after an operation), with negative cards loss of autonomy due to illness or operation

Queen of Clubs (Q♣) = Female querent

King of Clubs (K♣) = Male querent

Ace of Diamonds (A♦) = regenerative ability, good health

Two of Diamonds (2♦) = diagnosis, IQ

Three of Diamonds (3♦) = nerve endings, with cards of blood small blood vessels, low amounts of something, allergies

Four of Diamonds (4♦) = lymphatic system

Five of Diamonds (5♦) = all glands

Six of Diamonds (6♦) = brain

Seven of Diamonds (7♦) = ears

Eight of Diamonds (8♦) = lungs

Nine of Diamonds (9♦) = nervous system

Ten of Diamonds (10♦) = respiratory system, high amounts of something

Jack of Diamonds (J♦) = nerves, test results

Queen of Diamonds (Q♦) = hair, vanity things such as cosmetic surgery

King of Diamonds (K♦) = physical defects, warts, scars etc.

Ace of Spades (A♠) = head, serious illness, operation (symbolizes the knife)

Two of Spades (2♠) = teeth, leg and feet bones, anger issues, minor illness

Three of Spades (3♠) = neck and spine, complications, medical mistakes

Four of Spades (4♠) = blockages and stoppages, liver, the sacrum

Five of Spades (5♠) = ribcage, lack of nutrients, lack of something

Six of Spades (6♠) = illness

Seven of Spades (7♠) = accidents, sudden onset, rush

Eight of Spades (8♠) = poisons, toxic things, kidneys, the medical equipe treating a patient

Nine of Spades (9♠) = excretory system, major illness

Ten of Spades (10♠) = undetected illnesses, intestines, guts

Jack of Spades (J♠) = virus, infection, contamination

Queen of Spades (Q♠) = mistakes, can be a female doctor

King of Spades (K♠) = doctor

MQS

Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Fortuna Major / Greater Fortune (Geomancy Figures)

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Name of the Figure: Fortuna Major (Greater Fortune); sometimes called Arriving or Incoming Help
Element: Earth
Planet: Sun (rising)
Sign: Aquarius
Quality: Entering
Fortune: Good

Fortuna Major is the Greater Fortune of the geomantic figures. It has a plethora of symbolic attributes that may be useful to someone looking to use geomancy as a framework for magic, but as far as divination goes, it is relatively straightforward in its meaning. From a strictly symbolic standpoint, it may be said to represent a river flowing between two mountains while the Sun rises. Whether this is the case or not, it represents a peculiar form of fortune that is not blind luck.

Illustration of the geomantic figure Fortuna Major, Greater Fortune

If we accept preliminarily the symbolic depiction and also the common view that one point means the element in the figure is active, then Fortuna Major is formed by activating the passive elements (Earth and Water) and by keeping the active elements (Fire and Air) passive. Metaphorically, the water flowing and cutting its own path through life by moisturizing the earth can be taken to show the type of fortune that Fortuna Major indicates: the hard-won one.

All, or at least most traditional sources agree that Fortuna Major is a slow figure, promising success but also delay. This can be good or bad depending on what the querent needs. For instance, it can be slightly worrying for illness, and someone in prison is probably looking at a longer sentence, but the figure remains broadly good. It is a symbol of fortitude. In good things, while it may show delay, it also promises stability.

In general, Fortuna Major promises success through effort, Nothing will be handed to the querent for free, but at the same time, the fact that this figure shows up indicates that the querent has the potential to achieve what he wants. It also has the general attributions of the Sun, signifying gold, renewal and similar.

Common Keywords: success through effort, perseverance, constancy, stability for good or ill, renewal, gold, some delay, great satisfaction, triumph

Fortuna Major in the Geomantic Houses (these are only examples. Use context to guide your interpretation)

HousePossible Meanings
FirstOf great stature, resilient, kingly, a nobleman, steadfast, long life, health, honorable, well-known, accomplished
SecondWealth, accumulation, riches, fortune
ThirdWell-being of siblings, good for short trips, True rumors
FourthGood in stable things, inheritance, good for parents and for the father
FifthFriendship, good grace, talent, success of a mediator
SixthGain through small animals and servants, slow recovery
Seventhlasting union, honorable partner
EighthWealth through partners of all kinds, long life, honorable death,
NinthGood science or skill, Long travel, Honor and success through travel, Piety, Faith
TenthKings, honorable people, achieving honors, promotion
EleventhGood friends, Achievement of hope, help from government
TwelfthLong prison sentence, freedom from occult enemies, gain through large animals
ThirteenthSuccess in the past or present, stamina, power, ability to achieve what one wishes
FourteenthSuccess in the future, Still need for a lot of work
FifteenthSuccess, Accomplishment of most things through effort
Possible meanings of Fortuna Major in the various Geomantic Houses. Note that this is not meant to be exhaustive, and it only serves to jog your interpretive muscles

MQS

nec sequar nec ducam
Card Reading, Cartomancy, Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Reading Example, Tarot

When Questions Are Deceptive Even if Querents Are Honest (Example Reading)

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Sometimes people ask me, “What happens if I ask you a deceptive question?” to which the honest answer is, “I’ll be more likely to get the answer wrong” The underlying assumption is that I either pull answers out of my ass or I get them through some infallible magical process, so that either my getting the answer wrong is proof that divination is bogus or a querent’s deceptive behavior should have no bearing on my ability to answer.

Neither of these assumptions is true. Divination is a process of symbol-reading that equates the combinations of a given comprehensive set of symbols with certain states of being in the past, present or future.

A symbol is not some arbitrary squiggle. Keep in mind that symbolic means “that throws together”. It’s the opposite of diabolic, which means “that throws apart”. Our whole perception is symbolic, as we equate X with Y at every turn, linking various states of being together (“we throw them together”) in our perception. Car approaching means danger of becoming crayon smears on the asphalt. If our mind didn’t work symbolically it wouldn’t be able to link facts together, and we’d already be dead.

As I said somewhere else, if you show up at the doctor’s insisting your leg hurts even if it doesn’t, sooner or later you are going to get a diagnosis and a prescription. If the doctor touches you where it hurts but you say it doesn’t hurt, that also changes the diagnosis. The doctor is reading you and your behavior as symbols that he “throws together”, i.e., connects with certain predictions about the past, present or future. An honest and cooperative querent is as valuable as an honest and cooperative patient, except that patients understand this, querents sometimes don’t.

Detecting a querent’s lies is not impossible, just as it’s not impossible for a perceptive doctor to call a patient’s bluff, but it’s damn hard. It is especially hard with divination, because unlike a doctor visit, a divination will always give an outcome, that is, its symbols will always come up in a certain order. If a married querent asks you “will I get married?”, you are still going to have a spread of cards or a chart or some other set of symbols in front of you saying something.

In my (fortunately limited) experience with deceptive querents, the divination always contains the truth of the matter. In the example of the married querent, there should be indications of an existing marriage. Unfortunately, it is extremely easy to misread the symbols as meaning something else on the backdrop of what the querent said.

But a question is not deceptive just when the querent is maliciously trying to call you out as a fraud. Well-meaning querents can inadvertently frame their questions deceptively. Here’s an example.

Case Study

I’m currently gathering recommendations as a reader, in case I decide to offer paid readings from the blog in the future. I was reading for a young woman in her late thirties in exchange for her recommendation a couple of days ago. She asked me about her love life, but asked nothing specific.

We’ve talked about querents’ assumptions, but readers have assumptions, too. One of the typical assumptions of many readers is that if someone is getting a reading, the person must be a mess in need of major help, so readers tend to give a less favorable reading of any outcome. In this case, this assumption would have led me to make a mistake.

Here’s the spread that came out in response to the question (I know I haven’t talked about tarot on this blog yet, but I’ll explain my approach another time. Note that the querent has given me permission to talk about the reading)

A tarot reading about the querent’s love life
Tarocchi di Layla, design by Elisa Scerrato

The cards of the cut were the Empress (the querent) and the Moon. The Moon can have a huge variety of meanings, from deception to silence to maternity to influence on people to many, many more. Mostly it is a bit of a red flag when it falls next to a significator. But the rest of the cards were wonderful.


Mqs: “You’re in a relationship, right?”
Querent: “yes”
Mqs: “it’s a longstanding one, though. Marriage?” (Hermit at the beginning showing slowness/long time, plus Sun and Justice showing a union of love)
Querent: “yes!”
Mqs: “It’s a good marriage. It has settled into its rhythms (Justice and Wheel) but there is still a great deal of love (Sun)”
Querent: “yes, we love each other.”
Mqs: “there is a clean, pure (Stars) energy (Devil) around this union (Justice above). You have different characters (Justice and Devil) but it doesn’t seem to matter, and any obstacle (Devil) is overcome (Chariot).”
Querent: “it’s true”
Mqs: “Is he older than you? (He’s represented by the Pope)
Querent: ” Quite a bit”
Mqs: “But he’s very dynamic (Juggler next to Pope)”
Querent: “Definitely. He does a lot of sport.”

At this point I was a bit startled. The cards were wonderful. There didn’t seem to be any issue. This is relatively common when the querent doesn’t ask a very specific question (she only told me the topic). Still that Moon next to her bothered me. Why was it there? The cards didn’t point to any cheating or issue.

Mqs: “Are you somewhat taciturn?”
Querent: “Yes, I tend to keep to myself.”

That was an explanation, but it still wasn’t satisfying. It was an odd thing for the cards to point out in the cut.

Mqs: “Are you dissatified?” (The Moon can mean sadness)
Querent: “A bit”
Mqs: “But not with your marriage”
Querent: “No, I’m happy with my husband”
Mqs: (looking at the Juggler next to the husband, which is the significator card for work) “Does he work?”
Querent: “yes”
Mqs: “do you work?”
Querent: “I don’t”
Mqs: “Are you dissatisfied that your husband works but you don’t?”
Querent: “yes! I think that’s how I feel”
Mqs: (laughing) “So the question is about work, not love”

Her face lit up with understanding, as if she hadn’t thought about it. “That’s right!” she said enthusiastically, “I wanna know about work!”

I think this interaction shows very well how, even if not meaning to, querents can veil one issue by wrapping a different topic around it. The querent in this case wasn’t trying to deceive me. Her subconscious mind simply used the topic of her love life to lead me to her real issue. This, by the way, is why it’s important to be able to have a frank conversation with querents.

MQS

Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Populus / The People (Geomancy Figures)

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Name of the Figure: Populus (The People); sometimes called Double Way
Element: Water
Planet: Moon (waxing)
Sign: Capricorn
Quality: Common
Fortune: Mixed

Populus is the opposite of Via, the other figure of the Moon. Its properties are in many ways diametrically opposite. Where Via forces a radical transformation of every figure it comes into contact with, flipping it into its opposite, Populus passively accepts every figure as it is, like a mirror or a bunch of clay waiting to be shaped. This latter comparison is very apt, as in Medieval (Aristotelian) philosophy, the Moon was seen as receptacle and a symbol of matter, which was capable of receiving all forms, just as the Moon receives her light from the Sun, but was ultimately beyond complete formation.

Illustration of the Geomantic figure Populus, the People

The Medievals, who were fond of finding similitudes and parallels everywhere, also saw the common folk as matter and the Emperor or King as the form-giver, just like they saw the female as matter and the male as form, so they must have felt a great thrill in finding all these correspondences at play in Populus, which also represents people (just like in astrology the Moon rules common people). If Via represents the Moon’s changeable nature, Populus is her passivity.

Populus is formed of the highest number of points of any Geomancy figure, eight, in contrast to Via, which had the least with four. This brings to light another common meaning of Populus: that of indicating “lots” of something, for good or ill.

Some old Geomancers considered Populus extremely bad, some saying that if Populus was the Judge, the chart wasn’t valid. I find this to be nonsense. We already have a limited number of possible charts to play with, and if we exclude those ending in Populus we eliminate a whole bunch more. Plus, in my experience, Populus is a neutral figure, augmenting the good and bad of other figures.

Common Keywords: passivity, receptivity, stability, a situation that may have various influences at play but in the end won’t change much, many people, groups of all kinds, crowd, togetherness, lots of anything that may make sense in the context, large, big, numerous

Populus in the Geomantic Houses (these are only examples. Use context to guide your interpretation)

HousePossible Meanings
FirstA long and/or mediocre life, a mutable life subject to many influences, lots of water, phlegmatic temperament, companionable
SecondLots of money, great wealth, many objects
ThirdMany siblings or cousins, neighbors, small trip by water or near a body of water
FourthCities, castles, buildings, abundance, fertile terrain
FifthGreat harvest, many children, gathering of artists (like an exposition), A fun gathering
SixthMany servants or small animals, dangerous illness
SeventhMany acquaintances, Good marriage, Pliable but unstable partner, Many public enemies
EighthTears, A funeral, Lots of money from the partner
NinthLong travel especially by water, pilgrimage with other people, a class or learning group, a spiritual gathering
TenthA gathering of important people (like a cabinet meeting), elevation of regular people, Rebellion of the common folk
EleventhLots of money from the government, Lots of friends
TwelfthMany occult enemies, evil machinations, groups of prisoners
ThirteenthPublic favor, stable past, good company
FourteenthThe public is against, many obstacles or lots of opposition, stable future
FifteenthSome delay, stability in the end, good if coming from good figures, bad if from bad ones
Possible meanings of Populus in the various Geomantic Houses. Note that this is not meant to be exhaustive, and it only serves to jog your interpretive muscles

MQS

Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Via / The Way (Geomancy Figures)

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Name of the Figure: Via (The Way); some give it as Candela (Candle)
Element: Water
Planet: Moon (waning)
Sign: Leo
Quality: Common
Fortune: Mixed

When interpreting Via, there’s a couple of notions to keep in mind. First, its interesting geomantic property of turning every figure into its opposite: If you add Via to Conjunctio, meaning connectivity, you get Carcer, isolation; if you add Via to Puella, innocence and balance, you get Rubeus, vice and lying; if you add Via to Caput Draconis, the beginning of something, you get Laetitia, its peak, etc. This is because Via has one point in each elemental row: one point in the Fire row, one in the Air row, one in the Water row, one in the Earth row. One point, when added to another single point, turns it into an even double point, while when added to a double point it turns it into an odd number again.

Illustration of the Geomantic figure Via, the Way

This property of Via connects well with its meaning of change, travel, etc. It is an active, transformative figure, indicating that the situation will not stay as it is. Something that began one way will finish as something different.

Another interesting and often mentioned property of Via is that it has the least amount of points of any figure in Geomancy, four. This can mean that Via stands for a small amount of something, whether for good or ill. This, however, is usually only in questions of quantity (“Will I get back the money?” “Yes, but only a small part.”)

Finally, because it is in contrast with the other figure of the Moon, Populus, which is the crowd, Via can represent aloneness, not necessarily in a bad sense. It can show someone doing something alone, following their own path. It may indicate independence. However, if you dabble in the old manuscripts, you will see that depending on the author Via is attributed better or worse qualities depending on that author’s own ideas. I personally find it a neutral figure, if an unstable one.

Common Keywords: Travel, path, journey, going, moving, acting, making inroads, change, transformation, one, only, lonely, small, little, small amount

Via in the Geomantic Houses (these are only examples. Use context to guide your interpretation)

HousePossible Meanings
FirstA traveler, wayfarer, piligrim, small stature, phlegmatic temperament, changeable, A short life
SecondTraveling merchant, Little money, change in the economic situation, poverty
ThirdShort trip, visit, younger siblings, arrival of news, partly true rumors, the garden or neighborhood
Fourthmixed end results, instability at the end, a trip to see one’s parents of father, little inheritance
FifthFew children (possibly one), going to a party, little pleasure
Sixthshort illness, change in the health, servants are arriving or fleeing (traditionally), small animals, small gain from animals
SeventhUnstable partner, highwaymen, little company, gain or loss of support (depending on how one is at the present moment)
EighthFleeing danger or fearful situation, little money from other people
NinthLong travel, little faith, unworthy knowledge or teacher, a process of transformation, inner journey
TenthUnstable government, Unstable profession, change of job, traveling for work, authority figures are not to be trusted
Eleventhvain hope, little hope, little help, changeable friends, few of them
TwelfthRelease from prison, Freedom from addiction, Few enemies
ThirteenthUnstable past, ability to change, good for traveling, positive journey or path
Fourteenthquick solution, the situation will evolve or change, issues while traveling
FifteenthThere will be travel or change for good or ill, Quick solution
Possible meanings of Via in the various Geomantic Houses. Note that this is not meant to be exhaustive, and it only serves to jog your interpretive muscles

MQS