Tag Archives: Amore
Vera Sibilla | Four of Hearts – Love (Amore)
Name: Love
Italian Name: Amore
Playing Card: 4♥
Polarity when Upright: Positive
Core Meanings: Love, positive feelings | a positive context, a context where the querent feels loved and safe
Polarity when Reversed: Neutral to Negative
Reversed Core Meanings: Homosexuality | Lack of love, Lack of feelings | breakups, rifts | Sexual depravity
Card Description: a blindfolded Cupid soars in the air, unbound by the laws of mortals.
Suit and Number: all fours in the Vera Sibilla are connected to the context that the querent finds or will find himself or herself in. The suit of Hearts, being positive, shows that the querent will find himself in a context where they will feel loved, appreciated and taken care of, and all contexts where the querent’s emotions are heightened (usually in a positive sense).
UPRIGHT 4♥
General: the main and obvious meaning of this card is that of love. Traditionally, however, this card is described as signifying an irrational force that is impossible to tame, so this may on occasion apply. Normally it symbolizes love, positive feelings and strong attachments. There is, however, a certain sense of lively wildness about this card, which contrasts with the sense of disciplined reliability of the other main love card of the deck, the Nine of Hearts. We can say that, while in practice it usually signifies love, the Four of Hearts is connected to all contexts that elicit a strong emotional reaction.
A specific function of this card is that, sometimes, when it comes up at the beginning of a sequence, it loses its meaning of love, and it simply shows that the situation described by the following cards is what the querent is attracting to himself or herself in the near future. With negative cards, if we are not talking about love, it shows deep disappointment due to excessive emotional involvement in a situation that doesn’t end well.
Love and Relationships: this is obviously the area where the influence of this card is most direct. As most questioners come to us asking about relationship issues, the literal meaning of the Four of Hearts, that is, love, normally comes to the fore. In itself, the Love card tells of genuine feelings, requited love and deep connection. The card, however, is easily influenced by strong positive or negative cards. Especially cards that tell of disruption or of cheating can easily taint its meaning. Furthermore, if both significators (querent and love interest) are present, their reciprocal relation and their relation to the Love card must be carefully studied to see who is more committed, who may be cheating, etc. The same is true for the Nine of Hearts, by the way.
In general, even when love is not an issue, the Love card foretells harmony and a deep connection with someone, whether it be a relative, a sibling, a friend, etc. The card qualifies all contexts as deeply positive and nourishing for the querent, and shows a deep bond of affection from the querent to the context in question.
Again, I should stress that the Four of Hearts has a rather undisciplined energy, so if the overall energy of the spread is one of flightiness, the Love card may show a flash in the pan or a relationship that is unlikely to survive the first hurdles. Cards showing thought, planning, faithfulness, consistency, effort etc. all tend to stabilize the Love card, turning the deep but capricious feeling it can signify into a deeply rooted feeling.
Work and Money: the 4♥ is not a money card. It can, of course, show love of money, though in general this is signalled by other more negative cards. It is more likely that it signifies support by loved ones, and in general the idea of being in a love-filled environment where one’s wants and needs are taken care of. It can show the ability to attract money and resources.
In career readings, it may signify a deep love of one’s chosen career path. More negative cards around it may suggest an eccessive devotion to one’s career or an eccessive emotional attachment to it. Because it’s a card of expansive feelings, for merchants and business owners the Love card can sometimes show expanding their business, though this is not a common meaning. The Four of Hearts can, of course, suggest careers surrounding topics like love and feelings.
Other: psychologically, the card indicates deep intuition and also a certain wild (but kind) spirit. It also highlights emotionality and the ability to form deep connections. Spiritually, this is one of the cards that can indicate the soul. Artistically it points to great inspirations, but with negative cards it may highlight a certain lack of discipline.
Important Combinations:
4♥ + A♣ = a marriage of love
4♥ + 3♦ + 7♠ = end of love due to different characters (the 3♦ is connected to one’s “gift” and therefore to one’s specificity as a person)
4♥ + 2♥ = living together as a couple
K♦ + 4♥ = can be a job you love or love found at work, or a positive work environment
2♦ + 10♣R + 4♥ = these days, it can easily mean finding love on a dating app
REVERSED 4♥R
General: traditionally, the main meaning of this card when it comes up reversed is that of homosexuality. Bear in mind that this oracle was devised back when everything except joyless, reproduction-oriented sexual intercourse was considered a perversion, and homosexuality was seen as the main representative of the class of perversions. Nowadays, the card can still signify homosexuality, especially if it’s relevant to the question. However, it is my experience that when a gay querent consults the cards who is at peace with themselves and is not in the closet, the 4♥, when it shows up at all, it shows up upright, and if it does come up reversed it’s to signify other things, such as a breakup or unfaithfulness or some kind of sexual perversion, since the latter remains a core meaning of this card.* Additionally, the reversed Love card can signify rifts in the couple that are hard to mend, lack of love or an unhealthy expression of feelings.
Love and Relationships: as said, this card can be a symbol of homosexuality, although it tends to take on this meaning today only in specific instances. Otherwise, the easiest way to understand this card is that it shows love problems. These can vary, based on the gravity of the surrounding cards, from arguments to unrequited love to deep rifts in any relationship to cheating and false love. It can also signify feelings of love having ended.
Work and Money: the card does not speak much about these issues, although it can show an unhealthy attachment to money. In general, it discourages investments and business ventures as the querent is not seeing things properly, possibly due to emotional turmoil or due to putting the whim of the moment before careful reasoning. It can show prostitution, but this is rarely seen as a legitimate career when represented by this card, which tends to highlight the more negative emotional side of it. Sometimes it signifies that the querent works in a context where he or she doesn’t feel loved, or worse.
Other: the card is a staple of combinations highlighting perversion and sexual debauchery (regardless of whether the querent is straight or gay). On the other hand, psychologically it can show someone who feels deeply unloved or someone whose emotional reactions are spiralling out of control. Spiritually, it shows a soul bogged down by disempowering emotions or tainted in some way, if you choose to be preachy. It can show someone who is blundering from mistake to mistake.
Important Combinations:
A♦R + 4♥R = coming out or outing
4♥R + 7♥R = sexual deviant
4♥R + 5♦ = sadness due to unfulfilling love life | it can mean not accepting one’s homosexuality
4♥R + K♦ = a bad work environment that is not nurturing and we don’t like
2♥ + 4♥ + A♣ = living together despite the lack of feelings
Other Combinations: Vera Sibilla | Examples of Combinations – The Fours
* I must stress this: do NOT consult the cards for a validation of your own personal moral code. Cartomancy was born with humans, it evolves with humans and will die with humans, and while the fact that the Sibilla was devised in the XIX century implies that sexual perversion is one of the main meanings of the 4♥R, this doesn’t mean that the moral code of XIX century Italian burgeoisie is the absolutely right one and you should live by it. Nor does it imply that your own moral standards are the right ones, nor those of your neighbor, or those of the Japanese or the Native Americans. I can’t swing a dead cat without coming by readers online who use the cards to try to prove that Orange Man Bad or that Hillary belongs in jail or that abortion is right or wrong, depending on their particular political leanings. This is nothing short of psycho-political onanism. In reality, these people are just fooling themselves and projecting their canned opinions onto the cards, which kind of defeats the purpose of using divination. Everyone thinks the universe is woven according to their moral prejudices, but, guess what, you are not that special, Rhonda.
Vera Sibilla | Examples of Combinations – The Fours
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)
C = Cuori (Hearts)
F = Fiori (Clubs)
Q = Quadri (Diamonds)
P = Picche (Spades)
Four of Hearts (4♥) – Love (Amore)
4♥ + 2♦ = a love letter
4♥ + 3♦ + 7♠ = a strange (and rather common) traditional combination that shows a breakup due to incompatibility (the 3♦ represents one’s “gift” and therefore what one brings to the table. It also represents values and one’s values)
4♥ + 9♥ = a pure or faithful love (9♥ stabilizes love)
4♥ + 10♥ = stability or dependability in love
4♥ + 10♣ = an easy love that doesn’t mean much, a flirt
4♥ + 4♦ = insincerity in love
10♦ + 4♥ = it’s a symbol of betrayal and cheating
4♥ + 4♠ = a sick way of showing love | loneliness
7♠ + 4♥* = it can mean being struck by love
4♥ + 7♠ = usually, a breakup (in itself it is not irreversible, but if also 5♠, then yes)
4♥ + J♠ or Q♠ = a rival
4♥ + 10♠U/R = cheating | the need to fight for one’s happiness in love, sometimes
4♥R + 5♠ = lack of feelings | a very unbalanced emotional life
4♥R + 7♥R = a distorted sexuality
4♥R + 7♦U/R + 10♠R + PersonR = pedophilia
Four of Clubs (4♣) – Friend (Amica)
4♣ + A♣ = a partnership or a common project (8♣ or K♦ may be present)
4♣ + Q♠ = a friend who is really an enemy, a backstabber
4♣ + 3♠ = loss of friendship
4♠ + 4♣ = a nurse or similar profession
4♣ + J♦ + A♥ (+K♦) = a trade union (the J♦ represents mediation, the 4♣ protection and support)
3♥ + 4♣ = the visit of a friend
10♣ + 4♣ + A♦R = a friend will carelessly reveal a secret
4♥ + 2♠ (+A♥R) + 4♣ = love cooling off and turning into a friendship
K♦ + 4♣ = it can be a friend from work | more broadly, a supportive work environment
A♥ + 4♣ = talking to a friend or meeting her, obviously | it can be a support group
2♦ + 4♣R = a letter of recommendation
K♣ + 4♣R = the help of a doctor or a boss
4♣R + K♣R + 4♦ = a recommendation in exchange for favors (+A♣R, for sex, +6♥ for money, +3♦ for gifts or some kind of advantage in general)
4♣R + 6♦ + K♠U/R = a higher up or politician pulling some strings for you (the 6♦ can represent ideology and the K♠ is the government, so it shows you probably belong to the same party)
4♣R + 4♦R or 3♦R or 2♣ or 5♣ or 8♥ = a help or recommendation that will solve your problem
Four of Diamonds (4♦) – Falseness (Falsità)
4♦ + 2♥ = lies in the family or a negative home environment | a house with hidden issues (especially with 2♥R) don’t buy! | the facade
9♥ + 4♦ = lies, ulterior motives | someone whose transparency and genuineness are just a front
3♣ + 4♦ = a broken car or one with hidden issues | with other cards, it can show the car has been tampered with, don’t drive!
6♦R + 4♦ = very negative plans or one who is completely deluded | with other cards, it can mean sending evil energies toward someone, the “evil eye”
4♦ + 9♦ = a huge blunder | a very negative group | someone who is completely unreliable
4♦ + 10♦ = betrayal, cheating
4♦ + 10♦ + 8♠ = the traditional combination for a fraud, scam or swindle
4♠ + 4♦ + 6♠ = a hypochondriac (the 6♦ may be present, showing thoughts)
4♦ + 10♠R = a well-covered lie
4♦ + K♠ = something not quite right with the authority or judge | it can simply mean that a judge is ill-disposed toward you for no good reason (but if K♠R, it would confirm that something is iffy)
4♦ + 9♣U/R = sometimes it can mean false happiness, pretending to be happy for someone or about something
4♦ + Person = 4 times out of 5, a person not to trust | sometimes, acquired family (like adopted, step-, ecc.)
6♣ + 6♠ + 4♦ = a traditional combination showing that if you’ve lent someone money, you are unlikely to see it again (the 6♣ may be substituted with other money cards or with the 8♣ and 6♥. The 10♦R may also be present, being connected with insolvency, but at that point the cards are speaking of serious economic damage done to the querent)
A♥ + K♦ + 4♦R = a job interview that will go well and will solve the querent’s work problems
9♥R + 4♦R = discovery of a betrayal or of someone cheating
10♦ + 8♠ + 4♦R = discovery of a swindle or scam or fraud (usually, in time to avoid the worst)
4♠ + 7♠ + 4♦R = a surgery that brings relief
J♠ or Q♠ + 4♦R = uncovering an enemy
4♦R + A♠ = the discovery of a lie or a betrayal brings sorrow (however, in the long run it will be for the better, or the 4♦R wouldn’t have come up)
Four of Spades (4♠) – Sickness (Ammalato)
K♦U/R + 4♠ = unemployment | an illness you get from working at your job (e.g. where you manipulate chemicals, etc.)
4♠ + 4♥ or 9♥ = a sick love | can mean loneliness
4♠ + 3♣ = a “sick” car
7♦ + 4♠ = an illness that is typical of children or a small indisposition
3♦ + 4♠ = a “sick” object | an offer that is “sick”, not to accept
4♠ + 5♠ = a very serious illness
4♠ + 5♠ + positive cards = the end of illness or unemployment or loneliness
4♠ + 8♦ (+6♣) = sick pay or unemployment benefits (K♠ would show the government) | with just the 8♦ it could be a positive evolution of the illness
A♥U/R or 3♥R + 6♣ + 4♠ = it can represent an illness that is “caught”
4♠ + K♣ + 7♠ = a surgical procedure
9♣U/R + 4♠ = it can be food poisoning
4♠ + 6♥R + 8♠ = slipping into (heavy) debt due to illness
4♠ + 2♣ or 5♣ = healing (if 2♣ and then K♥ and maybe 8♥, miracle healing. K♥ is God)
4♠ + 7♥ + 6♣ = it can be a health insurance
5♥R or 6♥ + 4♠ = it can be a hereditary disease
4♠R + 9♠ = traditionally, prison
4♠R + 2♥U/R + 9♠ = house arrest
6♦ + 4♠R = being blocked in the elaboration of something (+2♦, writer’s block) | in love, being on a break to think things over
K♦ + 4♠R = also unemployment, but if the querent is emoloyed, they might garnish his or her wages (look around for cards that explain the story or confirm the money being taken from them)
10♣R + 4♠R + A♥R or J♦R = it can mean being blocked by someone on social media so that communication can’t happen (the 10♣R represents the internet. The 9♠ may be present. Instead of the 10♣R, you may find the 3♥ + 2♦)
4♠R + K♠ = can be a church, in the proper context | the government is “avaricious”, which means if you asked for money you are unlikely to get it
5♦ + 4♠R = being stuck in the past or not letting go of disappointment
4♠R among positive money cards = good handling of one’s finances
4♠R + positive cards = end of a period of blockage
Positive cards + 4♠R + negative cards = beginning of a period of blockage
Vera Sibilla and Numerology – The Fours
The four Fours in the Vera Sibilla appear to be connected with the notions of environment, context or situation. The famous squareness that almost every system of cartomancy ascribes to the number four is still present, but rather than talking about stability or lack of change, it is focused on describing of the type of 3D world that exists around the querent, depending on the suit. The Ace was like a spark, the Two extended it into a line, the Three provided movement, now we have a full-blown situation.
The Four of Hearts, Love, is perhaps the most famous card in the deck. Every traditional source describes it as a card that represents a live, blind force shaping the situation. This idea movement, aliveness and blindness are a consequence of the irrational nature of love, which is impossible to put in chains or define in a limiting way. I like what I like, I am attracted to what I am attracted to. Period.
Hence, the idea here is one of a context that the querent likes: it may be a house, a partner, a job, whatever. With this card, we are in a context we like. The Love card represents a situation that is alive, that has enough of that vital impetus to keep it going, and the vital impetus is, of course, attraction. The whole of the universe is love, and all that good shit.
Conversely, the Four of Spades, the Sickness card, shows a situation or context that is not hot, but cold, not lively and moving, but rotting, ill and decaying, not free, but stuck, not beneficial but noxious. This card represents sickness and illness in the most general sense, whether it’s an ill body, an ill career, a sick way of living a relationship, etc. Whereas the Four of Hearts is the card of a situation that we love, that we are compatible with, the Four of Spades is a card of wrong paths, situations that developed in the wrong way or that have grown stagnant.
In between, the Four of Clubs, the Friend, is a card of positive, helpful contexts. It may represent partnerships and co-operation, pacts etc., but in general it represents a supportive context or people who support the querent. Some of the undertones of this card are similar to those of the Nine of Hearts, Faithfulness, in that in both cases we have someone (or a general situation) that is loyal, caring and helpful, and will do what’s best for the querent.
Jobs and career in the field of service are often represented by the Friend, as well as all supportive roles (e.g. nurses). All this being said, this card sometimes represents a person, in which case it’s going to be neutral.
The Four of Diamonds, Falsehood or the Cat, is one of the most iconic in the deck. In the most general sense, it is the opposite of the Nine of Hearts and, in a way, of the Four of Clubs. While the Friend represents a positive, supportive context, the Four of Diamonds represents negative contexts in general. Under this card fall all those situations and contexts that are wrong, false or bad for the querent.
While the Dog card shows things being as they seem and seeming as they are, Falsehood is about reality being hidden behind a layer of something else which may be anything, but is not real. In this sense, it also covers illusion and self-deception, in addition to cheating and lies. Interestingly, this is also the card of bad weather, likely because bad weather is a passing illusion covering the eternal blue of the sky.
