Well, Skat cards and I keep crossing paths. Ebay showed me this:
I won’t buy it, because there’s really no point in me owning it, but I’m going to post a personal translation of the meanings found on the cards, just as a comparison to the other systems I posted. Note: in German the descriptions rhyme (sort of). Since poetry is not among my many, many gifts, I’m not even going to try it in English. We’ll wait for the next Lord Byron to stumble upon this blog and give it a go. However, I will leave in bold type the words that are in bold in German, where possible.
The fact that some of the meanings coincide with the ones I posted, which I know to be traditional because I trust the sources, tells me that this Oracle of the Silver Mirror isn’t something someone just pulled out of his heinie, but they probably at least did some reaserch or had access to someone who could read skat cards. Still, I don’t want to exaggerate the importance of this deck: it is just a little bit of Skat trivia, in the long tradition of card fortune-telling as a parlor game.
The Silberspiegel Orakel is a fortune-telling deck about which very little is known. A source online says it’s from the 50s. Considering the old-fashioned language and the pre-reform orthography it might as well be true.
Silberspiegel Orakel (Oracle of the Silver Mirror)
A♥️ Soon an event will involve the house. It appears as though it is something good!
K♥️ The King of Hearts is your reflection in the mirror, or “He” who envelops you in his love
Q♥️ The Queen of Hearts is your reflection in the mirror, or “She” who envelops you in her love.
J♥️ The Jack of Hearts can be your son or your daughter, or just a child, broadly speaking.
10♥️ You can expect much love, much joy. The world becomes your enchanted garden.
9♥️ Kisses and love-making await you. Don’t lose your head, whether in December or in May. (This sounds much cuter in the original)
8♥️ A bit of good news is headed your way. It could also be an invitation.
7♥️ Everything turns out for the best and is cause for joy, as shown here in this card.
A♠️ Taxes, the courthouse or the government await you. Don’t pull a long face!
K♠️ There is a wealthy man (around you). He could be your father, who loves you very much
Q♠️ A well-meaning woman coddles you. She could be your mother, who protects you and takes care of you.
J♠️ The postilion brings you a letter or message with much excitement. He’s almost here!
10♠️ You are planning a long journey, toward new horizons (shores) and harbors.
9♠️ A positive change in your personal situation. That’s a certain thing.
8♠️ An unexpected gift will bring you much joy, perhaps tomorrow, maybe even today.
7♠️ You can expect a visit, with flowers from the most beautiful garden.
A♦️ An important letter or a merry celebration, perhaps a marriage or something from the stork’s nest.
K♦️ A blond man will propose to you. He may also be a relative (!!!)
Q♦️ You will go out with a blonde woman. If she’s a relative, forget about her (!!!)
J♦️ This is the big, big luck. Cut yourself a nice slice of it.
10♦️ You manage to accomplish something great, everything brings you success and lots of money.
9♦️ You may expect a bit of money. This is what the cards clearly show.
8♦️ You’ll have golden rings to wear. Maybe you’ll celebrate an engagement or a marriage.
7♦️ A small journey will restore you. Have a good journey and some fun!
A♣️ Affliction and a doctor are in your home, but a cheerful disposition can drive the devil out.
K♣️ An older man is around you. Maybe a father-in-law, maybe a public official.
Q♣️ An older woman is by your side. If she’s your mother-in-law, do as she says.
J♣️ A false person wants to charm you. Be careful, and you will charm the snake!
10♣️ Luck, affluence and a long life are gifted to you as treasures.
9♣️ Something will soon become certain. Now ask yourself what it may be.
8♣️ Aggravations are coming to your house. Someone may exploit your good will.
7♣️ Tears, loss and fights threaten you. You will overcome them with a merry disposition.
Spreads
In the LWB, two spreads are described. One is the classic große Tafel, the grand tableau of 8×4, where one reads the lines that intersect the querent’s card.
The other is a cross spread (once again), where the person’s significator is taken out, the cards fanned out and fifteen cards chosen: covering him (“Was dich deckt!”, i.e., “what covers you”), to his right (“Was dich schreckt!” i.e., “What scares you/shocks you”), below him (“Was du mit Füßen trittst”, i.e., “What you tread on with your feet”), to his left (“Was dir gewiß ist”, i.e., “what you hold for certain”) and above (“Was du im Kopfe trägst”, i.e, “What you have in your head”). The “what shocks you” position on the right is probably the opposite of the “what you hold for certain” position on the left. It probably indicates something the person doesn’t expect.
Clearly this is yet another variant of the cross spread that is so widespread across Europe, of which I was taught another variation.
The general tone of the LWB is very cautious and markedly negative toward divination, which reinforces the hypothesis that the deck originates from before the late 60s or early 70s. The reader is constantly encouraged to practice it only as a game with family members and not to practice professionally.
MQS
