Tag Archives: Dispiacere
Vera Sibilla | Ace of Spades – Sorrow (Dispiacere)
Name: Sorrow
Italian Name: Dispiacere*
Playing Card: A♠
Polarity when Upright: Negative
Core Meanings: Bad news, Sad tidings | Sorrow, Tears | Something that we don’t like, that repels us, that we would rather didn’t happen | Negative interactions, Violence, Beatings, Arguments
Polarity when Reversed: Mildly Negative to Mildly Positive
Reversed Core Meanings: Toil, Labor, Hard work | Repetition, Cycles, Many times | Passing disappointment
Card Description: A woman brings her hands to her eyes in dismay after reading the contents of the distressing letter.
Suit and Number: As all aces, the Ace of Spades is mostly concerned with news. Since Spades are a negative suit, the news is negative, “sad tidings”, as the fortune-tellers of old used to say. Furthermore, aces speak of how people come together to interact, but again, Spades are the negative suit, so the interaction is negative, showing arguments and violence.
UPRIGHT A♠
General: It’s mostly an easy card to understand, as it has fundamentally three meanings: bad news, violence and arguments. If a face card falls together with it, it is usually that person who will be sorry, but there may be exceptions.
Love and Relationships: the Ace of Spades heralds bad news in every area, so in this case it can be the harbinger of rejections or negative communications from the people we are interested in investigating. It is also a card of turbulent relationships both with partners and with family members and friends. The other cards will show whether mediation and reconciliation are possible. Being a card of arguments, we need to look at the other cards to see whether the argument could leave permanent damages in the two people’s dynamic. It is also a card of violence, though usually not on its own (you’d expect the Ten of Hearts reversed or the Ten of Spades or the Three of Spades reversed, for instance). Violence comes in many flavors (verbal abuse is different from physical abuse, for instance). Again, this will be clarified by other cards. In addition to the above, this card can point to displeasure in being together with the other person.
Work and Money: in this case, the sad news refers to the material side of life. Anything from failed projects to being fired to losing money or investments is fair game for the Ace of Spades. The more negative cards reinforce the message, the more disastrous it is. If the other cards are positive, on its own this card is not strong enough to destroy a career or your finances. It can point to feelings of discoursgement caused by a difficult financial situation, to underwhelming results or to difficulties getting along with coworkers (the other cards will show whose fault it is. Be careful about cards that may be showing a situation of mobbing, bullying, humiliation, etc.)
Other: the card also represents everything that repels us and that we don’t like, so it often shows up in situations where something happens that the person would rather didn’t happen or would stop if he or she could (see the example of the eviction below). More generally, all things, happenings or results that somehow disappoint us. Psychologically, this is a card of tears, and it can often pile negative vibes on top of other psychologically taxing cards to show depression, mental breaks and similar states of mind. It shows inner turmoil and feeling hurt, discouraged, deeply sorrowful. Spiritually, it shows lessons that are hard to learn and can point to areas or problems that the querent would rather not tackle because it causes them pain (with positive cards, it points to lessons that are uncomfortable to learn).
Being an ace and being a spade card, this card can show a bad beginning. With negative cards, the Sorrow card may show something that is bad from the start, and it advises not to undertake something. When it falls with positive cards, it can point to a difficult beginning that will improve or some growing pains as we leave our comfort zone. But don’t sugarcoat it: it remains a bad card.
Important Combinations:
A♠ + 10♠ and/or 10♥R = fight, violence
A♠ + 6♦ + 4♠ = can mean depression
A♠ + 3♣ + 2♥ + K♠ (+7♠R) = eviction
K♦ + A♠ (+7♠) + 5♠ = being fired
A♥ + A♠ = conversations and meetings that cause sorrow | confrontations | verbal abuse
REVERSED A♠R
General: the card becomes slightly positive, but still with potential negative undertones that are ready to come out near negative cards. In the main, it represents slight or passing disappointments and sorrows (or sorrows that lose some of their hold on the person). It represents situations that are difficult and call for effort, but are not completely lost. You are not just there, taking them on the chin, as with the upright card. Analogically, this card represents hard work, toil, labor. This includes the type of labor that comes before a child’s birth. As a further analogy, therefore, this card stands for fertility, germination, multiplication. It is the card of cycles, of the same thing many times. Finally, the upright meaning of violence is not lost, but it is usually rarer.
A specific function of this card is that when it is preceded by negative cards and followed by positive cards, it represents the end of a sorrowful period thanks to the querent’s ability to overcome obstacles. Conversely, when it is preceded by positive cards and followed by negative cards, it is a harbinger of a sorrowful period.
Love and Relationships: a lot depends on the polarity of the other cards and what they are saying. With negative cards, especially cards of anger and violence, the difficult nature of the Ace of Spades come to the fore, and it may even show that angry or violent outbursts come one after the other (cycles). With cards showing a thriving social life, it points to numerous dates and many outings. When describing a romantic relationship, this card shows strong carnal attraction and a sense of “sexiness”, the reason being that the card is associated with physical toil and therefore the body, and also because this card reverses the notion of “displeasure” found in the upright card. It can foretell a crush.
If a couple is hitting the rocks, depending on the narrative that the cards are showing, the reversed Sorrow may show recurring difficulties or, on the contrary, putting in the effort to salvage the relationship. Because of its connection to cycles, this card can, with the appropriate cards, show the return of someone.
Work and Money: for the most part, the A♠R is a card of hard work, great energy and the need for elbow grease. It represents great effort being put into something. Depending on the other cards, it may even show holding down two jobs, moonlighting and similar situations. If the following cards show a goal being reached, the reversed Sorrow announces the need for toil and sweat.
Due to its connection with physical labor, this card is traditionally associated with agriculture, especially the harvesting period. This can be literal or figurative, as in reaping the fruits of one’s actions (this is true in all fields of life).
Thanks to its connection with germination and production, it is a good card for investments when surrounded by positive money cards. Alternatively, and again, when with positive cards, it can point to good career prospects and great productivity.
A neutral meaning of this card is that of signature, because the act of signing something makes a contract “produce” its effect: it fertilizes it. The meaning is neutral because whether signing something is wise or not will be shown by the other cards.
Other: the meaning of signature extents to all areas of life. The meaning of harvest, too, can come up in many situations, and it carries with it the general idea of advantage, benefit and profit (if with positive cards). Psychologically, with negative cards it points to tiredness and overwhelm, while with positive cards it becomes a sign of energy and a proactive mindset. It can also show that negative feelings are beginning to lose their grip on the person, and he or she is starting to have the psychological elbow room to fight back. With other negative cards, it is a harbinger of sorrow or sadness.
This card is a staple of pregnancy readings, where it can show the woman going into labor. Being a card of fertility, it can also be anaylzed to see whether the person is fertile or not, and it can also foretell the conception phase.
Artistically, the A♠R can show the ability to come up with many ideas and inputs, a period of great productivity and a fecund mind.
Spiritually, its meaning varies a lot depending on the surrounding cards: from recurring “signs” or dreams to an excessive concern with physical reality to spiritual growth thanks to one’s effort and the reaping of what one has sown. It really depends on the context.
Important Combinations:
A♠R + 10♥ + 7♦ = giving birth (in general, A♠R + 10♥ can mean success after much toil)
A♠R + 8♣ = frequent meetings (if 8♣R, frequent disagreements)
A♠R + 2♥ = it can be a return home after a separation or the need to work hard at home
A♠R + 6♣ = getting many small sums of money | harvest
A♠R + 3♣ + J♦ = many small trips, especially errands
Other Combinations: Vera Sibilla | Examples of Combinations – The Aces
* “Sorrow” is a good translation of the word “Dispiacere”, which evokes ideas of mourning and disappointment. However, due the difference in root, a possible shade of meaning is lost, as the word “dispiacere” literally means “displeasure”, and so can refer to something we don’t like or that repels us.
Vera Sibilla | Examples of Combinations – The Aces
In this article you will find some examples of combinations using the Vera Sibilla. Most or all 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)
Ace of Hearts (A♥) – Conversation (Conversazione)
A♥ + 2♥ = The querent’s own home or family | Talking at home | Talking about real estate
A♥ + 3♥ or 5♥ = An engagement or being hired for a temporary job (depending on the question and the other cards)
A♥ + cards referring to a certain topic = Talking about that topic (e.g. + 4♥ declaring your love; + 6♥ money or investment; + 7♥ a contract or some intellectual thing; + A♣ marriage or a contract or partnership; + 7♣ business or work; + K♦ can be an interview)
A♥ + 8♥ = A meeting by the water | a hoped for meeting will take place or will be successful
A♥ + 10♥ = can be a successful meeting or discussion | It can mean confidence in interpersonal relationships
A♥ + 2♦ + 3♥ = Long-distance communications (including over the internet)
A♥ + 8♣ = A reconciliation, talking things over | An appointment, meeting, date, etc.
A♥ + 9♣ = A party
A♥ + 9♣R = Meetings falling through | Be careful about too much indulgence with what you put in your mouth
A♥ + 10♣ = Chatting about nothing in particular | Careful who you meet or what you say (look around for the J♠ or Q♠)
A♥ + 4♦ = Lies or, at best, incomplete information | Being around the wrong people, either because they are wrong in themselves or because they are wrong for your purpose (barking up the wrong tree)
A♥ + 6♦ = It might be an oral examination or an aptitude test (+10♥ or positive cards, you pass) | Opening up about what’s going on in your mind
A♥ + 3♠ = Difficulty of interaction with others, Social isolation | A meeting that won’t happen
A♥ + 10♠ = Lies | An argument | Being guarded or defensive when with others
A♥ + 10♠R = More probably a secret meeting (this can also be the case if the 10 is upright, although less likely)
A♥ + K♠ = Talking with an authority | Traditionally, a trial taking place (but this is more common if the Ace or the King are reversed or if other relevant cards appear)
A♥R + A card signifying a certain topic = Change, revolution or renovation in that topic
A♥R + Cards of argument or disagreement = Reinforces the idea of disagreement
Ace of Clubs (A♣) – Marriage (Imeneo)
A♣ + 2♥ = The couple’s life (or a firm’s/company’s life, in a career reading). This is a very important combination, when it comes up. Look at the cards surrounding this combination or falling between them to see what’s going on
A♣ + 4♥ or 9♥ = A marriage of love
5♥ + A♣* = It may mean an engagement to be married very soon
A♣ + 7♣ = A business contract | Marriage to a rich person
A♣ + 2♦ + Happy cards = an invitation to someone’s marriage
A♣ + K♦ or 8♦ = A job contract (if it’s the 8, it’s more usually employed work)
A♣ + 9♦ = Litigiousness between partners of any kind | Don’t sign anything
A♣ + 10♦ = Someone is trying to snatch your partner away | if you are planning a wedding, it will not take place (not necessarily because of cheating, look around), or if positive cards follow, things will happen that will make plans change in some respect
A♣ + 3♠ = Abandoning a partner (this is a very traditional combination)
A♣ + 7♠ + K♠U/R = Divorce
A♣ + 8♠ = A critical moment in the marriage (if the Ace is reversed, it’s beyond saving)
A♣ + K♠R = Also divorce, but depending on the context it might mean other things, for instance the government or public authority causing problems to a partnership
A♣ + Person card = It may imply that the person is married
A♣R + Person card = It may imply that the person is divorced or separated
A♣R + 2♥R = A couple’s daily life is perceived by the person as stifling and they would like to get away from it | A firm/company unravelling
A♣R + 6♥ = Riches
A♣R + 7♣ = Real estate
A♣R + 10♥ = One’s assets (+2♣ + 3♦, you probably have money to burn)
A♣R + 8♦ (+2♣)= A noble person, an aristocrat
A♣R + A♦ = Sex (+ A♥ oral; + 5♥ (+7♦) with much foreplay; +9♠ can be anal; +10♣ casual or without protection; + 8♦R and/or J♣R sleazy or very kinky, someone who likes debasement or being dominated (K♣ or Q♦ would be the master/mistress), with 7♣R shaming plays a role, with 7♠R it borders on abuse or a very extreme slavery kink; +9♦ + 4♥R (+ reversed people cards) group sex; +5♥R and other negative cards it might be incestuous; +Q♥R or J♣R + 6♥U/R or 8♦R, with a hooker; +9♣R drugs are being used in the context; +4♥R and/or 7♥R, sexual depravity is implied; +4♥R +3♥R + 4♠ careful about STDs, if also 5♠, it might be AIDS (you may find A♠ or J♦R instead of 3♥R, showing the “communication” of something bad); +A♠ or 10♠, violence might be part of the thing, but 10♠ can also be a uniform kink (e.g. + J♣); + Q♣R traditionally the loss of virginity)
A♣R + 4♥R + 3♥R = A traditional combination of sexual abuse
A♣R + 7♦ = Conception of a child
A♣R + 7♥R or 2♠R + 9♠ = Difficulties getting off, impotence or frigidity
Ace of Diamonds (A♦) – Room (Stanza)
A♦ + A♥ = a private talk
A♦ + A♠ = the news received confidentially is bad
A♦ + 2♥ = One’s home
A♦ + 4♥ = A private meeting between lovers
A♦ + 6♥ and/or 6♣ and/or 7♣ = material prosperity
A♦ + K♦ = may be an office or a shop | confidential information concerning the job
A♦ + 7♥ = a professional’s office | a den or office
A♦ + 9♥ = sexual encounter (the Nine implies giving oneself completely to the other, so it’s probably not a random encounter)
A♦ + 10♣ = careful whom you trust with your secrets
A♦ + 4♦ = what you tell/are being told is false | the pantry
A♦ + 4♠ = spending time in bed due to illness | in love, it can mean the intimate sphere is “sick”
A♦ + 7♠ = can be a domestic accident (look around for the 10♣ showing carelessness) | what you’ll be told will anger you | the electrical system or the stove, depending on the other cards
A♦U/R + 7♠R = Wringing a confession out of someone
A♦ + 9♠ = a traditional combination meaning intimacy. It’s not negative
A♦ + 10♠R = A private meeting of a secret nature
A♦U/R + 7♠ + A♠ and/or 10♠ + 5♠ = the confession of a homicide
2♥ + A♦ = The querent’s bedroom
A♦ + 3♥ = a museum or cinema or place where you look at things | the balcony | the point of view
A♦ + 3♥ + 10♠R + 4♥R = A peep show
A♦ + 2♦ = private writings | a desk
A♦ + 5♥ = the garden, a park, if it makes sense in the context
A♦ + 6♥ = can be a literal safe or vault
A♦ + A♥ = can be a living room or dining room (8♣ might also show the living room)
A♦ + 9♣ = more probably a dining room
A♦ + 3♣ = can be a garage, a hotel room or moving into an apartment (especially if 2♥ follows the 3)
A♦ + 3♠ = the cellar (+8♥R, the plumbing, a sewer)
A♦ + 10♣ = the attic, the roof
A♦ + 8♦ = the kitchen
A♦ + 5♠ = a mortuary
A♦ + 7♠ = a place in ruin
A♦ + 8♠ = a place of bad memories, a place of desperation and low energies
A♦ + K♠ = the seat of an authority | a confessional
(Note: there are many other combinations showing places, with a little practice you’ll be able to detect them easily. Also, depending on the context you will need a different interpretation for these combinations. Be flexible)
A♦R + 9♠ = problems of intimacy
A♦R + K♣R = an unpleasant diagnosis
A♦R + 4♥R = a coming out | the discovery of a sexual secret
A♦R + 10♣ = being busted due to carelessness
A♦R + 4♦ = the shocking secret is false
A♦R + 10♣R + J♠ or Q♠ + 2♦ = unpleasant secrets spread over the internet by trolls, fake news
A♦R + 7♦ = a traditional combination showing the recognition of an illegitimate child
A♦R + K♠ = Another traditional combination, showing the possibility of legal action
Ace of Spades (A♠) – Sorrow (Dispiacere)
A♠ + 4♠ = a mental breakdown
K♦ + A♠ + 5♠ = loss of employment
A♠ + 2♦ = bad news via letter or telephone
A♠ + 10♠ = can represent violence (but look around for other cards confirming it)
A♠ + 6♦ = depressing thoughts | psychological violence
8♥ + A♠ = a hope or wish that will not be realized
A♠ + 7♠ + 9♦ = can be a brawl
A♠ + 4♠ + K♣U/R = a traditional combination showing that the person will develop a physical defect due to an illness (+7♠, after a surgery)
7♠ + A♠ = the traumatizing disruption of a situation | with other cards showing violence, the 7♠ becomes a card of wrath)
2♦ + A♠ + J♣R + 10♠ + 7♠ + 5♠ = receiving news that a son has died in war
J♠ or Q♠ + A♠ + 7♠ + 5♠ (+10♠) = a murderer
A♠R + A♥ or 8♣ or 9♣ = many outings, a good social life
A♠R + 10♥ = success after much toil
A♠R + 10♥ + 7♦ = birth of a child (I once drew 2♦ + A♠R + 10♥ as a daily spread and on the same day we received a postcard telling us of the birth of a distant cousin’s daughter)
A♠R + A♣ and/or 2♦ and/or 7♥ = the signing of a document
A♠R + 2♦ + 4♦ = forgery of signature | signing something you’d be better off not signing
A♠R + 3♣ = many occasions to travel
A♠R + 8♦ or 6♣ = many occasions to receive money
A♠R + 8♦R = many expenses | paying something in installments (+10♥, you finally pay off something)
2♥ + A♠R + 10♥ = extension of a mortgage, remortgaging
6♥ + A♠R + 10♥ = extension of loan
8♦ + A♠R + K♦ = Holding down two jobs
K♦ + 2♠ + A♠R + 7♥ or A♣ = renewal of a job contract (the 2♠ is the job reaching its natural conclusion)
10♣R + A♠R = many occasions to win money or a lucky streak in general
9♠ + A♠R = labor (the one before birth), if 10♣ or 6♣ before the 9♠, it will come sooner than expected
Bad cards + A♠R + Good cards = end of a sorrowful period
Vera Sibilla and Numerology – The Aces
The four aces, like the aces in many cartomancy systems, deal with the idea of newness. This can mean news or simply something new. However, in the Vera Sibilla they also add a further layer: they show people coming together in a unity of some kind. This can overlap with the meaning of news. In a way, it is as if the Sibilla was asking: “Oh wise reader, if you were to reduce the meaning of each of the suits to a single spark or seed idea, what would that be?” In this sense, the newness is how the suit first manifests, how it comes into being. And the way it comes into being is by containing the interaction between people, or between inside and outside, in a single unity.
The Ace of Hearts, Conversation, is a good example of this overlapping of newness, news and relationship between people. This is the card of words and interpersonal relationships. The type of unity between people that this card shows is one of peace: word is an alternative to violence, and it allows us to find compromises, hence the further meaning of negotiation. Additionally, it represents people coming together in a further sense, as it is the card of people living under the querent’s same roof.
Note how, in a more metaphorical sense, the Ace of Hearts represents the idea of opening up to other people, or simply to a new situation, in that talking means connecting with the outside world in a peaceful, positive way. It describes a type of work where you need to stay in contact with people, and also the ability to communicate, to mediate, to make people understand where you are coming from.
The Ace of Spades, Sorrow, is in more than one sense the opposite of the Conversation card. It represents, first and foremost, sad tidings, the precise nature of which is shown by the cards nearby. Something from the outside comes to the I, and the I is saddened by it. From this comes a whole set of meanings assigned to the Ace of Spades, from grief to tears etc.
The difficulty that this card shows in interpersonal relationships is typified by one of its other meanings: violence. This is one of the cards that can show people coming together not, as in the previous card, with good intentions, or with the idea of finding a compromise, but holding a big club behind their back.
In between the two extremes, we have other types of news and unity. With the Ace of Clubs, Marriage or “Hymenaios”, the coming together is a legal one: it shows two or more people joined in a venture that requires a signature. From marriage to contracts, partnerships, this is a card of prosperity, and unless other cards modify it for the worse, it promises good. It shows something that is legally valid and legally binding because it has been intersubjectively been agreed upon.
From this we have further secondary meaning of this card. The Ace of Clubs represents everything that materializes, and becomes concrete, that is not just a vague abstraction, but is grounded in the outside world. In this sense, it shows how the inner and outer sides of reality are joined together.
Finally, the Ace of Diamonds, the Room, shows yet a different type of news and a different type of coming together. It is the card of intimacy and of the querent’s privacy and private sphere. While it is certainly a good card for material affairs, its most important meaning is that of confidential news and of intimate relationships.
As card of privacy, it represents something close to the querent, something that remains within their sphere of influence, and it shows property. From this a whole host of meanings related to intimacy, hanky panky (especially with the Ace of Clubs, and especially if it is reversed) and so on. Note how the Room card and the Marriage card complement each other: the Ace of Clubs shows a “masculine” type of energy which is projected outwardly, from subjectivity into intersubjectivity, while the Ace of Diamonds, with its symbology of Room, shows retreat and welcoming inside.
To sum up, the Ace of Hearts shows words and new situations of a peaceful kind (unless other cards show otherwise) and peaceful unity among people; the Ace of Clubs shows contractual unity and, if other cards concur, a beginning of prosperity; the Ace of Diamonds is the card of news coming from a confidential source and intimate unity among people; the Ace of Spades is the card of bad news, sorrow and violence, i.e. people joined by their hands pulling the other person’s hair.
