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Card Combinations, Card Meanings, Cartomancy, Divination, Divination Master Post, Everyday Oracle, Fortune-telling, Sibilla della Zingara, Vera Sibilla

Vera Sibilla | Split Combinations

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To sum up what we’ve seen so far in terms of card interactions: 1) cards behaving neutrally are influenced positively or negatively by the cards following them 2) cards with the same polarity tend to strengthen each other for good or ill 3) cards of a similar polarity tend not to rely on their placement to create meanings 4) but when cards have the opposite polarity, the one falling last tends to influence the previous one more than vice versa 5) similarly, if cards have opposite meanings the one falling last tends to influence the previous one more and indicate the direction of the reading 6) and, generally, black cards tend to be stronger than red cards, which tend to be influenced more than they influence. These rules of thumb can and often do conflict with one another, which is where the art of reading comes in.

Another phenomenon that it is well to keep in mind is the one which might be termed that of split combinations. This phenomenon happens when two or more cards forming a unit of meaning are split up to include a third card. This is especially common with cards bearing the same suit or the same number or having similar meanings. It can also happen in more elaborate combinations where all or most cards point to a single concept.

The 3♠ and 3♣ have the notion of movement in common: the Journey card is movement and the Widower is a removal. Together they form a combination that signifies a journey away from someone or something. It is very common for a card to fall between then, such as a face card. But the cards must still be read together as a unit, and the card falling between them is the thing or person the querent gets away from (K♥ their husband, 2♥ their house, K♦ their job, 10♥ their town) in other words, you do not read the combination 3♠ + 2♥ + 3♣ as: there will be loss, then the querent will move into a home. You read them as: the querent will abandon their house (or another place).

The 9♠ and 9♦ form a combination signifying a vicious cycle or an addiction (the same is true substituting either one with the 9♣R). If the 10♣R falls between them, you do not read: there is a blockage, then an opportunity which however will be squandered. You read the combination as: the querent has a problem with slot machines (the 10♣R is associated with gambling).

The 5♠ and the 7♠ often fall together to signify a definite and rather traumatic ending. If the 4♥ falls between them, you do not read the cards as: the querent will go through a sharp change, then he will find love but it won’t last. You read it as: the querent will break up with someone.

Of course, we are only taking three cards into account, which is very limiting. When you find yourself with five or ten or more cards in front of you, deciding what kinds of geometry the cards are following can become more a matter of judgement. All I can say is that you need to develop an eye for what the cards are saying.

Suppose we have the following combination: 5♠ + 5♥ + 7♥ + 2♦. The placement of the cards is relatively indifferent. Four times out of five, this combination will signal the reading of a will. If the 2♠ falls  in the middle, you do not let the card interfere with the combination and break it up. You incorporate the card into the combination, applying the combination’s meaning to the card: the reading of an old lady’s will.

Another example. Suppose we have the following combination: 4♦ + 8♠ + 10♦. This combination signals, generally speaking, a swindle. If the 6♥ falls somewhere inside the combination, you do not read that there will be a swindle, then money will be gained and then lost. You read it simply as:a swindle concerning money.

Cartomancy, Divination, Divination Master Post, Everyday Oracle, Fortune-telling, Vera Sibilla

Vera Sibilla | Basics of Card Interpretation

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I start now a series of posts on card interactions in the Vera Sibilla. I should point out that this is a very hard topic to cover from a theoretical standpoint and that it’s best to discover it by practice. Still, some guidelines may be given. We are going to start simple by looking at some interactions between two cards.

The cards of the Vera Sibilla are generally read in more or less linear spreads. While you are at liberty to make up positional spreads for it, it is far more interesting to see them interact, especially because you don’t spend a great deal of time rambling on about a card. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t situations in which more than one meaning applies (in fact, it happens quite often) but you do not try to come up with artful and soulful interpretations that take you away from the querent’s concrete life.
As a general rule, neutral cards are influenced for better or worse by positive and negative cards. Note that a card can have both positive and neutral, or both negative and neutral, nuances. What we are interested in is not the theoretical polarity of the card, but how it behaves concretely. So, for instance, the A♥, the Conversation, is a slightly positive card when it comes to personal relationships, but when it represents an interview or date it is neutral. Similarly, the 7♠, the Disaster, is mostly negative, but when it represents something happening quickly, soon and all of a sudden it is neutral.

The second general notion is that cards taking on a similar polarity tend to be indifferent as to their placement in the spread, because they strengthen each other. For instance, 7♠ + 5♠ is mostly the same as 5♠ + 7♠: a disruptive and rather traumatic ending. Conversely, 4♥ + A♥ is often the same as A♥ + 4♥, showing lovers’ sweet talk or a date.

The third general notion you should become familiar with is that when two cards have starkly different polarities (in the context) the card that falls last between the two tends to influence the previous one more than the other way around.
So, for instance, A♥ + 7♠ is usually a disagreement, i.e., a conversation with anger and disruption in it.
If we swap the cards, 7♠ + A♥, it can mean that all of a sudden there will be a meeting or someone will speak to you. It can also mean (depending on the context of the question and the other cards) that a disruption or argument is followed by a clarifying talk.

This second possibility is rarer, because of a fourth general consideration: red cards tend to be influenced more by black cards than the other way around. Therefore, in the previous example of 7♠ + A♥, if the 7♠ assumed its negative meaning of disruption and anger, the A♥ would usually not be powerful enough to resolve the issue, unless supported by other cards. On the other hand, if it were 7♠ + 8♣, then the breakup would be followed by a reconciliation.

A fifth basic consideration is that when cards take on opposite meanings, the cards falling last tends to influence those before. So, for instance, 2♠ is what is old or getting old, and 7♦ is what is young or still growing. They are neutral cards in themselves, but the 2♠ is black so that it is not greatly influenced. What matters is the meaning. If we had 2♠ + 7♦, the end of a phase would be followed by the beginning of a new cycle. If we had 7♦ + 2♠, a new cycle would soon die off.

On the other hand, if we had 4♦ and 9♥, the situation would be different. The cards are opposite not just in meaning (truthfulness vs falseness) but also in polarity (negative vs positive) but they are both red. So even if the 9♥ fell last, it would not overcome the 4♦, and we would still have an idea of lack of sincerity at least.

All these considerations are preliminary and somewhat abstract, as they are based on only two cards (usually you’ll have at least three), but they will hold you in good stead. Also, the more you practice, the more you’ll see that they are not really rules so much as a general description of how the cards tend to concretely interact with each other. You will see, also, that you have plenty of latitude for interpretation.

Card Meanings, Cartomancy, Divination, Divination Master Post, Everyday Oracle, Fortune-telling, Playing Cards, Sibilla della Zingara, Vera Sibilla

Vera Sibilla | Nine of Spades – Prison (Prigione)

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Name: Prison
Italian Name: Prigione
Playing Card: 9♠
Polarity when Upright: Negative
Core Meanings: Blockage, Bondage, Imprisonment, Lack of freedom | Legal trouble | Pregnancy | Unpleasant environment
Polarity when Reversed: Neutral
Reversed Core Meanings: Liberation | Removal of obstacles | Expiation, Regret, Regretting something in general, Guilt

Card Description: in a dark dungeon, a man with his hands bound by a heavy chain reflects on his condition.

Suit and Number: all the nines in the Vera Sibilla signify bonds. The Nine of Spades is the card of heavy bonds, signifying all those situations that enslave us.

UPRIGHT 9♠

General: mostly a negative card of blockage, negative bonds and long delays. It has the peculiar secondary meaning of pregnancy. Sometimes when the cards falls at the beginning of a sequence, it shows that the querent is being forced into a situation, while when it falls last it shows that the querent feels chained to a situation.

Love and Relationships: relationships tend to be suffocating and limiting for the querent. The Prison card can signify being a slave to the partner, being forced to submit (or forcing them) but with positive cards it can show a very close, almost symbiotic relationship. When describing a relationship it describes it as a heavy bond, something that the querent would like to shake off. It heralds the loss of friends and loneliness. Often it can mean long periods spent without company, usually not willingly.

Work and Money: it is a card of unemployment, but it can also show being bound to a job you don’t like, whatever the reason might be (for instance, you can’t afford to leave). With negative cards it can bring poverty and debts, and it often comes up when the querent signs contracts and then regrets it.

Other: the card can show legal trouble. Psychologically and spiritually the card shows lack of evolution and the inability to let go of ideas. It also points to dejection. Needless to say it’s a card of addiction and black magic, in the appropriate context. It also represents places where the querent would rather not be

Important Combinations:
9♠ + 7♦ = the classical combination for pregnancy (the 8♥ might be present as confirmation)
A♥ or 8♣ + 9♠ = can be social isolation
7♣ + 9♠ = lack of recognition
9♠ + 5♣ or 2♣ = liberation
10♦ + 9♠ + 7♠R = can mean a kidnapping

REVERSED 9♠R

General: a neutral card whose meaning varies greatly depending on the surrounding cards. It mainly signifies liberation from bondage, but if with negative cards it shows, once again, loss of freedom. When this card is preceded by negative cards and followed by positive ones, it is a definite sign of liberation.

Love and Relationships: it can herald freedom from an unwanted relationship, maybe an abusive one. If with negative cards, though, it has the same meaning as the upright counterpart, and it can show mental obstacles to leaving. Often it signifies time spent alone willingly. It can also mean giving in to the temptation of doing something “wrong” like cheating, with the appropriate cards, as it can imply lack of restraint.

Work and Money: again, very similar to the upright card. When it is followed by positive cards, it shows the overturning of limiting conditions. With cards that point to swindles, it cautions the querent to be careful of what he signs or what businees he gets into.

Other: psychologically it shows someone who has no bonds, one who is a loner, a strange character, possibly on the spectrum. The card can signify regret for what you do, either because it was bad and you have come to your senses or because now you are stuck with the results of acting without restraint.

Important Combinations:
Q♣ + 10♣ + A♣ + 9♠R = marrying young, regretting it
9♠R + J♠ = a person who will try to rob you of your freedom (e.g. a scammer)
A♥R + 9♠R + 3♠ = a social outcast
9♠R + positive cards = liberation
9♠R + negative cards = enslavement

Other combinations: Vera Sibilla | Examples of Combinations – The Nines