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Video: The Vera Sibilla Twos
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Vera Sibilla | Two of Diamonds – The Letter (Lettera)
Name: Letter
Italian Name: Lettera
Playing Card: 2♦
Polarity when Upright: Neutral
Core Meanings: Letter, Message, Telephone Call | News, Information, Books, Diplomas, Reading, Studying | Documents | All things papery and/or written
Polarity when Reversed: —
Reversed Core Meanings: —
Card Description: a hand in the act of delivering a letter.
Suit and Number: All twos are concerned with addition, increase,strengthening, elaboration. Diamonds, in the Sibilla, are concerned with the mind, information, daily situations, inputs. What we get is the Letter, which gives new inputs and adds developments to daily life in the form of news and messages, strengthens the mind with studying and books, etc. The concept of ‘written things’ must be understood broadly, as writing something is associated with reasoning it out, this card has to do with elaborating projects near the appropriate cards or in the appropriate context.
UPRIGHT 2♦
General: A generally easy, neutral card. It is mainly the card of news, messages and calls. It is connected with documents, books, study and is a very swift card, usually. There isn’t much to say about this card.
Love and Relationships: The Two of Diamonds does not speak of feelings. However it often shows up in love readings to predict messages and developments in the form of the arrival of communications from another person. When two people have broken up, it gives hope of receiving news from the other, but whether the message is good or bad will be shown by the other cards. It is connected to the idea of tending to one’s relationships, keeping up with people. In general, though, it predicts the specific arrival of messages.
Work and Money: Financially, the card is connected to banknotes and to checks, but more in general it shows the arrival of communications about money. Similarly, in career readings the Letter can herald communications in that field. It can also signify documents and papers. Professions connected with this card are bookkeeping, postman, librarian, journalist/news anchor, writer, in general office jobs, jobs connected with paper and documents, job connected with communication.
Other: the card signifies all objects made of paper. It is a speedy card. Psychologically it has a very vague connection with anxiety and nervousness, but this is such a subtle thing you can safely ignore it 99% of the times. Because it signifies written things, this card implies a certain elaboration of one’s ideas, unless other cards show otherwise. Spiritually it concerns messages from the divine plane and scriptures and grimoires. Artistically it is connected to writing and intellectual pursuits in general. The card is also important for students, as it can signify a number of things, from a test to the books they need to read, to the diploma or degree they need to earn, to school reports, etc.
Important Combinations:
2♦ + J♦ = important news | correspondence
2♦ + 6♦ = elaboration of plans | studying
2♦ + 3♠R (+5♠) = a telegram concerning someone’s death
2♦ + 10♦ = loss of document or letter (or it being stolen)
2♦ + K♣ = diagnosis, prescription | can also be a degree (not necessarily in medicine)
REVERSED 2♦R
General: traditionally, the Letter does not have a reversed meaning. Whether it comes up upright or reversed is a matter of indifference. However, it does tend to show up reversed when the other cards qualify it negatively, such as when it represents a negative diagnosis, a fine, a summons, etc. or if a letter or document is lost. But even if it came up upright, it wouldn’t change the negative connotation that the surrounding cards would give it, nor is there anything to worry if the spread is positive and the Letter is reversed.
Other Combinations: Vera Sibilla | Examples of Combinations – The Twos
Vera Sibilla | Examples of Combinations – The Twos
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)
Two of Hearts (2♥) – House (Casa)
2♥ + 4♥ = the consolidation of love, moving in together | a house where the querent feels loved or love for the family
2♥ + 4♥R = A house where the querent doesn’t feel loved
2♥ + 5♥ = the house of relatives | an engagement at home
2♥ + 6♥ = A rich house or household | A bank | Can be a house from the past, maybe the one the querent grew up in
2♥ + 7♥ = a real estate contract | a male family member | Depending on the surrounding cards it can be a school (e.g. +6♦) a library (e.g. +2♦) or another type of building coherent with the 7♥‘s meaning
2♥ + 3♣* = moving into a house
3♣ + 2♥* = moving out of your house
2♥ + 4♣ = the house of a friend | a house where solidarity among people is important
2♥ + 6♣ = a traditional combination showing a happy event at home or in the family
2♥ + 7♣ = can be owning real estate, a property you derive money from
2♥ + 8♣ + 9♣ = A family reunion or a party at home
2♥ + 9♣ = may be a restaurant or place where people have fun, like a night club (look at the other cards, for instance the 10♠R is the night, so it would reinforce the idea of night club, if 8♦ it’s more likely a restaurant)
2♥ + K♣ = A clinic
2♥ + 2♦ or J♦ = arrival of news at home | can be a post office
2♥ + 6♦ = depending on the other cards, it can be a real estate speculation, plans concerning the house (e.g. + A♥R, to renovate) or a school or other type of building
2♥ + 10♦ = enmity in the family | someone is jeopardizing the family’s or couple’s unity | a break-in (only with cards such as 7♠, 9♦, J♠, Q♠. It would be more common for the House to come up reversed. If 10♠U/R and/or A♠, risk of violence, if also with 5♠, well…; with cards like 6♥R and/or 2♠R, money or valuables are stolen, with 3♦, objects)
2♥ + 10♦R = a house or place the querent would rather not be, look around for why (e.g. + K♥R +9♣R, the father or husband is a debauched prick)
2♥ + K♦ = the workplace | working from home
2♥ + 2♠ = can be granny’s house | an old house | if followed by negative cards, it can show the couple’s stability is declining
2♥ + 3♠ = not being at home | home alone or feeling alone at home even if you aren’t
2♥ + 4♠ = a hospital | sickness at home or, figuratively, a “sick” family life
2♥ + 10♠ = can be a difficult family environment | a gym | the police’s headquarters
2♥ + K♠ = the seat of an authority | a courthouse | it could represent a family where not much affection is shown, but in itself it’s not overly negative, unless there are other bad cards
2♥R + 4♥R = a brothel (look for the 7♥R for confirmation) | a house where depravity rules
2♥R + 5♥R = betrayal in the family | very unstable family relationships
3♣ + 2♥R + 3♠* = running away from a house you hate (+10♠R, running away in secret, if 4♣ or 9♥ before the 3♣, maybe you crash at friend’s house)
2♥R + 4♠ = more clearly a hospital than if the House is upright, as here hospitalization is implied (+K♣ or K♠ and 7♠, surgery takes place)
2♣R + 2♥R + 3♠R + 9♠ = the house or family has been hexed
6♦R + 2♥R + 9♦ + 5♠ = the house is haunted (especially if with 10♦R) | can also be a house where someone’s evil plans create great imbalance and fractures)
2♥R + 9♦ + 7♠ = traditionally it would show the house being destroyed by a natural disaster or fire, but there’s plenty of other possible interpretations before you get to this one, which only makes sense if a specific question is asked or if other negative cards are present
2♥R + 9♠ = prison (4♠R or 10♦R might be present)
10♠ or K♠ + 2♥U/R + 4♠R = could be house arrest
2♥R + K♠ = more clearly a courthouse than if the House is upright
Two of Clubs (2♣) – The Peacock (Superbia)
A♥ + 2♣ = a conversation that solves a problem, solemn words, an oath, beautiful words
2♣ + 2♥ = a beautiful house (+3♦, a majestic palace or mansion) | if renovations are shown, this combination could also show expanding the house, as the 2♣ is a card of completeness and totality
2♣ + 7♥ + 6♦ = a genius
2♣ + 8♥ = realization beyond one’s hopes | in a specific question, or if specific cards appear, a strong faith (2♣ would be the God power here)
2♣ + 10♥ = a beautiful city or a tourist hotspot within the city | generally, success
2♣ + 5♣ = traditionally the combination of great fortune
2♣ + 3♦ = a beautiful object | opulence | an offer you’d be an idiot to turn down
2♣ + 4♦ = a white lie or a lie that will have no consequence
2♣ + 4♦ + 7♠ = can be cosmetic surgery
2♣ + 4♦R = another combination of good luck
2♣ + 6♦ = a great idea
2♣ + 6♦R = psychic abilities | It could mean that you will be protected from an evil plan
2♣ + 8♦ = nobility (look for the 3♦ to be certain)
2♣ + 5♠ = a sharp positive turn in the querent’s life (it might be painful though)
2♣ + 7♠ = an accident with no consequences (if too many negative cards are present, then with no major consequences. The peacock will snatch you from the jaws of death by your hair in that case) | can be a sudden, positive event
2♣ + 9♠ = the overcoming of obstacles, being freed of a bond or limitation of some kind (same with other cards of blockage like 4♠R or 10♦R)
2♣ + 10♠ = it can show great resilience
2♣ + 10♠R = the occult in a neutral sense
2♣R + 6♣R = pride before the fall, overconfidence causing a miscalculation (10♣ might be present, showing carelessness)
2♣R + 4♦ = a strong distortion in your perception of reality
4♥ + 7♠ + 2♣R + 8♣R = lack of reconciliation due to pride or having been hurt in your ego
2♣R + 3♠R = a black magic ritual (look for other clues, don’t go around diagnosing curses for a couple of bad cards)
2♣R + 8♠R = it intensifies the ideas of egocentrism and haughtiness | in a specific context, it can show a psychic attack
2♣R + 10♠R = the occult in a negative sense
Two of Diamonds (2♦) – Letter (Lettera)
2♦ + A♥ = Invitation to a meeting | Can be a chat (look for 3♥ for confirmation)
2♦ + 5♥ = Invititation to an engagement party
2♦ + 6♥ = a check or financial papers
2♦ + A♣ = Invitation to a wedding
2♦ + 9♣ = Invitation to a party
2♦ + 10♣ = can be a misplaced document or a document it would be careless to sign, maybe one that’s been put together in a haste, for instance
2♦ + 4♦ = false or incomplete documents | don’t sign!
2♦ + 6♦ = a school test or a report card | elaborating a plan
2♦ + 7♦ = A birth certificate | Announcement of a birth
2♦ + 10♦ = a document lost or stolen
2♦ + J♦ = Important communication, can be a telegram (if the Jack is reversed, it’s negative)
2♦ + 3♠ = a communication that doesn’t arrive or is lost
2♦ + 3♠R = communication of someone’s passing (look for the 5♠ to be sure; if with 8♣ and/or K♠, invitation to a funeral)
2♦ + 4♠ = a diagnosis (if K♣, it can also be a prescription)
2♦ + 9♠ = a pregnancy test (look for 7♦ to be sure)
2♦ + 10♠ = traditionally, a draft card | A fine or ticket (look for 8♦R to be sure)
2♦ + 10♠R = anonymous calls (look for J♠ or Q♠ to be sure, in which case someone is truly your enemy; if 9♣ and/or 10♣, it’s just a prank, but if 9♣R, a prank that goes too far)
2♦ + K♠ = A communication from an authority, in general
2♦ + K♠R = a fine | a summons | a negative communication from an authority, in general
[Note: in all these combinations, the 2♦ may appear reversed and it wouldn’t change its meaning]
Two of Spades (2♠) – The Crone (Vecchia Signora)
2♠ + 2♥ = an old house
2♥ + 2♠ + 4♠R = a retirement home, Shady Pines, Ma | also with 8♥, can be a convent or other similar place
2♠ + 4♥ = an old love or an old woman in love
4♥ + 2♠* = feelings cooling off, declining
2♠ + 5♥ = an old relative, usually an aunt or something
2♠ + 9♥ = can be a distant relative
2♠ + Q♥ = can be an ex (if Q♥R, she hasn’t been nice to the querent)
2♠ + 3♣ or 8♦ or J♦ = traditionally, a visit
7♣ + 2♠ = a decline in one’s social or economic position
2♠ + 3♦ = an heirloom
2♠ + 7♦ = granny and her grandchild
2♠ + 3♠ = granny and grandpa
K♦ + 2♠ + 5♠ = retirement
2♠ + 6♠ = traditionally, a long life
2♠ + Q♠ = a mother in law | a negative old woman
2♠R + A♥U/R or 8♣U/R = inability to get along
2♠R + 4♥ = a sharp cooling off of feelings | fights in the relationship
2♠R + 5♥U/R = a mean old relative
2♠R + 6♥ = it can mean the inability to accept the past | A sharp decline in one’s financial status | If 6♥R, it can also means avarice, hoarding, possessiveness, not letting go
2♠R + A♣ = it can herald separation
2♠R + 6♦ = outdated thinking, strategy, etc. | conservatism (in a negative sense. If 2♠, in a more neutral and less extreme sense)
Reading – Will the University Go Bust?
Here’s a reading from some time ago, which I recreated using my new Sibilla Originale 1850. The querent’s problem was: Will the university I work for go bust?
The first line is pretty interesting, as we get a chance to see the power of the Peacock card in action. The Two of Clubs is the best card in the deck, capable of lessening the blow of any negative card. And boy do we need it, as right before it we have the worst card in the deck, the Seven of Spades Reversed. Aside from being the card of tyranny and overbearing power, the reverse Seven of Spades talks about ruination and utter and final capitulation.
Why is the university going toward ruination? We have the Ace of Clubs, Marriage, and the Ten of Clubs, Levity. The Ten of Clubs is the card of “just a little”, while the Marriage card is about contracts and legal agreements. So, the university is at risk of going bust because there’s not enough students signing up, but the worst will be avoided thanks to the Two of Clubs, which can be visualized as a sort of divine hand grabbing the debris falling from a collapsing building and putting them back in place before they manage to fall on someone’s head.
The second line tells us something a bit more specific about what is going to save the university from the worst. The Seven of Diamonds, the Child, is about new things, and the Jack of Clubs, the Servant, is, among other things, the card of students, an interpretation which is confirmed by the Two of Diamonds, the Letter, which is one of the cards of studying and books, and when near the Servant it can identify a student. Here we are not talking about a specific student, but about students in general. There will be new (Child) students. At least enough to keep the whole thing going.
In this instance, we may also see the Child as falling between the Ace of Clubs, Marriage, and the Two of Hearts, House. Ace of Clubs + Two of Hearts is the card combo that, in job-related issues, represents a firm or a business. Here we are talking about a university, but the meaning still applies: universities don’t pay their employees in wisdom. They, too, need to make money, just like a business.
The presence of the Child inside this combination of business tells us that the university is preparing something new, perhaps new courses or maybe some new marketing ploy. The querent confirmed that they are looking to concoct some new study course that will make the university he works for more alluring.
The final three cards tell us that, although the university will manage to stay alive, it probably won’t be thriving, at least not in the next period. We need to understand “the next period” in the context of the question: we all know how public institutions tend to suck as much money as they can for as many years as they can without profit before actually being left to their fate, so in the context of a public institution, which this university is, the next period means the next few years, or at least that’s what I think.
The Two of Hearts, the House, shows the place itself, while the Nine of Diamonds, The Fools, and the reversed Three of Hearts, the Balcony, tell us something that seems to contradict the presence of the Peacock in the first line. It would be easy to interpret this combination as one pertaining to violent groups, but this wouldn’t mean anything in the context.
Aside from its usual connotations, the Nine of Diamonds talks about things proceeding irregularly, or without really looking where they are going, while the Three of Hearts is connected with sight, whether literal or figurative. Reversed, it becomes a lack of insight, so whatever it is that the university is coming up with is not going to be that good of a product for potential students to buy into.
Finally, let us look at the angles of the pyramid: Marriage, Peacock and Balcony Reversed. The business (Marriage) will stay open for the foreseeable future (Peacock), but this will not necessarily be a good thing, as the Balcony Reversed is also the card that points to a lack of positive developments.
Vera Sibilla and Numerology – The Twos
We’ve seen how the Aces in the Vera Sibilla already contain the idea of duality, albeit only in principle. The Twos, on the other hand, take the impulse that comes from the Ace and elaborate on it. They start from the point, as it were, and draw a line by extending that point. The Twos are connected with ideas of extension, consolidation, strengthening and elaboration.
As usual, the suits of Hearts and Spades represent opposite polarities. The Two of Hearts, the House, is a card of solidity. Aside from representing the querent’s house or any type of building, it shows the consolidation of a love situation. It can signify an established couple (not necessarily living together), and the cards nearby are going to tell us how strong their relationship is and what affects it.
In general, it represents the consolidation, usually in a positive sense, of a situation. In other words, it shows a situation that is built on good foundations. As an analogy, it shows the foundations or roots of a problem: the cards around it will tell us why something is the way it is, its origin.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Two of Spades, the Old Lady, is the card that represents losing strength. It shows a process of decline. This card encompasses all those situations that are approaching their natural end, just as the old crone is now too weak to be standing up all day and would rather have you come visit her while she’s comfortably sitting in her chair (indeed, this card can also represent a visit or very short journey, as connected with the idea of little mobility).
Because the suit of Spades is a generally negative one, the idea of strengthening is reversed into one of weakening, and that of elaboration becomes the not on of reaching a final conclusion. It can be any conclusion: from the natural end of the year to the natural end of a contract or job, etc. In a love reading, aside from being the ex (your old woman) it can represent a relationship that has lost impetus.
Between Hearts and Spades we have Clubs and Diamonds. The Two of Clubs, Haughtiness or the Peacock, is famously the traditional lucky charm or “amulet” card. It’s the best in the whole deck (much better than the Five of Clubs, Fortune). Through the image of the peacock’s feathers arranged in a complete “wheel”, the card suggests the idea of completion, of liberation from all limitations and bonds, of amplification of all that’s good and diminishing of all that’s bad.
We might also connect the traditional meaning of beauty that this card has with its other meaning of completion, as traditionally beauty was seen as an attribute of wholeness and proportion between parts of a whole. The Two of Clubs is also the main esoteric card of the deck. If you are a hexer, you want to keep an eye on this eye-catcher. In general, it represents (when upright and with other appropriate cards) things that are completed or elaborated through a work of magic. When it’s reversed, it becomes black magic.
Finally, let’s talk about the Two of Diamonds, the Letter. It’s a very simple card, showing the receiving of correspondence. But what are communication and correspondence if not an extension or consolidation of our connection with the world and the inputs that come to us from it, which is the main theme of the suit of Diamonds? In other words, the Letter shows that the matter under consideration will be added on by the arrival of news, telephone calls, explanations, documents, etc.
An important secondary meaning of the Letter connects it with writing, books and the elaboration of projects. It’s about pouring your brains on a piece of paper, which is why it is an important card to look for when you are going for a written exam: you’ll need to elaborate on your ideas in a written form.
