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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

Card Combinations, Cartomancy, Divination Master Post, Everyday Oracle, Sibilla della Zingara, Vera Sibilla

Vera Sibilla | Examples of Combinations – The Nines

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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)

Nine of Hearts (9♥) – Faithfulness (Fedeltà)

A♥ + 9♥ = declaration of love | being honest or transparent in what you say, what you say is what is inside of you | it’s a symbol of harmony in a couple or among people
4♥ + 9♥ = love and faithfulness, but on a deeper layer, the 9♥ stabilizes the 4♥, which is a more erratic and mercurial card
8♥ + 9♥ = realization of romantic hopes
9♥ + 10♥ = faithfulness over time | attachment to your land, patriotism (in a positive sense. No negative connotation here.)
9♥ + A♣ = faithful and fulfilling marriage or contract | trustworthy partner in any field of enquiry


9♥ + 2♣ or 5♣ = success in love, generally
9♥ + 10♣ = it’s a symbol of fickleness and openness to cheating
9♥ + A♦ = deep intimacy, in love it points to truly being naked in front of the other and truly giving yourself to him or her
9♥ + 9♦ = untrustworthy person
9♥ + 10♦ = betrayal


J♦ + 9♥ = a trustworthy intermediary | in a spiritual reading, an angel or positive spirit (confirmed by 6♦R)
3♠ + 9♥* = distant from friends or affections | having a lot to give and no one to give it to
9♥ + 4♠ = a morbid sense of faithfulness, excessive loyalty
9♥ + 10♠U/R = cheating | we don’t know where the person’s loyalty lies
9♥ + K♠ = in the appropriate context, marriage | faithfulness in an established couple where passion has waned | obedience to authority
9♥ + Person = a positive, loyal person

A♥ + 9♥R = lies, confessing to cheating (especially with 6♠R or 9♠R which show unburdening yourself and regret. A♦R may be there)
9♥R + 6♥ = past unfaithfulness, but it can also mean you can’t be trusted around money
9♥R + 8♥ = cheating, but possibly just a one off thing (especially with 10♣)
9♥R + 10♥ = cheating, but it’s more consistent | disloyalty to your country, but in specific contexts it could mean a country gaining independence, literally or figuratively
9♥R + A♣ = a marriaged marred by cheating, in general not respecting pacts


8♣ + 9♥R* = an adulterous meeting or unsuccessful reconciliation
9♥R + 8♦R = the cheap floozy (man or woman)
A♠ and/or A♦R + 9♥R = discovering someone has cheated or, in the best case scenario, that they no longer love you
9♥R + 2♠* = a rapidly declining affection (if 2♠R, it’s even quicker)


9♥R + 8♠ = irreversible crisis in your love life | complete failure in general
9♥R + K♠ = rebellion against authority, among other readings (in a court case, it might be that the authority/judge is unfair and is out to get you)
J♣U/R + 9♥R + K♠ = son rebelling against authority

Nine of Clubs (9♣) – Cheerfulness (Allegria)

9♣ + A♥ = positive interaction, positive talks, can be a party
2♥ + 9♣ = positive home environment or positive situation at home | also a party
8♥ + 9♣ = a positive and carefree moment in life | can be a beach party
3♣ + 9♣ = a pleasant trip or a journey that will bear fruit
3♣R + 9♣ = going through a lucky streak, possibly career advancement


5♣ + 6♣ or 7♣ + 9♣ = excellent combination for gamblers and lottery players
5♣ + 9♣ = in love, after a breakup, this combination usually precludes a reconciliation but shows luck in the next relationship
8♣ + 9♣ = could be a get together with friends or old buddies, among other things
10♣ + 9♣ = carefreeness, sometimes to a fault, but not a negative combination | traditionally, this is the combination for a practical joke
9♣ + K♣ = positive health-related news or positive news from a professional


2♦ + A♣ + 2♥ + 9♣ = invitation to a marriage
3♦ + 9♣ = positive proposal or the right gift
4♦ + 9♣ = a negative group | pretending to be happy, among other possibilities
9♣ + 3♠ = social isolation
9♣ + J♠ or Q♠ = a man or woman in your extended circle of friends or acquaintances is not to be trusted

9♣R + 4♥R or 7♥R = sexual perversion
9♣R + 6♥U/R = inability to manage money
9♣R + 10♥R = prone to anger when he or she hits the bottle
9♣R + 2♣ = changing behavior for the better
9♣R + 10♣ = also a practical joke, but this time not a nice one, it borders on bullying


9♣R + J♣R = a junkie
2♦ + 9♣R + 10♠R + J♠ or Q♠ = anonymous calls, harassment, smear campaigns (4♦ may be present, accentuating defamation)
9♣R + 6♦R (+7♥R + 3♠R) = serious mental problems (3♠R would show mental alienation and possibly substance abuse, depending on the other cards)
9♣R + K♦= traditionally, fake banknotes | loss of employment
9♣R + 6♠R + J♠ + Q♠ + 7♠ = a dangerous individual who will go to any length to hurt another (6♠R represents that one does not worry too much, so with negative cards it points to lack of scruples)


9♣R + 9♠ and/or 7♠R = being enslaved to an addiction (if both are present, the person is unlikely to ever recover)
9♣R + 9♠ + 9♦ = the traditional full combination of addictions
A♠R + 9♣R + 9♠ = relapsing into an addiction
9♣R + 9♠ + 3♣R or 2♣ or A♥R or 5♣ = breaking free of an addiction

Nine of Diamonds (9♦) – Fools (Deliranti)

A♥ + 9♦ = incoherence, contradiction, lies, untrustworthy reports, fights
4♥ + 9♦ = fights in love, or inconsistency of a lover
4♥R + 9♦ + A♣R + Q♥R or J♥R = orgies (+A♠ or 10♠, an element of violence is implied)
9♦ + 9♥ = better not trust someone
9♦ + Person = also better not trust someone


9♦ + A♣ = an unhappy marriage or a partnership full of fights
5♣ + 9♦* = it’s an invitation to prudence, as you may end up squandering a lucky moment (same with 10♣R)
6♣ + 7♠ + 9♦ = can be a brawl (6♣ represents an unforeseeable and therefore unexpected situation)
9♦ + 6♣R = excessive enthusiasm will cost you dearly
9♦ + 10♣ = a nutcase (unless with other cards, not mentally ill, just bonkers)


9♦ + 2♦ = delays the arrival of news or incoherent news
6♦ + 9♦ = irrationality, foolish ideas
7♦ + 9♦ = it can mean a childish tantrum
5♠ + 9♦ = in esoteric readings, ghosts and unruly spirits, otherwise it points to deep instability in an area


7♠ + 9♦ = traditionally, a cataclysm, if 7♠R can be a fire (+2♥R, burning down the house), if 10♣, a hurricane, if 6♠ or 8♥R, a tsunami. But this is usually only if the question is specific, otherwise other negative cards must be present. In itself, it can point to sudden disruption or violent fights
7♠ + 9♦ + 10♠ + J♠ = a violent gang
9♦ + J♠ or Q♠ = groups of enemies
K♠ + 9♦ = trouble with the law or government

A♥ + 9♦R = going back on your word, taking back what you said
A♥ or 9♣ or 8♣ + 9♦R (+3♠) = a deterioration of one’s social life
4♥ + 9♦R = a deterioration of your love life
10♥ + 9♦R = a steady deterioration
7♣R + 9♦R = a worsening of your social status | demotion


K♣ or 4♠ + 9♦R + 8♣* = an illness getting better and better (the 9♦R shows something that goes backward and recedes instead of going forward. Also, any very positive card can come up instead of 8♣)
10♣ + 9♦R = a major blunder
3♦ + 9♦R = among many possible readings, an electronic appliance jamming, the recalling of a product or sending back something
6♦ + 9♦R = mental decline (e.g. with 2♠) | can also be a blunder in a project or a fatal hesitation

Nine of Spades (9♠) – Prison (Prigione)

A♥ + 9♠ = it can mean the inability to express yourself, lack of communication or communication of some kind of failure
4♥ + 9♠ + 9♥ = powerful attachment in love (but the 9♠ needs to fall between the two heart cards)
9♠ + 10♥ = a lasting blockage
A♣ + 9♠ = among other interpretations, a binding agreement that the querent won’t get out of easily (but in itself not a bad combo, u less with bad cards)
A♣R + 7♥R + 9♠ = can point to impotence

10♣R + 9♠ + 3♥R or J♦R = among many possible readings, being blocked by someone on social media
2♣R + 3♠R + 9♠ = a binding hex, a magical blockage
A♦ + 9♠ = strong intimacy (a neutral combination, but if A♦R, the intimacy is sacrificed or stifling)
2♦ + 9♠ + 8♠ = if it’s a contract, don’t sign
5♦ + 9♠ = depression
6♦ + 9♠ = among other possible interpretations, a plan that can’t be executed,  or the inability to let go of a thought, or someone who is strongly introverted and unable to reach out for help


9♠ + 7♦ = traditional combination of pregnancy (confirmed by 8♥, which is strongly connected with maternity, or even by the 3♥ which shows positive developments. + J♣ or J♥, a boy, + Q♣ or Q♥, a girl, + 9♦, twins; +10♠R, secret pregnancy)
10♣ + 9♠ + 7♦ = accidental pregnancy (+6♦ or 7♥ it’s planned)
9♠ + 7♦ + 7♠ + 5♠ or 7♠ + A♠ or A♠ + 5♠ = miscarriage (if also K♣ or K♠, abortion)


9♠ + 9♦ = traditional combination of a vicious cycle
9♠ + 9♦ + 3♣R or A♥R or 2♣ or 5♣ = end of a vicious cycle
9♠ + cards showing a situation = a situation the querent is forced into
Cards showing a situation + 9♠ = a situation the querent can’t get out of

A♥ + 9♠R = it can mean asking for forgiveness or regretting saying something, among other possibilities
10♥ + 9♠R = the end of a blockage (or a prison sentence) that lasted a while, especially if positive cards follow
10♣ + 7♥ + 9♠R = regretting signing a contract
J♠ or Q♠ + 9♠R + 2♣ and/or 8♣ = an enemy is sorry and will come clean


J♠ or Q♠ + 9♠R + 4♦ or 10♦ or 8♠ = someone trying to swindle you or imprison you (be careful about the 9♠R. It’s a very mercurial card that becomes easily negative despite being slightly positive in itself. With negative cards, or if negative cards follow it, it is bad 4 times out of 5)
K♣ or K♠ + 7♠ + 5♠ or A♥R + Q♥ + 9♠R = transitioning to woman. If to man, K♥ instead. Other figure cards may appear instead of Q♥ or K♥ depending on age. The 9♠R represents leaving the “wrong” body
9♠R + Person = if the question is specific, someone who’s had a sex change or is not sure about his or her sexual identity
Good cards + 9♠R + bad cards = beginning of blockage, loss of freedom
Bad cards + 9♠R + good cards = end of blockage

Card Reading, Cartomancy, Everyday Oracle, Reading Example, Sibilla della Zingara, Vera Sibilla

An Exercise To Do With New and Pre-Owned Decks

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One fun little exercise I like to do whenever I get a new deck (any deck, of any tradition) is to ask them some questions to see if they are in tune with me. Some readers treat decks as if they were God-given artifacts. If that works for you, wonderful, no judgement, but I treat them as simple pieces of cardboard that are inserted into a universal mechanism of synchronicity. They are tools, and, like all tools, they need to be treated with some respect, but not to be revered as idols.

My own very personal experience with new decks is that the first few readings they give are often way off, until they enter into synchronicity with a particular reader and that reader alone. The only way for me to get past this phase of initial unreliability on their part is simply to use them a lot, until they get tuned to my subconscious language.

I will probably cover this in another article, but I staunchly believe that divinatory tools are like languages, and, like languages, their structure is perfectly objective, meaning that just as I cannot reinvent the English language as if it were a random convention, I cannot reinvent the meaning assigned to cards in a particular system (although there can be different systems, just as there can be different languages, and sometimes different systems use the same deck, just as sometimes different languages use the same alphabet or even similar words).

That being said, even though English is out there regardless of me, I will have my own take on the English language as I learn it, and you yours. Ever tried reading a Modernist author? Finnegan’s Wake is written in English, yet it is an English very few people who are not called James Joyce will understand. All this is to say that my own take on the issue is that card systems are objective, but you need to develop your own take on them in order for them to make sense in your particular universe (and you are your own universe).

The process of “developing your own take” cannot be decided rationally by convention, as in “From now on X will mean Y”. That’s part of the reason why Esperanto will never be a real thing aside from a laudable minority of dedicated learners. No, this process of development is largely a subconscious process of reciprocal adaptation between language and speaker, or between reader and reading system. It does take a little bit of time and patience, but then again, all things that are worth time take time.

As far as I am concerned, new decks need to be inserted into my mechanism of synchronicity. What about used deck? I have found that if a deck has been consistently used by someone else, it will take a bit more time for it to respond to me. Either way, the first question I will ask my new deck to answer is “Who is your master?” or, if you are not into kinky stuff, “Who do you respond to?” and I pull three cards. Usually, as soon as the cards start responding, I get a very clear description of myself as I am at the moment. Interestingly, if a deck belonged to someone else, I first get complete nonsense, then, as the cards start to respond to me, but not well enough, I almost always get the older owner’s description.

If you give this exercise a try, remember that the description you get of yourself needs to be beyond doubt. It’s like an “a-ha” moment. No vagueness. So, what happens if you don’t get the answer you are looking for? That is up to you and, in part, to your creativity. If you want to consecrate or cleanse your deck, go ahead. My own practice is to give the same question another couple of tries, and if the deck refuses to acknowledge me, or to let go of its previous owner, I leave it there for a couple of days, maybe spending some time shuffling it in the meantime, before giving it another try.

Here is what I did with my new Sibilla della Zingara deck. I asked “Who do you answer to?” and it answered perfectly on my first try, something that had never happened to me, except with my very first deck. I guess part of the reason is that it didn’t have a previous owner, as pre-owned decks tend to be a bit more stubborn, I have found. (Even then, don’t worry: my main deck was second hand, and it works perfectly now).

“Who do you answer to?” “To you, oh lord of all that’s sad, master of inner drought”

One thing you have to know about me is that I have a relatively strong depressive streak to me. I’ve always had it, and depending on the period it resurfaces. These days I was battling through a relatively strong depressive episode, and it definitely shows in the cards.

The King of Hearts is me. Usually I show up as the Jack of Clubs (unmarried man under thirty), but in the past I have come up as the Gentleman, mostly in relationship readings and in job readings, as I’m a teacher (protector/helper figure) and therefore the Jack of Clubs can represent the students. In this case I’m not sure why I showed up as Gentleman. It might be a very contingent reason, as upon searching the deck for the Jack of Clubs and the Jack of Hearts, I found them reversed. Apparently, the deck simply pushed the most serviceable significator into service.

The following combination is Six of Diamonds (Thought) + Nine of Spades (Prison). This is one of those combinations that can signal feeling down, or depressed, or oppressed. It can also signify psychological submission, but there would need to be other cards as well.

What’s interesting about this reading is that these past couple of days I had battled through the depressing feelings without even noticing them, but as soon as they came up in the reading I got my “a-ah” moment, “yep, that’s me”.

Other questions you might ask the cards are “What’s going to happen in the next 24 hours?”, “What did I do yesterday?” or any other question whose answer can be easily verified within a very short timeframe. I personally would avoid questions like “What will you teach me?” or “What have you entered my life for?” as it’s all too easy to concoct a convenient answer out of any card combination, but I leave it for you to decide for yourself.

The point is: don’t feel bad if sometimes a new deck doesn’t seem to make any sense, it just takes some time to get in tune with it. At other times, however,, as in the example above, the synchronicity is perfect from the start.

Card Reading, Cartomancy, Everyday Oracle, Numerology, Sibilla della Zingara, Vera Sibilla

Vera Sibilla and Numerology – The Nines

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In the Vera Sibilla, the common thread that connect the nines is, perhaps, a little more obvious than the one shown in other numbers. Each of them represents how the energy of the suit interacts with the concepts of bond, ties and linkage. As usual, the Nine of Hearts and the Nine of Spades represent the polar opposites between which the other two cards, the Nines of Clubs and Diamonds, fluctuate.

The Nines in the Vera Sibilla: The Nine of Hearts (Faithfulness or the Dog), The Nine of Clubs (Cheerfulness), The Nine of Diamonds (The Fools) and the Nine of Spades (Prison)

The Faithfulness card or Dog is, at first, very similar to the Four of Hearts, Love. There is, however, an added dimension. Whereas Love is shown as an ungraspable, blind force, Faithfulness places restrictions on people’s behavior. If you are loyal to a person, even to an ideal, you will not betray it. Just as a loyal dog will follow you around even without a leash, simply out of a sense of affection and belonging to your “pack”, so the type of love depicted in the Nine of Hearts is a more disciplined version of the impetuous passion represented by the blindfolded cupid in the other card.

The symbolism of the loyal dog lends itself to the representation of various situations and states of being, including love, deep friendship or a sense of camaraderie, patriotism (when reversed, this card may show an anarchist), commitment to an ideal or group. In general, this card symbolizes the immediate coincidence between appearance and reality: what is shown is what is real. This is the opposite of the Four of Diamonds, Falsehood, represented by the Cat, which represents the divergence between appearance and reality. Be it as it may, Faithfulness interprets the idea of bond in a more positive way.

Its counterpart, the Prison, shows a very different kind of tie. Gone is the idea that we are where we are because an inner sense of belonging guides us: a physical chain now binds us to a certain place or situation. The Nine of Spades represents all those contexts that we are forced into against our will, or that we are prevented from leaving regardless of what we might think about them.

Depending on the context, more benign interpretations may emerge, but, in general, the Prison shows a state of affairs that we are unable to move away from even if we really want to. One of the classical meanings of this card, pregnancy, is derived from the fact that the chain tying the prisoner to the wall is reminiscent of an umbilical cord keeping the fetus securely tied to the mother’s womb. Needless to say, the baby doesn’t remain there because it roots for mommy (Faithfulness) but because it kind of has to (Prison).

The other two Nines take an interesting angle. They interpret the notion of bond socially. The Nine of Clubs, Cheerfulness, depicts a group of friends raising their glasses. Whatever happened, it is cause enough for everyone to get a little tipsy, which means that they all share at least some objectives. That being said, the bond that ties the three guys together is much lighter than the one of utter devotion displayed by the dog in the Nine of Hearts. This is a way more frivolous card, one that shows groups of people in a positive way, but not necessarily life-long companions.

The Nine of Diamonds, the Fools, similarly depicts three people, who have similarly been at the sherry. The suit of Diamonds, however, is less fortunate than that of Clubs, and in this case the darker side of mob mentality is depicted. Running with the wrong crowd is certainly one interpretation. Additionally, the Fools show unbalanced group behavior, or interpersonal problems.

By analogy, this is the card of unwarranted exaltation, foolishness, fights, arguments and of everything that is irregular, i.e. that defies the rules of what is “normal”, always in a negative sense. This goes from incoherent clauses in contracts to meaningless words to mental illness to natural disasters and cataclysms (which, in a sense, defy the laws of nature or disrupt the usual flow of life).

As a concluding remark, curiously, the Nine of Diamonds has a connection with excess and substance abuse (especially alcohol or meds), which is a very important meaning of the Nine of Clubs when it comes up reversed in a reading. When the situation is bad enough, i.e. when the bond with the substance seems unbreakable, the Nine of Spades will show up to add a sense of inability, on the part of the querent, to get out of the addiction.