Tag Archives: Six of Spades

Pangs of Conscience (Example Reading)

Sometimes the Sibilla’s chattiness is exasperating: there you are, trying to get a straight answer about whether he loves you or not, and she just wastes your time telling you about what his aunt thinks about the whole thing. At other times, though, the Sibilla is a drama queen in the type of language she uses. Here’s a simple example of the latter behavior.

It’s an old reading from at least ten years ago, when a friend and I were relatively fresh out of college. She had been desperately looking for work for some time but without success, and, like most desperate people, she’d started looking in unconventional places. She’d answered an ad that would require her to move to Poland or the Czech Republic (can’t remember) for a stage followed by a part-time offer if all went well.

The first contact was by phone, yet she had some suspicions. She didn’t seem to be able to get a straight answer out of the guy interviewing her. So she asked me to pull some cards on the dude, and here’s what came up:

Can I trust him? Vera Sibilla Reading

I don’t think we need much interpretation to see that there’s something fishy at best about the offer, and at worst it’s a total swindle. The Thief and the Enemy can obviously show anything from an actual thief to a mobster to an assassin, depending on the other cards. Here we have no hint of violence, so we’ll stop at swindle.

The most interesting card here, though, is the reversed Six of Spades. When it is upright, the Six of Spades represents someone who sighs after someone or something, whether because he or she longs for it or because they have pangs of conscience about it.

When it is reversed, the Six of Spades can be a good card if surrounded by positive cards: it can indicate letting go of an addiction, for instance, or of an unrequited love. Broadly speaking, it indicates not sighing anymore.

In this case, though, the reversed Sighs card is surrounded by terrible cards, cards that indicate someone who would hurt others, at least financially, for his own profit. Therefore, the Six of Spades reversed simply shows he has no pangs of conscience about it, which in turn makes him even more dangerous.

Well, my friend did some snooping around and she soon came into contact with other people who had answered the ad. By piecing together the information they had, it turned out that it was a swindle. I am not sure what would have happened, had they gone to the “stage”. Probably they would have been duped out of some money. Anyway, I’m sure glad she didn’t go.

MQS

Vera Sibilla Reading – Will He Get a Job?

Occasionally I get to do a reading that is worth discussing. This reading was done last November. A friend of ours, a mature woman, was worried that her son, 21, wasn’t going to find a job. The cards were:

“Will my son find a job?” Vera sibilla reading

The first card, the Merchant, is the theme card for the son’s work. It is reversed, showing the difficult moment. Immediately after comes the Fortune card, which technically should be a stroke of luck in the person’s destiny. Following is the Sighs card, which represents delay and waiting, in its main meanings. It also shows that the card the young woman is looking at is something the querent is worried about or is expecting. The Maiden, the Queen of Clubs, is usually a significator for a young woman. However, it also has the peculiar function of showing where the problem lies: it’s the card she is facing away from and pointing her finger at. Finally, there’s the Death card. Usually it’s not good to end a reading with the Death card, but in this case the reading was clear enough.

The young man will not find a job. The stroke of luck (Fortune) is not real, but merely something he is waiting for (Sighs). To paraphrase, he’s not looking for a job. This is the problem (Maiden) that leads to a dead end (Death). For several months, therefore, the boy won’t find a job, simply because he is passively hoping it will drop in his lap. In July of 2023 I got confirmation that he hasn’t yet found one. Of course, the cards are time-bound. At this point it would be good to do another reading. We shall see.

Cartomancy with Playing Cards | Six of Spades

In cartomancy with playing cards, the Six of Spades (6♠) is the card of sickness, and is traditionally called “the wards of a hospital”.

All sixes in cartomancy are connected with trouble, so obviously the Six of Spades is going to be a really bad card, and of course on of the worst things that can happen to a living thing is to get sick, so the primary meaning of the card is that of sickness.

The sickness the Six of Spades speaks about can be literal or metaphorical. Traditionally, the organs or body parts affected by the illness are found in the cards adjacent to the Six of Spades, but I would urge you to be extremely cautious. Never diagnose. The best you can do is tell the querent to seek a second opinion if you see that their doctor seems to be way off.

But the cards surrounding the Six of Spades can also signal money coming from the sickness, such as is the case with sick pay, if there are small Diamonds, or insurance money, etc. Furthermore, the sickness may be that of an object which malfunctions or is broken.

Alternatively, the sickness can be metaphorical, and in that case the Six of Spades represents a situation of great pain or, alternatively, a situation where something is rotten. A sick love, for instance can mean different things when you’ve been jilted at the altar and spend your days crying or when he or she is an abusive asshole. In both cases there is a sense of sickness, but in one case the sickness is of the heart, in the other the sickness is of the asshole.

In work readings the card is still negative, and it can point to a sick approach to finances or finances that are unwell. It can signify bad working conditions that make one sick or unemployment, depending on the surrounding cards. It can, of course, signal a career in the healthcare system.

Psychologically, it is a card of great suffering, but depending on the surrounding cards it can show a maladaptive personality, morbid behavior or things that are “wrong” one way or another with the person’s psyche.

Some Combinations:

K♠ – 6♠ = going to the doctor
6♠ – A♠ = surgery (the Ace is the blade)
2♦ – 6♠ = a diagnosis or prescription
6♠ – 6♥ = healing (if swapped, no healing) in all contexts
10♣ – 7♠ – 6♠ = an accident while traveling (if A♥, a domestic accident, if 10♣ and 6♠ alone it can be a “sick car” needing a mechanic)

Playing Cards and Numerology – The Sixes

The way I read playing cards, sixes are the difficult number. In general, six brings out the worst in the cards. I’ve noticed that this is a trend in Italian systems of cartomancy (althouth not in Kapherus’ system).

The Six of Hearts is the only positive card of the bunch, as it signifies the solution of trouble, adjustment and the return to happiness, health, etc. It shows peace, improvement and relax. Only when hemmed in by nasty cards it turns foul and it brings tears (which the card graphically reminds me of) and the impossibility of a solution.

The Six of Clubs is a very static card. It signifies tiredness and a situation with all work and no play and no enthusiasm. It is symbolic of subordinate work and, more broadly, it implies the inability to definitely put a problem behind you, as it keeps showing up. With positive cards, it shows the ability to reach your goal, but usually without a great sense of realization.

The Six of Diamonds is also a meh card. It is connected with insecurity, worries, confusion and indecision, especially but not exclusively of a financial nature. It shows all those situations where you can’t stop thinking about something and being tormented by it. However, with positive cards it can signify a situation that is sorted out by being resourceful, planning and making an informed decision.

The Six of Spades is a card of illness, as it figuratively depicts the wards of a hospital. It is one of those cards that is very difficult to put a positive spin on. The illness can be literal or figurative, when it symbolizes a situation of suffering and upset, or even one that is noxious or damaged. In itself, it negates reconciliations and the possibility of returning to the past, though of course the following cards may alleviate it.

Vera Sibilla | Six of Spades – Sighs (Sospiri)

Name: Sighs
Italian Name: Sospiri
Playing Card: 6♠
Polarity when Upright: Negative
Core Meanings: Time stretching out | Waiting | Torment, Anxiety
Polarity when Reversed: Neutral
Reversed Core Meanings: Instability | The end of desire and sighs, Letting go | Resolve | the need to listen to reason

Card Description: a young woman sighing as a ship departs, possibly with her lover.

Suit and Number: Sixes have to do with time, and the suit of Spades interpret the idea as delays and spasmodic expectations.

UPRIGHT 6♠

General: Negative but not tragic. Also relatively simple. It is mainly a card of delay, of waiting before something finally happens. Usually, if a combination comes before the Six of Spades (that is, if the Woman is looking at it) then the thing depicted by the cards is the source of the querent’s worry (but it doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen). If the combination comes after the card, then the thing will happen, but after much delay. Also, if a Face card falls after the Sighs, the sighs belong to the person.

Love and Relationships: an uncertain card that tells of great apprehension and worries concerning a relationship of any kind. It can mean that the person has great, possibly unrealistic expectations. It can also mean that the person is waiting desperately for something to happen, e.g. that someone will come to them. If confirmed by other cards, it could show feelings that are not mutual, and therefore cause the person sorrow. In a couple it may show that one of the two is almost maniacal about what they expect, and therefore fail to see what they have. It can also show worry over a long distance relationship, with other cards.

Work and Money: the Six of Spades comes up when plans and speculations are taking much too long to mature. It also shows that the person does not have the mental lucidity to make decisions because they are too attached to something (for instance, a businessman failing to see that it’s time to move on from a venture). More broadly it signifies lack of initiative and pessimism in the area.

Other: like the Eight of Hearts, the card is connected to Water, but in a more negative sense. It is also connected with large means of transport. Psychologically it points to anxiety, excessive worry and attachments, the inability to see a bright future.

Important Combinations:
6♠ + 5♠ = what you are waiting for won’t happen
6♠ + 7♠ = what you are waiting for will cause trouble
6♣ + 6♠ = the desire to get everything now
8♥ + 6♠ = mood fluctuations, hope and despair
2♦ + 6♠ = anxiously waiting for a communication

REVERSED 6♠R

General: A mixed bag. It is a card of uncertainty and fluctuation. More specifically though, it is a card clarity, of understanding and of moving on from something or someone. It is best understood as “no sighs”. If the card falls between cards of opposite meanings, it signifies ups and downs between those extremes.

Love and Relationships: often this card shows the realization that a love is over, or that a person is not interested. There is a sense of acceptance of what is. With positive cards it can show that the couple is finally capable of addressing an issue that’s been weighing on the people involved. The reversed Six of Spades can also show that the partner will finally be honest with the querent (or vice versa). Explanation will be given to unburden the conscience. It signifies announcements and making things public.

Work and Money: often it shows moving on from a plan or project after toiling and sighing and worrying without much to show for it. Because of its connection with the idea of making things public, the card signifies writing, publishing and communication.  It can also imply that the person realizes a certain line of work is not for them.

Other: we said that the reversed Sighs signifies lack of sighs, not worrying anymore. With negative cards that point to evil deeds, it can show that these are committed without sighing too much, i.e. remorselessly. Both psychologically and spiritually it can point to profound inner strength in working through like, the ability to renounce and move on. It can shoe the ability to be honest with yourself. It is good for kicking addictions. The card invites to listen to reason, therefore when near cards that show professional help it signifies that the querent cannot count on his strength alone and needs someone to help him.

Important Combinations:
7♠ + 5♦ + 6♠R + positive cards = moving on from a breakup
5♠ + 3♠ + 5♦ + 6♠R = moving on from a period of bereavement
9♦ or 9♣R + 9♠ + 6♠R = realizing you have a problem
6♠R + A♥ or A♦ = unburdening yourself
6♥ + 6♠R + 8♦R = economic ups and downs

Other Combinations: Vera Sibilla | Examples of Combinations – The Sixes

Vera Sibilla | Examples of Combinations – The Sixes

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)

Six of Hearts (6♥) – The Safe (Denaro)

A♥ + 6♥ = financial discussions and talks
6♥ + 2♥* = it can mean putting money  toward the house or family
A♣ + 6♥ = a financial contract | marrying money
A♣R + 6♥ = great wealth | with other appropriate cards, sex for money
10♣ + 6♥ = carelessness with money, burning through your savings | it can mean little experience (literally, “little past”. The same meaning could be had with 7♦)


6♥ + 3♦ = a gift of money | good finances | extra money
6♥ + 8♦ = positive financial evolution | money coming in
6♥ + 8♦R = little money | money going out
6♥ + A♠ = a difficult past | depending on the context, it can simply mean money spent
6♥ + A♠ + 2♥ = it can mean problems with a bank


6♥ + 2♠ = pension money
6♥ + 2♠U/R + negative cards = economic decline
6♥ + 3♠ + 4♦R = end of a difficult financial period
6♥ + 7♠ + another negative card = a period of financial difficulties in your destiny
6♥ + J♥ or Q♥ = an ex


6♥ + person = someone you already know (if J♠ or Q♠, an old enemy or someone who has caused you trouble in the past)
6♥ + 5♠ + 2♦ + 7♥ = a will (+ 4♦, the documents are false, forged or have been tampered with)

6♥R + person = someone you don’t know yet, or know very very little
6♥R + K♥ = traditionally, the arrival of a benefactor
6♥R + K♣R + J♠ = traditionally, a loan shark
6♥R + 8♦R = money spent or not coming in


6♥R + 10♦R = financial ruin (with 7♠R, you won’t get out of it easily)
6♥R + 2♠R = can be avarice, hoarding, possessiveness | steep financial decline
6♥R + cards describing a situation = if the 6♥R has no other meaning, it can mean that the situation will happen all of a sudden, often at the last minute | alternatively, if the cards are depicting a state of affairs, it means that the situation will draw out for a long time

Six of Clubs (6♣) – The Surprise (Consolante Sorpresa)

6♣ + A♥ or 8♣ = unexpected meeting, appointment, date, talk, interview, reconciliation, what have you (it doesn’t say it will go well, though. Look further)
6♣ + 2♥ = traditionally, a happy event at home
6♣ + 3♥ = an unexpected visit
6♣ + 6♥ = extra money, or receiving money, etc., usually unexpectedly | a raise
6♣ + 10♥ = traditionally, a combination of rewards and efforts paying off | it can also mean, for instance, a hobby or thing done on the spur of the moment (6♣) turning into something serious and consistent (10♥)


6♣ + 9♣ = it can be a surprise party or an unexpected victory
6♣ + 10♣R = small wins | unexpected fluke
6♣ + 2♦ = a message you’d lost hope you’d receive
6♣ + 3♦ + 7♦ (+ 9♣ + A♠R) = a birthday gift (the A♠R shows cyclicity)
6♣ + 4♠U/R or 9♠* = can be unemployment (your reception of money is blocked). If it’s the other way around, then maybe you are unemployed and the block ends unexpectedly
7♠ + 6♣* + positive or neutral cards = reinforces the idea of suddenness

A♥ + 6♣R = a meeting or talk that goes badly (possibly it was the wrong time or attitude)
4♥ + 6♣R + 7♠ = breakup due to a lack of common interests (the 6♣R represents aspirations, so if the breakup is due to aspirations, it means that they are diverging)
8♥ + 6♣R = hopes falling through due to biting off more than you can chew | a very bad combination for investments
10♣ + 6♣R = carelessness causing the downfall of a project
6♣R among not so negative cards = the need to put in a lot of effort for results that aren’t that great anyway

Six of Diamonds (6♦) – Thought (Pensiero)

6♦ + A♥ = speaking your mind or a people-oriented person
6♦ + 4♥ = being in love
6♦ + 6♥ = an investment or speculation | financial plans
6♦ + 8♥ = an optimist or a believer (if 8♥R, a pessimist or a non-believer; if also A♣R, a materialist)
6♦ + 9♥R = planning to cheat | if the cheating is already happening, it means it’s not an accident or something that just happened (6♦ shows premeditation)


6♦ + 9♥ = faithfulness | attachment to an idea (+10♥ patriotism, K♠ a political ideal)
6♦ + cards + 10♥ = a plan put into action
6♦ + 2♣ = a great idea (if 2♣R, either a vain person or one’s ideas are clouded by one’s ego)
6♦ + 7♣ = a strong ambition
6♦ + 8♣ = being well disposed toward someone or planning a reconciliation


6♦ + 10♣ = a frivolous person or a careless plan
6♦ + A♦ + 3♣ + 10♠R = planning to go to a secret intimate meeting
6♦ + 2♦ = studying | elaborating a plan
6♦ + 4♦ = a negative, false character | a wrong idea | can be planning a scam or a scammy action, but this would be more common with 6♦R


6♦ + 4♦ + K♠ = ideology, understood as something that skews (4♦) or heavily colors your understanding of reality(2♠U/R  traditionalism or conservatism, K♣U/R elitism, 6♥R socialism, K♦ or 3♦ libertarianism or free market, 7♠R something more oppressive like communism or fascism, 9♦ populism, 10♠ can be militarism or hatred of strangers, depending on the cards, 9♥R anarchism, 9♥ and 10♥ patriotism)


6♦ + 7♦ = a new conception | thinking of having a baby | a gullible person, a simple-minded person
6♦ + 7♦R = very childish or very insecure
6♦ + 3♥ + 6♣ + 7♦ = doing research and making a discovery (7♥ may come up in combination with 6♦ as together they represent brain power)
6♦ + 9♦ = a totally unrealistic idea (+ 6♣R, will bring losses)
6♦ + 5♠ = thinking of ending something
6♦ + 7♠ = negative or aggressive thoughts

J♠ or Q♠ + 6♦U/R* = someone has hostile plans against you
6♦U/R + J♠ or Q♠* = you have hostile plans against someone or at least you see them as enemies to fight against
6♦R + 9♥ = planning something unfaithful or disloyal
6♦R + cards of sadness or depression = it accentuates the idea of sadness or depression
6♦R + 5♠ + A♠ + 10♠ + J♠ or Q♠ (+ 7♠) = premeditated murder

6♦R + 10♦ = planning a robbery (literally or figuratively)
6♦R + 4♠R = can be a subconscious hung-up or complex (e.g. J♣U/R, inferiority, 2♣R or 8♠R, superiority) | sitting on your hands, possibly being unemployed
6♦R + A♦R + 7♣R = planning to destroy someone’s reputation
6♦R + 8♠ + 5♠ + 9♦ = planning of ending it all
6♦R + 6♠ or 7♣R = subconscious fears
6♦R + 2♣ + 8♥ = psychic powers, premonitions, etc.

Six of Spades (6♠) – Sighs (Sospiri)

A♥ or 8♣ + 6♠* = anxious about a meeting | can be social anxiety in general
8♥ + 6♠ = a tormented hope
J♥R + 9♥ + 6♠* = worried that a lover/boyfriend might be unfaithful
6♠ + 10♥* = whatever it is that you are worried about, you are right (look at the cards that the girl is looking at)
6♠ + 4♦* = whatever it is that you are worried about, you are wrong


A♥ + A♣ + 6♠* = anxiously waiting for someone to propose
2♣ or 5♣ + 6♠* = worrying about nothing
6♣ + 6♠* = impatience, it may be too soon to be wishing for something
3♣ + 6♠ = a large means of transport (other cards may specify it, e.g. 10♣ an airplane, etc.)
6♠ + 8♥R + 10♥R + (7♠) = traditionally a bad combination for sailors


7♦ + 6♠* = to be expecting, but
7♦ + A♣R + 6♠* = to be anxious about conceiving
6♠ + 9♠ + 4♦R = a traditional (and rather useless) combination showing that a prisoner or kidnapped person will be found near water
5♠ + 6♠* = fear of death or of anxiety due to an ending of some kind
6♠ + 5♠* = a traditional combination showing that the waiting will be in vain
K♦ + J♠ + 6♠ = another traditional (but useful) combination showing losing one’s job due to an enemy
6♠ + cards showing an event = the event will take a longer time to manifest

6♠R + 2♥ = an unstable family life
6♠R + K♦ = an unstable job situation
Card meaning something + 6♠R + Card meaning the opposite = fluctuations between these two extremes
A♣ + 2♦ + 6♠R = may be a book publishing contract
6♠R + 6♦ = psychological instability
6♠R + K♣ or K♠ or K♥ or 7♥ = often, seeking advice or a service (look around to see what type of advice or service)

Vera Sibilla and Numerology – The Sixes

In the Vera Sibilla, the Sixes represent the natural evolution of the number Five. Whereas Fives dealt with transition, the Sixes represent the flow of time, with all its philosophical annexes: the idea of duration (or lack thereof), the notions of past, present and future, etc.

The four Sixes in the Vera Sibilla: The Six of Hearts (Money), The Six of Clubs (Surprise), The Six of Diamonds (Thought), The Six of Spades (Sighs)

The Six of Hearts is called Money. A better name for it would perhaps be The Safe or The Archive, because while it is true that it does represent money, liquid assets and wealth, this meaning is derived from the idea of accumulation which is a consequence of the traditional meaning of the Six of Hearts in cartomancy in Italy: the past.

And, indeed, the past is one of the main meanings of the Money card, strange as this may sound. Often, when together with a court card, it shows someone whom we already know, or an ex. In general, this card shows that we inherit something from the past, whether it be a situation, a person, an illness (which maybe we haven’t treated properly, or simply one that runs in the family, i.e. a hereditary disease), etc.

Money, the other main meaning of this card, is simply a logical consequence of the notion of time (number six) understood in a positive sense (suit of Hearts), i.e. as a resource and therefore as convertible in resources to be accumulated. Note that, reversed, the Six of Hearts talks about the future, as in future occurrences, unknown places, situations and people. It also heralds money trouble, but it is especially a card of avarice, i.e. unwillingness to let go of what we already have (or of the past).

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Six of Spades, Sighs, is the card of anxiety and tormented hope. This card, too, can represent something that already happened, but this time it doesn’t show it in a neutral way, but as a source of anguish. More in general, however, rather than to the past, this card is connected with the passage of time as a neutral-to-negative element that comes between us and our desire: the need to wait.

When reversed, one of the meanings of the Six of Spades is that it can represent the idea of letting go of our tormented desires or of our anxiety concerning the past. This is one of the cards that can show, when reversed, opening up to new possibilities rather than clinging to what causes us nothing but grief.

It’s the ability to step outside of ourselves or of our issue and listen to reason, whether it’s in the form of new inspiration or some professional advice. When surrounded by more neutral or negative cards, however, it remains a card of instability, material or psychological even when reversed.

In between Hearts and Spades we find the Six of Clubs, the Surprise, and the Six of Diamonds, Thought. The Six of Clubs is the card of the present time. It represents things happening now, or at least in the very near future. With it are connected the ideas of suddenness and immediacy, and therefore marvel and surprise, of coming across something that was unexpected. Since the suit of Clubs is positive, this unexpected surprise is usually positive.

Taking this idea of “chancing upon” further, we get to the meanings of receiving, getting, acquiring that this card also shows. But this is also the card of things that start flourishing. Note how, in the image, the guy is fishing a bag of money out of a river or lake, which means that, while the result was beyond his expectations, he did have to cast his net. As such, this is the card of minimum effort for great results: small past efforts paying off in the present and possibly heralding a positive future.

Finally, the Six of Diamonds, Thought, also represents the present, but it’s more the a-temporal present that exists in the mind, rather than the physical present of the Six of Clubs. As the card of consciousness, the Six of Diamonds is the point where past, present and future converge and are organized, made sense of and shaped into alternative ideas of reality that we then seek to act out.

As such, this card also shows plans, ideas, etc. Not necessarily true ideas, not necessarily good plans, and not necessarily plans that we are going to be able to act out: this is the card of pure consciousness, the timeless present which fluctuates above the flow of real time.