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Vera Sibilla | Ten of Spades – Soldier (Militare)

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Name: Soldier
Italian Name: Militare
Playing Card: 10♠
Polarity when Upright: Neutral to Negative
Core Meanings: strength, force | arguments, violence | wearing a uniform | the army | effort, an uphill battle | secrecy
Polarity when Reversed: Neutral to Negative
Reversed Core Meanings: a secret | the night | weakness | controversy

Card Description: a fit young man in a uniform in the act of walking up a slope to conquer a citadel.

Suit and Number: all tens in the Vera Sibilla are associated with the idea of will, willpower and the ability to materialize it. The Soldier card, the Ten of Spades, signifies struggle and the need for toil and stregth to avoid being overwhelmed by obstacles. It is the opposite of the Ten of Hearts, which shows the will conquering reality. The Ten of Spades shows an uphill battle that may end with reality conquering you.

UPRIGHT 10♠

General: this card has two broad strands of meaning, one to do with physical stregth, the other with secrecy. The former tends to appear when the card is upright, the latter when it’s reversed, so I will discuss them as such. However this is not a rule: the Ten of Spades may signify a secret when upright and physical strength when reversed, albeit more rarely.

Love and Relationships: the meaning varies greatly depending on the surrounding cards. With positive cards it shows the ability to solve struggles and arguments. It can also show that a person will fight to the bitter end to help us and protect us. Note that Ten of Spades can be a face card, representing a young man, usually muscular and good-looking. With negative or neutral cards it shows arguments, despotism, violence (this latter never when alone, though) and a relationship that is “difficult” and forces the person to constantly fight and be on their guard to maintain. It can signify lies and being guarded.

Work and Money: the Ten of Spades is associated with works in uniform (broadly) and for the armed forces. It can signify a difficult, tense work environment and implies the need to constantly fight. With cards pointing to financial difficulties it shows the struggle to survive. Conditions are usually not ideal in any field of material realization and they require a lot of effort.

Other: the card is associated with difficult environments, especially mountains and woods. Psychologically it points to being guarded and diffident and somewhat gruff. It also represents sports (especially physically taxing ones). Spiritually it is connected to the material plane, so its meanings can vary from manifestation to materialism and being diffident toward ideas or belief. It can signify atheism. The card is also associated with the concept of “abroad”, “foreign” and “unknown”, both when upright and reversed.

Important Combinations:
10♠ + K♠ = a policeman, the armed forces
10♠ + A♥ = lies, arguments, being guarded in what you say depending on the context
10♠ + A♠ = possible violence (especially with other cards)
10♠ + 10♥ = winning after much struggle
9♠ + 10♦ + 10♠ = the arrest of a thief

REVERSED 10♠R

General: reversed, the Ten of Spades becomes primarily the card of secrets, of the unknown and of the night (meanings which it has also when upright, but which are less prominent in that position). Just as the Ten of Hearts represents the sun of personal victory after the darkness of the night, the Ten of Spades is the darkness. In some contexts, the card can signify the opposite of the strength of the upright version, thus giving weakness.

Love and Relationships: it often shows hidden relationships and hidden practices in general. It is an almost sure symbol of cheating. However, always look at what is being hidden, as it may be something other than a lover. Since the card is connected to the night, it can simply show an evening out, depending on the combinations. It can also show, quite simply, that a person is not yet known. It retains the connotation of hostility if accompanied by cards of struggle and arguments.

Work and Money: it can show works done by night and is connected to all professions to do with secrecy (secret services etc). It can also imply hidden schemes and tactics, and it often points to less than loyal colleagues.

Other: psychologically it can signify that a person is a weakling or a coward. It can also simply mean that one is lost or feels lost and doesn’t what direction to take anymore.

Important Combinations:
10♠R + A♦ = a secret meeting
10♠R + K♦ = working by night
10♠R + J♠ = a private detective
10♠R + 3♥ = spying
7♠R + 10♠R + 4♠ = physical collapse

Card combinations: Vera Sibilla | Examples of Combinations – The Tens

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

Vera Sibilla | Examples of Combinations – The Tens

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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)

Ten of Hearts (10♥) – Perseverance (Costanza)

4♥ + 10♥ = enduring feelings of love
5♥ + 10♥ = long-lasting engagement
8♥ + 10♥ = realization of hopes with effort
Person + 10♥ = person can be relied upon
3♣ + 10♥* = traveling out of town


A♣ + 10♥ = a long-standing contract or marriage
A♣R + 10♥ = great wealth
4♣R + 10♥ = the decisive bit of help that will solve the problem
5♣ + 10♥ = lasting good luck
10♥ + 8♣* = reconcilation after much insistence


10♥ + 10♣ = among many possible readings, a city to the north of where you are | little endurance
K♣ + 2♦ + 10♥ + 8♣ = doctor or professional that solves an issue or health problem (instead of 8♣ you may find other positive cards. 10♥ here shows that it’s likely not a minor issue as it implies effort)
5♦ + 10♥ + A♠ = a lasting cloud of depression
8♦R + 10♥ = can point to expenses piling up over time
8♦R + 10♥ + J♦R = you are the talk of the town


9♦ + 10♥ = constant setbacks
K♦ + 10♥ = permanent job or, with other positive cards, economic realization over time
2♠R + A♥ + 10♥ + 8♣ = putting your differences behind you after much talk and compromises
10♥ + 3♠ = abandoning your town | someone who is without a fatherland (especially with 10♠R)


9♠ + 10♥ = a long prison sentence
10♥ + 10♠U/R = a strange town or country
J♠ or Q♠ + 10♥ = someone whose enmity you can count on
K♠ + 10♥ = victory in a court case

10♥R + A♥ = angry words
10♥R + 3♥R = blind rage
5♥U/R + 10♥R = family-related trouble or an engagement going belly up
6♥ + 10♥R = sharp economic downturn
3♣U/R + 8♥U/R + 6♠ + 7♠ + 10♥R = shipwreck


A♦R + 10♥R = enraged by a confession
10♦ + 10♥R = a situation going belly up due to third party interference
K♦ + 10♥R = loss of business, among other things
A♠ + 10♥R = violent arguments (with 10♠ it could mean the same)
4♠ + 10♥R = among other possibilities, it can point to an unemployed person who has lost all confidence to try to find something new

Ten of Clubs (10♣) – Levity (Leggerezza)

A♥ + 10♣ = words said without thinking too much, small talk | on a more sinister note, these cards usually show up to remind the person to mindful what they say and to whom
2♥ + 10♣ = among many possible readings, a momentary accomodation

3♥ + 10♣ = one reading would be an oversight or blunder (3♥ is connected to the eyes)
4♥ + 10♣ = a flirt
6♥ + 10♣ = a little sum of money | little experience (little past) | it’s also a symbol of the inability to save money (especially if 6♥R)
7♥ + 10♣ = person whose intentions are not very serious | lack of great talent or recognition | contract that is probably best to avoid signing


8♥ + 10♣ = flirt (but the following cards may show that it turns into something serious, like 3♣R + 4♥ + 9♥ or something like that)
6♣ + 10♣ = small gains
8♣ + 10♣* = a reconciliation that won’t last
A♦ + 10♣ = careful who you reveal your secrets to


A♦R + 10♣ = being busted for lack of foresight or a revelation made by accident
3♦ + 10♣ = something of little value
4♦ + 10♣ = again, many possible readings, among which a wrong and unrealistic standpoint or a negative situation that the querent walks into lightly and unknowingly
5♦ + 10♣ = passing sadness


7♦ + 10♣ = lack of experience or childishness or naivety
8♦R + 10♣ = burning through your money
A♠ + 10♣ = small, passing disappointment
10♣ + 3♠* = one reading is lack of levity
4♠ + 10♣ = mild ailment
10♣ + 5♠* = a lack of foresight that can have serious consequences
7♠ + 10♣ = small accident

10♣R + A♥ = a lucky meeting | can be meeting online
10♣R + 6♥ = financial opportunity, resourcefulness, good for people waiting to get back loaned money
10♣R + 5♣ = chance of a lifetime
10♣R + 9♣ = a good chance | can be one’s internet buddies | good for gamblers


2♦ + 10♣R = a scratch card | an email (+J♠, spam)
10♣R + K♦ = a traditional combination of getting back the money you loaned, but more in general it’s good for work situations too
4♠ + 10♣R = can be that you chance upon the right treatment or doctor

Ten of Diamonds (10♦) – Thief (Ladro)

4♥ + 10♦ = cheating
6♥ + 10♦ = loss of money, theft with other negative cards
7♥ + 10♦ = losing a contract | negative plans
8♥ + 10♦ = robbed of your hopes
10♦ + A♣ = someone trying to come between two partners, usually marriage partners


3♣ + 10♦ = auto theft, theft during a journey or loss of something during a journey
K♦ + 6♣ or 7♣ + 10♦ = someone else gets your raise or promotion
10♦ + K♦ + 10♠R = may represent moonlighting or being paid off the books or not at all, illegal work
A♦ + 10♦ = again a symbol of betrayal, can also mean loss of prosperity, among other things
A♦R + 10♦ = confessing to something illegal


2♦ + 10♦ = loss of document
4♦ + 10♦ + J♠ or Q♠ = swindlers (+K♣R, they may be higher ups in society)
10♦ + 4♥ + 7♠ + 5♦ + A♠R = your last story ended due to cheating and it’s going to happen again
7♦ + 10♦ + 9♠ + 7♠R + 6♥R = kidnapping of child for ransom
8♦ + 3♦ + 10♦ = loss of jewels (+J♠ or J♣R it’s more clearly theft)


2♥U/R + 9♦ + 7♠ + 10♦ = burglary of home (+A♠, violence is involved)
9♠ + 10♦ + 10♠ = arrest of a thief (+6♣, the stolen goods are retrieved, +10♣, only part of them)
10♦ + positive cards = unless the 10♦ ends the sequence, it shows that the situation may develop positively but unforeseen things will force you to change or adapt your plans
Positive sequence + 10♦* = the 10♦ negates the previous positive cards

10♦R + 2♥ = a home you hate (if 2♥R it’s more likely another building, like a prison or hospital, + 9♦ a psychiatric facility)
6♥ + 10♦R = difficult financial situation (if 6♥R it’s dire, + 8♠ it’s the type of bankruptcy that one seldom comes out of, especially +7♠R, in which case extreme actions may take place)
7♥ or 6♦ + 10♦R = a plan that won’t come to fruition due to insurmountable obstacles
10♣R + 10♦R + 6♣R = heavy losses while gambling
4♠R + 10♦R = no

8♠ + 10♦R = no | disastrous financial loss | a place with a negative aura due to someone taking their life there
5♠ + 10♦R = no | a graveyard, especially an old, dilapidated one
7♠ + 10♦R = no
9♠ + 10♦R = oh my god, no | a prison
K♠ + 10♦R = insurmountable legal issues or loss of a case | traditionally, a church (+4♠R may be present)
10♦R + 5♠ + 9♦ = traditionally, a haunted place

Ten of Spades (10♠) – Soldier (Militare)

10♠ + A♥ = fights, arguments, guardedness in expressing yourself
10♠ + A♥ + K♣ + 9♦ + 2♣ = it could mean passing a psychometric test or aptitude test, for instance to own a gun
10♠ + 4♥ = love arguments | with other cards, cheating
10♠ + 9♥ = a symbol of lying and cheating  and not being completely transparent
10♠ + 10♥ = success after much struggle, if positive cards follow | a foreign city (especially if 10♠R, but not necessarily)


10♠ + 2♣ = success, conquest
10♠ + 7♣ (+ 2♣)= for a soldier it could be a promotion or being honored (like with a medal)
9♣ + 2♥ + 10♠ = a nightclub (but with cards of arguments or violence the 10♠ could mean a brawl)
10♠ + 3♣ + 9♣ = a trip to the woods or mountain, or any other difficult environment
J♣ or 8♦ + 10♠ = can be a young man or woman in uniform


A♦ + 10♠ = cheating | among the other possible explanations, not feeling comfortable in your intimacy
2♦ + 10♠ = traditionally, a draft card
3♦ + 10♠ = again, many possible interpretations, from an object of dubious origins (especially if 10♠R) to a broken object or a proposal to be wary of, and so on
9♦ + 7♠ + 10♠ = can be a riot
10♠ + 7♠ + 5♠ + J♠ = an assassin (+9♦ and/or 9♣R, might be a terrorist attack)


10♠ + J♠ = among other things, a private investigator or a member of the secret services (+3♥, a spy)
10♠ + 3♥* = police investigation
10♠ + K♠ = the police or armed forces
10♠ + 9♠ = an arrest, among other interpetations

A♥ + 8♣ + 10♠R = secret convene
4♥ + 10♠R = secret love (usually adulterous)
9♥ + 10♠R = same
10♠R + 10♥ = foreign city | the break of dawn (if they come up in this order, otherwise at dusk)
2♣ + 10♠R = can be occultism


3♣ + 10♠R = traveling in secret or to a place you don’t know (+9♦, might mean drifting)
6♣ + 10♠R = can be earning money off the books
10♠R + 7♣R = can be subconscious hang ups | for a soldier, demotion or dishonor
A♦ + 10♠R = secrets, secret meeting of an intimate nature
A♦R + 10♠R* = the unpleasant revelation is done in secret or you still don’t discover the whole truth


2♦ + 10♠R = secret correspondence or anonymous calls (+J♠ or Q♠)
4♦ + 10♠R = a well covered lie that won’t be discovered
6♦ + 10♠R = a secret plan | spinelessness, in a character reading
6♦R + 10♠R = evil secret plan (+7♥R being Machiavellian about it)
4♠ + 10♠R = can be an undiscovered illness (+4♦ + K♣ or K♠, the doctor is wrong about it)

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

Vera Sibilla and Numerology – The Tens

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The Tens in the Vera Sibilla have a lot to do with the concept of materiality, matter and physicality. Each of them shows how the suit relates to the notion of an external reality that needs to somehow be conquered, or that the Self and the Will needs to enter into contact with. As the final number in the sequence, it shows how the suit materializes.

The Tens in the Vera Sibilla deck: The Ten of Hearts (Perseverance), The Ten of Clubs (Levity), The Ten of Diamonds (The Thief) and the Ten of Spades (The Soldier)

The Ten of Hearts, Perseverance, is known for its general meaning of success after toil and, well, perseverance. This is a result of the combination of the positive meaning of the suit of Hearts with the rather challenging notion of materiality.

It represents the hard, unyielding surface of external things bending to our patient effort, being incorporated into our picture of how things should be and therefore being beaten into shape. Note how the image on the card shows the young lady confidently resting on a column at the break of dawn, having withstood the long night. She may be living in a material world, but, just like Judge Judy, they definitely don’t keep her there because she’s gorgeous. She means business!

At the same time, the other important meaning of the card, i.e. a long duration, is derived from the fact that once matter has been beaten into a particular shape, it has a tendency to retain it until a strong counter-impulse is given.

Finally, the third important meaning of the Ten of Hearts, i.e. the querent’s city (but, in general, it can also represent the homeland) is derived from the fact that the realm of Hearts is concerned with what is closest to us, and which therefore we are intimately connected with. The physical, material space we are connected with is our city or homeland, because it is immediately around us. Incidentally, Perseverance is also connected with the patrimony, the drowry and accumulated wealth, again, showing the positive side of materiality.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Ten of Spades, the Soldier, shows materiality overwhelming the Self and the Will, engulfing it into its morass of inert darkness. That is why, at its best, the Ten of Spades represents the physical body’s ability to fight or to react, but no victory is automatically shown. Alternatively, this is another card that can show violence, arguments etc., i.e. negative physical contact.

It is also why this card represents impervious places, like mountains and deserts and, in a metaphorical sense, all uphill battles. It’s the card of darkness and the night (and, as an extension, of secrets), which is an obvious contrast with the sense of liberation coming to us as we see the Sun peeking from under the horizon in the Ten of Hearts.

Finally, it’s why this is one of the cards connected with strangers and strange cities and countries -though, usually, not by itself. If, in the Ten of Hearts, we were dealing with familiar physical spaces we are intimately connected with, with the Soldier we are faced with people, situations and places that remain outside of our sphere of familiarity, and that therefore remain outside of our control and sense of security.

With the Ten of Clubs, Levity, and the Ten of Diamonds, The Thief, we are shown gradations on the spectrum. The Butterfly is a simbol of everything that is light, impalpable and indefinite, as shown by its association with the element of Air. It represents a strong departure from the commited consistency of the Ten of Hearts. In the Ten of Clubs we have the self gliding from flower to flower, aimlessly wandering and always avoiding leaving a permanent mark in any direction.

The compromise is that we don’t get much in terms of results, but we are not crushed by the weight of matter either. All the main meanings of the Levity card are derived from this, including the idea of lack of focus, of carelessness and of “just a little”. Note that, in readings where physical death is shown, the Ten of Clubs might appear to show the soul leaving the body and flying away, i.e. relinquishing its ties to the material world.

With the Thief card things start to get ugly. Here we have the Self and the Will very much focused on doing something with the physical world. Unfortunately, it’s not anything that will win them a Nobel prize for peace. The Suit of Diamonds has a lot to do with material values, so the idea, here, is that the Self is hell-bent on appropriating physical things, and it has no moral compass to tell him where a line should be drawn. 

Note that, for their connection with the concept of matter and physical space, the four Tens are also representative of the four directions: the Ten of Hearts is assigned to the South, the Ten of Clubs to the North, the Ten of Diamonds to the West and the Ten of Spades to the East.