Q & A
I sometimes receive questions on cartomancy from website viewers.  So, I have listed these questions and the answers I've given in response.  If you have a question about the information on this website or on the subject of cartomancy, I'd be happy to share my insights. Simply fill out the form below. This form will NOT be used to provide readings, although I will provide insights to help you interpret a reading you have performed if my time permits. If you'd like an in-depth reading, please click here.
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Numbers

If you would be kind enough to give me a little more on the numbers, you gave a scant example and I like it... where would I develop this more.. or find what I need. Also do any of the numbers add up to 1? I am so fascinated by this... and have an avid interest...

Actually, the info on the numbers is based on numerology and if you do a net search on this you will probably find quite a few helpful websites. There is also a book that I found useful titled Tarot: Plain and Simple by Anthony Louis. It discusses each card based on it numerological influence. Yes, numbers will add up to one...you should reduce them between 1 - 9 and then look up the overall meanings for that particular number. Have you looked at the sample readings on my site? I did a sample reading for each spread and I included a numerical theme for each reading.

And about the numerical theme-do I have to add the numbers of all the cards in the reading?

Re: the numerical theme, I usually add up all the cards in the reading. If I'm doing a relationship reading, I will find the numerical theme for each person and then find the overall numerical theme.

Learn more about the
numbers and the numerical theme.


Suit Correlations

I was looking through additional materials trying to find any and all other additional names that the four suits may be referred to, i.e. (wands-batons). Moreover I found a slight contradiction when I looked into two different sources, because I wanted to know what direction the suits correspond with and what element is associated with that element.

You will find all sorts of contradictions when it comes to correspondences for the four suits. Everyone has their own system. I use the following correspondences: Wands-Fire-Spring Cups-Water-Summer Pentacles-Earth-Fall Swords-Air-Winter I don't have info on directions (N,S,E,W) though. My advice is to use a system that makes sense to you.

Learn more about the card
suits.


Face Cards

The cards facing other directions the king or queen or jack... do you have more on it ..??? such as a list for each faceing each other card? if not tell me please how to make
that happen.. there was not too much and I truly want to know.


I don't have more information on the directional trends because this is basically something I came up with. However, there is a book I've read (It's In the Cards by Marthy Jones) that suggests that if the Jack is facing toward a red card, then the Jack is female and toward a black card then the Jack is a male figure. The key to doing any type of divination is making the system your own and devising methods that make sense to you. It's okay to make stuff up! I am still developing this system and will probably have something more definitive in my book.

What does it mean when you get all face cards in a reading but you don't recognize the people? Do you take the attributes of the card to mean that's how the person in question is or do you assume that these are people surrounding the question?

Face cards can represent the questioner, other people and/or situations. I usually try to see them in light of all of these ways in a reading. Typically, however, I see face cards as representing others unless the face card appears in a position designating the questioner. If there are lots of face cards in a reading, I see this as different people influencing you or the situation. Another way I interpret face cards is to look at the card the face card is facing (if that makes sense). This shows the expression or experience of the face card personality. For example, the King of Hearts facing the 5 of Diamonds could mean a boyfriend or husband going through financial trouble.

Learn more about
face cards.


Timing Techniques

When explaining the six-card linear spread, you don't tell us how to decipher the time period if we use a timing card. How will we know if we are looking at days, months or years?

Sorry! I typically use the seasonal method for this spread with the timing card representing one week of the year. Since there are 52 weeks in a year and 52 cards, this works out well. The Clubs suit = spring, Hearts = summer, Diamonds = Fall, Spades = winter. Therefore, if I choose the 6 of Diamonds, that's the 6th week of fall. You'd have to look on the calendar to see what dates that encompasses. If I were to choose the 2 of Hearts right now, that would mean the 2nd week of next summer. My readings don't usually seem to range more than a year out and if so I'm usually doing another type of spread, like the Romany Spread. On the website I have the timing for each card based on this system. However, you can use your own system too..whatever works for you. For example, you can have each suit represent days, weeks, months, years.

You stated on the timing section to come up with your own timing techniques, well, I have tried several and none seem to be complete and sound, thus none have been successful. I was wondering if you could send me some of yours. I think it would be helpful for others in the future if you posted some on the timing section.

I haven't found any timing technique to be "complete and sound" in the sense that it is 100% accurate. Sure, you'll see Ms. Cleo saying such and such happened three months ago or four weeks from now, but I believe that ability is rare and usually has more to do with clairvoyance than reading cards. On my site, I give four different timing techniques. I find that I use the seasonal method the most, with some degree of accuracy.

I have also realized that different readers have different styles of reading that seem to come naturally for them. My readings don't usually include a timing factor unless the person specifically requests one. Since my readings focus on what's really going on in the present and they are not purely predictive/fortune-telling readings, I find that my timing card often shows what will happen (on an inner or external level) before the event will take place. Timing doesn't always mean numbers and dates, either. For example, for someone who wants to know when they will get a promotion, the 4 of Spades as a timing card may reveal they will get the promotion after a temporary withdrawal from work due to recovery from illness or a much-needed vacation.

Don't give up on developing your own system for timing. Make sure you're consistent with your technique and keep practicing. For most of us, it usually takes a while to gain some accuracy using divination tools and techniques.

Learn more about
timing techniques.


Card Combinations

Do the card combos have 2 be in the same row or you could interpret them even though they're scattered throughout the spread?

The card combinations don't have to be in the same row, particularly if you are doing a spread that isn't done in rows. However, if you're doing a spread like the Romany spread, which has three rows of seven, then you may find card combinations that pertain to each row, showing themes for the past, present and future.

Learn more about
card combinations.


My Reading Style

I noticed that the meanings on your page were kind of introspective and self-meditative and focuses more on the present  than the future; I was wondering, is the info on your page geared towards self-meditation/realization Cartomancy and not Prophetic cartomancy?

If I'm understanding you correctly, you are referring to prophetic meanings like the 8 of Spades meaning an approaching illness. What if this card appears in a relationship reading or one about finances? Do you always interpret it as an approaching illness? I take the inherent meaning of the card (restriction (Spades) of movement (Eight)) and apply it to the question. It could mean that you are in a suffocating relationship or that your money is all tied up right now.

I've always had trouble making any sense of a reading with the "prophetic" interpretations. To me, the only difference between self-meditative and prophetic divination is in how you wish to interpret the cards. Prophetic means to me determining the future. Therefore, I can use the same meanings but just say this is happening now or this will happen in the future. I do understand what you're asking, though, and this is my personal style. Everyone develops their own style of reading that works for them and for me I  like to help people understand "why" something is happening in their lives and not just tell them what will happen. I see each reading as a spotlight on the questioner's behaviors and attitudes that are creating what's going on in their lives. I believe that everything that happens is created in some way by the person, or involves a lesson that they are meant to learn for some purpose.

Learn more about my
reading style.


Interpretation Help

How do I decide the best meaning of the cards? I really could use some feedback. I've been looking everywhere about cartomancy and most book stores have a limited selection on cartomancy and tons of books about tarot cards.

Unfortunately, I don't think there's an easy answer to your question. I found, like you, that cartomancy interpretations differ greatly. So I decided to create my own interpretations, which are based on my knowledge of tarot and numerology. I think it's best to just find a system that makes sense to you and use it or create your own system. The best meanings are those that are easy for you to understand and use.

Do the meanings you posted in your webpage apply to all the spreads you posted?

Yes, they apply to all the spreads, but you have to keep in mind that you interpret each card based on its relevance in the reading. For example, the 2 of Hearts is typically seen as a card of love and attraction. That's fine when it comes up in a relationship reading. But I've also seen this card come up re: questions like, "Is this the job for me?" When it does, it shows compatibility between the employer and the employee. It takes a bit of time and intution to find the "correct" meaning for each reading.

What does it mean when you get a great card and a bad card in the same reading? For example I got the Ace of Hearts and the Ace of Spades in the same reading, or the 8 of Spades and the 10 of Hearts. Very confusing for me.

I don't see cards as good or bad, merely different energies. So, if you find two cards that seem to have conflicting energies, this could be manifesting in your life as well. It can also be that the cards are influencing one another or one is slightly changing the energy of the other. For example, the 8 of Spades-10 of Hearts can mean feeling restricted or powerless in a family or group situation. Ace of Hearts-Ace of Spades can mean starting a new romantic relationship that may require you to make a difficult decision. Laying out cards to represent specific issues also helps you decipher the meanings as well. For example, let's say one card represents a fear and the other a true desire. The 8 of Spades can show a fear of being trapped in a relationship. The 10 of Hearts can show a desire for marriage and family. However, if the cards appeared in the opposite positions, the reading would be completely different.

I just bought a pack of cards and did a six-card linear spread -and am blown away! Now though I wanted to ask you if you consider aces high or low? (I drew an ace of clubs for the outcome card). I am determined to succeed in my business; is that shown by the ace; or does it show that I need to expend more energy towards it -or that I'm weary of trying to do it all myself?

I see Aces as signifying new beginnings, opportunities and potential. The Aces are like the seeds that grow into wonderful things later. The Ace of Clubs is always a card I see as starting a business venture. It is a card that shows being ambitious and taking some risk (Clubs) but there is also the potential for success (Ace). I would say that the Ace of Clubs as an outcome definitely shows your determination to succeed in your business, but it also suggests to me that this endeavor is just getting off the ground or perhaps there will be a new development in the future. Being weary trying to do it all by yourself sounds more like the 10 of Clubs. You may also want to determine the numerical theme for the reading because that shows where your energy is at the moment with regard to your question.
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