Spying with old cards

Last updated on: July 27, 2023 at 5:19 pm by Camelia Elias

Spying with old cards 2023-07-27T17:19:50+02:00 Camelia Elias

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Jakob Holmblad, Samlede Værker (Photo: Camelia Elias)

Sometimes I take out my most precious possessions, the unique in the world 1700s cards in my collection, unique in the sense that no one else actually has them, and ask spying questions. As I get to ride with the whole range of emotions, from melancholia to bliss, I wonder if the fortunetellers that came before me also said things like this, given that we’re talking about three centuries of history:

The way of dealing with the Queen of Spades is by making transactions with the Queen of Clubs. But whereas the Queen of Spades has it, the heart, the Queen o Clubs only has it by ways of wishing for it. Meanwhile, the King of Hearts acts from the force of the crying heart where the Dame de Pique is concerned, offering the Dame de Trèfle nothing but clubs. The exchange is on a par, 5 to 5, but a heart is a heart and a stick is a stick. That makes a whole lot of difference. What is the power of the spell here? The King of Hearts should know.

I’m now casting a full tableau to read for the secret, as follow-up detective questions, marvellous and mighty, arise. One is never bored with the cards. And the old ones are pure magic.

Jakob Holmblad’s Samlede Værker (The Collected Works) is not available anywhere, but my book on how to read the playing cards is. As accompaniment to the book, I made a special cut of cards based on the Goodall and Son design from 1870, now with gold edges and casino green, to make the gambling on love more interesting. You’re welcome to it.

Photo: Camelia Elias

For more such practice with the cards, join the Read like the Devil Practice Club. Visit also Aradia Academy and sign up for the newsletter that will keep you informed on upcoming courses and cartomantic activities. Note the Off the Shelf offering that also includes free resources.

About Camelia Elias

Camelia Elias, PhD & Dr.Phil., is a former university professor. After 20 years in academia, she left her career to pursue her interests in teaching and writing on the philosophy and practice of reading cards. She works with contemplative arts, oracular language, and martial arts cartomancy and Zen at her own school, Aradia Academy. Visit her work at cameliaelias.com You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

April 26, 2021

Reading cards for miscommunication

Next Post

June 8, 2021 Love, virility, and wicked magic between eclipses

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Columns The Cartomancer Uncategorized

Select a Month January 2024 October 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 November 2022 October 2022 August 2022 May 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the first king of Israel?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Solomon David Josiah Saul