Divination Via Threes: An Old Cartomantic Method

[akiva]

As I said in a different thread, I thought it would be nice to share some of the older methods found in books from the late 1800's and the early 1900's that seemed to of died out in more modern times. This particular method can be found in most books from that era, and seems to be a staple spread used by cartomancers of old. As it is a folk practice, there is a fair bit of variation to the actual method depending on the author. So I've tried my best to condense it down into something more streamlined. 

 

This method can be used with any deck (even Lenormand), though it was commonly found in books utilising the piquet deck (32 cards).

 

The method is as follows: 

 

• Select the significator for the querent and put on the table in front of you. Traditionally if it wasn't in the spread you'd have to redo the whole process. So I've put this step first to save that headache. The following is how I select a significator, feel free to use your own way: 

• Diamonds: Blonde, auburn, white hair, blue eyes

• Hearts: Brown hair, blue eyes

• Spades: Black hair, dark eyes

• Clubs: Brown hair, brown eyes

    

• Draw cards from the deck in three's. In said set of three cards, the highest ranking is removed and placed in front of the reader, forming a line or horseshoe. The rest are discarded into a seperate pile. 

 

It's worth mentioning though that if you're using a piquet deck, you'll never end up drawing the 7's as they are the lowest number (unless in a set of 3 suits or values). To remedy this, one author (I forget who unfortunately) states to add the 6's and use them as placeholders (they're never read) so that the 7's can be drawn.

 

• If all three cards are the same suit or share the same value, then they are all placed in the line/horseshoe. For eg: 3 heart cards, or 3 kings.

 

• The aim is to have an odd number of cards in front of you. This varies depending on author, but it can be as little as 13 and as many as 21.

If using a piquet deck/Lenormand, you'll run through the deck quickly. Take the discarded pile, shuffle and recommence drawing the cards in threes. Repeat until you've reached your desired number of odd cards.

 

• Once done, you note any pairs/triplets/quadruplets of cards (this was a big thing in playing card reading back in the day) and read them. Some authors read them in ascending order, others in descending, and others read them haphazardly. I tend to read them descending (ace-7 for piquet).

 

I will write up a couple of lists of these sometime soon (along with some piquet meanings) as they vary depending on the author and are almost a whole reading system in their own right.

For tarot the PKT lists them here in section 5. They can easily be applied to a full 52 playing card deck, just ignore the knights. 

 

•Then begin counting cards from the significator round the horseshoe and read them in sets of three, until you return back to the significator. I personally use the number 7 as it seemed the most common number used for countng at the time. 

 

 

In the example above, the first 3 to be read would be J❤️, 8♣️ and 7♣️. Then J♦️, Q♣️, 8♠️ and so on.

 

• Once you've returned back to the significator, an optional step is to then pair the cards at the ends of the spread pair by pair. I say this is optional because it isn't present in every book that speaks of this method.

 

 

Sorry for the bad gif I made, my tripod wouldn't hold still so had to do it by hand... 😅

 

• Upon completing the horseshoe/line and the optional method, you gather up the odd number of cards (still keeping them seperate from the discarded pile of cards) and reshuffle them. Then proceed to put them one at a time into a number of piles depending on the number of cards you used in the spread. If you used 13-17 cards then use 5 piles. If you use 21 cards then 7 piles. 

 

 

I tend to use 15 cards as then you get a nice rounded 3 cards in 5 piles. Some authors don't do this and end up with different numbers of cards in each pile, which I'm not personally a fan of.

 

The 5 piles represent:

• The querent

• The querents home/people closest/the enviroment associated with the question

• What the querent expects to come about

• Surprise happenings

• The wish

 

The 7 piles represent:

• The querent

• The querents home/people closest/the enviroment associated with the question

• What the querent expects to come about

• What the querent doesn't expect to come about

• Surprise happenings

• What is sure to come true

• The wish

 

•Flip them over and read each pile in relation to it's meaning. Making note of any pairs/triplets/quadruplets that appear.

 

And that is it for this method. It seems a bit verbose, but in actual execution it's supposed to be quick.

The card meanings you use do need to be kept simple though (a few key words for each card). Reading too deeply into each card can end up making this a beast of a spread.

 

I hope this brings some fun for those willing to try it! Autumn is coming and this is perfect for cosy nights indoors 😁

[Raggydoll]

You made gifs for us?!! 😍 This calls for standing ovations! 

 

[akiva]

Haha thank you for the standing ovation @Raggydoll! 😂

 

 

I was trying to explain the card counting and pairing and remembered that english isn't everyones first language and also that it's just really annoying to try and describe. So decided to do it visually as well.

 

I hope it's clear enough for anyone who wants to have a go with it! 😁

[Raggydoll]

5 minutes ago, akiva said:

Haha thank you for the standing ovation @Raggydoll! 😂

 

 

I was trying to explain the card counting and pairing and remembered that english isn't everyones first language and also that it's just really annoying to try and describe. So decided to do it visually as well.

 

I hope it's clear enough for anyone who wants to have a go with it! 😁

I sincerely appreciate you thinking of us non-native English speakers! 

[DanielJUK]

Thanks for your wonderful effort @akiva ⭐

[akiva]

1 hour ago, DanielJUK said:

Thanks for your wonderful effort @akiva ⭐

No problem Dan, I was panicking I put it in the wrong place 😆