Stephen Ball - Playing Card Divination

About the Author

Stephen Ball is the author of Elemental Divination: A Dice Oracle and has taught and created systems of divination for over twenty years. He previously published The Apple Branch: An English Shamanis m as Stephen Blake, and has contributed to Avalonias anthology Horns of Power and to Steve Drurys Dice Mysteries . He lives in London, UK.

Copyright Information

Playing Card Divination: Every Card Tells a Story 2020 by Stephen Ball.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications, except in the form of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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First e-book edition 2020

E-book ISBN: 9780738765068

Book design by Samantha Penn

Cover design by Kevin R. Brown

Editing by Laura Kurtz

Photograph on by Sunish Chabba

Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Ball, Stephen, author.

Title: Playing card divination : every card tells a story / Stephen Ball.

Description: First edition. | Woodbury, Minnesota : Llewellyn Publications,

2020. | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: Turn

a standard deck of playing cards into a colorful divinatory system

filled with inspiration, adventure, advice and insight-- Provided by

publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020008059 (print) | LCCN 2020008060 (ebook) | ISBN

9780738764900 (paperback) | ISBN 9780738765068 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Divination cards. | Fortune-telling by cards.

Classification: LCC BF1778.5 .B35 2020 (print) | LCC BF1778.5 (ebook) |

DDC 133.3/242--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020008059

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020008060

Llewellyn Publications does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business arrangements between our authors and the public.

Any Internet references contained in this work are current at publication time, but the publisher cannot guarantee that a specific reference will continue or be maintained. Please refer to the publishers website for links to current author websites.

Llewellyn Publications

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Woodbury, MN 55125

www.llewellyn.com

Manufactured in the United States of America

To my loves. I managed to be lucky at cards

and at life, which is good fortune indeed.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Elysia and Emily, to my proofreaders, and to the many friends who have enthusiastically helped these new systems grow.

Contents

Introduction

: History and New Ideas

: Reading the Cards, or Dealing a Hand

The Cards and Their Meanings

: The Pip Cards 45

: Hunters Promise

Alanna Hunts the Dragon

: Hunters Gambit

Sev Sees the Target

: Hunters Folly

Nikolai Finds Only Death

: Hunters Triumph

Sophia Claims the Silver Arrow

: Lovers Promise

Aisling Walks in Autumn Leaves

: Lovers Gambit

Lela Steals A Kiss

: Lovers Folly

Rickard Floats Downstream

: Lovers Triumph

Yelen Looks to the Stars

: Healers Promise

Hanna and the Soldier

: Healers Gambit

Angelique Receives a Gift

: Healers Folly

Peters Poor Excuses

: Healers Triumph

Hazel Brought to Judgement

: Smiths Promise

Dinri and the Shining City

: Smiths Gambit

Fionas Masterpiece

: Smiths Folly

Nell Clings to the Window

: Smiths Triumph

Old Fu Eats a Pear

: Warriors Promise

Temir of the Three Chiefs

: Warriors Gambit

Elena on the Burning Sands

: Warriors Folly

Ferghus, Shunned and Alone

: Warriors Triumph

Ambassador Levans Game

: Singers Promise

Claire Reads a Secret

: Singers Gambit

The Lady of the Forest

: Singers Folly

Jenny Buys Another Round

: Singers Triumph

Lissa Sings of Love and Sorrow

: Nobles Promise

Lady Mapenzi Faces the Storm

: Nobles Gambit

Omorede Is Not Alone

: Nobles Folly

Tatiana, Queen of the World

: Nobles Triumph

Daltons Empty Advice

: Hermits Promise

Sara Reaches the Empty Sky

: Hermits Gambit

Hedda Speaks to the Ancestors

: Hermits Folly

The Emerald Mask Repaid

: Hermits Triumph

The Phoenix and the Stars

: Dancers Promise

Adelise Listens Within

: Dancers Gambit

Anja Enters the Cave

: Dancers Folly

Mara, Lost in Beauty

: Dancers Triumph

Hyun-Ki Chases His Master

: Magicians Promise

Jess Throws an Acorn

: Magicians Gambit

Isla and the Four Spirits

: Magicians Folly

Mother Olivias Magic

: Magicians Triumph

Alanna Faces the Dragon

: The Court Cards

: Tricksters Promise

Sabina Betrayed

: Tricksters Gambit

Beth Meets a Good Dog

: Tricksters Folly

Harrys Run Cut Short

: Tricksters Triumph

Leo Plays in the Woods

: Ladys Promise

Agnetha and the Firefly

: Ladys Gambit

Francois Flips a Coin

: Ladys Folly

Elin Climbs the Tower

: Ladys Triumph

Sawyer and the Faery

: Sovereigns Promise

Xaviers Prison

: Sovereigns Gambit

Matthew and the Baker

: Sovereigns Folly

Calum Breaks the Old Rules

: Sovereigns Triumph

Vettorios Canvas

Epilogue

Bibliography and Indexes

Section One

Introduction

Chapter One

History and New Ideas

P laying cards have been loved by people all over the world for centuries and have been used in divination for most of that time. Cards for playing games were known in Europe by 1375, and the first English packs were made around 1450. They are usually associated today with the glamor and risk of Poker or a spy playing in a luxurious casino, but there is also a long tradition where exactly the same playing cards were used to tell the future.

I love creating new divination systems. Ive done it a lot over the years, and you can discover a rich source of new ideas from almost anything: string, coloured beads, cities, autumn leaves. The two objects I think are the easiest and cheapest to buy todaybut which also have very important histories in divinationare playing cards and dice.

I previously wrote a book which introduced readers to the ancient use of dice for foretelling the future ( Elemental Divination: A Dice Oracle , Llewellyn 2018). The other I felt I had to write was this one, because the playing card deck is a unique experience that continues to fascinate and entertain us in a way few others have over the centuries. Its a survivor, an unbroken connection to both the past and the ways in which people play with chance and luck.

The following pages will give you a complete system of divination using only a standard playing card deck. You will discover personalities within the cards: Mythic Roles such as the Hunter, the Trickster, and the Healer, and learn how they form a path of wisdom for us to follow.