List of Meanings for Playing Card Tarot (2024)

I'm a professional tarot reader, but when I don't have a tarot deck with me, I can use a deck of playing cards to provide a useful reading.

Using Playing Cards as Tarot

If you are looking for a quick guide to reading playing cards as you would tarot cards, then you’ve found it. I've put together a basic list of meanings for the cards that you can refer to any time.

By necessity, this list of playing card interpretations is short and to-the-point. However, if you take each keyword or phrase as a kernel of an idea, you should be able to build on it in a tarot reading. Take into account the circ*mstances of the person asking the question. Try to combine the meanings of two cards to come up with a third. Use your imagination and tap into your intuition.

You might want to go deeper and learn the structure of tarot as it applies to playing cards. If so, I have another article—How to Read Tarot With Playing Cards—that breaks down the basic elements so you can read any card for any question. By the way, reading cards of any kind to obtain information is called "cartomancy."

A note about these playing cards: The cards used to illustrate this article are Ghost Playing Cards by Bicycle. They are a little confusing because they are mostly black, with just elements of red to differentiate Hearts and Diamonds. They are excellent quality and, like all the Bicycle decks, good for cartomancy.

Playing Cards as Tarot Meaning Chart

The Joker

It’s entirely up to you whether you include the Joker/s or not. The Joker is the playing card representative of the tarot Fool. Keeping it simple, the Fool is numberless; he is the unformed consciousness that journeys through the tarot, undergoing transformation, self-understanding, challenges, and generally educating himself via those experiences. Personally, for a quick playing card reading, I’d leave it out.

However, should you choose to include either one or all, then the meaning assigned is: taking a risk (positive), doing something foolish (negative), innocence (unknowing). Which of those interpretations you select depends on the question.

The Suit of Clubs

Clubs are the equivalent of the tarot suit of Wands. They represent action, passion and inspiration. They are associated with fire.

• Ace of Clubs: Spark of inspiration, passion. A new love affair, the idea for a business or life-change.
• Two of Clubs: Planning, delays, waiting for the signal to move.
• Three of Clubs: You’ve done all you can, hard work pays off.
• Four of Clubs: Celebration, rest, stability, pause.
• Five of Clubs: Competition, petty arguments, fights, not working in harmony.
• Six of Clubs: Success, victory, good exam results.
• Seven of Clubs: Standing up for oneself. Defending your viewpoint.
• Eight of Clubs: Events moving quickly, getting organized (fast), possible pregnancy.
• Nine of Clubs: Stressed, but unbowed. Determined to finish the task/fight.
• Ten of Clubs: Responsibilities, weighed down, burdened but almost at the end of the project/life-stage.
• Jack/Knave of Clubs: f*ckless charmer. Passionate affair. Individual unable to focus on one task.
• Queen of Clubs: Passionate, enthusiastic, fun. Career woman.
• King of Clubs: Leader, always aware of the larger picture, not good at details.

The Suit of Hearts

Hearts are the same as the tarot Cups. They represent emotions, feelings, fulfillment, and, of course, love and loss. Hearts are associated with water.

• Ace of Hearts: New love, beginnings of a deep connection, conception.
• Two of Hearts: Mutual attraction, love, friendship.
• Three of Hearts: Celebration of friendship, a girls’ (or boys’) night out, end of an emotional cycle.
• Four of Hearts: Emotional stability, possible low-level depression; unaware, or deliberately ignoring the positive aspects in life.
• Five of Hearts: Loss, sadness, depression, grief.
• Six of Hearts: Childhood, nostalgia, memories, the past revisited, an old flame appears.
• Seven of Hearts: Feeling-based choices, indecision, going astray.
• Eight of Hearts: Leaving, splitting up, change of direction.
• Nine of Hearts: Fulfillment, understanding that solitariness is not loneliness, contentment.
• Ten of Hearts: family, love, achievement of emotional peak.
• Jack/Knave of Hearts: A person who is in love with being in love. Romantic suitor, short-term love affair.
• Queen of Hearts: Someone to turn to; she offers emotional support, a listening ear. Watch out for darker undercurrents; she may have problems of her own.
• King of Hearts: Kindly counselor, gives wise advice based on experience. Possible alcoholic or addict of some kind.

The Suit of Spades

Spades are equivalent to the tarot suit of Swords. They are connected to thought and communication. All the activity that goes on in our minds; ‘head stuff.’ Spades are associated with air.

• Ace of Spades: Flash of insight, revelation, realization, understanding, idea.
• Two of Spades: Reluctance/refusal to acknowledge the truth, withdrawal. Possible communication difficulties.
• Three of Spades: Breakdown in communication; misunderstanding leading to a rift, fight, or break-up.
• Four of Spades: Recovery, recuperation, time-out.
• Five of Spades: Deception, bullying, walking away from a disagreement. Resistance or non-resistance.
• Six of Spades: Moving on, a change of direction, travel; putting the past behind you.
• Seven of Spades: Theft, recovery of property or abstract quality (confidence, self-esteem, etc.). Subterfuge.
• Eight of Spades: Feeling there’s no choice, backing oneself into a corner, can’t see the way out—although the solution is right there in plain view.
• Nine of Spades: Nightmares, repetitive thought, problems, anxiety, depression.
• Ten of Spades: Endings, mental breakdown, the only way is up. New beginning.
• Jack/Knave of Spades: Someone on a mission. Single-minded individual. Clever, sarcastic, intelligent.
• Queen of Spades: Truthseeker, efficient person. She cannot put up with indecisiveness or stupidity.
• King of Spades: Professional, good at his job, highly motivated and intelligent. Advisor, lawyer, accountant, writer.

The Suit of Diamonds

Diamonds are equal to the suit of Pentacles in tarot. They relate to the material word; all that we see and touch. They cover such areas as money, work, practical projects, homes, etcetera. Diamonds can also represent the practical aspects of relationships. Diamonds are associated with earth.

• Ace of Diamonds: Prize, gift, new home, new project, new job.
• Two of Diamonds: Balancing the budget, time management. Juggling resources.
• Three of Diamonds: Focus on work. Honing skills, teamwork, collaboration.
• Four of Diamonds: Guarding resources, not socializing; holding oneself apart from society.
• Five of Diamonds: Needing help, destitution, lack of money, loss of job.
• Six of Diamonds: Charity, offering/receiving help, supporting another financially.
• Seven of Diamonds: Materially well-off yet spiritually dissatisfied. Looking for a possible new direction.
• Eight of Diamonds: New job, change of career, improving skills, undergoing training or teaching.
• Nine of Diamonds: Material and spiritual independence. Satisfaction, happiness in solitude.
• Ten of Diamonds: Family, inheritance, traditions, family business, social gatherings.
• Jack/Knave of Diamonds: Hard worker, loyal person, hidden attributes.
• Queen of Diamonds: Home-lover, nest-builder, mother, female leader.
• King of Diamonds: Businessman, achievements through hard work. Enjoyment of luxury and fruits of own labor.

If you have any questions, do ask in the comments. However, please don't ask for free readings or ask me to interpret your cards for you.

Remember that you should never make an important decision based on what you see in the cards. Tarot readings are for entertainment only.

More Articles About Using Playing Cards for Tarot

How to Work Out Playing Card Tarot Combinations in Spreads. When you begin to use ‘spreads’ (i.e. more than one card), it gets a little complicated because cards interact, or rather, the meanings overlap.

Use Playing Cards for Tarot Readings: Questions of Love. When you have a pressing "yes" or "no" question, but no one to talk to nor a deck of tarot cards to consult, pick up a pack of playing cards.

Tarot With Playing Cards Yes/No Answers. This is a fast, down-and-dirty guide to what playing cards answer ‘yes’ to your questions and which ones say "no." Oh, and be aware, there could also be some "maybes" in there, too!

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

Question: How do I shuffle playing cards for a tarot reading?

Answer: You shuffle the cards in the same way you would if you were playing a regular game. Everyone tends to have a preferred way of shuffling, so go with whatever you feel comfortable with.

Here are some ways of laying out the cards for a reading: https://hubpages.com/fortune-divination/Playing-Ca...

Question: What does it mean when the tarot cards run in numerical order?

Answer: Usually it means the deck hasn't been shuffled properly. If you are convinced that the cards have been shuffled well, then it means that there is significant progression in the situation. That the journey through (whatever the question refers to) is just as important as the outcome.

Question: I drew all Queens for a reading. What does that mean?

Answer: It depends on the question you were asking and your situation. When the same rank of court card appears in multiples it means that the energy of that rank is intensified.

Question: Are there any differences to the meanings if you draw the card upside down?

Answer: Playing cards are the same both ways up. Therefore there are no reversed cards as there are in tarot.

Question: I have read a lot of different meanings for tarot each card. And am confused about it. What are the real meanings?

Answer: There are a lot of meanings for each card, but there is always an individual theme. So, take the Two of Spades/Two of Swords. The core meaning is refusing to see what's in front of you. However, there is a scale of meaning from negative to positive. So the worst meaning is cutting yourself off, descending into mental health issues, but the positive one is taking the time you need to work out the truth or to make the right choice. All tarot cards work this way. Think of it as a spectrum of meaning from worst to best.

Your job, as an interpreter, is to decide where on the scale the right message lies. That means using your intuition, weighing up the situation, and deciding which works most appropriately. The problem is that people want to be given the right meaning, but it takes a little practice and skill to read the cards accurately. As I mentioned in the article, "...if you take each keyword or phrase as a kernel of an idea, you should be able to build on it. Take into account the circ*mstances of the person asking the question. Try to combine the meanings of two cards to come up with a third. Use your imagination and tap into your intuition."

Question: Please tell me the playing card suit that matches with each season or element?

Answer: Well my preference is for Diamonds (Pentacles/Coins) to correspond with winter. Clubs (Wands/Staves) = summer. Spades (Swords) = Spring. Hearts (Cups/Chalices) = Autumn.

Question: How do I do a reading? How many times do I shuffle the deck?

Answer: This article is simply a reference for the card meanings. To learn how to do a reading, you need to read these articles:

https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/How-to-Re...

https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-C...

Question: I have drawn the Five of Cups tarot card as the intentions of my boyfriend. Does this mean our union is not to be?

Answer: Not necessarily. The cards respond to the energies around you, so it's possible that either you or he will (or have already) experience some kind of emotional challenge.

Having said that, if it turned up for me in a reading for one of my clients, I would advise them to prepare for the possibility of the ending of the relationship. It's still just a possibility though. The cards can't take into account the fact that people have free will and can change the direction of their future.

Question: In regards to play card tarot, why do I find different playing card meanings on different websites? I'm finding that sometimes they are opposite. How can I know which list of definitions is accurate?

Answer: The best thing to do is to develop your list of meanings. Mine is based on my experience of reading tarot.

Study the basics of numerology. Learn the properties of the suits. Put them together, and you have your system. Also, develop your intuition, because a card will mean something in one situation and something different in another.

Question: I have found three or four playing cards lying in my path. They were all clubs: The Ace, the King, the Nine, and one more I forgot because it was the first one and I didn't pick it up or pay much attention. But believe me the next three showing up had my full attention. It all happened within a two or three week time period. What could this possibly mean?

Answer: If you read the cards as a spread, they mean you should be looking out for new opportunities and, at the same time, persevere with existing projects or situations that will soon be resolved. There is the possibility that you will be called on to lead a team or demonstrate leadership qualities in some way.

It's wonderful when these things happen. I wonder if someone dropped a deck of cards and whether other people noticed them too.

Question: Have you written on the subject of sequential/repeating numbers, same suit runs or card patterns? Could you recommend other references you favor on such card groupings? I recently turned up triple 8's and a 2,3,4 run in hearts as well as a few other interesting patterns on a 9 card spread, which of course, really got my attention to say the least.

Answer: I have written about repeating cards, but the article was about tarot, not playing cards. And for the life of me, I can't remember where that article is published.

No, I don't know of any references regarding playing card groupings, but you could find out more by searching out your questions with tarot as the focus. As I base my interpretations on tarot, you should turn up some answers.

To expand on your question, when two or more cards show up of the same number, then the energy of that number is intensified. For example, fives generally mean that there is a challenge to be faced. Two or more of these shows that there are multiple challenges, and the seeker will be either dealing with them well, or not at all.

When there are sequences of the same suit, it means progression (or lack of) depending on the suit. It's interesting to note that the two 'male' suits Swords/Spades and Wands/Clubs decay, energy-wise, as the numbers increase after five. Cups/Hearts and Coins/Diamonds do the opposite; their energy rises after five. Or you might see them as increasing negativity/positivity. Does that make sense?

Question: In playing card tarot, what does it mean when the royal suites are facing each other or facing away from each other?

Answer: It completely depends on the question. So, if they are facing away, for example, if it is a question about love or friendship, it may mean that one person is withdrawing or turning their attention away. It might also mean that someone is wanting independence.

If they come out facing each other then it's a good time to keep the channels of communication open. Or with love, the two people concerned are attentive to each other.

Question: I found a Seven of Spades card while walking through town and I've tried to search for some type of meaning in it but can't seem to find anything. Do you have any insight by chance into the meaning of a found Seven of Spades card?

Answer: You could go and research the Seven of Swords in tarot and see if any of the information you find matches up with some aspect of your life experience.

Question: How do you if it's a he or she when the jack/knave tarot card appears?

Answer: Usually, you can make an educated guess based on the question and circ*mstances. If you really aren't sure, then just make a note of it and let the passing of time reveal the answer.

Question: Does the layout of the cards matter when using playing cards for Tarot?

Answer: A layout, or 'spread' can be helpful because you can assign extra meanings to the positions. For example, a three card reading could have the positions 'past', 'present', and 'future'.

More information on playing card spreads here: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-C...

Question: Do the kings in playing card tarot represent older men?

Answer: In the traditional interpretations, yes, they do. However, these days, we tend to go by qualities rather than age and gender. Kings are logical thinkers and outwardly focused. They see the big picture, rather than the details. They can represent actual personalities or characteristics - you have to work on the basis of their suit.

https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/How-to-Re...

Question: What’s the difference if the cards are red and black? Does that mean it’s a reverse meaning? Positive and negative?

Answer: The red cards are usually Hearts and Diamonds. The black are Spades and Clubs. In the deck I use, the red cards are the ones with the tiny red hearts and diamonds. They are a little unusual.

Each suit represents different aspects of life. There aren't any reversed cards in playing card tarot because they appear the same whichever way up they are. So you have to build the negative to positive meanings into your interpretations. That's where the skill of an experienced reader comes into play. The article above gives you the basic meanings and as you do more readings, you'll be able to build and expand upon them.

More information on how to read playing cards as tarot here: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/How-to-Re...

Question: Does the Queen of Diamonds represent what every woman in this day and age tries to be or longs to be?

Answer: No, the Queen of Diamonds only represents one aspect of what being a woman means. Diamonds are related to the Pentacles/Coins suit in tarot, therefore are connected to material concerns, such as home-making, child-rearing and health. Other examples: a passionate woman is represented by the Queen of Wands (Clubs), an intuitive, empathic woman by the Queen of Cups (Hearts), an ambitious woman by the Queen of Swords (Spades). Yet those are just brief examples - Queens, like the other courts, encompass the whole of human nature.

Question: My daughter pulled Jack of Clubs, Seven of Clubs and Jack of Hearts. She is wondering how rare is it to pulled this set of cards?

Answer: Well, that's just a pair of jacks, so not very rare. Turning up pairs is common, but significant when reading tarot. It means the energies of that number, or court card, is intensified.

Question: Do the Jacks in a playing card deck correspond to the Knights in a tarot deck, not the Pages? Besides the Major Arcana, I guess the Pages are the only ones who get left out!

Answer: You have to remember that playing cards were invented many years before tarot. Tarot is relatively young compared to playing cards which initially came from China. So the Pages are an addition to tarot so that the games of Tarocchi and Triumphs could be played. Historians are pretty sure that cards, whichever their form, were never intended to be used for divination.

It's possible to combine the traits of Knights and Pages into the single Jack.

https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/How-to-Re...

Question: How can you use a standard deck of playing cards without the Major Arcana or the Pages?

Answer: You simply read with the cards you have. You can combine the Knights and Pages into the Jacks, if you wish. There is more information here: https://hubpages.com/fortune-divination/How-to-Rea...

Question: What card is the Wheel of Fortune in the playing deck of cards?

Answer: There isn't one. There aren't any Major Arcana in playing cards, apart from the Joker/Fool.

Question: Do you use all the cards in the deck for one tarot reading?

Answer: You shuffle all the cards and then draw what you need for the reading.

This article may be helpful: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-C...

Question: What are the possible meanings of randomly finding a Seven of Diamonds face up in a hallway?

Answer: Well, look at the meaning given in the article and think about whether it has any special significance in your life. If it does, then analyze it further. To find out more information you can look up the various interpretations of the Seven of Pentacles; the tarot equivalent. If it doesn't have any personal significance, you can discard the finding of the card as meaning nothing.

Question: Can you explain the Ten of Diamonds when using it in a Tarot reading?

Answer: The main meaning is given in the list above, but if you want to delve further, it's the equivalent of the Ten of Pentacles. The card is connected to a stable family situation. Security, abundance and a solid inheritance or family home. Diamonds/Pentacles are generally to do with the material, practical aspects of life. This website has a ton of information about each card: https://teachmetarot.com/part-1-minor-arcana/lesso...

Question: How do you deal the deck to read tarot?

Answer: This article will answer all your dealing and spread questions: https://hubpages.com/fortune-divination/Playing-Ca...

Question: Do the jacks in playing card tarot represent young men?

Answer: Jacks can represent young men or women. They are connected to youth, immaturity, swift actions. Again, it depends on their suit how active they are and which aspects of life they represent, i.e., hearts = love/emotions, clubs = inspiration/risk, spades = intellect/communication, and diamonds = material world/work/money.

https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/How-to-Re...

Question: When do the tarot cards I pull start to happen in reality?

Answer: That depends on many things, your circ*mstances, the question, actions you take, external influences, other people, etc. I have done tarot readings that have unfolded over a year.

Question: If I include both Jokers, in playing card tarot, do I treat them the same, or is one considered 'red' and the other 'black'?

Answer: Just include one. The Joker is neither red or black.

Question: I have all four Kings to tell me if my wife loves me or not...can you clarify that?

Answer: Your question is a perfect example of why people get confused with tarot. Think about your question... how many cards might give you the answer to it - just one. By drawing four cards, you make it harder for yourself. Also before you shuffle and turn your card, you must have a system in place for positive/negative yes/no cards. So that when you turn the card you know immediately what it is telling you.

I suggest you start again once you have these parameters clear in your mind. This article maybe helpful to you: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Tarot-for...

Question: Are there any alternate meanings with reversed cards while playing Card Tarot?

Answer: There are none because the cards read the same whichever way up they are.

More here: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/How-to-Re...

Question: How will you know if you are called to do tarot?

Answer: There's no "calling" as such. However, you might feel attracted to the cards and feel enthusiastic to learn the system and develop your reading skills.

Question: Where can I find information on interpreting my tarot playing cards?

Answer: Try this link to that information: https://hubpages.com/religion-philosophy/Can-I-Ask...

Question: Can you read the whole deck?

Answer: Do you mean in one spread? It's possible, but I wouldn't like to do it with playing cards. You would have to assign 52/53 position meanings, and it would get very complicated.

Some readers can do it by asking a question and then turning a card, then asking another question. It is a tedious process.

Question: I get the Four of Hearts again and again when I ask about my ex boyfriend. What is the meaning of this?

Answer: The Four of Hearts is equivalent to the Four of Cups in tarot. The image on the Four of Cups shows a young man who is withdrawn and introspective. If you are asking if you will get back together, then the answer is that it is unlikely. He is focused on his own life right now and is not ready to make any commitments. He's built a wall around himself and you are not allowed to get close. Let it go and move on.

Question: Do the queens in playing card tarot represent women?

Answer: Usually, yes. But like the Kings, they are more personality/character-based. Queens are inwardly focussed. They see the important details. They are intuitive rather than logical.

https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/How-to-Re...

Question: Is it possible to use both joker cards in a reading? One being used as the upright, and the other the reverse?

Answer: No, because that doubles the chance of the card appearing. You wouldn't do it in tarot. Just mark the card to show if it's reversed. However, a skilled reader understands that all the cards hold the full spectrum of meaning from positive to negative. They rely on the intuition, the circ*mstances, the question, and surrounding cards to help them pull out the meaning.

Question: For playing card Tarot, you shuffle cards then flip through them till you get to a Queen. Lay it down, then flip through the cards till you come to a seven. Then the card after that is the card you want to lay down. Is this correct?

Answer: Not for me it isn't, but if it works for you, then use that method. All readers have their own way of doing things and I guess that's as good as any. Personally, I prefer to 'tune in', shuffle a few times, cut the cards, then turn from the top.

Question: How can you tell if someone is a blonde light skin male or female in tarot? Or if they are dark skin male/female young/old?

Answer: You can't unless you are a psychic reader. Back in the day, physical characteristics were assigned to certain cards, but it just doesn't work in a non-hom*ogeneous society. There are simply not enough cards to represent all the different characteristics. That kind of fortune-telling is a bit old hat nowadays. It's better to know the in-depth personality traits of each court card and use them to identify people.

Question: When using playing cards for Tarot, do certain cards have any seasonal value?

Answer: It depends on your personal system. Although I have been reading Tarot for years, I'm still not very good with specific timing. Keeping it general, I connect Swords/Spades with spring, Wands/Clubs with summer, Cups/Hearts with autumn, and Pentacles/Diamonds with winter.

Question: Have you got any suggestions for tarot layouts for a beginner?

Answer: Yes, I have another article that lists a number of simple layouts (spreads) for beginners. https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-C...

Question: The love of my life passed away 9/9/19. Out of nowhere I saw an Ace of Spades in our bed while lying down. What does this mean?

Answer: I am so sorry to hear of your loved one's passing. My deepest condolences to you and your family. Seeing that card must have been a bit of a shock too.

The Ace of Spades is the equivalent of the Ace of Swords in tarot. All Aces are positive cards. They represent the pure energy of their suit. In this case that is the energy of clear vision, clear thinking and clear communication. Sometimes it will herald a breakthrough in understanding, a new idea, or a sudden realization of the truth.

I think the card is a message of reassurance. That your partner has reached a better place. If they were in pain, then know it's gone. If they had trouble with communication, then know all is well. And keep looking out for more signs.

Question: Do Jacks represent children in tarot readings?

Answer: They can, in a similar way to Pages in tarot. However, it depends on whether it fits in with your question and situation. If you feel it fits, then fine, the card will represent a child. However, usually, the court cards represent people with influence over the circ*mstances.

The other card that often refers to children, in a general way, is the Six of Hearts.

Question: What about the major arcana when using a playing card deck to read tarot?

Answer: There aren't any, so you read the cards without them. You could include the Joker as the unnumbered Fool who travels through life as represented by the other cards.

Question: What is the meaning of the red King of Spades - represented as a joker on a bicycle - in tarot?

Answer: It's the Joker. The Fool. The creator of the deck is poking fun at the stern, authoritarian King of Spades. It still means the same as the normal-looking Joker: take a risk, do that thing or, depending on the context, foolishness.

Question: Is there a deck of tarot cards that is visually informative, and at the same time encourages my intuition?

Answer: There are lots. The thing is, it that it's all down to personal taste. So spend some time looking at as many images as possible. You might like the weirdly wonderful Deviant Moon, or the romantic Gilded Tarot. Most people start off with the Rider-Waite because it has come to be considered the standard (it's a good idea to know this one intimately then you can apply your knowledge to almost any other deck). My newest favorite is the Mystical Tarot, but my workhorse, go-to deck, is the Robin Wood.

https://hubpages.com/fortune-divination/How-and-Wh...

Question: I want to use one of my Marseille-style tarot decks to learn playing card divination, can I do this and what is the simplest way?

Answer: If you read tarot, you are already doing what is described in the article. Tarot incorporates the suits (elements) and numbers but also has all that extra symbolism... and extra cards. So if you tried to read them like playing cards, you would actually be 'downgrading'. If you want to read playing cards - get yourself a deck of playing cards.

Question: How can I use playing cards to make a particular event occur in a specific time frame?

Answer: In my experience, events have a way of unfolding at exactly the right time. My advice is to relax and trust that everything will happen in its own way. Trying to force it, or insist on knowing a time frame, is futile.

Question: Why are there two red suits and two black suits?

Answer: I guess mostly because of color printing limitations back in the day. However, some decks use four colors - for playing Bridge for example.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-color_deck

Question: While I was walking I saw a playing card lying face down in the snow and it was the King of Clubs. Could there be a special meaning or message as to why I found this particular card? I'm a Sag.. I'm still in love with my ex. He hurt me a lot in the past because he drank. He quit drinking. We're still friends, but when I told him I still love him he won't talk. So could the King of Clubs card be a message to me?

Answer: It very likely is a message but it might not be connected to your ex. It's simply that your mind is so focused on your ex that you are automatically thinking it is to do with him. The King of Clubs is equivalent to the King of Wands in the tarot. It generally represents someone in a powerful position; someone with authority. They can hinder or help you, depending on the circ*mstances.

More information here: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Tarot-Kin...

© 2018 Bev G

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on September 18, 2020:

Great question, Wally. Yes they do. Combinations tend to come under intermediate to advanced reading, and usually readers come to it themselves with experience. I usually take adjacent cards into account when reading tarot. Also, there is a concept called 'Elemental Dignities', where the element of the card (for example, Spades/Swords = air; Clubs/Wands = fire) have an effect - the air of the Spades card would accentuate the fire of Clubs.

Can't go into it all here, but it's a fascinating aspect. Maybe I should write an article about it?

Wally on September 17, 2020:

What do cards mean in combinations? I remember someone once had me shuffel the deck and place cards into three piles the largest closest to me, the cards were then tuned over making 4 rows of 13 and as the cards were spred on the table my friend began to tell me my reading and when a card from the row above touched the card next to it of on the bottom of it, it had a different meaning, as an example when the Ace of spades came into contact with the 9 of clubs I was told it ment change, or death, perhaps death of a situation, or of a relationship; something ending, perhaps a job ect. Do certain combinations of cards tell a story or have a particular, or special meaning?

Drew Agravante from Philippines on August 07, 2020:

Wow, I never thought that each card had such meaning. Thanks for the very interesting piece.

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on August 07, 2020:

Hi G,

Most playing card decks are the same whichever way they are dealt, so reversals aren't possible without marking the cards.

However, in tarot reversals can be a bit of a double-edged sword for a new reader. For example, how do you decide what percentage of the deck should be turned? And wouldn't deliberately turning a portion of the deck be interfering with the fall of the cards?

Personally, I prefer to keep the cards upright, but at the same time, I'm aware of the whole range of possible interpretations from negative (reversed) to positive. I allow my interpretations to be driven by the other cards, the energy surrounding the question and my own intuition.

A good deck to take a look at is the Revelations Tarot, which has the reversals built right into it.

You can find more tarot articles at tarot-study.info.

Good luck on your journey :)

G on August 07, 2020:

Hello!

Thank you very, very much for this article. I am a novice in card reading and I am using my playing cards until I get a tarot deck of my own. Thus, I would like to ask if in the interpretation of the playing cards we should take reversals into account (e.g. a reversed Ace of Spades or a reversed Ace of Cups), as I have noticed that reversals are usually taken into account in Tarot readings.

Thank you in advance for your time. Keep up the excellent work!

Namaste,

G.

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on May 15, 2020:

Whoever gave the cards was implying that you and your friend are a pair of jokers. It was a crude attempt to be funny.

Me 901 on May 14, 2020:

I was given two joker cards under me n my mates pic what does it mean

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on April 23, 2020:

Hi Ltheflowerwitch,

There is another article, which I have linked to in the article above, "How to Read Tarot with Playing Cards". It details how to use the cards as a substitute for tarot.

As there are no Majors in playing card tarot (apart from the optional Joker), the Queen of Clubs has to be the equivalent of the Queen of Wands. As she is listed under her suit, where it says Clubs are the same as Wands, then she can't be a Major.

If you read through this article, and the other one, I mentioned, you should gain a clearer understanding. I can't be more specific than I already have been.

Ltheflowerwitch on April 22, 2020:

Can you make another post about this but more specific like you said the joker means the fool but what does the queen of clubs mean is it the empress or the queen? thank please reply

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on February 26, 2020:

Hi Juno, they can have different meanings for people - those who read intuitively, for example.

However, I believe that the best way of doing it is to know the basic meanings and then expand on them yourself. For example, in tarot, the Three of Swords (Spades) is often seen as a broken heart. I disagree slightly - I think it means mixed up communication which *could* lead to a broken heart.Because Swords/Spades are connected to thinking and communication, not to emotions.

The Eight of Diamonds (Pentacles) is usually connected to work and can mean things like retraining, apprenticeships, change of career, etc. Eights are connected to movement or lack of it. Diamonds to practical issues.

Juno on February 25, 2020:

I would like to know if the meanings of any card could have a different meaning for me, example 8 of diamonds new job etc. could I have a different meaning for it?

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on February 14, 2020:

It doesn't mean anything, sorry :(

Z on February 14, 2020:

Hi what does it mean when you find a card face down but when you pull it up and turn it over its blank?

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on February 03, 2020:

Hi there 1, the cards are always accurate, it's the interpretation that can be wrong.

I'm not sure why you would pull four cards when one would do. Tell me what you think the cards mean. Because whatever you thought when you saw them is probably correct.

Two articles that would help with your questions:

https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/How-Accur...

https://discover.hubpages.com/religion-philosophy/...

1 on February 03, 2020:

hello, I would like to ask are the tarot cards always accurate...also I pulled queen of pentacles, queen of swords, 10 of pentacles and 7 of wands about how the person in my mind feels about me at the moment what does this mean?

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on January 28, 2020:

Hi Crystal, sure it is. This article might help you...

https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Tarot-for...

Crystal on January 27, 2020:

Is it okay to do a reading for yourself?

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on August 20, 2019:

You are welcome, Shawn. Thank you and have fun on your tarot adventure :)

Shawn Fiscus on August 20, 2019:

I just wanted to say thank you for sharing this information. It has really helped my understanding of tarot.

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on August 07, 2019:

Aw... thank you, Heather.

Heather on August 07, 2019:

I just want to say thankyou all for doing what you do I really appreciate you all posative vibes to you all.

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on April 28, 2019:

What about them, NC?

N0rcal.centaur on April 28, 2019:

Ace of clubs five of hearts diamonds clubs to Diamonds of 8 of Spades jack of diamonds

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on April 08, 2019:

Hi Nancy, feel free to print any of my articles out for educational purposes, but not to republish online.

All the best.

Nanci Larkin on April 08, 2019:

I would like to contact you via email to request permission to use two of your articles to print out for the Chaplaincy program in the local jail. There is widespread interest in Wicca and Tarot and we are looking for resources, but need permission to use your material for copyright purposes.

Thanks.

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on February 10, 2019:

No, sorry, I can't do your reading for you.

https://discover.hubpages.com/religion-philosophy/...

9ofHearts on February 10, 2019:

I pulled 3 cards on strategy to use to get my dreams. They were All Spades ♠️; the Ace of ♠️ , then Queen of ♠️ and 2 of ♠️. Can you help me to understand how to strategise based on what these cards are saying? Thank you

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on November 04, 2018:

This article explains all: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-C...

Jayme on November 04, 2018:

How can i lay my cards and how many cards should i used to get my right reading? i am using playcards

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on October 22, 2018:

Kandi, try this: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-C...

kandi kay on October 21, 2018:

How to lay the cards out to read them

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on April 14, 2018:

I have to admit to being confused about what you are asking. Are you using playing cards or tarot. And What are 'prints'?

Whatever the answer you felt will be the right one for you.

Pollypop147 on April 14, 2018:

Hi, I'm completely new to using playing cards as tarot readings. I started with my question which was how my partner feels towards myself and a past wanted love which never took off properly. I used my Ryder-Waite tarot and for me I pulled out The king of prints followed by seven of spades. For the other female I pulled page of prints and the Ace of hearts! I just 'felt' the answer? Or am I wrong? Please can someone help me clarify the meaning. Thankyou

priestessleslie on January 09, 2018:

wow we learn new things every time you turn around, thanks Bev.

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on January 09, 2018:

Have fun, Kari :)

Kari Poulsen from Ohio on January 09, 2018:

I didn't realize you could do a reading with a pack of cards. Now I need to go find my cards. Thanks for the explanation!

Louise Powles from Norfolk, England on January 06, 2018:

Thankyou Bev. =)

Bev G (author) from Wales, UK on January 06, 2018:

Thanks so much, Louise. Feel free to ask me anything. There's lots of info on my blog: tarot-study.

Louise Powles from Norfolk, England on January 06, 2018:

Thanks for another interesting hub. I enjoy reading them, and always learn something. I'm going to buy a deck of tarot cards now and learn more!