Cartomancy

I was just reading about Cartomancy, the art of using regular playing cards as a Tarot deck. I was wondering: does this work the same? Is it less precise, or different in any way; be it good, bad, or neutral.

Login or Signup to reply to this post.

It is different in the sense that playing are less defined than Tarot cards which are drawn in such a way as to elicit certain reactions. This difference isn't bad or good, but really depends on you, the reader. For some people these images can help to create visions or feelings similar to those engendered by scying, and still for others these can be distracting. The playing cards don't incled the Major Arcana in the way the Tarot does, this set of cards is high energy and very insightful for some, where as the minor arcana are more situational. Playing cards do not have this, but you certainly don't need them and for some seeing the situations in conjuction can be more informative. Playing cards allow one to pull from any preffered numerical symbolism, where as Tarot, while not set in stone, generally has it's associated symbology.

My experience with them I think tarot cards are way more accurate Im psychic but I went to get my palm read and she was correct about a few things but she wasn't correct about my husband or my children. So it all depends on how you are . The person who replied before is correct. But in my opnion tarot cards are more accurate. I think cartomancy is a little more mysterious

Personally, I feel like Cartomancy is less accurate compared to Tarot Decks. But I feel like it's more of what you connect better with. Say, someone who connects very well with playing cards and not as well with Tarot cards with probably yield a better result with playing cards.

I think one of the problems with cartomancy is that when it's not Tarot cards people forget all their other practices. For example, if you look up "things to do when you get a new Tarot deck" you'll find a bunch about cleansing it, bonding with it and getting used to it in general. I know friends who cleanse their Tarot decks after every use, friends who cleanse it once a month and friends who rarely cleanse their decks *but* they all have their own rituals that they use with/on their deck. People often don't bother doing that when it's just playing cards. It could be part of the reason why some struggle to connect with playing cards.

People could do it with playing cards, both sets are cards. In fact, it is believed the tarot started off, or at least was also used, as a playing card game.

The tarot as ased upon today coincides with the qabalistic tree of life nicely, a it is the Golden Dawn who reorganised the deck. I therefore would never switch to playing cards as that would not be a perfect representation, for me, the reading would be vastly different.

I think if people can make playing cards work for them then great. I think they should never be used for playing, always cleansed if you feel the need to. They become consecrated through continued use for the most part.

Personally, I don't cleanse them, I would have to check my journal to confirm I have never done, but, I have meditated on each one and the images are firmly fixed in my mind- the deck has become an internal tool within me and I believe that is what is truly important.