Waite_A_E-Fortune_Telling_By_Cards.pdf

A.E. Waite, “A French Method of Fortune Telling”

Manual of Cartomancy and Occult Divination, Rider, 1912

FRENCH METHOD

FORTUNE-TELLING

CARDS

A.E. Waite

Edited, Spell Checked and Paragraphed

Meghan Roberts

2001

Additional Layout

Greg Wotton

Page 1 of 10

A.E. Waite, “A French Method of Fortune Telling”

Manual of Cartomancy and Occult Divination, Rider, 1912

THE methods of divination by cards are sufficiently numerous in France, as they are in other

countries, including England. Our own, however, are chiefly of continental origin, while, so far as

it is possible to speak with any positive opinion upon so dubious and involved a question, it would

appear that the French systems are largely particular to themselves, subject of course to the fact

that proceeding in all cases on certain general principles, to that extent they may be said to derive

from one another, or at least from a common root. I have selected for inclusion one system which

-- although it first came into notice at the beginning of the nineteenth century -- is likely to be new

to my readers. It is worked with a piquet set of ordinary playing cards, which, as most people will

know, consists of the usual picture-pieces and the ace, 10, 9, 8 and 7 of each suit, excluding the

lower numbers. The method has appeared, I believe, under more than one auspice, but the

imputed author termed himself an Egyptian and claimed to publish his little treatise at Memphis,

which, however, stands for Paris. It is not a very full method and is not free from confusions as it

was first issued. In the form which here follows it has been so far rectified and extended from

other French sources that it will, I think, serve the purpose as an alternative to the English system

given in the previous section. I must explain, however, that those who intend to make use of it

should obtain, if possible, a set of French or Swiss cards, in which the picture-pieces appear at full

length, instead of with a head at either end, and all the numbers are marked Droit and Renverse at

their opposing poles, meaning right side up and reversed Otherwise, an English set may be so

marked by the student. Important differences attach to the variations in question, so far as the

trump-cards are concerned, as they do indeed in the English method.

It may not be impertinent to mention before proceeding that the origin of card-playing has been

referred by some French writers to one Jacquemin from whom two sets were purchased in 1392

to amuse Charles VI, King of France, during his days of distraction. It is at most obvious that the

simple historical fact can be only an episode in the French history of cards; the evidence is

concerning sale and purchase, and it would be fantasy to assume that the vendor in the specific

instance was also the inventing artist. Spain and Italy are sometimes said to have been in

possession of cards prior to the French people; it has been even speculated that they were brought

to Italy by Greek emigrants from Constantinople, that they drifted from Italy into Spain and

thence to our Gallic neighbors. It is certain, in any case, that they were in Italy at the very time

when their existence is first on record in France, for they are mentioned in a Florentine chronicle

written towards the close of the fourteenth century, while so early as 1332 it is said that they were

prohibited in Spain by an edict of Alphonsus XI. If the latter statement rests on authority, it leaves

the reason doubtful, and I mention this point to add that we have little opportunity of deciding

when cards were first used as a game of hazard; it has been thought that at their inception they

were designed for instruction or amusement, and contained no combinations of members, so

essential for gambling arts. The earliest records which I have cited offer no indication of the cards

that composed the sets, either as to design or quantity; therefore the symbols and numbers may or

may not have corresponded when first we hear concerning them to the Tarot packs, which --

either independently or otherwise -- were certainly in existence about the same period. It is

indubitable, as I have stated already, that these were the precursors of our playing cards, but there

are wide differences in most of the archaic sets. It can only be said that the scheme of symbolism

which is comprised in the major trumps is unquestionably old, as it is indubitably of great

importance, though nearly all that has been written heretofore upon the subject is referable to the

Page 2 of 10

A.E. Waite, “A French Method of Fortune Telling”

Manual of Cartomancy and Occult Divination, Rider, 1912

realms of reverie. A separate section is devoted, however, to the Tarot elements, the higher

construction of their meaning and its application in an exalted sense. It remains only to say that

French cartomancy in the eighteenth and nine-teenth centuries set the fashion to the whole

English-speaking world, if not to Europe itself- that Alliette, or Etteilla, Mlle. Lenormand,

Madame Clement and Julia Orsini were the prophets of all divination with all varieties of cards-

and that, except in certain secret circles, where there is supposed to be a special tradition, we have

done little more than follow them.

I will give, in the first place, the general signification of piquet cards according to various

authorities, and these may be compared with the alternative renderings which have been

enumerated already in connexion with the shorter English method. It will be understood, as in

other cases, that everything depends upon the insight, intuition, divining gift, or -- as it is called

somewhat conventionally -- the clairvoyant faculty of the operator.

Page 3 of 10

A.E. Waite, “A French Method of Fortune Telling”

Manual of Cartomancy and Occult Divination, Rider, 1912

1 4YQ]_^Tc

The Ace. -Letters, or news at hand otherwise.

1 4YQ]_^Tc

King. -Friendship; if followed by the Queen, marriage; if reversed, impediments, difficulties and

the vexations thereto belonging.

Queen. -A woman from the country, who is fair but evil-speaking; reversed, more directly inimical

to the Querent in word and also in deed.

Knave. -A postman, valet, postillion, soldier, or messenger bearing news. The news are good if

the card is right side up and bad if it appears reversed.

Ten. -Great joy, change of place, a party from the country.

Nine. -Delay and postponement, but not resulting in failure.

Eight. -A man of business or young merchant, who is commercially related to the Querent.

Seven. -Good news, above all if accompanied by the Ace.

2 8UQbdc

The Ace. -Joy, contentment, and -- if it is accompanied by several picture-cards -- marriages,

feasts, etc;, in pleasant company.

2 8UQbdc

King. -A rich man, banker, or financier, well disposed, and may promote the interests of the

Querent. If reversed, the person is miserly and to deal with him will prove difficult.

Queen. -An honest, frank and obliging woman; if reversed, there will be some obstacle to a

projected marriage.

Knave. -A soldier or young man, who is anxious to promote the Querent's welfare, will play some

part in his life and will be allied with him after one or another manner.

Ten. -A surprise, but often one of a kind which will be advantageous as well as agreeable to the

consulting party.

Nine. -Concord.

Eight. -Domestic and private happiness, attended by success in undertakings; exceedingly

felicitous for the destinies of the middle path, the amenities of the quiet life.

Seven. -Marriage, if the Querent is a lady, and the issue will be daughters only; if a man, it is

destined that he will make a rich and happy marriage.

Page 4 of 10

A.E. Waite, “A French Method of Fortune Telling”

Manual of Cartomancy and Occult Divination, Rider, 1912

3 C‘QTUc

The Ace. -In company with the ten and nine, this card signifies death, grief, more especially from

bereavement, but also sorrow from many sources; it includes further the idea of treason and

possibly of loss by theft or robbery.

3 C‘QTUc

King. -A magistrate or lawyer, whose intervention may prove disagreeable; the card reversed

signifies loss in a lawsuit or general derangement of affairs.

Queen. -A disappointed woman -- possibly a widow in dejection; if reversed, one who is anxious

to remarry, unknown to or in spite of her family.

Knave. -Some kind of disgrace which will be inimical to the peace of mind and perhaps even the

liberty of the Querent; reversed, serious complications for the person concerned; also betrayal in

love, if the Querent is a woman.

Ten. -Imprisonment for a man, if followed by the Ace and King of the same suit; for a woman,

disease, illness.

Nine. -Protraction and difficulties in business; followed by the Nine of Diamonds and the Ace of

Clubs, delay in the receipt of expected money

Eight.-Arrival of a person who will carry bad news if followed by the Seven of Diamonds and

near to a picture card- whether King, Queen or Knave- tears, discord, destitution or loss of

employment.

Seven. -Quarrels, inquietude; if ameliorated by the vicinity of some Hearts, it promises safety,

independence and moral consolation.

3\eRc

Ace. -Advantages, commercial and industrial benefits of every kind, easy collection of dues,

unmixed prosperity- but these more especially when followed by the Seven of Diamonds and the

Seven of Clubs.

44 3\eRc

King. -An influential, powerful person, who is equitable and benevolent towards the Querent, to

whom he will render signal services; but reversed, this personage will experience some difficulty

in his proceedings and may be even in danger of failure.

Queen. -A dark woman, rivalry, competitive spirit; in the neighborhood of a card which stands for

a man, she will have preference for the man in question; on the contrary, in proximity to a

feminine card, she will be in sympathy with the Querent; reversed, she is very covetous, jealous

and disposed to infidelity.

Page 5 of 10

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