The Wise and Subtle Arte of Reading Cards

…as examined by a Witch who practices said Arte

For the Witch of Exceptional Memory:  The Picturebook Compleat

            As we noted at the end of the second essay, for the witch of middling memory, only a few, albeit extensive, interpretive points remain.  Those interpretive points concern special interpretations of the cards in terms of matters of the home, magical matters, and health matters.  We have touched on all three of those areas in the section on combinations, but here they are grouped together for convenience and further instruction.  In general, these are areas of interpretation for the would-be adept cardreader, and although impressive to incorporate into your readings, they are not strictly necessary to know.  One caveat:  the practicing witch, be she solitary, or a member of a coven or witch family, should have, at the least, a passing familiarity with the combinations of cards indicating magical activity, particularly if cardreading is her sole method of divination. 

            To end the present essay, we will examine four additional spreads – The Coven, the Wheel, the Temple of Fortune, and finally, the Great Throw.   Before doing so, however, we will examine the quaint, old-time topic of Judging the Wish. 

Judging the Wish

            Many gypsy and old-time cardreaders often instructed the Seeker to make a wish while shuffling the cards.  Some modern cardreaders adhere to this practice, and judging by the fall of cards, interpret whether the Seeker wish’s will be fulfilled or denied (or achieve some status in between those two) during the time covered by the card reading.  If you would like to adhere to this practice, this is how it is done.  In shuffling, have the Seeker think of a single wish.  If the 9♥ does not appear in the spread, the wish will not be granted during the timeframe covered by the reading.  If the 9♥ appears, it will be granted, as long as it is not followed by a ♠; if followed by a ♠ or surrounded by ♠s, the wish may be denied.  From the cards combined or near the 9♥, you can judge the nature of the wish.  Here are some examples, which you should think through.

9♥, A♦:  Seeker wishing for money in general. 

9♥, 3♦:  the Seeker’s wish is for a raise; because a ♦ follows, he will get his wish.

9♥, 3♦, any ♠:  compare to the above; here, the Seeker has many wishes, and because he is scattered and cannot focus on one, none of them come true.

9♥, 6♦, any ♠:  the Seeker wants a new car, but will not get one. 

6♦, Kn♥, 9♥:  the Seeker wishes to hear from a distant friend. 

9♥, 8♣, K♦:  the Seeker wants to own his own company (the K here represents financial power, not necessarily the gender of the Seeker). 

9♥, 6♣:  the Seeker wishes to go back to school or study something; if with K♦, wants to go back to a school for a Master’s degree, etc. (see combinations for 6♣ in Middling Memory). 

9♥, 6♣, 7♦:  the Seeker wishes to develop psychic ability. 

2♥, 9♥, any ♠:  the Seeker wants to be in a relationship or be married, but it is not time for it to happen.

9♥, 2♥, 10♥:  the Seeker’s wish for an emotionally stable marriage or relationship will come true. 

9♥, 3♥:  the Seeker’s wish to have a child will come true.

9♥, 5♦, 10♠,:  the Seeker wants to renovate his kitchen, but it will not happen. 

7♠, 9♥, 5♥:  the Seeker wishes for improved health. 

10♣, 6♥, 9♥:  the Seeker wishes to take a vacation after completing a huge amount of work. 

2♠, 7♥, 9♥:  the Seeker wishes to make amends with someone with whom he has had a conflict; wishes to “bury the hatchet”. 

6♠, A♥, 9♥:  the Seeker wishes to move to a new home.

A♣, 6♠, 9♥:  the Seeker wishes to be freed from some duty or responsibility. 

9♥, 2♣:  a giveaway that the Seeker could not decide between two wishes! (the 2♣ indicates the doubling). 

3♣, 9♥, any ♥:  with a little extra effort, the Seeker’s wish will be fulfilled.

5♥, 7♣, 9♥:  the Seeker wants to win big at gambling

9♥, 9♣, 6♠,:  the Seeker wants to leave his job, but it will not come to pass (♠ ending the trio). 

9♥, 3♠:  the Seeker does not know what to wish for (the wish has been “lost”). 

9♥, 9♠:  the wish will be denied.

Kn♠, 8♠, 9♥:  the Seeker seeks to be a prentice in a Witch coven. 

Q♠, 7♠, 9♥:  the Seeker succeeds in keeping a deceitful secret hidden. 

3♠, 9♥, K♠:  the Seeker wants revenge on a third party for that party’s interference with something (here, the K indicates the power to “teach someone a lesson”). 

            In some of the old-time card spreads in which every card in the deck is used – and this includes The Great Throw, which you will learn below – the 9♥ will obviously appear.  In such spreads, therefore, you cannot judge the fulfillment of the wish from its appearance, but must make your judgment from surrounding cards. 

Matters of the Household

            In addition to occupations and livelihoods, seekers are usually quite interested in matters of the home.  Movings, departures, appliances, repairs, etc. can consume the time, money, and energy of seekers, and the exceptional witch may serve well to arm them with future knowledge of such occurrences.  The forewarning may allow the seeker to better cope with the change.  For instance, one seeker was told that she would have a problem with the water in her house, and that she should be prepared for the fact that her pipes may not work within the next couple of weeks by stockpiling bottled water and other necessaries.  She commented, in disbelief, that the house was nearly brand new, had been inspected in the last six months, and surely there could be no problem.  A week later, she telephoned the witch to say that the water main on her street had burst, and that her house was without water for two days.  Unfortunately, she had not set aside a store of water…which just goes to prove, as every Witch learns in time, that we may point seekers to water, but we cannot make them drink. 

            The first task is to learn the meanings of the cards in relation to the house, its rooms, and its adjuncts.  The meanings given here are generally logical extensions of the card meanings in the second essay, but we will elaborate on the rationale for each card so that you are certain to understand the connections.

            We know that the A♥ is the house or home, in general.  When interpreting a certain card as a household matter, generally the A♥ must be in combination with the card or at least nearby.  The A♥ appears in readings quite frequently, but it will not always point to a room in a house signified by an adjoining card.  You must follow your intuition here and let the cards lead you.  Thus, for the card meanings given below, we will simply assume that the A♥ is in combination with them or is nearby.  As you study each card, refer back to the general meanings you know for each and you will easily begin to remember them. 

            5♦ = the kitchen.  A place of food preparation and eating, also containing many appliances.

            6♦ = garage.  Where the car is housed. 

            8♦ = computer room or media room.  A place where electronics are kept and used.  In times past, the 8♦ was associated with the pantry because it is the same suit as the 5♦ (eating, food), but is also associated with budgeting.  You know from the earlier Combinations section that the 6♣ 9♦ may also represent a computer (expensive, educational finery), so with the A♥, that combination could also represent a computer room.

            10♦ = the hearth or fireplace.  The main place in the house associated with fire.

            3♥ = nursery.  The living quarters of a child.  The 3♥ also means decorating or beautifying in general, and you will find that you will more often use that meaning than nursery.

            5♥ = master bedroom.  The marital bedroom, where sexual relations take place.

            6♥ = the living room.  A place to retreat to and relax.  If there were two 10s connected with the combination A♥ 6♥, then the interpretation would probably be a motor home or large recreational vehicle. 

            8♥ = the dining room.  A place for larger groups to celebrate and eat.

            10♥ = a pool.  A large body of water associated with the house. 

            2♣ = a duplex or two family house.  The 2♣ shows a doubling here. 

            3♣ = the garden.  This is already a general meaning that you know.  Another meaning is a hallway – a place of moving forward in a temporary way – but you will not likely use that meaning very often, if at all. 

            4♣ = den.  A place in the home where a work desk is kept.  The 4♦ may also appear in combination, particularly if the den is also a place where important official or financial documents are kept. 

            6♣ = stairs.  Like the 3♣ as hallway, but progress is made upward. 

            8♣ =  home office.  Where the seeker’s business is carried on. 

            10♣ = the roof or attic.  The highest airy point of the house. 

            A♠ = the foundation of the house or cellar.  The most earthen point of the house.

            4♠ = a bedroom.  A place to retreat to when exhausted. 

            6♠ = a bathroom.  A place where dirt is washed away and waste is eliminated. 

            10♠ = the floor.  Still connected to earth and stability, but not so foundational as the A♠, the very roots of the home. 

            Other meanings will present themselves to you on occasion and, reviewing the above meanings, you may come to those other meanings on your own.  For instance, we have not mentioned the 5♣.  If a seeker consulted you about a lost object and you saw this trio -- 3♠ 5♣ A♥ -- you would tell her that it will be found (a red card ends the trio) in her sewing, crafts, or work room. 

            A Note on Renovations:  The 3♠ and the 10♠ both indicate force, in smaller amounts (the 3) and greater amounts (the 10).  They do not themselves indicate rooms in the house, but can indicate renovations of rooms, little or great, depending on the card.  For instance, the trio 3♠ A♥ 5♦ may indicate minor renovations to a kitchen.  The trio A♥ 10♣ 10♠ may indicate that the home needs a whole new roof.  Examine these two examples by the first rule.  In the first example, with two red cards ending, there will be steady improvement, a problem solved; the second trio, ending in two black cards, shows more of a headache for the homeowner. 

            Again, with these more specialized interpretations, you must be circumspect and careful.  Do not automatically think of a household interpretation when you see the A♥.  Let the household interpretation “seize you” if you will – raise immediately and forcefully in your consciousness – before you follow its lead.  For instance, the trio A♥ 6♣ 8♣ will more likely indicate that the seeker plans to reenter the workforce after spending a period of time at home, as opposed to having some practical plans for a staircase in her home.  When a household interpretation indeed seizes you, then use it.  One time a seeker and her friend came to the witch for a general reading.  The witch saw this trio – A♥ 5♦ 3♥  -- appear 6 months in the future and commented that the seeker would then be redecorating her kitchen, but nothing structural, just paint and wallpaper and new cabinet handles, most likely.  Both seeker and friend gasped, for the seeker had told her friend of such plans just the day before.  It was hardly an earth-shattering prediction, but impressive to them all the same. 

A Note on the 10s:  Just as the 10s may signify the Four Elements in terms of travel (by air, etc.), so do they signify the Four Elements in terms of the household.  The Aces are the true roots of the Four Elements in the deck of cards, but 10s are also connected with them by virtue of the fact that 1 + 0 = 1, signifying the Ace.  The 10s are practical extensions of the roots symbolized by the Aces.  For example, note how the A♠ (earth) signifies the very foundations of the home, while the 10♠ signifies the floors therein.

A Further Note on Appliances:  One hesitates to devolve into the minutiae of household matters, but the sake of thoroughness, we briefly highlight the 5♦, which is a key card for identifying appliances.  When combined with one of the 10s, the 5♦ may indicate an appliance.  As noted above, the 10s indicate one of the four elements in a mundane sense.  There are only a few such combinations to be aware of:

10♦, 5♦: furnace;  the fiery ♦ is the key here.

10♥, 5♦:  washing machine; the ♥ indicates water.

10♣, 5♦:  air circulation system; the ♣ indicates air.

10♠, 5♦:  refrigerator or freezer; the ♠ is the coldest suit.

10♥, any ♦, 5♦:  this is a hot water heater.  The water of the ♥ is heated up by the ♦.

10♣, any ♠, 5♦:  this is an air conditioner.  The air of the ♣ is cooled by the ♠.

It is doubtful that you will use these interpretations very much.  If you are of a mind to, be on the lookout for a ♠ following an appliance combination.  For instance, 10♦ 5♦ 3♠ would indicate a small problem arising with the furnace.  The combination 10♠ 5♦ 9♠ is very bad news for one’s refrigerator.  10♣ 5♦ 5♠ may indicate that the air ducts of the house need to be cleaned because they are filled with dust and making the residents wheezy or ill.  Also be on the lookout for the 2♣ in connection with an appliance, as it may indicate needing to get a replacement.  For instance, 10♦ 5♦ 2♣ shows the Seeker getting another furnace.  Sometimes the A♦ will function similarly, indicating a “brand new” something.  Thus, 10♥ A♦ 5♦ is a brand new hot water heater.  It is more likely, however, that you would interpret that trio as an anniversary dinner during which the Seeker receives a present.  So, as before, an appliance interpretation must seize you forthwith for it to be of any use to you. 

A Final Note on Motor Vehicles:  By this time, you will have studied the section on Combinations in the essay for the witch of middling memory and will have noted various combinations therein indicating interpretations concerning cars and other vehicles.  Knowing that the 6♦ is the key indicator here, you will have no trouble seeing if the Seeker will experience trouble with his or her car, for instance if followed by a ♠.  Oftentimes, you will be able to pinpoint the problem with the car by the third card in a trio.  Sometimes it will be specific.  For instance:  6♦, 3♠, A♦:  a minor problem with the ignition (Fire = A♦).  Other times it will be more general, such as 6♦, 8♣, 5♠, in which the car is “sick” and needs to be taken to a mechanic.  6♦, 5♠, any ♣ (air) might indicate a general problem with the fan or other air system, while 6♦, 5♠, any ♥ (water) might indicate a general problem with a fluid system.  Sometimes you will see that the problem will be inexpensive (6♦, 5♠, 3♦), and sometimes you may see a greater problem requiring a greater cost to repair (6♦, 7♠, 10♦). 

Matters Magical

Matters magical in the cards are invariably governed by the 7s, as you will have noted from the Combinations section.  We have little new information to add here, but it will be helpful if we summarize the nature of each 7 and repeat its combinations below so that you can study them with greater ease.

7♦:  Clairvoyance, foretelling, psychism, astrology (the Seven Lights).

6♣, 7♦:  studying psychism or a method of divination.

7♦, Court:  the person indicated has psychic ability.

7♦, 5♥, Court:  a psychic healer.

7♦, 8♣: a professional psychic.

7♦, Kn♠:  spirit communication.

7♦, 8♣, Kn♠:  a medium or necromancer

2♠, 7♦, 10♦ (or 6♦):  astral projection in human form

Kn♠, 7♦, 10♦ (or 6♦):  sending forth the fetch

            Again, before using any of these specialized interpretations in a reading for a Seeker, you must be moved internally to do so.  A 7♦ by a Court may just as easily indicate a totally unpsychic person beset with financial trouble.  Of course, if you are specifically directing a question toward psychic matters, then these interpretations will be more relevant to the reading. 

            Also bear in mind that it is sometimes possible to gauge the strength of the ability indicated.  A combination of 7♦, 8♣, 10♦ may indicate a professional psychic that has great success in prediction; a lesser-skilled, fly-by-night psychic healer who is more hit-or-miss in results may be indicated by 7♦, 5♥, 3♦.  The trio 7♦, Q♠, any ♠ may indicate a wholly fraudulent psychic; here the Q♠ followed by another ♠ does not indicate a female witch, but a lie or falsehood.  The doubling of the spades (coldness) in this trio may be considered a metaphor for the “cold-reading” method of fraudulent psychics. 

7♥:   Religion, in general.

7♥, K♥:  God, or a male deity, in general.

7♥. Q♥:  Goddess, or a female deity, in general.

7♥, any 8:  prayer, involving a subject shown by the 8’s suit.

            It is rarely necessary for a Witch to pinpoint the nature of a specific deity, although the need may arise once every several years.  For instance, a Witch may wish to know the nature of the deity being invoked by a rival Witch or Coven.  Or a Witch may wish to determine which deity is the divine patron of a specific person.  Or perhaps a Seeker believes that his run of ill-luck is owing to the displeasure of a certain God or Goddess.  The above combinations will hold you in good stead, if you look to the third card comprising the trio.  Thus:

7♥, K♥, A♦:  A God of Fire.

7♥, Q♥, 2♥:  A Goddess of Love.

7♥, Q♥, A♠:  A Goddess of Death.

7♥, K♥, 3♥:  A God of Fertility. 

7♥, K♥, 2♣:  The Divine Twins.   

7♥, K♥, 4♥:  A God of Justice.

7♥. K♥, 5♣:  The Craftsman God.

7♥, K♥, 8♣:  The Horned Lord.

7♥, Q♥, 8♠:  A Goddess of War.

7♥, Q♥, 10♥:  A Goddess of the Seas. 

7♥, Q♥, 10♠:  Our Lady the Earth.

7♥, Q♥, 7♦:  Queen of the Stars.

            And so on, as you please.  Any of the trios above may be used in an invocation of the power represented.  The easiest thing to do is lay the trio out on the altar.  If the Witch seeks to use the power of the deity in some capacity in a spell, it will be found more effective for a large triangle to be drawn within the compasse, with each point of the triangle touching the edge of the compasse, and with one card of the trio at each point.  One of the points of the triangle must be due north. 

7♣:  Magic or occultism, in general.  Practically speaking, a charm, talisman, spell, or other concrete form of magical work.

A♥, 7♣:  occult work in the home.

8♠, A♥, 7♣:  home needs spiritual purification.

7♣, A♦ (or 10♦):  money spell.

7♣, 2♥:  love spell.                                                   

            The main thing to remember here is that the 7♣ often indicates a practical problem, so do not jump right into a magical interpretation with it.  If you see a card indicating a witch in the trio (see below for a review) or otherwise linked to the combination, you can more confidently use a magical interpretation.  Thus, with 7♣ A♦, you may be moved to speak more often of practical troubles marring a new financial start or a practical problem being solved by the receipt of a letter; but if the Q♠ begins the trio, be certain that magic is afoot. 

7♠:  The Mysteries, in general, or a mystery school or mystery religion.  Rarely, a curse or hex. 

A♥, Kn♠, 7♠:  spirit in house, causing problems.  Here, the Kn♠ shows the deceased spirit, and the 7♠ the problems being caused; the 7♠ following the Kn♠ shows that the spirit is sad and restless.

7♠, A♠, A♦:  initiation into a mystery school or religion.  The A♠ shows the symbolic death, and the A♦ shows the symbolic rebirth and renewing of consciousness. 

K♠, 7♠, 3♠:  a male witch casting a hex causes minor troubles. 

            Again,  the 7♠ will more often be read as tears, something hidden, or an investigation.  But the Mystery interpretations will still be valid on rare occasion. 

            We have previously indicated that the suit of ♠s is the suit of the Craft, signifying as they do Fate, the Underworld, and the element Earth (which should not be confused with the Midworld or Greenfield).  Thus, the K♠ may be a male witch, the Q♠ a female witch.  The Kn♠ may indicate the witch’s familiar or fetch, or possibly a younger witch of either gender or a candidate for admission to a coven or family.  The witch coven or family, itself, would be represented by the 8♠.  The 4♣ 8♠ represents the outside meeting place or covenstead, while the A♥ 8♠ may indicate a witch household.

            Finally, we highlight that herbs and herbalism are shown by the 3♣. 

            You should now be sufficiently versed in the symbolism of the cards that you can piece together their words into any magical sentence that you need.  Should you wish to investigate the use of magic on crops, then you would be looking for a combination of the 3♣ and 7♣.  The dark, poisonous witch herbs might be shown by 3♣ 9♠.  An owlblink curse cast by a female witch may be shown by Q♠ 6♦ 7♠, with the 6♦ here indicating the eyes (see below).  4♣ 8♠ 7♥ shows the coven meeting at the covenstead at the full moon. 

            The clever witch, upon becoming skilled in the speech of the cards, will soon find other magical uses to which they can be put. 

Matters of Health

            Many of the cards have correspondences to the human body.  The Aces, the roots of the suits, have the following generalized meanings, as you already know:

A♦:  the nervous system

A♥:  the circulatory system

A♣:  the muscular system

A♠:  the skeletal system

            You will generally not use the Aces, however, in interpreting health matters, just the cards 2 through 10.  The Courts will show the person or people who will be affected by the health matter, although a Knave may occasionally show the transmission or communication of an illness. 

            Again, like our other two sections above, there must be present in the spread some key indicator cards before you begin to think about health and illness in your interpretation.  The primary card is the 5♠ in this instance.  Secondarily, the 4♠.  As done above, we will now go through the individual meanings of cards in health matters, and then we will cover some example combinations so that you understand the method of interpretation.  You will generally find that the meaning of each card in health matters is fairly logical in terms of the number and suit meaning, so what you learn here will be easily grafted onto what you already know. 

2♦ = ears.  Two is a receptive number, and we have two ears.  You will note also that several meanings of the 2♦ have to do with using one’s ears.

3♦ = energy level, in general. 

4♦ = solar plexus.  Located in the stable “core” of the body.  The solar plexus is also sometimes called the abdominal brain.  As an aside, this plexus is governed by the planet Jupiter, which has to do with financial abundance, so it links back to the usual meanings of the 4♦. 

5♦ = stomach.  The 5♦ has to do with eating, so this stomach is just an extended meaning.

6♦ = eyes.  This card indicates distance, and the eyes bring distant images to our brain to be processed.

7♦ = trouble.  The 7s, mostly, indicate general trouble with the system corresponding to its suit.  Here, nervous trouble.             

8♦ = throat, speech.  Since the 8s indicate communication, this is simply an extended meaning.

9♦ = nerves, in general.  Because 9s indicate changes, this card usually shows nervous energy in flux – at times low, at times high. 

10♦ = brain.  The coordinator of the nervous system in general.  Also, the head in general.

2♥ = breasts.  A rather easy meaning to remember, although not often used.

3♥ = iron/vitamins/nutrition.  The building blocks of the blood.

4♥ = medication, a stable harmony, improvement, recuperation, good health.  Medication helps restore the body to a stable harmony. 

5♥ = genitals.  Because this card indicates sexual activity, this is an extended meaning.

6♥ = blood.  Travels through the circulatory system. 

7♥ = trouble.  Trouble with the circulatory system, in general.  Poor circulation, perhaps. 

8♥ = arteries.  Which communicate the blood to different areas of the body.

9♥ = heart.  An extended meaning because this wish card represents the “heart’s desire”. 

10♥ = body fluids, in general. 

2♣ = hands.  Again, two of them; our most useful tools for accomplishing tasks.

3♣ = smaller muscles.  This meaning makes use of the “small” meaning of 3. 

4♣ = feet.  Keeping the body on a stable footing. 

5♣ = adrenals.  Providing the chemical basis for actions.

6♣ = legs.  The means for traveling distances.  An extension of the meaning of 6 indicating steps or progress. 

7♣ = trouble, muscle soreness.  Again, just a general meaning for this 7.

8♣ = lungs, oxygen.  Oxygen, of course, is communicated to the blood, and thence to the rest of the body through the blood.  This card also makes use of the designation air for ♣s.

9♣ = glandular system.  Constantly in flux and balancing our body’s chemistry. 

10♣ = larger muscles.  This meaning makes use of the “large” or “great” meanings of the 10s.

A Note on the Spades and Health Matters:  As you will note below, only a few of the ♠s have skeletal or bone meanings.  The remainder of them have meanings indicating illness or medical matters in general. 

2♠ = teeth.  Made of bone, and begins the process of separating or breaking down our food into component parts. 

3♠ = spine.  An easy one to remember because the three ♠s in a line will remind you of the spine.

4♠ = exhaustion.  This meaning you are already familiar with. 

5♠ = ill health.  This is another meaning you are familiar with. 

6♠ = elimination system.  This card’s health meaning comes from its general meaning of getting rid of things or walking away from them. 

7♠ = examination, investigation, diagnosis, doctor.  You already know that the 7♠ indicates a mystery or something hidden or an investigation.  In the context of health matters, it may indicate an examination or diagnosis by a doctor.

8♠ = infection.  An illness communicated to another. 

9♠ = surgery, improvement.  The extended meaning of surgery comes from the meaning of injury, as surgery is simply controlled, purposeful injury.  Because the 9s indicate change, this card may also indicate improvement from illness if followed by a ♥ or ♦. 

10♠ = bone, very serious illness.  Again, the meaning of the 10s indicating “much” or “great” finds use here.  It also indicates bone, in general, and from it you may discern that a bone may be broken or that the bones of the body are thinning or growing weaker. 

            To assist you in understanding how to see health information in the cards, we will go through some additional example combinations.  Note that sometimes the meanings you are already familiar with may also be used in conjunction with health matters.  These will be pointed out in the examples when they occur.  As you study each combination, endeavor to think through their logic on your own.  Again, remember, too, that the 4♠ or 5♠ must appear in combination with the other cards or be nearby in order for you to make use of a health interpretation. 

A♦, 5 ♠, 2♣:  minor burn injury to the hand. 

2♦, 8♠:  ear infection. 

3♦, 4♠, 4♥:  low energy level, exhaustion; medication will assist.

5♦, 5♠:  poor eating habits leading to ill-health. 

5♦, 5♠, 10♠:  ulcer.

5♦, 9♦, 4♠:  nervous stomach. 

6♦, 7♠:  eye examination.  The color of the card following the combination will show the results of the exam – whether vision has worsened (black) or stayed the same or improved (red). 

6♦, 5♠, 4♥:  medication for the eyes. 

8♦, 5♠:  sore throat.  If the 4♠, instead, probably laryngitis with loss of voice owing to nervous exhaustion.  Sometimes 8♦, 3♠ also shows loss of voice. 

10♦, 8♦, 4♠:  mental instability, probably a chemical imbalance in the brain. 

2♥, 5♦, 4♠:  trouble with breastfeeding.

2♥, 7♠, Q♣:  breast examination by female doctor. 

4♥, 5♠, 9♦:  medication causing bad side effects, and needs to be changed or adjusted for better effects. 

4♥, 5♠. 7♠:  medication causing depression.

4♥, 5♠, Q♠:  addicted to prescription medication.  The Q♠ here indicates the wrong use of the medication, and does not necessarily indicate a woman. 

5♥. Kn♠, 5♠:  sexually transmitted disease. 

5♥, Q♥, 7♠:  gynecological examination. 

6♥, 4♠. 3♥:  the blood lacks iron or other nutrients; needs supplementation.

6♥, 4♠. 4♥:  the same, but medication indicated. 

6♥, 8♠, 5♠:  blood infection. 

6♥, 10♠, 4♠:  high blood pressure, causing exhaustion.  Note that here the meaning of the 10♠ has to do with “great force”, not bone. 

7♥, 4♠, 5♣:  poor blood circulation; exercise recommended. 

8♥, 5♠, 9♦:  drinking too much is causing fluctuations in nervous system. 

8♥, 5♠, 10♠:  alcoholism.

9♥, 5♠, 10♠:  serious heart disease.

4♣, 10♥, 5♠:  water retention in the feet, edema, dropsy. 

8♣, 10♥, 5♠:  pneumonia; fluid in the lungs.

3♥, 5♣, 5♠:  hyperactive child.  

8♣, 4♠:  congestion in the lungs; coughing; not serious. 

2♠, 6♠, 4♥:  having a tooth pulled; harmony restored.  Note here that the 6♠ indicates getting rid of the tooth, and does not indicate the eliminative system.

3♠, 4♠:  spine out of alignment.  If the 3♦, present it may be causing a nerve pinching.  If the 3♣, perhaps causing muscle soreness. 

Court, 4♠:  usually indicates the common cold. 

5♠, Q♠, 6♠:  drug addiction.

9♠, 3♥:  a child born by Caesarean section.  

Some Important Notes On Reading Health Matters: 

Don’t Be Foolish:  Unless you have a medical degree, you are not a physician.  You may not diagnose.  You may not treat.  You may not prescribe.  You may not do anything that a government legally empowers only a physician to do.  Choose your words carefully.  If you cannot follow this rule, forbear from mentioning health matters at all. 

Be Cautious in Major Matters:  This is a very sensitive area for Seekers, particularly if they and those around them are in fine health, for then you have the potential of scaring them senseless with the possibility of future malady.  Therefore, if you are thinking of mentioning a serious health matter, it must be something that has absolutely seized you upon first notice – an intuition of such force that you have no choice but to serve as Fate’s mouthpiece for its announcement.  Otherwise, forbear.  This advice is particularly apt for those who have not read cards regularly for more than a year.  After a year of steadily working with the cards, you will be able to judge rather easily whether a certain trio of cards indicates a major health problem, or whether the cards are indicating something else unrelated to health. 

Specific Questions:  Naturally, if a Seeker asks you a specific question about a health matter, major or minor, the presence or absence of the cards indicating that problem will enable you to answer the question.  Thus, even if you do not plan on mentioning major health matters in your readings as a matter of course, it still behooves you to know how to see them in the event of specific questions. 

Death:  We covered this topic in a note to the interpretation of the A♠ in the essay for the Witch of Middling Memory, and refer you thereto to refresh your memory. 

Cancer:  The 3♠ has an alternate health interpretation – cancer – the growth of injurious cell forms.  The 5♠ should be in combination with the 3♠, the 7♠ (diagnosis, doctor) should be present nearby in the spread, and the 9♠ (change for the worse) or 10♠ (worry, grief) should also be present nearby in the spread. If the 7♠ is missing, there will be no diagnosis of cancer; if the 5♠ is missing, there is no cancer; in either of those cases, however, the Seeker may still fear the presence of cancer.  If you judge from the cards that cancer is not relevant, you may be able to see, instead, what the actual health issue is causing the Seeker’s worry.  If you determine that cancer is a serious future possibility, look also for the A♠ and remember the rules concerning death. 

For Whom?:  Upon seeing a health matter in the cards, your next task will be to determine which person it impacts…the Seeker?  Or another person in the Seeker’s life?  Sometimes the person indicated is close to the Seeker – a parent or sibling or child.  At other times, it is someone in the Seeker’s life, but not very close – the sibling of someone the Seeker knows at work, for instance, or the child of a neighbor.  Whoever it is, it will be indicated somewhere in the spread before you.  The difficulty here is that a single card, for instance – the Q♥ -- may indicate one of several people in the Seeker’s life – a mother, an older sister, a best friend.  Therefore, you must apply all of your powers of discernment to unveil the precise meaning of the card.  Continuing with the example of the Q♥ -- what cards are close to her?  The 5♥?  Perhaps a close friend.  The A♥?  Someone in the immediate household or close family member.  The 2♣?  A female business partner.  Moreover, making matters more difficult, the cards unveiling the proper meaning may not be directly next to the