Welcome to the latest entry of my Tarot column, Coaching by the Cards! In this column, I address questions and situations presented to me, using the Tarot.

The column is written in a “Dear Abby” format.

With that said, let’s look at the situation submitted by this reader:

Dear James,

Your post about the dream you had about the playing cards really resonated with me. Like you, I’m really interested in learning to read with playing cards and working as a cartomancer at some point.

So, my question would be: What do I need to know about reading playing cards and becoming a cartomancer?

Thanks,

Curious Cartomancer

Dear Cartomancer,

First, a big thank you for following the blog; I appreciate your presence here. I’m glad you were able to relate to my story, and the role cartomancy is now playing in my life.

To honor you, and the art of cartomancy, I have pulled three playing cards, rather than Tarot cards, for this consultation. I pulled the cards with the question you stated in mind, and these were the response: 4 of Diamonds, 3 of Clubs, and 7 of Clubs.

The first thing that strikes me is that two of the three cards are from the suit of Clubs. Clubs, for me, can indicate work, business, and enterprise, which reflects your desire to become a professional cartomancer.

Also, when Clubs dominate the consultation, any cards from the suit of Diamonds can indicate the financial prospects of this enterprise. And you have one here (4 of Diamonds).

Reading the color of the suits, in my deck, the Diamonds are a lighter hue of purple and the Clubs are darker. This can suggest that, as you move forward with taking up the cards, there is a possibility that the study of the cards will become challenging for you.

From an emotional standpoint, you could start out being patient and persistent (Diamonds) and then become frustrated and impatient when you are faced with the challenges during the process (Clubs).

The 4 of Diamonds represents the situation. This card can represent a foundation being laid (4). So there may have been some other discipline from your past that will help you in being able to read the cards (like maybe taking up numerology or Tarot before now).

In terms of business, this card can suggest there is a need for financial stability and security (Diamonds reflect our own personal values), so having a foundation set in place that would ensure your financial success is important here; sometimes this card can suggest living paycheck-to-paycheck (the financial prospects I mentioned earlier).

The 4 is a number of hard work and being self-disciplined, which goes with both the study of the cards and turning it into a profitable business. This means having a structure that allows for your present and long-term material security to combat the paycheck-to-paycheck (or client-to-client) way of living, should you go into business.

Since you are new to cartomancy, you may be concerned with preserving the history and traditions of the practice by sticking with its traditional meanings and interpretations. I’m going to suggest that you not box yourself in or limit yourself that way (4 can be a number of limitation and restriction); this is reinforced by the next card, the 3 of Clubs.

The 3 of Clubs, as advice and possible courses of action, first tells me that it is best for you to explore lots of possibilities and to broaden your horizons, in terms of discovering what the cards mean to you in a reading.

You can start out with the traditional meanings as a foundation and framework (4 of Diamonds), but then create meanings and interpretations that “go outside the box,” making the readings that you give your own (the 3 is a number of self-expression, and finding your “voice;” you don’t want to be an echo, only repeating what others say the cards mean).

As a card that relates to business, this card can suggest the birth of a new enterprise. It says that the prospects for the future look very promising.

The 3 is a number of increase and expanding horizons. If you’re going to pursue this, the 3 is asking you to commit to it. The 4 of Diamonds echoes this, so committing to endeavors might be one of those challenges I spoke of earlier. It’s important for you to start envisioning what this business will look like now (this card can be about vision), even at this stage of the process.

Because…

…one of the meanings of the last card, the 7 of Clubs (in the position of the possible outcome) is self-employment.

This card can suggest needing to learn, and that the learning curve may be a steep one. This card can represent facing—and overcoming—challenges and adversities. So, in those moments of impatience and frustration (the emotional energy of the suit of Clubs), and when you want to throw in the towel—this card is asking you not to do so.

Another aspect of the Clubs I want to share is that the suit is also known as the “social” suit. Reading cards (whether they be playing cards, Tarot cards, or oracle cards) is a social business. Being able to deal with people is important here; you are not just interacting with them, but addressing their life issues and concerns as well.

I mention this because the 3 of Clubs can represent talking and advice, but warns of gossip, while the 7 of Clubs can sometimes suggest an invasion of privacy. It will be your job (no pun intended) to create a space where people coming to you will feel—and know—that what they share with you will be private and confidential (which all readers should practice).

A forum like this is different, though, for two reasons:

1. You gave consent for your consultation to appear in this space, and
2. Your actual name is not being publicized, which allows you privacy. No one will know your actual identity, unless that revelation comes from you.

The theme of the consultation is revealed when I take the numbers on the cards and reduce them to a single digit. So, 4+3+7=14; 1+4=5.

As a theme, the 5 can suggest a strong need for freedom  and independence, which is a need that gets most people to become entrepreneurs.

While a number of spontaneity, it can also be about risk-taking, another aspect of self-employment. Ask yourself if you are willing to take the risks that might be involved with this type of business venture–once you are sure you know what those might be.

5 can also be a number of conflict, so a possible conflict could be the need for financial stability and security versus the need for freedom and independence. If that is true for you, Cartomancer, how will you resolve it?

Since the 7 of Clubs can represent study and being a student, I will close your consultation where we began: the study of the cards.

The 4 of Diamonds can suggest the importance of retention, so it will be important for you to create ways to help you remember what the cards mean.

The 3 of Clubs suggests finding resources online (for me, it is an internet card); perhaps finding articles to read and videos to watch, even some groups for card readers to join (the 3 of Clubs being about the need for support) would prove helpful.

Another possibility to “explore” would be seeking a course you could take, one that will test you (the 4 of Diamonds can be about tests and examinations) throughout your studies.

Cartomancer, thank you for sharing your situation with me in this forum. I look forward to you circling back and letting me know how you are progressing with your studies and business!

Over to You

And there you have it. You have just seen how I consult playing cards in context to a question or situation, using a short three-card spread. And, just as I hope it has been helpful to Cartomancer, I hope you found it informative as well. I would love to hear what you think. You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

If you have a question or concern that you would like to gain some insight using playing cards (or the Tarot!), and think Coaching by the Cards would be a great forum for it, send me your submission, via e-mail, to james@jameshimm.com, with Coaching by the Cards in the subject line.

If you’re interested in a private consultation with me, check out the information on my Tarot Consultations page and the Tarot Consultation Code of Ethics on my Ethics, Policies, and Procedures page.

Your Card-carrying Coach,

James

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