Since my last installment of this column, I’ve been acquiring a few more decks of playing cards, so I’m going to continue breaking them in by working with them to answer questions from the mailbag.

And, since I referenced the last installment, I’m addressing a submission from a reader, who also referenced that column.

Let’s take a look at his situation…

Back to the City: The Situation

Dear James,

I recently found this column, and checked out the response you gave Hannah about her move back home. I found her situation parallel to mine in some ways, so I thought I’d drop you a line.

In my case, I’m a videographer and I’m at a point in my career where I want to try some new things.

One of the possibilities is doing some public speaking about issues that I’m passionate about.

I moved out of the city some time ago, and I’m considering moving back, as I’m feeling the move would create more opportunities for speaking gigs.

I’d really like to have you look at the cards and see if a move back to the city would work for me.

Thanks,

Duane

Back to the City: Going to the Cards

Dear Duane,

Using my copy of the Bicycle® Expert Back Playing Cards, I pulled three cards with the question you stated in mind, and these were the response: 6 of Clubs, Queen of Hearts, and 10 of Hearts.

Taking a look at the cards as a whole, the first thing I notice is that two of the three cards are from the suit of Hearts, suggesting there’s a lot of emotional energy attached to this prospect for you, which I connect to that sense of passion you mentioned about the issues you want to speak about.

From a yes/no/maybe so perspective, the Hearts being red say that yes, it would be good for you to consider moving back to the city.

Now let’s take a closer look at your cards, shall we?

Opening your reading up is the 6 of Clubs. The suit of Clubs is associated with work and business, so this is good to see since going back to the city is connected to work for you.

The number 6 is a number of communication, and one of my meanings for this card, in particular, is public speaking, so again, this card perfectly aligns with your intention for the shift in your work.

The 6 of Clubs can suggest work that serves others in some way, offering some form of help, support, advice, and assistance. The suit of Clubs is also about progress and socialization, and can suggest that the issues you want to speak about have to do with social progress.

The 6 is also a number of reward, so the 6 of Clubs suggests work that would be rewarding to you.

As the first card, the 6 of Clubs can suggest help, advice, support, and assistance would be given to you by another person or people.

This is a nice way to introduce the next card, the Queen of Hearts, as she can represent a person central to the situation (this card is in the center of the row).

The Queen of Hearts can point to a woman, and she might be someone close to you; the expression “close to home” comes to mind, suggesting she might be a family member or close friend, as the suit of Hearts can be associated with friends and family.

She can also refer to a partner in a committed relationship, so if you’re involved, the Queen of Hearts can be pointing to her.

Whoever she is to you, she offers you emotional support, as the suit of Hearts also has to do with feelings and emotions.

And speaking of feelings and emotions, the Queen of Hearts faces the 6 of Clubs, suggesting that her outlook on things may be one of frustration and impatience (the emotional outlook of Clubs), perhaps at the beginning of this new enterprise, because a secondary message of 6 of Clubs can be difficulty and a need to have faith.

And the Queen of Hearts has a secondary message as well. If you recall, this was the same card in Hannah’s reading—and in the same position, no less; and I said that this card can also suggest a move, again in alignment with your question.

Taking a quick look at the numerical values of the cards so far, we have 6 + 12 (Queens = 12), which is 18, and reduces to 9. 9 is a number of the humanitarian, which again points back to your speaking work being service-based, and focusing on social progress.

The 9 points to your wanting to start something new, but can also suggest that you may have some unfinished business that needs to be completed where you are now before you can “move” forward (yes, that was intentional, on my part).

Moving on (I did it again) to your last card in the row, the 10 of Hearts, we have another auspicious card.

The number 10 indicates transition (and moving is a from of transition); it suggests an ending that leads the way to a new beginning, as the 10 reduces to 1 (beginnings).

This can be like coming full circle, and the 10 of Hearts can sometimes refer to a family reunion, so the expression “you can go home again” comes to mind here.

Coming after the Queen, it again suggests the possibility of her either being family, or that she “feels like family” to you, because of a certain degree of emotional closeness.

And, connecting this card to the first card, in terms of the public speaking, the 10 of Hearts can point to a large crowd of people, or the people in a community—which, for you, would be your possible audience(s).

With Clubs being about socializing, you’re being encouraged to network socially, as a way to “get the word out” about your public speaking work. The 10 of Hearts has a secondary message of friendship, so it’s like putting your friends (and family) to work for you (remember that 6 of Clubs was about help and support, right?) in that regard.

Taking a look at the numbers of the last two cards, we add 12 + 10, for a total of 22. 22 is a Master Number, and is known as the “Master Builder,” suggesting building something for humanity (tying in nicely with the 9 mentioned earlier).

22 reduces to 4, which suggests a time for laying the foundation, and the hard work that goes to “building” on that foundation. In relation to public speaking, this might suggest firming up things like your “platform,” which would involve being clear on both your audience and your message.

Basically, what do you have to say—and to whom?

Taking another look at the cards as a whole, there are no Spades present, which is nice, as Spades can point to possible blocks, challenges, obstacles, and hurdles.

Also, there are no Diamonds present; as the suit of money, this could suggest money not coming in right away. You might, at the beginning, offer to speak for free, or at a lower price point than more established speakers—allowing you to get both experience and “brand recognition,” so you can be financially rewarded for the value your talks bring to others.

The row suggests that you might be frustrated at the start (Clubs), but your work will increase and expand (Queen is 12; 12 reduces to 3, a number of increase and expansion), and you will be very happy in the end (Hearts and the number 10).

Back to the City: The Theme

The last thing I’ll do here is to look at the theme, which comes from totaling all the cards. Doing the math, 6 + 12 + 10 = 28; 2 + 8 = 10; 1 + 0 = 1.

A 1 theme indicates something new is beginning, that a new level of experience is being gained.

Again, this fits with your wanting to move in a new direction with your work.

Wrapping Things Up

Duane, thank so much sharing your situation with me in this forum. I look forward to you circling back and letting me know how you’re progressing with your speaking work.

And, just as I hope it has been helpful to Duane, 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 and would like to gain some insight using the playing cards, send me your submission, via e-mail, to james@jameshimm.com, with Playing Your Cards Right in the subject line.

Here to help you play your cards right,