In the Cards . . .

Cara/Andrea here, I’ve been a bit hammered by Nature in the last few months—Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc with trees and power, and a wicked Nor’easter did the same just ten days ago. So when I heard a monster snowstorm was headed my way last weekend, I was willing to try anything to placate the Weather Gods. Sacrificial cookies left in the vulnerable rooms, burning candles, ancient Druid chants, ringing of Feng Sui bells—it got me to thinking how throughout history, people have turned to all manner of rituals when faced with a frightening threat.

Which led me to another thought. As I sat fretting about power outages, danger form falling pines, and how I would deal with no heat in the dead of winter. I also started musing on how nice it would be to, well, know what was going to happen. What was my fortune going to be? That seems another elemental human urge, and of course all sorts of ways to divine the future have arisen over the centuries, from the Delphic Oracle to . . . Weather Tracking Satellites!

But being a person who loves paper, words and images, I found myself thinking about cartomancy in particular—the art of fortunetelling with playing cards. And so I decided to do a little basic research into the subject. And it turns out that I didn’t have to look far from home—the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale houses the Cary Collection, one of the world’s foremost collections in the worldof ancient and modern playing cards.



According to the introduction on their website, the first written record of cards being used to predict the future in the Western world appeared in the beginning of the 16th century with the 1505 Mainz Kartenlosbuch, a handbook designed to be used in conjunction with a deck of cards. However, the origins of cartomancy, though a bit uncertain, appear to date back to the 14th century, when tarot cards from the East began appearing in Europe. (The Cary Collection possesses one of the few existing examples of the Visconti tarot, a magnificent handpainted and gilded set from Italy, created around 1445.(see above)

I was fascinated to learn that cards specifically designed for fortune-telling first appeared in England during the late 17th century. The Beinecke site showcases an early design from John Lenthall (c.1717-see left) and explains the following facts: “The Fortune-telling Cards use the standard French suit system in a pack of fifty-two cards. The aces and court cards bear zodiacal signs and images of historical and mythical figures such as Ptolemy and Merlin; the actual fortunes are listed on the pip cards.”

Another source says that fortunetelling with playing cards became very popular in late Georgian/Regency times, especially in France, where the mystical revelations of Court de Gebelin and a self-proclaimed prophet named Etteilla entranced the public. (War, economic troubles and social upheaval—times of uncertainty seem to stimulate an interest in the occult.) One of the best known fortunetellers of the time was Mademoiselle Le Normand, who counted Napoleon among her clients. (whose interest in the mystical is well-documented) Known as the "Sibylle des Salons," the lady also became a close confidante of Empress Josephine.

The allure of cartomancy grew stronger through the 19th century—the Victorians were known for their fascination in the occult. And modern day interest in the tarot remains high in certain circles. But rather that try to detail any more of the long and wonderfully complex history of playing cards and their use in divination, I’d rather end with showing some of the intriguing visuals from the Georgian/Regency era that I discovered on the Beinecke Library website.

French, c. 1780


French, c. 1814



Left: English, c. 1717; Right: English 1806

And finally one of my favorites, an American card from c. 1840, which show that cartomancy, along with the quinessentially dry British wit, had crossed the Pond:

So what about you? Have you ever had your fortune told through playing cards? Ever played around with the tarot deck? And if you could, would you choose to know what was going to happen in the future? I’ve decided I’d rather not—for me the unknown is part of the excitement of life.

Comments

[Anne Gracie]

Great post, Cara/Andrea — and I love those cards. i love the look of old playing cards — so decorative and interesting.
I don't meddle with fortune telling of any sort, apart from reading the odd horoscope. Not that I believe the cards will tell my future. . . but I also don't disbelieve. :) And like you, I'd rather not know.

[Patricia Rice]

As I said in my earlier post, I'm willing to keep an open mind. But I've had my cards read and played around a bit with the tarot and I can see right through a lot of the mumbo jumbo. I adore the colorful cards and the fun of guessing the future but my logic prevails on this one. Unless the card reader is a genuine psychic, I think we're safe from knowing our futures!

[Donna]

Interestingly enough, one of the most accurate 'psychic readings' I've ever had was from a woman using a standard deck of playing cards!

I would love to be able to read Tarot cards. The decks I've seen use symbolism that is far more ancient than the 14th c. date usually given for Tarot, and I've long had an interest in universal symbolism.

And finally, no, I don't think I'd *really* like to know the future. Oh, to know the good things that were to happen would be nice, but what about the bad? I'd hate to walk around in dread!

[Nicola Cornick]

Fantastic post, Cara/Andrea! Thank you. I had my horoscope cast years ago in Glastonbury by a mystic. He was pretty accurate about the past and about my character but I didn't want to know about the future. That sort of thing unsettles me!

I used tarot cards in Forbidden and found it fascinating to study their meanings.

[Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose]

Anne, I love the graphic appeal of cards,and find it fascinating how how the fears of a certain era can come through in the images. The cards from the time of the French Revolution features Death and a jumble of steel blades . . .very poignant, really.

[Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose]

Donna, I'm intrigued buy the symbolisms of the tarot deck, and the sheer beauty of the graphics. Have never tried to use them for divination though. I fret enough as it is, without worrying about impending doom. Plus knowing the future would really lessen the magic of life. I like to believe that choices I make, or those wonderful unexpected occurances that change your path in life are what's exhilaring. To feel one's fate was already decided would rob a lot of he joy from every day.

[Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose]

Pat, I have an open mind too, There may well be people who have a connection to the forces of the cosmos—but I'd prefer to face the future on my own.

[Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose]

Nicola, I've never had a serious horoscope cast, but like you, I wouldn't want to hear the future. Some of the monthly general horoscopes I read for fun are accurate—and some are not!

The tarot is fascinating to me too on an intellectual level because it's so interesting to see how mystics explain "Fate" and what forces guide us. But I'm happy muddling along on my own.

[Ella Quinn]

I have had my fortune told by a person using tarot cards, but at the time I was more interested in who my next boy friend was going to be. Although, tempted, I can't bring myself to want to know the future.

Some of the cards are just stunning. Great post.

[Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose]

Ella, I've never had my fortune told with taro cards—my interest is purely artistic. There are some things that would be nice to know, but mostly I prefer the future to remain a mystery.

So glad you enjoyed the visuals. I found them really wonderful, and there are a lot more lovely one from the late 19th-early 20th century on the Beinecke site.

[Mary Jo Putney]

I've had some experience with tarot and other forms of divination, and if someone talented is doing the reading, they can do a good job of seeing a general shape for upcoming times. Not details, though, and it's just as well! I've no talent for reading the tarot myself, but a couple of times I've bought decks just because the art is so gorgeous. I have a lovely art nouveau deck that looks like it was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany in stained glass. *G*

[Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose]

Mary Jo, I really have no urge to have my cards read, but I do love tarot cards for their beautiful art—I can see collecting cards . . . except I already have way too much Stuff. Sigh.

[Jaye Marie Rome]

I love those playing card images, Cara!

Interestingly, when I worked in theatre at Paper Mill Playhouse, one of my co-workers regularly held fortune-telling parties. I will freely admit, I never wanted to go, but not for the reason you state, of how not knowing adds excitement to life. I was simply chicken. I was afraid of hearing something I didn't want to hear, especially about illness, death, or whatever. I think I'd go through life expecting the worst, you know?

Much better to live for the moment, and be able to enjoy it without wondering when the shoe was going to drop. :)

On another note...I hope the crazy weather is done now. The robins were singing today like it was already spring...fingers crossed!

Hugs,
Jaye

[Jenny Reid]

I love the cards Cara. They are so beautifully coloured and printed. However, I have absolutely no interest in having my future told. I believe it is what you make of it yourself. Having said that, it would be nice to know what the world's crazy weather is going to do. You with your heavy snow and hurricane and tornadoes, and us here in Australia with our bush fires and floods. Then I would be able to clear out all the stuff piled in the spare room in case of having to make a quick run for it as the flames come over the hill.

[Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose]

So glad you enjoyed the images, Jaye. I feel exactly the way you do about hearing negative things for the future. I think that would suck all the joy out of life. It would be hard to have laughter and a positive outlook with impending ills darkening every day.

Living in the moment, and appreciating the here and now rather than fretting too much on the past or the future is important.

[Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose]

Hugs on your weather threats,Jenny, The bush fires are so very frightening, and yes, that;s the one thing that would be nice to predict. For this latest blizzard, I was so stressed from the previous storms, I ran around gathering important papers and making a "Go" bag just because I'd really been frightened by how powerful they were, and how Nature might really make me have to flee. Very scary.

Stay safe . . .and glad you enjoyed the cards. They are fascinating, aren't they!

[Betty Hamilton]

I have been to a phychic with my daughter. The tarrot cards were used but only as part of the session (which was taped). I can't say that I was impressed as so much of what she said seemed vague or just plain didn't make sense to me. However, several years later I pulled out the tape and listeened to it again and was floored at how accurate it was.

[Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose]

How interesting, Betty. Do you think the accuracy may be because you're listening to it now, knowing what happened?