Playing Cards
The guide content behind these links is currently available in Bulgarian only. The calculator and the result work the same way; an English translation is on the way.
Fortune telling with playing cards
A free guide to cartomancy - what the suits mean, all 36 cards, the spreads and the combinations.
What is cartomancy?
Cartomancy is fortune telling with ordinary playing cards - a 36-card deck (six to ace). The four suits set the theme: hearts (love), diamonds (money), clubs (work), spades (challenges).
The cards are read together - the dominant suit colours the whole reading. Start with the complete guide, or go straight ahead and draw your cards.
Cartomancy - the complete guide
startWhat cartomancy is, how to read with an ordinary deck and how to do your first reading. Start here.
Meaning of the 36 cards
What every card means, by suit and rank - from the six to the ace.
How to read - spreads
One card, three cards and the cross - step by step, with examples.
Meaning of the suits
Hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades - what each suit speaks about.
Card combinations
How the cards are read together - the combinations that matter most.
Playing cards vs tarot and Lenormand
Which system to choose - a comparison of all three.
All 36 cards of the deck
Cartomancy uses a 36-card deck, from the six up to the ace. Hearts speak of feelings, diamonds of money and news, clubs of work, spades of what stands in the way.
| Suit | Name | In a word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Hearts | Sincerity | Calm, honest affection; a small kindness that warms the heart when you least expect it. | |
| 7 Hearts | Flirtation | Romantic thoughts and a light, playful spark; someone is quietly on your mind. | |
| 8 Hearts | Invitation | Deep feeling and family warmth; an invitation or a drawing closer to someone dear. | |
| 9 Hearts | The Wish | The wish card - a heartfelt dream coming true and a taste of real happiness. | |
| 10 Hearts | Joy | Great joy in the home; harmony, celebration, sometimes a wedding on the horizon. | |
| Jack Hearts | The Lover | A young person in love or a loyal friend; welcome news for the heart. | |
| Queen Hearts | Loving Woman | A caring, warm-hearted woman - a mother, a partner, or a close friend. | |
| King Hearts | Good Man | A kind, faithful man; a dependable partner or a devoted father figure. | |
| Ace Hearts | Home & Love | The heart of the matter - home, love, and a strong emotional bond. | |
| 6 Diamonds | Small News | A modest sum or a brief message; an unexpected short trip close to home. | |
| 7 Diamonds | Gossip | Minor news and idle talk; small expenses or a slight delay in your plans. | |
| 8 Diamonds | Negotiation | Money in motion, business correspondence, conversations around a deal. | |
| 9 Diamonds | The Deal | A meaningful sum or an important document; success in striking an agreement. | |
| 10 Diamonds | Profit | A large gain or money arriving from afar; a change of place or address. | |
| Jack Diamonds | The Messenger | A young business contact, or news that arrives by letter or message. | |
| Queen Diamonds | Businesswoman | A practical, capable woman; at times a rival in matters of business. | |
| King Diamonds | Man of Power | A businessman, a boss, or someone with money and real influence. | |
| Ace Diamonds | Important News | A significant letter, document, or major piece of news on its way to you. | |
| 6 Clubs | Stability | A small win earned through effort; steady, secure work you can rely on. | |
| 7 Clubs | Lucky Effort | Minor worries around work, but luck turns in your favor in the end. | |
| 8 Clubs | Effort | Commitments and hard work that are about to pay off. | |
| 9 Clubs | Recognition | Success and recognition; good fortune as you begin something new. | |
| 10 Clubs | Abundance | Great success, travel for work, and a season of abundance. | |
| Jack Clubs | The Helper | A hardworking young person - a colleague or a willing helper. | |
| Queen Clubs | Ambitious Woman | A clever, ambitious woman; a strong partner in business. | |
| King Clubs | The Professional | A respected man, a true professional and a wise adviser. | |
| Ace Clubs | New Venture | Strong fortune and the energy to act; the start of a new venture. | |
| 6 Spades | Obstacle | A small obstacle or a minor quarrel; a brief delay before things move on. | |
| 7 Spades | Worry | Anxiety, a small loss, or a passing disappointment. | |
| 8 Spades | Caution | Cares, conflict, or a matter of health - tread carefully for now. | |
| 9 Spades | The Trial | The hard card - a loss, an ending, or a demanding test of strength. | |
| 10 Spades | Hard Times | A heavy obstacle; the darkest hour before dawn - once it passes, relief comes. | |
| Jack Spades | The Ill-Wisher | A troubled young person, or someone who means you no good nearby. | |
| Queen Spades | Cunning Woman | A sorrowful or scheming woman; a rival, perhaps a widow. | |
| King Spades | The Opponent | A stern, domineering man; an opponent or a demanding authority. | |
| Ace Spades | Sharp Change | A sudden change or an ending; a decisive choice and a clearing of the air. |
Frequently asked questions
How do you read with playing cards?
Cartomancy uses a 36-card deck (six to ace in four suits). Each suit sets the theme - hearts for love, diamonds for money, clubs for work, spades for challenges. You draw the cards and read them together as one story.
Is it hard to learn?
No. The suits give the direction and the ranks sharpen it. With one draw a day you have the system in two or three weeks. Start with a card of the day.
How is it different from tarot and Lenormand?
Playing cards are the most accessible - you read with a deck everyone already owns. Tarot has 78 cards built on archetypes, Lenormand 36 with concrete images. Cartomancy stays simple and direct for everyday questions.
Can I read playing cards online?
Yes. Draw your cards free and without signing up in our online playing-card reading tool - pick a spread, ask your question and get the interpretation.
A three-card practice spread
Give the positions clear roles: “situation”, “my action”, “what to consider”. Draw three cards and record their suits and values. Look them up before combining them.
Read by position: the first describes the question, the second suggests an action you can take, and the third adds a consideration. If a card has several meanings, state which you chose and why it fits the question.