In Fortune Telling
Cartomancy, divination using cards, is an ancient method of foretelling the future and over the centuries many volumes have been written on the subject. This Map is intended as a complement to the books already available and will facilitate the interpretation of any spread of cards by a beginner.
When consulting the Tarot, the operator must always bear in mind two things; first, nothing regarding the future is cast in stone and a reading only produces advice or warnings; second, the significance of any card will be influenced by those surrounding it, to a greater or lesser extent moderating or reinforcing its meaning.
Study of the range of written works available on the use of the Tarot in divination will reveal shades of opinion on the meanings of each individual card, it is for the operator to decide which of these best suits their own style of interpretation. In the construction of The Map and summaries of the meanings given, one thing has been uppermost in our minds, no card of itself spells doom.
Among the Major Arcana, for example, XIII (Death) frequently frightens the querent (the person for whom the reading is being given). It does not stand as a harbinger of death but of dramatic change, usually outwith the direct control of the querent and, just as life and death are inextricably linked on this plane, so also Arcanum XIII can mean a new beginning, a completely fresh start.
