HE PLAYING-CARD ORACLE

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written by
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the Prophet ARCANA
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Transcribed from his own tongue and fingers
into the tongue of ASCII

Guaranteed Absolutely Without a Doubt to Work

ORIGINS
ARCANA ARCANORUM came about on one summer's day when I was lazily
pondering (as I often do) about the Universe. Surely, there must be some truth to the
Tarot and similar methods Divination: they have been around for millennia; this proves
that there must be something to them. I am a mathematician by trade, and it occurred to
me that the divining power lies not in the Cards themselves, but in the fabric of spacetime.
Statistical laws imply that a deck, properly shuffled, will yield the same chance of a
given Card being drawn. But the key to this axiom is that this is true -- but it is a law of
averages; if you draw a Card from a deck ten thousand times, you'll find that each Card
has roughly the same chances of being drawn. Equilibrium is the key; the key to
Equilibrium is number. The key to Divination, I found, is in the Cards that are chosen at
first. The Universe is forced to average the selection of a Card out with large numbers
of drawings; but for small numbers, the Universe has a method to communicate with us,
the sentient beings inside Her womb, waiting to be born.
It dawned on me then that the deck of Cards (Tarot, Thoth, etc.) -- nay, even the method
of Divination -- is irrelevant. Whether you are throwing sticks on the ground, picking
Cards from an ornately- decorated deck, or casting rune-inscribed dried clay markers,
the effects are the same. The power to divine is in the person, not in the divining
instrument.
Thus came my Illumination: Why use a deck of Tarot Cards? Why cast runes? Why
throw sticks and consult a chart? If it is true that the Diviner is important and not the
medium, then it is unimportant which medium actually is used, and all things will return
to Equilibrium, as they always have and always will.
Hence ARCANA ARCANORUM, the Playing-Card Tarot, was born. If medium is not
the message after all, then why not use a very simple, easy-to-understand, easilyobtained, inexpensive one? That is, the average deck of playing Cards that can be
bought in any store.

THE DECK
The deck of the ARCANA ARCANORUM, like any other Divination method, has
peculiarities that warrant further discussion.

The deck is divided into four suits: the Spades, the Diamonds, the Clubs, and Hearts.
Hereafter, the Spades will be known as Power; the Diamonds as Materiality; the Clubs
as Spirituality; and the Hearts as Love.
Also, each suit is divided into thirteen ranks: Ace through King. Each Card has a
different meaning in ARCANA ARCANORUM. The Ace of a suit has the meaning of
that suit -- for instance, the Ace of Diamonds means materiality. In general, the Two
through the Ten indicate the concept of that suit to a lessening degree: That is, the Two
of Spades has the meaning gain, while the Ten of Spades has the meaning defeat. The
Face Cards (that is, the Jack, the Queen, and the King) each have meanings unrelated to
this simple chain of degree (as often does life).
Optionally one may insert two Jokers into the deck; these will be called Trumps. They
should be distinguishable from each other. One Trump will be referred to as Life; the
other as Death.

THE CARDS
Here follows individual meanings of each Card.
The energy that is within us all; the
ACE OF SPADES POWER
essential force of being. It cannot be
denied.
Physical and mental betterment; one's work
TWO OF SPADES GAIN
is succeeding.
THREE OF
HEALTH
Stability; disappearance of illness or decay.
SPADES
FOUR OF
Lifting of oppression; the inner power of
FREEDOM
SPADES
the individual stands unchained.
Healthy conflict, bringing about the better
FIVE OF SPADES COMPETITION
of all parties involved.
SIX OF SPADES MEDIOCRITY
Lack of progress; mundanity.
SEVEN OF
HUMILIATION
Embarrassment; a waste of human effort.
SPADES
EIGHT OF
LOSS
The loss of something physical or mental.
SPADES
Taking one's position too seriously;
NINE OF SPADES ARROGANCE
overconfidence.
Destruction of one's accomplishments or
TEN OF SPADES DEFEAT
attempts; physical or mental reduction.
The essential force in all things. Change
can be for the better or for the worse; only
JACK OF SPADES CHANGE
the individual can decide which he or she
wants.
QUEEN OF
Opening up oneself to injury or to
VULNERABILITY
SPADES
downfall.
KING OF SPADES VICTORY
Triumph; physical or mental release.

ACE OF
DIAMONDS
TWO OF
DIAMONDS
THREE OF
DIAMONDS
FOUR OF
DIAMONDS
FIVE OF
DIAMONDS
SIX OF
DIAMONDS
SEVEN OF
DIAMONDS
EIGHT OF
DIAMONDS
NINE OF
DIAMONDS
TEN OF
DIAMONDS

MATERIALITY

The physical; the temptations.

LOYALTY

Staying besides oneself or one's

responsibilities.

HONESTY

Being true to oneself and those around one.

CHARITY

Giving to the needy, not necessarily in

physical considerations.

CONFUSION

Material unrest; one is unsure of oneself.

ANXIETY

Further material unrest; one is starting to

lose control of that which is in and around
one.

FUTILITY

Work for nothing.

FEAR

That which will end us all if not put into its

proper place.

BIAS

Unneeded prejudice; blindness.

FRAUD

Lies, deceit, sin.

One of the greater things in life; one must

JACK OF
learn to wait for what is coming to one. All
PATIENCE
DIAMONDS
things happen, given the right place and the
right opportunity.
QUEEN OF
Pettiness; personal materiality taken to the
VANITY
DIAMONDS
negative extreme.
KING OF
Happiness and solemnness with one's
CONTENTMENT
DIAMONDS
position in the world.
That which is without, and yet within. All
ACE OF CLUBS SPIRITUALITY
of us have the energy inside of ourselves, if
we wish to let it out.
The perfection of spirituality. The oneness
TWO OF CLUBS
SIMPLICITY
and beauty of the circle; the solidarity and
(or THE CIRCLE)
singularity of a point. Nothing is better.
THREE OF
Understanding, cognition, positive thought
COMPREHENSION
CLUBS
energy.
FOUR OF CLUBS RESPONSIBILITY Taking care of one's commitments.
Looking at one's own accomplishments and
FIVE OF CLUBS REFLECTION
failures and feelings. The importance of
this is not known to the nonspiritual.
Naivete; failure to attempt to understand
SIX OF CLUBS
INNOCENCE
the world around one.
SEVEN OF
Disappointment in oneself; unwarranted
DISAPPOINTMENT
CLUBS
unhappiness in the world around one.

EIGHT OF CLUBS INSTABILITY

NINE OF CLUBS

STAGNATION

TEN OF CLUBS

IMMATURITY

JACK OF CLUBS SHAME

QUEEN OF
CLUBS

EQUILIBRIUM

KING OF CLUBS FORESIGHT

ACE OF HEARTS LOVE
TWO OF HEARTS
INVOLVEMENT
(or THE LOVERS)
THREE OF
OPPORTUNITY
HEARTS
FOUR OF
INSPIRATION
HEARTS
FIVE OF HEARTS APATHY
SIX OF HEARTS

REGRET

SEVEN OF
HEARTS

FANTASY

EIGHT OF
HEARTS

OBSESSION

NINE OF HEARTS HATRED

TEN OF HEARTS
JACK OF
HEARTS
QUEEN OF
HEARTS
KING OF
HEARTS (or THE
SUICIDE KING)
FIRST TRUMP
SECOND TRUMP

ISOLATION
JEALOUSY
COMPASSION
SELFDESTRUCTION
LIFE
DEATH

Internal strife; the foundations within are

crumbling.
Fermentation; worthlessness.
Failing to understand one's place in the
world; taking for granted.
Shame is dangerous. One need not be
ashamed of oneself; there are many other
things in this Universe that demand
attention, and warrant more.
The essential balance of the Universe. All
was once in Equilibrium; one day, all will
return.
The ability to predict what is coming; an
important attribute in any person.
That communion between two souls, with a
beauty that can never be forgotten or
ignored.
The meeting and joining of two souls.
The chance for betterment that one should
never miss or overlook.
That spark of genius that arises when one is
touched by love.
Disinterest. One of the more dangerous of
the evils.
Disappointment in oneself or one's actions
from a previous time. What is past is past.
What is future is another thing.
Dangerous self-involvement. It is healthy
to wonder and wander among oneself -- but
it is dangerous to take this too far.
Love taken for itself; love for another in
spite of the other. Love is the sharing of
two souls, not the stealing of one.
Antipathy, often caused of failed or failing
love.
Loneliness; desperation; unending sadness.
Obsession turned around; the stealing of a
soul that is not one's to steal.
Oh, the beauty of love!
The taking of oneself, literally or
figuratively, for selfish and worthless
causes.
Evolution, beauty, and harmony. Infinity.
Stagnation, ugliness, and chaos. Zero.

THE DIVINATION
The Divination is the manner in which meaning and context are brought to a set of
Cards. There are many different types of Divination with ARCANA ARCANORUM -no method is "better" than any other (however, some are better at answering certain
questions than others). A few different types are detailed below.
It is probably best to use a fresh deck of Cards with each new subject.
Divinations usually revolve around a question asked by the subject. "What will be the
outcome of this situation?" is a common thread.
A given Divination usually involves laying down the Cards in a certain array,
attributing meaning to each position which holds a Card. Thus, one position might
signify oneself; another might signify the future of oneself. The meaning of each Card is
applied to the position it falls in.
Divination is more of an art than anything else. The Diviner must key in on kinesic
clues that would normally be invisible to anyone else. The meaning a Card might be
positive or negative: it might refer to an abundance or a dearth of something. The
Diviner must decide what, and draw everything together into a coherent whole.
The method of Divination is incidental; any method will work. The one chosen should
reflect what the question is dealing with, and the subject.

THE SIGNIFICATOR
Most Divinations involve choosing a Significator, a Card to symbolize the subject of a
Divination. That card is usually placed, face-up, somewhere important in the Divination
array. A few methods of Divination, usually those where a question is asked about
someone else, require two Significators: one for the subject, and one for the object.
The suit of the Significator is chosen quite simply. The concept that the Divining
question deals with becomes the suit of the Significator. Questions about power,
position, etc., are Spades; those concerning wealth, material gain, etc., are Diamonds;
those concerning mental capacity, religion, etc., are Clubs; and those concerning
emotional issues are Hearts.
The rank of the Significator is chosen by simple rules: If the subject is a mature male,
the King. If a mature female, the Queen. If a young man, a Jack; if a young woman, the
Ten. A child would use an Ace.
Thus if a young man is asking about his relationship with an amour, his Significator
would be the Jack of Hearts.

THE METHODS OF DIVINATION

Here follow some methods of DIVINATION.

THE ANCIENT CELTIC METHOD OF DIVINATION

Place the Significator face up on the table. Concentrating on the question he wishes to
ask, the subject now shuffles the pack thoroughly three times, the faces always
downward. After shuffling, he cuts the pack into three piles and places them face
downward to his left.
The Diviner now picks up the pack from his left, still keeping the Cards face downward.
And now begins the Divination.
1. Turn up the First Card and cover the Significator and say: This covers one. This Card
represents the general atmosphere relevant to the question asked.
2. Turn up the Second Card and lay it across the first, saying: This crosses one. This
card indicates the nature of the forces opposing one, for good or for evil.
3. Turn up the Third Card and place it above the Significator, saying: This crowns one.
It represents what the subject hopes for in relation to the question and has not yet been
realized but may be in the future.
4. Turn up the Fourth Card and place it below the Significator, saying: This is beneath
one. This Card shows the foundation of the matter, that which the subject has already
experience relevant to it.
5. Turn up the Fifth Card and place it to the left of the Significator and say: This is
behind one. This card shows the influence that has just passed or is now passing away.
6. Turn up the Sixth Card and place it to the right of the Significator and say: This is
before one. It shows the influence that will operate in the near future.
Now turn up the Seventh, Eights, Ninth, and Tenth Cards and place one above the other
in a line on the right side of the cross.
7. The Seventh Card represents the attitude of the subject toward the matter.
8. The Eighth Card represents the subject's environment and those tendencies or
influences in family and friends which may have a bearing on the matter.
9. The Ninth Card indicates the hopes and fears of the subject concerning the matter.
10. The Tenth Card indicates the outcome of the matter, the culmination of all the
influences at work in the preceding cards.
The operation is now completed; however, should the Tenth Card indicate an uncertain
nature from which no conclusions can be drawn, one can repeat the process using the
Tenth Card as Significator. The pack should be shuffled again, cut three times and the
first ten cards taken as before. By this method, a more thorough account of the outcome
may be procured.

Should the Tenth Card be a Face Card, the outcome of the matter may lie in the hand of
the person suggested by the card. For further information as to the outcome, one may
take the Face Card in question and use it as Significator and repeat the process again.
DIAGRAM OF THE ANCIENT CELTIC METHOD OF DIVINATION
+----+
|
|
| 10 |
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+----+

+----+
|
|

+----+
|
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|
|
|
+----+

| 3. |
|
| Significator
+----+ / and 1.
/
+----+
+----+
+------+
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|
5. |
| 2. |
| 6.
+------+
|
|
+----+
+----+
+----+
|
|

+----+
|
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| 9. |
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+----+
|
+----+
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| 8. |
|
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+----+

| 4. |
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+----+

+----+
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| 7. |
|
|
+----+

1. This covers one.

2. This crosses one.
3. This crowns one.
4. This is beneath one.
5. This is behind one.
6. This is before one.
7. Oneself.
8. One's environment -- family, friends.
9. One's hopes and fears.
10. The culmination of all preceding influences; the outcome.

THE PAST-PRESENT-FUTURE METHOD OF DIVINATION

This method is particularly useful when asking general questions concerning the
atmosphere surrounding the subject.
The Diviner should shuffle the deck thoroughly and have the subject cut the deck.
Take the Significator and place it face-up on the table. Then lay nine Cards around and
on it, face down, to make a square.
Then take two more Cards and place them at the right end of the square, one half-way
between the first row and second row and the other half-way between the second and
third rows.

The top row indicates the past; the middle row signifies the present; and the third
bottom row indicates the future. The left column signifies the forces opposing one; the
middle column signifies one himself or herself; and the right column indicates the
forces helping one.
The two extra Cards (called the Hanging Cards) indicate transitions from the past to the
present, and from the present the future, respectively.
The Cards are lifted face-up one at a time. It really does not matter which order; usually
left to right and top to bottom suffice.
DIAGRAM OF THE PAST-PRESENT-FUTURE METHOD OF DIVINATION
+----+
+----+
+----+
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
|
|
|
|
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|
+----+
+----+
+----+
+----+
|
|
| 4. |
+----+
+----+
+----+
|
|
|
|
|Sig.|
|
|
+----+
| 5. |
| & |
| 7. |
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
+----+
+----+
+----+
+----+
|
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| 8. |
+----+
+----+
+----+
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
+----+
| 9. |
| 10 |
| 11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
+----+
+----+
+----+

1. That which is opposing one and in the past.

2. That which is affecting one and in the past.
3. That which is assisting one and in the past.
4. The transition from the past to the present.
5. That which is opposing one and in the present.
6. That which is affecting one and in the present.
7. That which is assisting one and in the present.
8. The transition from the present to the future.
9. That which is opposing one and in the future.
10. That which is affecting one and in the future.
11. That which is assisting one and in the future.

THE CONFLICTION METHOD OF DIVINATION

This method is particularly useful for asking questions involving two people. There are
two Significators: one for the subject, and one for the object. The typical question to be
solved with this is "What will happen between this person and I?"
Pick two Significators, one for the subject and one for the object. Put them on the table,
face-up.

Next draw six Cards, and put the face down in the following pattern: three Cards to the
upper-right, the right, and the lower- right of the subject's Significator; and three cards
to the upper- left, the left, and the lower-left of the object's Significator.
Drawn one final Card and put it in between the two groupings described above.
The drawn Cards to the left affect the subject; those on the right affect the object. The
top row deals with the past; the middle row the present; and the bottom row the future.
The center Card (called the Resolution Card) represents the outcome of the question.
If the Resolution Card is ambiguous, simply reverse the subject and object cards and
begin again (without reshuffling). If it happens again, then the question itself is too
ambiguous (or encompassing) to be answered in one Divination and should be
rephrased.
DIAGRAM FOR THE CONFLICTION METHOD OF DIVINATION
+----+
|
|
| 1. |
|
|
+----+

Subject's
Significator
+----+
|
|
|
|
|
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+----+

+----+
|
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| 2. |
|
|
+----+

+----+
|
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| 4. |
|
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+----+

\
+----+
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| 7. |
|
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+----+

+----+
|
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+----+
|
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| 5. |
|
|
+----+

+----+
|
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| 3. |
|
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+----+

+----+
|
|
|
|
|
|
+----+
\
Object's
Significator
| 6. |
|
|
+----+

1. That which has affected the subject.

2. That which is affecting the subject.
3. That which will affect the subject.
4. That which has affected the object.
5. That which is affecting the object.
6. That which will affect the object.
7. The Resolution Card.

THE FINAL WORD

ARCANA ARCANORUM, like any other Divination method, takes a little while to
master; but it, like any other, is equally valid if one believes in it. It is considerably
simpler and easier to understand than some other Divination methods; and it is easy to
remember the meanings of the Cards with only a little practice (you'll find that the same
ones tend to show up over and over). (In fact, one might even consider writing the
meanings on the Cards themselves!)

ARCANA ARCANORUM is not for the unbeliever. If you don't believe in the
Divination, it will not work -- plain and simple. The Universe only wishes to give
information to those who believe in Her.
If you think all of this was a lot of hogwash, then read it again.

And if you never intended to believe in the first place, then it really is a pity
that you read down to