Extras

Fortune Telling with Playing Cards

Kaitou Ace reveals Sailor V's fortune using his trademark playing cards. This method of fortune telling, known as cartomancy, has been around for centuries, presumably started by the Gypsies (Romany). Originally, "Gypsy" was a derogatory shortened form of "Egyptian," even though the Gypsy people are believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent.

Gypsies are best-known for the Tarot, a 78-card deck of illustrated cards. Many of the cards are quite similar to those in a modern deck of playing cards, though the names are a bit different. Still, many of the meanings are retained. However, it isn't certain if playing cards originated from the Tarot, or if playing cards were somehow combined to create the Tarot. Tarot decks are comprised of two parts: a Major Arcana (Big Secrets) of 26 cards and a Minor Arcana (Little Secrets) made up of 52 cards. It is the Minor Arcana that bear the most resemblance to today's decks of playing cards. Both the Minor Arcana and today's playing cards have "royals," or Kings, Queens, and Jacks (Knights in the Tarot), but the Tarot also have another set of "face cards," the Pages. Also, instead of Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, and Clubs, Tarot cards feature Cups/Chalices, Pentacles/Disks, Swords, and Rods/Wands. Other than that, the numbers of the cards are the same.

Like the Tarot, card meanings are best expressed when arranged in a spread, or special shape. Examples of spread include a line of three, with the first card representing the past, the second the present, and the third the future. This is the simplest (easiest-to-do) spread, but is also the most vague. More complex spreads, such as a Celtic Cross (used in Tarot) tend to give more information. The more cards used in a spread, the more detail can be given.

It should be noted that fortune telling with any of card should not be expected to reveal the answer to a "yes or no" question, nor should it be expected to predict events with 100% certainty. For example, it's not good to ask "Will I become rich?" but better instead to ask, "As of this stage in my life, what steps can I take to become materially wealthier?" The cards will outline such things as time, people, and events.

Here are some of the meanings of cards (from Serena's Guide to Fortune Telling With Playing Cards):

Hearts

• Ace: home, love, friendship, joy the start of a romance. A love letter.
• Two: Success and prosperity. An engagement or partnership.
• Three: You need to be cautious. Don't say something you'll regret.
• Four: A change, a journey or a move of house/business. A late marriage.
• Five: Jealous people around you. Take your time to make any decisions.
• Six: Unexpected good luck. Someone helping you out.
• Seven: An unfaithful or unreliable person. Broken promises.
• Eight: Visits and visitors. Invitations out or attending a party.
• Nine: The wish card. Dreams come true.
• Ten: Good luck and happiness.
• Jack: A close friend or a good-natured, fair-haired youth.
• Queen: A kindly fair-haired woman.
• King: A good-natured, fair-haired man. Good advice.

Diamonds

• Ace: A ring or present of jewellery. News about money. A letter.
• Two: A love affair attracting disapproval from others. A business partnership.
• Three: Legal problems, domestic arguments. A legal letter.
• Four: An inheritance. Improvements in finances.
• Five: Success in business. Happy family.
• Six: Problems in a second marriage.
• Seven: Surprise news or a gift. Problems and losses at work.
• Eight: A marriage and travel late in life. Financial ups and downs.
• Nine: Surprise with money. New business opportunities. Restlessness.
• Ten: Money and travel highlighted. Fortunate changes.
• Jack: A relative. A very fair-haired youth. Watch out for dishonesty or unreliability.
• Queen: A woman who loves to party and to gossip. A flirt. A very fair-haired woman.
• King: A stubborn and influential man. A very fair-haired man.

Clubs

• Ace: Wealth, health, love and happiness. A letter concerning money.
• Two: Gossip. Disappointments and opposition.
• Three: Marriage to a wealthy partner. Money coming from the partner.
• Four: Changes for the worse. Lies and betrayal.
• Five: New friends and a successful marriage. Help from friends.
• Six: Business success. Getting financial help.
• Seven: Prosperity and success. Be careful of trouble coming from a person of the opposite sex.
• Eight: Trouble in relationships, business and personal. Jealousy and greed.
• Nine: Achievements. A new lover or admirer. Don't be stubborn.
• Ten: Unexpected money coming in. Good luck. Travel abroad.
• Jack: A reliable friend. A dark-haired youth.
• Queen: An attractive, self-confident woman. A dark-haired woman.
• King: An honest, generous and affectionate man. A dark-haired man.

Spades

• Ace: Emotional conflict, obsession, death. Things coming to a head.
• Two: Separation, gossip and deceit. Difficult changes.
• Three: Unfaithfulness and partings. Be wary in partnerships.
• Four: Illness. Business and money worries. Broken promises.
• Five: Happy home but interference from other people. Reversals and opposition but eventual success.
• Six: Small improvements.
• Seven: Loss of friendship or loss of a friend. An unexpected burden. A warning against losses and sorrow.
• Eight: Trouble and disappointment. Plans go awry. Friends let you down. Cancellations.
• Nine: Bad luck in all things. Depression and low energy. Destruction, deaths. Extreme anxiety
• Ten: Misfortune and worry. Imprisonment. Unwelcome news.
• Jack: A well-meaning but immature and unreliable youth. A very dark-haired youth.
• Queen: A widow. An unscrupulous woman. A very dark-haired woman.
• King: An ambitious and authoritative man. A very dark-haired man.

More...

• Joker: (optional) New developments, fresh starts, taking a risk.

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