A Plain Guide to French Cardtology Reading Meaning from an Ordinary Deck What Is French Cardtology? French cardtology is a traditional system of divination that uses a standard 52-card play- ing deck. Unlike tarot, which was designed specifically for mystical use, cardtology treats ordinary cards as symbols of everyday life. The belief is simple: if cards are used daily to represent chance, risk, and fate, then they can also be used to reflect patterns in a person’s life. Nothing is added to the deck. Nothing is removed. Meaning is drawn from what already exists. This system became popular in France and parts of Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially among working people who did not have access to elaborate tarot decks. Why Playing Cards Work for Divination Playing cards are tied to real things: • Money changing hands • Work and leisure • Wins and losses • Social relationships • Time passing Because of this, cardtology focuses less on cosmic abstraction and more on practical life events. It answers questions like: • What is influencing this situation? • What kind of pressure is present? • Is this near or far? • What does this tend toward? The Four Suits and What They Represent In French cardtology, each suit governs a domain of life. Hearts Hearts deal with emotion, relationships, the body, and personal well-being. They are tied to love, family, health, and emotional bonds. When hearts appear often, the matter is personal and felt deeply. 1 Clubs Clubs represent work, effort, skill, and action. They are associated with labor, careers, projects, and personal ability. Clubs suggest things that must be done, practiced, or endured. Diamonds Diamonds govern money, resources, possessions, and material stability. They relate to fi- nances, opportunities, losses, gains, and practical security. Diamonds often point to what is being invested or extracted. Spades Spades represent difficulty, thought, conflict, and endurance. They are tied to obstacles, stress, hard truths, and mental strain. Spades do not always mean disaster, but they do indicate seriousness. Number Meanings in Cardtology Numbers describe intensity, scale, and movement. Low Numbers (Ace through Four) Low numbers often suggest beginnings, reductions, or losses. They can mean something is new, incomplete, weakened, or still forming. They are quiet but important. Middle Numbers (Five through Seven) These numbers indicate tension, transition, or work. They often suggest effort without certainty, struggle without resolution. Things are in motion. High Numbers (Eight through Ten) High numbers represent strength, momentum, or significance. They suggest things that are established, unavoidable, or strongly felt. A Ten often means something carries weight. Court Cards as People and Forces Court cards usually represent people, but also roles and influences. Jacks Jacks are messengers, coworkers, younger people, or intermediaries. They often indicate movement, news, or someone involved but not in control. 2 Queens Queens represent nurturing, influence, and internal authority. They are often maternal figures, mentors, or emotional centers. A Queen shapes situations. Kings Kings represent authority, responsibility, and external power. They may indicate leaders, parents, bosses, or controlling forces. A King stabilizes or dominates the situation. Timing and Distance in Cardtology Cardtology does not treat time literally. Instead, it measures time by relevance and pressure. Timing Timing cards describe when something becomes unavoidable . Hearts suggest emotional readi- ness. Clubs suggest effort reaching a point of action. Diamonds suggest financial cycles. Spades suggest resolution after difficulty. Distance Distance is not only physical. It may be emotional, financial, or situational. Hearts measure closeness of feeling. Diamonds measure financial or resource gaps. Spades measure barriers. Clubs measure effort required to reach something. Outcome Cards An outcome card does not promise reward or punishment. It shows the natural tendency of the situation if nothing changes. Outcomes can be quiet, difficult, or simply exhausting. Not all outcomes are growth; some are lessons. Why This System Feels Familiar French cardtology works because it mirrors everyday experience. Most people already un- derstand: • Money causes stress • Work requires effort • Relationships affect health • Challenges do not always lead to triumph The cards do not invent meaning. 3 A Final Note to the Reader What matters is not whether the cards are true, but whether the story they tell helps you notice something you were already living. 4