Playing Cards as Tarot: The Complete Cartomancy Guide
You don't need a tarot deck to perform a reading. A standard 52-card deck can be used for divination through a practice called cartomancy—one of the oldest forms of divination, predating modern tarot by centuries. Here's how the playing card layout relates to tarot and what each card represents.
Playing Card Suits = Tarot Suits
| Playing Card | Tarot Suit | Element | Life Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hearts | Cups | Water | Love, emotions, relationships |
| Diamonds | Pentacles | Earth | Money, career, material matters |
| Clubs | Wands | Fire | Creativity, action, ambition |
| Spades | Swords | Air | Thoughts, conflict, decisions |
Hearts (Cups) - Emotions & Love
- Ace of Hearts: New love, emotional new beginning, joy
- 2 of Hearts: Partnership, connection, mutual attraction
- 3 of Hearts: Celebration, friendship, community joy
- 4 of Hearts: Emotional stability but possible boredom
- 5 of Hearts: Loss, disappointment, grief
- 6 of Hearts: Nostalgia, childhood memories, reunion
- 7 of Hearts: Fantasy, choices in love, daydreaming
- 8 of Hearts: Walking away, seeking deeper meaning
- 9 of Hearts: Wish fulfilled, contentment, satisfaction
- 10 of Hearts: Happy family, emotional fulfillment, lasting love
- Jack of Hearts: Romantic messenger, young admirer, emotional youth
- Queen of Hearts: Nurturing woman, emotional wisdom, empathic leader
- King of Hearts: Compassionate man, emotional maturity, wise counselor
Diamonds (Pentacles) - Money & Career
- Ace of Diamonds: Financial opportunity, new venture, prosperity
- 2 of Diamonds: Balancing finances, juggling priorities
- 3 of Diamonds: Teamwork, skilled collaboration, craftsmanship
- 4 of Diamonds: Financial security, holding on tight, stability
- 5 of Diamonds: Financial hardship, feeling left out
- 6 of Diamonds: Generosity, giving and receiving, charity
- 7 of Diamonds: Patience needed, long-term investment
- 8 of Diamonds: Hard work, skill development, dedication
- 9 of Diamonds: Luxury, self-sufficiency, independence
- 10 of Diamonds: Wealth, inheritance, family fortune, legacy
- Jack of Diamonds: Financial news, studious youth, apprentice
- Queen of Diamonds: Practical woman, financial wisdom, nurturing provider
- King of Diamonds: Wealthy man, business success, material mastery
Clubs (Wands) - Action & Creativity
- Ace of Clubs: Creative spark, new inspiration, bold start
- 2 of Clubs: Planning, future decisions, world in your hands
- 3 of Clubs: Expansion, progress, overseas opportunities
- 4 of Clubs: Celebration, homecoming, stability
- 5 of Clubs: Competition, conflict, disagreements
- 6 of Clubs: Victory, recognition, public success
- 7 of Clubs: Standing your ground, defending position
- 8 of Clubs: Swift movement, quick progress, travel
- 9 of Clubs: Resilience, perseverance, last stand
- 10 of Clubs: Heavy burden, responsibility, hard work
- Jack of Clubs: Adventurous messenger, exciting news
- Queen of Clubs: Confident woman, bold leader, charismatic
- King of Clubs: Visionary man, entrepreneurial, inspiring leader
Spades (Swords) - Thoughts & Challenges
- Ace of Spades: Breakthrough, powerful truth, new clarity (also traditionally the "death card" in cartomancy)
- 2 of Spades: Difficult choice, stalemate, blocked vision
- 3 of Spades: Heartbreak, painful truth, separation
- 4 of Spades: Rest needed, recuperation, meditation
- 5 of Spades: Conflict, defeat, walking away from battle
- 6 of Spades: Transition, moving on, calmer waters ahead
- 7 of Spades: Deception, strategy, hidden motives
- 8 of Spades: Feeling trapped, self-imposed restrictions
- 9 of Spades: Anxiety, nightmares, worry
- 10 of Spades: Rock bottom, painful ending, dramatic conclusion
- Jack of Spades: Watchful youth, spy, intellectual challenger
- Queen of Spades: Sharp-minded woman, independent thinker, truth-teller
- King of Spades: Authoritative man, judge, intellectual power
The Joker = The Fool
If you have Jokers in your deck, they correspond to the Fool in the tarot—a new beginning, limitless potential, and a leap of faith. Include them in your readings to gain additional wild card energy.
How to Do a Playing Card Reading
- Shuffle your deck while focusing on your question
- Choose a spread - the 3-card spread works perfectly with playing cards
- Draw cards and interpret using the meanings above
- Read combinations - see our combination guide (same principles apply)
Note: The playing cards do not contain the 22 Major Arcana, so the readings focus on everyday situations rather than important life themes. For a more in-depth reading with the full symbolism of the Major Arcana, try our free tarot reading or explore our collection of tarot decks.
History of Cartomancy
Cartomancy (the practice of divination using playing cards) dates back to 14th-century Europe and predates modern tarot divination. Playing cards arrived in Europe from the Islamic world around 1370, and card divination was documented in the 1540s. The tarot deck evolved from playing cards, adding the 22 Major Arcana cards. Learn more about tarot suits and their elemental counterparts.
Ready for the full tarot experience? Try our free tarot reading, find out which tarot card you are, or explore over 120 questions to ask.
