I am reviewing an old and unusual set of divinatory cards. They are not tarot cards, nor do they belong to traditional cartomancy. They are the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards. The Gypsy Witch cards have been around for a long time. They were first published in 1904 and have been around ever since, and predate many of our better known tarot decks such as the famous Rider-Waite deck which was first published in 1909.
This is a curious deck of cards. They claim to be based on ideas by the famed French cartomancer, Madam Lenormand. There are numerous Lenormand style decks that make use of mnemonic images on the cards. The images and their meanings don’t seem to correspond to the accepted meanings attributed to the suits or numerology. The Lenormand style cards are unique in themselves, and today we’d call this style of deck oracle cards.
The Gypsy Witch deck is a facsimile of the Lenormand decks that were developed after her death. This Gypsy Witch deck is a standard deck of playing cards, but each card has an illustration and the meaning written down. The illustrations are old Victorian style images. This adds charm to the deck. With the meanings of the cards written on each card, we’d think it would be easy to use. There is nothing to memorize. I bought my deck out of curiosity long ago. However, I rarely used these cards. Why?
I have issues with the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Deck. First, these cards have no relationship with traditional cartomancy or the tarot. Cartomancy certainly has a wide variety of interpretations towards any card’s meaning, but there are some simple “rules”. One is the meaning of the suits. The heart represents matters of the heart and emotion; the diamond represents matters of money and commerce, and so on. With this deck, the pips and numbers have NO relationship with the meanings and imagery depicted.
Comparing gypsy witch cards with tarot cards
Scary cards
Above is an example of their Aces compared to the same with the Rider-Waite deck. Do the meanings written on the card have any relationship with the suits? Expect for the Ace of Spades, no. Which begs the question, is any correspondence necessary? Are there really any rules when it comes to inspiring our intuition? Is any system of symbolism only in our imagination? Probably. Intuition does not follow rules. But I like to think there is some sort of system behind cartomancy. If there is a system behind the Lenormand style decks, I don’t understand it.
Another issue with these cards is their meaning is literally spelled out on each card. Reading people’s fortunes is not a game. Many people take it quite seriously. If a deck has written meanings that the participant can read along with the reader, it takes away from the reader their responsibility to “soften the blow” if something negative is seen. Who knows if a reading will ever become reality? And this deck has quite a few scary cards. I have a pair of images to the left. Imagine if someone saw these two in their layout…the 5 of Spades, with an image of a coffin, combined with the 10 of Diamonds, the Scythe, suggests an early death. Spelled out right on the card. Yikes! That is way too literal.
One thing I like about this deck is its method of reading cards, which seems intriguing. It could easily be used with tarot cards. It uses a card to represent the participant in the center, and is surrounded by an inner square of eight cards, and an outer square of eight cards. The inner square of cards shape the destiny of the participant, and the outer square of cards represent the forces surrounding him or her. Below is a chart I made to show how it works. This type of layout has a lot of possibilities, and makes for a change from the typical Celtic Cross layout.
Print out these instructions, right click and print:
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Instructions
The reverse side of the instruction booklet:
Instructions reverse side
August 16th, 2009 at 4:34 am
I am in search of the birth chart for cartomancy.. I know that I am the Q of hearts (Nov. 21st) and my daughter is the 2 of spades (Feb. 2nd).. and she is layed out touching my queen on top cause my card is on the bottom of the chart? can you help?
August 16th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Hi Tessa,
I don’t really understand the relationship between astrology and cartomancy. You know more about this then I do. Tarot cards have symbolism from astrology in their design. But I am not a student of astrology, so I can’t help with that. Yet, it is an idea I might look into. I know the symbolism of numerology in cartomancy; a next step would be astrology in the cards. Very interesting.
Dave
August 18th, 2009 at 4:12 am
I need to get the instruction booklet. I already have the deck of cards. If you could let me know how I could get the book I would realy appreciate it.
August 19th, 2009 at 3:05 am
HI i am a practicing gypsy witch for over 40 years.the regular playing card part of the gypsy witch set have no meaning,in the old days if you had a deck of just witch cards there might be trouble,but if you print them on a regular deck no one can accuse you of witchery. i use them exclusively since i have compared many readings with regular tarot cards and they do come up very much the same. I handprint and sell them on parchment,very nice yearly astrology on the back
August 19th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Hi Seren Satira
I see what you are saying. By having the meaning on the cards, the participant can be included in the reading. Then there is little mystery, or efforts to scam someone. The participant is truly a participant. I like that idea. A mutual reading of what the cards have to say. Tell me about your cards. I might like a deck for myself to add to my collection. You sell them online?
August 19th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
I will scan it and post it. I’m sure I am doing something wrong with copyright stuff, but if they ask me to remove it, I will. Actually, it is a good way to sell more decks!
September 27th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I think you are reading too much into the oracle that is the Gypsy Witch deck.and I agree with serena. Also: you may even help the querant in their spiritual growth by explaining to them that death is merely a symbol of change, so early death may be a very positive thing, as is with the coffin symbolism as well.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Hi Sinistar,
I don’t read cards very often, but on the occasions I have, I really try to avoid negativity even if that is what I see. Maybe that is wrong, but I think most people who want a reading do so for fun. And people can end up taking a reading quite seriously. So I sugar coat things. The Tarot’s death card is hard enough to explain to people. Death as change…the symbolism is not clear to people who don’t understand the cards.
Dave
February 6th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Ive been into collecting Tarot cards for a while, and Ive been branching out into Gypsy related decks. I just got the Gypsy Witch deck today and, while I havent yet had a chance to do any readings with it, but I dont have a problem with the sort of possible reading you show above. Gypsy readings always came off as pretty blunt in films, which I guess is part of their charm, like the old woman staring at Lon Cheney Jr and telling him he will become a werewolf no matter what. I collect these things because I love to collect, but in terms of readings, Id say if you are afraid of no-BS readings like the one above, then stay away from Gypsy fortune tellers.
April 15th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
I used to have the ability to read the cards and used the Gypsy cards as that is how i was taught by my aunt
I was given a gift of a new deck, my old ones are quite worn but i still believe in them, just not in me.. i was at a store recently that sells gems and herbs etc and she advised me to put sage on the cards sit them in the sun a few days and then sleep with them either under my pillow or near me
I was also told by the woman that perhaps my ability to read the cards was squashed because my attention was needed elsewhere in my life, which is true it was much more on survival at the time, and it still is but suddenly has room again for enjoyment of life as well as just survival
I have always enjoyed being able to see things in the cards and relaying them to others.. I rarely tell “bad” things because i use the disclaimer that these cards only show what is present in the “today” but if a person changes his life or the way he reacts to his life, that the “today” will begin to change also
any comments or words of encouragement are appreciated
i only just found this site so i dont know if i will be notified if any responses so i welcome off list email as well
April 15th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Hi Mariah,
Thanks for your comment. The advice given to you is interesting. For sure if we are distracted by life, it is hard to hear the quiet, subtle voice of our intuition. With our busy lives it’s no surprise few people ever get messages from beyond/within.
“Put sage on the cards sit them in the sun a few days and then sleep with them either under my pillow or near me” sounds a lot like natural magic. Sunlight can cleanse etheric fingerprints, as does running water and some herbs. Then by putting the cards close to yourself, you put your own etheric fingerprint on them. Good advice!
Dave
June 5th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
I have the Gypsy Witch Fortune telling cards Deck and Love them. I dont get negative feelings and scary thoughts from the cards when reading these cards any more than the other Tarot Card decks I have. I think you explain the reading just like with the other decks
July 23rd, 2010 at 6:01 pm
I too have the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Cards and I just love them. I picked them up on a whim at a local store and have hard time putting them down though I’ve only done two readings for myself. I am not afraid though I never ask questions if I truly know I wont like an answer given. Its been very accurate for me so far though I am still learning.
July 26th, 2010 at 5:12 am
I have read these card’s to some of my friends, and they
do seem to happen just as I lay them out. You have believe in you’re lay out of these cards and so does the person you’re reading them for. I ask my friends to concentrate real hard and to believe in what you’re asking and sure in enough things do happen as they read.You have to be a serious person and put your whole thought’s and believe in your question. And Sure Enough. It does HAPPENS!
July 26th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Hi Bonnie,
Yes, we need to treat the cards with serious intent if we expect them to speak to us. Understanding a layout depends on our intuition, and that can’t happen if we are being frivolous.
Dave