Tarot cards could be considered a form of cartomancy since they were used and are still used by some to play games (the major arcana being trump cards)(and of course the four suits and the face cards)
Oracle cards are different in that most of them are not derived from a game and do not have suits (so they aren't really cartomancy I suppose). In other words they were made for the purpose of divination and nothing else.
Generally when you see cartomancy today, it means a standard 52 card deck.
This rhyme for learning cartomancy was originally from Hedgewitchery.com. At the original point when I looked this up, I had no tarot decks, however nearly every house has a deck of cards and if not they are in nearly every store. I, being a person of poor memory, really liked this rhyme and saved the link for later. Hedgewitchery.com has since poofed. Fortunately I found the rhyme on a forum.
Quote:
The Wise and Subtle Arte of Reading Cards
…as examined by a Witch who practices said Arte
…as examined by a Witch who practices said Arte
Reading cards to discern the future or answer questions has been a practice of witches, gypsies, and fortune tellers for several hundred years. It is true, of course, that the regular playing card pack is not so charming or erudite as her mother, the Tarot. Nonetheless, we have often found ourselves willing to trade the mother’s unvoiced, wisdom-filled glances for the child’s forthright and honest speech. Thus, it is well worth bearing in mind that finery and age are not inevitably marks of wisdom and knowledge, nor plainness and youth marks of foolishness and ignorance. It all depends on what you want to know. If you wish to discuss philosophy, approach the front door and ask for the philosopher. But should you wish to know what transpires in the philosopher’s house, approach the back door and ask for the scullery maid.
The reading of playing cards has another advantage…because they are so common, most people seeing them in your desk, on your table, or in your possession will not suspect the use to which you put them. Thus you shall follow a long-held tradition of witches: hiding in plain sight.
Many systems of card reading, both of regular playing cards and Tarot cards, are generally too rigid in their meanings and methods. This does not allow the reader to give full play to intuition, and consequently, detailed predictions, such as come only through the use of intuition, are lacking.
The following method is presented in three parts. A person studying it may stop at any part, although the Witch of exceptional memory will have more predictive material at her fingertips than the Witch of poor or middling memory.
To begin, we shall present the bare bones of the method for the witch of poor memory. Those with middling or exceptional memories must also study this material and practice it before moving on to greater tasks and abilities.
A standard deck of playing cards should be procured for this study. Please note that there are no “reversals” in the system. A card has the same meaning upright as reversed.
For the Witch of Poor Memory
The firstmost rule is easily had:
Red cards are good and black cards are bad.
The secondmost rule shall bring greater fruits:
It deals with the meanings of each of the suits.
The Hearts count as love, family, and friends.
Diamonds are money, wealth, means, and ends.
Clubs shall mean work, callings, and plans,
And Spades are the troubles that plague every man.
The thirdmost rule toward number inclines;
Just note the card’s pip and read here their signs:
An Ace brings beginnings,
And Two gives exchange,
Three shows things growing,
But Four does not change.
Five is the body,
Its health and its stead,
Six shows a path
That the Seeker shall tread.
Seven brings troubles
That Fate has assigned,
While Eight shows ideas
And thoughts in the mind.
Nine heralds changes,
And Ten is the end,
While Kings are the symbols
Of power and men.
Queens are the emblems
Of women and truth,
A Knave is a message,
A girl, or a youth.
The firstmost rule is easily had:
Red cards are good and black cards are bad.
The secondmost rule shall bring greater fruits:
It deals with the meanings of each of the suits.
The Hearts count as love, family, and friends.
Diamonds are money, wealth, means, and ends.
Clubs shall mean work, callings, and plans,
And Spades are the troubles that plague every man.
The thirdmost rule toward number inclines;
Just note the card’s pip and read here their signs:
An Ace brings beginnings,
And Two gives exchange,
Three shows things growing,
But Four does not change.
Five is the body,
Its health and its stead,
Six shows a path
That the Seeker shall tread.
Seven brings troubles
That Fate has assigned,
While Eight shows ideas
And thoughts in the mind.
Nine heralds changes,
And Ten is the end,
While Kings are the symbols
Of power and men.
Queens are the emblems
Of women and truth,
A Knave is a message,
A girl, or a youth.
Even a witch of dismal memory may assimilate these rules over time, and having done so, shall have a serviceable oracle at her disposal.
http://www.hedgewytchery.com/cartomancy.html
I'm pretty sure the site went into greater detail, but the handy rhyme was all I could find.
Feel free to comment, add, or what-have-you to this thread. There are other websites that have cartomancy on them. I've seen at least one where the meanings of the cards do not go with the rhyme.
