Flinging the Cards: Playing-Card Divination According to the Serbian Big Folk Dream Book
19th-century Dondorf Whist deck, in my private collection.
When people begin learning a form of divination—especially cartomancy—their first instinct is often to search for a reliable source of card meanings. Yet the origins and reasoning behind those interpretations are rarely questioned. Why is the Seven of Spades a love card in one system but a sign of illness in another? When logic fails to explain it, belief takes over. We then seek either the authenticity of a source or the authority of a tradition.
Blindly following a school of meaning is not my cup of tea. When it comes to playing cards, I prefer to look at the logic of numbers and the arrangement of pips. Are the six Hearts shown in two parallel columns? Then we are talking about a path. What kind of path? If Hearts are involved, it might be a waterway—a river, perhaps. Why? Because hearts pump liquid blood, just as their Tarot counterpart, the Cups, hold liquid. If Clubs are in play, then it becomes a path between trees—a forest path, so to speak.
Still, it never hurts to know traditions. I began my own cartomantic practice by relying on both written canons and orally transmitted meanings. But with more than twenty years of reading experience behind me, I can say this: traditional meanings should never serve as dogma, but as inspiration.
It’s hard to overlook that the most-read pieces on my blog are those dealing with traditional methods. So why not offer more inspiration? Here I present a translation of the playing-card reading section entitled “Flinging The Cards” from The Big Folk Dream Book from Serbia—the very book that inspired my early cartomantic work. This is a rare chance to share the material in English, as it has never been officially translated and is difficult to find even in Serbian. I’ve already featured the General Reading Method from this book in an earlier article; here, I focus on the card interpretations. Enjoy.
Note on the translation: In the original text, the author appears to have confused the terms for Clubs and Spades—describing the Spade but referring to it as a Club. This inconsistency has been corrected in the translation for clarity and accuracy.
***
Flinging The Cards
Before flinging the cards, the querent must first select the card that will represent them in the reading. This can be done in two ways. They may draw a card at random and accept the hand of fate—though if they happen to draw the Nine of Hearts, the card of heart’s desire, they should return it to the deck and draw again. Alternatively, they may choose deliberately: men select a King, women a Queen, keeping in mind that people with dark hair and eyes choose Spades; brunettes, Clubs; blondes, Hearts; and light blondes, Diamonds.
[N.T.: The author likely meant to include redheads and those with coloured hair under Diamonds.]
The card flinging is performed with a so-called German deck of 32 or 52 playing cards. These are divided into four suits: Hearts (red, marked with a heart), Diamonds (red, marked with a diagonal square), Clubs (black, marked with a clover), and Spades (black, marked with a cross with rounded ends, traditionally called the Poppy). Each suit contains the Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace.
Each suit has its own general meaning and character:
Hearts – friendship, love, joy, gain, kindness.
Diamonds – property, money, luck.
Clubs – hopes, desires, journeys, and news.
Spades – cunning, deceit, infidelity, suffering, illness, and death.These meanings become more specific when the cards are laid out. Their strength and tone increase or diminish according to the surrounding cards—that is, the ones to the left, right, above, or below the main card. For a proper reading, it is essential to know both the individual meanings and how they combine with their neighbors.
First Part - Card Meanings
Meanings and characteristics of individual cards in the 32-card deckHearts Suit
Seven of Hearts: Honest, true, and heartfelt love. Eight next to it: a kiss. Nine of Hearts: a pregnant woman. Seven of Diamonds: a wedding ring. Seven of Clubs: passion. Seven of Spades: falseness, boastfulness, ostentation, unreliability, or enmity.
Eight of Hearts: A pleasant and joyful event—a feast, festivity, or drinks. The nature of the occasion is determined by the key cards in the spread.
Nine of Hearts: The wish card. Often denotes wealth and honor. If surrounded by bad cards, it indicates a temporary setback. Nine of Diamonds next to it: happy success in an undertaking. Ten of Diamonds: great financial gain. Seven of Clubs: hope fulfilled. Eight of Clubs: pleasant outing or entertainment. Ten of Clubs: A planned trip will not happen. Ace of Clubs: A letter from relatives or friends. Nine or Ten of Spades: Nervous fretting, difficulties, or unpleasantness.
Ten of Hearts: A wedding, proposal, happiness, nobility. A good card that lessens the effect of bad ones and strengthens the good. Diamond cards behind it signify advancement from a modest position to a higher calling or career, depending on their strength. Club cards behind it point to enterprise, work, or business, from small efforts to large-scale projects. Seven of Spades next to it: household quarrels. Eight of Spades: worry over daily life. Nine of Spades: marital infidelity. Ten of Spades: domestic harmony and peace are severely disturbed. Ace of Spades: divorce is looming.
Jack of Hearts: Wishes, feelings, thoughts, and intentions. Its meaning depends on proximity to the King or Queen of Hearts, while smaller surrounding cards describe the characteristics of these persons.
Queen of Hearts: Represents the female querent, or the wife, friend, lover, or fiancée of a male querent.
King of Hearts: Represents the male querent, or the husband, friend, lover, or fiancé of a female querent.
Ace of Hearts: Represents the home or place of residence. Seven of Hearts next to it: domestic harmony. Eight of Hearts: family celebration. Nine of Hearts: many descendants. Ten of Hearts: good health and a pleasant old age. Multiple Hearts around it: love affairs. Multiple Clubs: disagreement or conflict. Multiple Diamonds: gain of property. Seven of Clubs next to it: change in current circumstances. Eight of Clubs: moving house. Nine of Clubs: moving to a distant place. Ten of Clubs: moving abroad. Ace of Clubs: permanent relocation to another country. Seven of Spades: theft or financial loss. Eight of Spades: disturbance of household peace. Nine of Spades: warning of fire danger. Ten of Spades: falling into debt. Ace of Spades next to Ace of Hearts: the house lost on the auction block—a foreclosure sale.
⸻
Diamonds Suit
Seven of Diamonds: Gain through trade. If followed by Hearts, it denotes good and substantial earnings. Seven of Clubs next to it: ambition. Seven of Spades: greed, selfishness, or major loss.
Eight of Diamonds: Expectation of gain, inheritance, property, or money. Also denotes marriage at an older age; such a marriage may be unhappy if surrounded by bad cards.
Nine of Diamonds: Luck, honor, and a well-earned reward. A surprise involving a large sum of money, which may be good or bad depending on the surrounding cards. Seven of Hearts next to it: satisfaction and patience. Eight of Hearts: fraud or deception. Nine of Hearts: loss of money due to passionate or reckless love. Ten of Hearts: prosperous marriage (for a man) with a handsome dowry and escape from financial troubles. Ace of Hearts: building a house. Seven of Clubs: hard work and diligence. Eight of Clubs: freedom from worries and troubles. Nine of Clubs: a lucky escape from danger. Ten of Clubs: money or property gained through trade and travel. Ace of Clubs: profit through intellectual work. Seven of Spades: gambling. Eight of Spades: wasting money on dining and drinking. Nine of Spades: financial losses caused by offending or injuring others. Ten of Spades: short imprisonment. Ace of Spades next to Ten of Diamonds: longer imprisonment.
Ten of Diamonds: Unexpected gain, money, and wealth. When accompanied by other Diamonds—alone or mixed with Hearts—it signifies great fortune. A Jack next to it, regardless of suit, denotes well-being and affection.
Jack of Diamonds: Denotes the thoughts, intentions, moods, and feelings of the Queen or King of Diamonds, depending on which is closer. The smaller surrounding cards reveal the character of the person represented by the Jack. Hearts around it signify friendship and good spirits. Diamonds: selfishness. Clubs: arrogance and self-importance. Spades: malice, envy, revenge, or deceit.
Queen of Diamonds: Represents the wife of the King of Diamonds, or, if he is unmarried, a familiar woman or a wealthy widow. Seven of Hearts next to her: the Queen is rather young. Eight of Hearts: exceptionally pretty. Seven of Diamonds: around thirty years old. Eight of Diamonds: kind-hearted. Seven of Clubs: over forty. Eight of Clubs: arrogant and vain. Seven of Spades: over fifty. Eight of Spades: stubborn and gossip-prone. King of Diamonds next to the Queen: a happy resolution of previously lost or lamented matters.
King of Diamonds: Represents a distinguished, powerful, and influential gentleman. Nine of Hearts next to him: a good and well-established man. Nine of Diamonds: a generous and noble man. Nine of Clubs: a stern yet righteous man. Nine of Spades: an arrogant, conceited, or distant man.
Ace of Diamonds: Denotes general luck, whose nature depends on the surrounding cards. Ten of Hearts next to it: fortunate marriage. Ace of Hearts: success at work and high income. Ten of Diamonds: lucky inheritance. Ace of Clubs: prosperity through a large estate and income. Ten of Spades: luck in gambling or the lottery. Ace of Spades: favorable conclusion of an important court case.
[N.T.: The author uses the word spor, which commonly refers to a legal case but can also mean conflict.]
⸻
Clubs Suit
Seven of Clubs: A walk, a short trip, a picnic, or the realization of a wish. If large cards are nearby, it means that unresolved or expected matters will soon be realized. Eight of Hearts next to it, with the King or Queen nearby: you will soon speak with the person represented by that King or Queen. Eight of Diamonds: a certain secret. Eight of Spades: gossip, slander, loss of friends, or loss of a beloved person due to a quarrel.
Eight of Clubs: An outing, a trip, or a warning before an accident. Hearts next to it denote a trip for personal pleasure. Diamonds: a mandatory work trip. Spades: a trip connected with unpleasantness and failure. It can also denote quarrels with friends.
Nine of Clubs: Jealousy or bad luck. Seven of Hearts next to it: love flares up but is also rewarded. Seven of Diamonds: a good ending. Seven of Clubs: unfounded and short-lived jealousy. Seven of Spades: justified jealousy. Eight of Hearts: a surprise visit. Nine of Hearts: a son or daughter will not return from a journey (if the querent has children). Ten of Hearts: invitation to a wedding. Ace of Hearts: a visit from cousins from afar. Eight of Diamonds: debts. Nine of Diamonds: payments. Ten of Diamonds: slow inheritance. Ace of Diamonds next to it: another’s bankruptcy brings you losses.
Ten of Clubs: A long journey. Ill luck. This card decreases the value of good cards nearby. Seven of Hearts next to it: you embark on this journey of your own free will. Eight of Hearts: enjoyment and good times on the journey. Nine of Hearts: a son or daughter accompanies you. Ten of Hearts: travel with a spouse. Ace of Hearts: a trip to visit the family. Seven of Diamonds: the journey will have a happy end. Eight of Diamonds: the journey will be costly. Nine of Diamonds: a business trip. Ten of Diamonds: a trip because of inheritance. Ace of Diamonds: a trip to purchase an estate. Seven of Clubs: a sudden trip. Eight of Clubs: aside from this trip, another shorter one awaits you. Nine of Clubs: the trip is uncertain. Ace of Clubs: a trip caused by a surprise letter. Seven of Spades: an involuntary journey. Eight of Spades: troubles on the trip. Nine of Spades: obstacles that need to be removed. Ace of Spades next to the Ten of Clubs: a trip due to the death of a cousin or a friend.
Jack of Clubs: Denotes the thoughts, intentions, mood, and feelings of the King or Queen of Clubs. Everything said about the Jack of Diamonds applies here as well.
Queen of Clubs: Represents the spouse of the King of Clubs if the Ace of Clubs is nearby. Otherwise, she represents a friend or lover of the querent. Seven of Hearts next to her: the Queen is rather young. Eight of Hearts: kind-natured. Seven of Diamonds: the Queen is around thirty years old. Eight of Diamonds: she will inherit a large estate. Seven of Clubs: the Queen is around forty. Eight of Clubs: she is of volatile nature. Eight of Spades next to her: evil, stubborn, and quarrelsome.
King of Clubs: Represents a friend or cousin—loving, good-tempered, and good-humored. Nine of Hearts next to him: an artisan. Nine of Diamonds: a trader or merchant. Nine of Clubs: a gardener, farmer, or peasant. Nine of Spades: a man in the military. If the Queen of Clubs comes next to or above the Jack of Clubs, the King is single.
Ace of Clubs: A message or letter. Exciting relations in love or friendship. Possible troubles. The surrounding cards explain the contents of this message, letter, or relation. Seven of Hearts next to it: a love letter or message. Eight of Hearts: a congratulatory card. Nine of Hearts: a baptism. Ten of Hearts: shopping. Seven of Diamonds: a plea for help or a loan. Eight of Diamonds: a business letter. Nine of Diamonds: a warning about debt. Ten of Diamonds: a money letter. Ace of Diamonds: renewal of a contract, setting-up, or something similar. Seven of Clubs: a surprise. Eight of Clubs: an invitation to a picnic or trip. Nine of Clubs: an offer for settlement or consolidation. Ten of Clubs: a travel document, diploma, or similar paper. Seven of Spades: news of illness or other troubles. Eight of Spades: news of death. Nine of Spades: canceling of an agreed-upon job. Ten of Spades next to it: a court paper, problematic document, or will.
⸻
Spades Suit
Seven of Spades: Tears. Eight of Hearts next to it: love tears. Eight of Diamonds: happy tears. Eight of Clubs: tears because of jealousy or sorrow. Eight of Spades next to it: tears caused by worries, pain, or suffering.
Eight of Spades: Illness, greed, gambling. Seven of Hearts next to it: a short, non-threatening illness. Seven of Diamonds: a longer illness with recovery. Seven of Clubs: unpredictable and prolonged illness. Seven of Spades: terminal illness, death. Nine of Hearts: fretting over children. Nine of Diamonds: fretting over an unjustified debt claim. Nine of Clubs: fretting over gossip or slander. Nine of Spades next to it: fretting over a job with an ill start.
Nine of Spades: Loss, failure, unpleasantness. Seven of Hearts next to it: someone isn’t responding to your love. Eight of Hearts: the job that already started will not succeed. Nine of Hearts: ill and malicious intent, traps. Ten of Hearts: an awaited wedding will not take place. Ace of Hearts: The apartment contract will be canceled. Seven of Diamonds: fraud at work, loss in the lottery. Eight of Diamonds: loss of expected income. Ten of Diamonds: fraud, overestimation of value. Ace of Diamonds: short-term luck. Seven of Clubs: futile effort and toil. Eight of Clubs: someone will prevent you from traveling. Nine of Clubs: strained relations with a lover. Ten of Clubs: large obstacles to a planned journey; the journey will be abandoned. Ace of Clubs: loss, theft, or ruin of important papers or documents. Seven of Spades: reproach or placing blame. Eight of Spades: contempt. Ten of Spades: humiliating offer. Ace of Spades next to it: ridicule and shame.
Ten of Spades: A quarrel or fight. The type and consequences depend on the surrounding cards. Seven of Hearts next to it: a small quarrel without consequences. Seven of Diamonds: a quarrel without a significant outcome. Seven of Clubs: someone’s love for you is fading. Seven of Spades: envy with unpleasant consequences. Eight of Hearts: joy. Eight of Diamonds: luck. Eight of Clubs: your wish will come true. Eight of Spades: a small inconvenience. Nine of Hearts: your children will do wrong. Ten of Hearts: a troublesome marriage. Ace of Hearts: Your house is of ill repute. Nine of Diamonds: taxes and bills. Ten of Diamonds: moving in. Ace of Diamonds: selling your belongings or estate. Ten of Clubs: Hard and burdensome chores. Ace of Clubs: You will hear bad news. Nine of Spades: citizen unrest or uprising. Ace of Spades next to the Ten of Spades: war.
Jack of Spades: Denotes the thoughts, intentions, mood, and feelings of the King or Queen of Spades. Everything said for the Jack of Diamonds applies here as well.
Queen of Spades: Represents a widow. Her characteristics are determined by the surrounding cards. Seven of Hearts next to her: young widow. Eight of Hearts: pretty and kind widow. Seven of Diamonds: A widow in her thirties. Eight of Diamonds: rich widow. Seven of Clubs: A widow in her forties. Eight of Clubs: A widow of a bad temper. Seven of Spades next to her: evil and spiteful widow, prone to quarrels.
King of Spades: Represents a priest or judge. His characteristics are determined by the surrounding cards. Seven next to him: he is single. Eight: he is married. Nine: he is a widower. Ten: he is a judge or clerk. Hearts next to him: he is good and of strong character. Diamonds: he is wealthy. Clubs: he is bearable. Spades next to him: he is spiteful, vengeful, and envious.
Ace of Spades: Troubles, accident, misery, shame, evil—the worst card. Seven of Hearts next to it: love tied with great danger. Eight of Hearts: fear following a pleasant surprise. Nine of Hearts: pregnant woman, difficult birth. Ten of Hearts: unhappy marriage. Ace of Hearts: homesickness. Seven of Diamonds: payment deadline. Eight of Diamonds: guarantor. Nine of Diamonds: imprisonment for debt. Ten of Diamonds: paying a deposit. Ace of Diamonds: expensiveness. Seven of Clubs: small theft. Eight of Clubs: unbearable neighbors. Nine of Clubs: fretting over younger members of the household. Ten of Clubs: a pub or other public gathering place. Ace of Clubs: damage due to bad weather. Seven of Spades: minor physical confrontation or beating. Eight of Spades: severe injury. Nine of Spades: sorrow or mourning. Ten of Spades: death or great suffering.
Meanings and Characteristics of Individual Cards in a 52-Card Deck
Cards from Seven to King have the same meanings as in a 32-card deck (see the sections above). Therefore, only the Twos through Sixes are listed here.
Hearts Suit
Two: Great success, which will be delayed if surrounded by bad cards.
Three: A warning. Certain troubles loom due to lack of attention and clarity.
Four: Delayed marriage due to excessive pickiness.
Five: Volatile and seductive nature. (Unable to decide on their own.)
Six: Deserted by friends, with a danger of falling victim to others’ complete recklessness.Diamonds Suit
Two: Love quarrels, but also enjoyment.
Three: Arguments—either at home (because of some malicious person) or at work (a court case, workplace conflict, or the like).
Four: Troubles and all sorts of torments.
Five: For a married person, it foretells children who will be a great source of happiness; for singles, success in business or unexpected news. A good card.
Six: Unhappy end to a rushed marriage. Discouragement from entering a second marriage.Clubs Suit
Two: Separation from someone or something, including a change of residence.
Three: Infidelity in love and troubles for the querent.
Four: Enviable status.
Five: Bad temper that leads to a quarrel.
Six: Good plans and intentions blocked by obstacles and failure.Spades Suit
Two: Obstacles to wish-fulfillment. Possible disappointment.
Three: The querent will marry three times, and each marriage will be good and prosperous.
Four: Warning of a looming accident, or a change of luck.
Five: Marriage with good prospects.
Six: Hard work with good prospects for final success.Meanings of the Card Groups
Each reading usually begins by cutting the deck into three piles. If any pile contains several of the same ranks—forming a group—their meanings are as follows:
Four Aces and all four Tens in one pile denote substantial gain through lottery or inheritance. Four Aces: danger; loss of money or honor. Three Aces: a worrisome letter that ultimately brings good news; a daring undertaking is also possible. Two Aces: Diamonds with Clubs together foretell unpleasantness or bad luck; other Ace pairings denote partnership or a joint undertaking.
Four Kings in one pile: a planned endeavor will be a complete success—progress, wealth, honor. Three Kings: something of great importance will commence. Two Kings: business schemes aimed at substantial profit.
Four Queens in one pile: malice; trouble and failure at work. Three Queens: a gathering of friends; possible accident or workplace scandal. Two Queens: a friendly agreement through which certain secrets are revealed; there is a danger that someone will betray this secret.
Four Jacks in one pile: fights and scheming. Three Jacks: a quarrel among friends caused by intrigue. Two Jacks: loss of something, perhaps through theft.
Four Tens: luck and prosperity in prospect. Three Tens: loss and trouble through legal proceedings. Two Tens: a happy ending to an uncertain situation; possibly new employment.
Four Nines in one pile foretell divorce for the married or engaged, that is, a breakup and a certain loss. If four Queens and four Kings accompany them, their meaning is annulled. Three Nines: very good cards—increase in well-being, good health, joy, and life satisfaction; possible small obstacles on the road to success. Two Nines: success in trade or financial operations.
All Sevens and Nines always give the most complete explanation of the key idea, as do the groups of cards that surround them. Their importance is often greater than that of the other cards.
Four Eights: new employment or a short trip. Three Eights: the querent’s thoughts cannot choose between marriage, love, or flirtation. Two Eights: a brief love conflict.
Four Sevens: the querent has secret enemies. Three Sevens: an accident, or the loss of a friend. Two Sevens: mutual love.
If the querent has reasons for jealousy and their pile contains seven Diamonds, then the jealousy is justified; but if the pile contains five Hearts and seven Clubs, the jealousy is unfounded. If the querent has children and wishes to know whether they will be happy and inherit, and the “house”* pile contains four Aces, the children will be happy and receive an inheritance, or marry into wealth. If that pile contains an Eight of Spades or a Jack of Spades, it denotes loss of inheritance, sorrow, tears, and trouble.
* This refers to a follow-up method after the General Reading Method. After the General Reading is concluded, the Reader may proceed with an additional step.
The querent is asked to shuffle the deck and cut it into three piles. Then the Reader asks the querent:
Which pile do you dedicate to yourself?
Which pile do you dedicate to your home?
Which pile do you dedicate to what you hope for?The Reader then takes the querent’s pile first, lays the cards out in a row of seven, and interprets them according to the meaning carried by the group. The same is then done with the other two piles.
During this follow-up reading, special attention should be paid to any card groups appearing within a pile—for example, three Queens, two Nines, or four Aces. In such cases, the reading should focus primarily on the meanings of these groups, followed by the interpretation of the individual cards.
Tip the Fortuneteller
If you enjoyed this translation and would like to support my work, you can make a contribution. Translating and presenting rare materials like The Big Folk Dream Book from Serbia takes both time and care, but I believe that access to well-researched, high-quality writing on cartomancy should remain free to all readers. Your contribution helps make that possible and is deeply appreciated.
