How to Tell Fortunes with Cards by Wenzell Brown

I was recently gifted How to Tell Fortunes with Cards, a guide published in the early 60s by Wenzell Brown. It is a cute manual for reading playing cards, covering card meanings, holistic reading of a spread, and sample readings. Oh, and it has the cutest ‌cover. I love the vintage look…

The book is a quick read, with each “chapter” consisting of a few paragraphs; the bulk of the chapters being individual card meanings. At first glance, it feels very run-of-the-mill. But I was pleasantly surprised by the guidance, advice, and techniques it included.

Like most cartomancy books, Brown begins with an introduction to the “history” of the cards. As was trendy back then (and sometimes still is now), he attributes a mystical origin to the cards. He puts an emphasis on fortunetelling, stating, “anyone who masters the material will be able to forecast their own future or that of another.” He rejects fatalism, emphasizing agency in shaping the future.

What’s notably missing in his book is any discussion on ethics; he takes no issue with third-party or health readings, types of readings that in most circles are avoided. That said, he emphasizes a reader’s motivation and their responsibility to the querent.

Because I can’t help myself, I performed a reading, following the book’s method. Read on…

The Reading

Since I’ve never tried reading with this method, I will fictitiously explore a question on a querent’s love life.

Preparation

To get started, Brown instructs the reader to “divest himself of all malice, greed, pettiness, thoughts of vengeance or gain, and should be prepared to dedicate himself to the well-being of the Querent.” I already do something similar, reciting the Four Immeasurables, a prayer found across Buddhist traditions:

May all sentient beings have happiness and the causes of happiness;
May they be free from suffering and the causes of suffering;
May they never be apart from the sublime bliss that is free from suffering;
May they rest in a state of equanimity, free from attachment and aversion to those near and far.

Brown adds that the Querent should also examine their motivation. He writes, “the Querent should be warned that if he seeks to use the cards for unworthy purposes, the oracles, while speaking truly, may misdirect and misguide him.” Wowza!

Shuffling & Laying Out the Cards

The cards must start in the Reader’s hands (I don’t know where else they would be!), but the Querent is required to shuffle. According to Brown, no riffle shuffling! He highlights the importance of rhythmic shuffling. While not stated explicitly, the book suggests that shuffling the cards this way is a meditative experience, leading the Querent into an almost trance-like state.

When the Querent feels ready to stop, the Reader pulls the card and lays it down. The Querent shuffles again, and the process is repeated until all cards are drawn.

Brown reminds us, “No single card has a value all its own. It is influenced by the total spread and especially by those cards which are adjacent to it. Therefore the Reader should never comment on the individual cards as they appear, but should wait until he can get the feel of the entire spread.”

The book has only one layout, which Brown describes as a “simple 15-card spread.” That may scare the beginner, but I agree with him!

The cards are organized in five sets of three. Each set is read together as opposed to the cards being read individually:

• The middle spread consists of a central card that represents “the Querent, his personality and the nature of his problems, or the primary influences”. The flanking cards (2 & 3) clarify the Querent’s position.
• The upper right wing describes the Querent’s future.
• The upper left wing offers an alternate route.
• The lower left wing is a guidepost. Depending on your age, the significance changes slightly. Brown says, “where the Querent is elderly, or middle-aged, this wing is likely to represent elements in his past which affect his present or future circumstances. In the youthful Querent, these cards are more likely to foretell future events and offer advice as to how to prepare for them.”
• The lower right wing represents forces at work outside the Querent’s control.

The Cards

Alrighty, here we go. We got the following cards:

While described at the end of the book, Brown suggests looking for any trends, including preponderance of suits and numbers. His first instruction prompts the reader to identify any three or four of a kind cards. In this case, we had no more than two of a number.

We did, however, have a ton of Hearts show up. Brown writes, “A Preponderance of HEARTS promises pleasure, gaeity, laughter and joy.” Makes sense, given the context of the reading!

Let’s look at the trios one-by-one.

Middle Spread (Situation)

4 Hearts: “An opportunity for happiness through work.” The book also notes, “If it lies in the middle of the spread, the opportunity is already present. It is probable the initial steps have been taken in this direction.”

6 Hearts: “An elaborate maze which leads to success […] the achievement of enduring love.” Brown cautions against impatience, irritability, and frustration, noting that rushing for results leads to “total failure.”

Jack of Hearts: Since this lovely Jack is in the inner corner, “the indication is that the Querent will meet a person whose gaiety will charm and disarm him.”

It seems the Querent already has a love interest in the peripheral. They are eager to pursue a romance, but the Querent is unsure of the potential relationship’s longevity.

Upper Right Wing (Future)

8 Diamonds: Described as “a card of balance,” which indicates “a situation will arise in which careful judgments should be made. There is a warning to beware of impetuosity and not to take things at face value.”

6 Clubs: This card is a card of “dancing and merriment but it does not represent thoughtless gaiety. The pleasures which it promises are partly of the mind and spirit, which can alter the Querent’s outlook and change his life.”

7 Hearts: Brown says this card denotes a lover’s quarrel. “The Querent may have a deep affection for a dependency upon another individual, which he attempts to conceal or to which he gives inadequate thought. In this case the Querent should be warned against carping criticism.”

Some red flags here. A lovely start, but disagreements will abound. Perhaps the merriment goes south?

Upper Left Wing (Alternate Future)

Lower Left Wing (Advice)

4 Diamonds: This “marks an advance earned by merit or hard work.” It is a “forward step may seem to have little importance in itself, but it will lay a foundation on which a series of other advances may be laid.”

8 Hearts: Since the card is in the lower left wing,” the indication is that the Querent will be able to help, or do a service for, a relative stranger. By so doing, he will eventually be amply repaid.”

7 Clubs: “Balance, harmony and quiet delight.” Since it is in the lower wings, it “more likely relate[s] to a specific situation than to the general attitude of the Querent.”

Instead of pursuing their love interest or rekindling an old flame, the Querent ought to look elsewhere. Attending hobby-related events and meeting new people is the best option for them at the time.

Lower Right Wing (Fate /The Uncontrollable)

9 Hearts: “Happiness beyond all expectations…” Since it is by the King of Hearts, “the indication is that this happiness may come through another person or be shared with him.”

Ace of Spades: While often an ominous sign, the Ace of Spades indicates a “tremendous force, power, and strength.”

King of Hearts: The King is described as “a man who will enter the Querent’s life temporarily,” who will be “instrumental in altering the entire life pattern.”

Ah, what a lovely note to end on. The Querent can leave hopeful, knowing that the Fates are on their side. While the next lover may not be “the one,” the Querent can leave optimistic.

Parting Thoughts

Though dated and sometimes awfully prescriptive, How to Tell Fortunes with Cards was such a fun read! As some of you know, I’m not a fan of fixed meanings, but Brown still encourages the diviner to read cards contextually and in relationship with one another. The one featured spread throughout the entire book was also a delight. I’ll definitely be adding the spread to my repertoire!

Happy divining, y’all. xo

PS – If you like the playing card deck, you can get it here. Gergely’s instagram is fun, too.