Hoodoo Cartomancy Card Meanings
A black woman reading playing cards for a client, juxtaposed with leopard fur, considered a symbol of spiritual power. Painting by Harry Roseland in public domain.
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Jokers
Big Joker
A true trickster. Be aware of the danger and the possibilities inherent in uncertainty and chaos.
Little Joker
Sign of the enemy and adversary. Oversees sneaky deals, does dirt, throws a rock, then hides the hand. Watch your back.
Suit of Spades
Suit of the soldier. dealing with life's hardships and misfortunes, while trying to process and transcend earthly limitations.
Ace of Spades
The owner of the deck. The Ace of Spades brings unexpected truth. These are often of a spiritual nature, as the suit of Spades is associated with spiritual development. Information comes out of nowhere, god shows herself, shows out, shows you who’s god.
Two of Spades
The Two of Spades indicates arguments, conflict, and coming to an understanding through the exchange of words and ideas.
Three of Spades
The Three of Spades leaves tears in its wake. It’s a card of graveyards, mourning, and unhelpful nostalgia for things that didn’t work, last, or survive. This is a card that generally comes after the loss has happened, and its timing relates to things in the past.
Four of Spades
The Four of Spades asks you to consider your body and mind. It’s a physical card that indicates the need to prioritize your wellness and make peace with your mortality.
Five of Spades
The Five of Spades brings trouble that comes out of nowhere, but often doesn’t last long. It’s also a card connected to viruses, illnesses with rapid onsets, accidents, and injuries.
Six of Spades
The Six of Spades sends you down a difficult path. It indicates you may need to assess the direction you’re headed in to see if it’s still what you want and deserve. Spiritual assistance may be necessary to figure out how to improve your life. Look within first.
Seven of Spades
The Seven of Spades could mean someone is working against you, or working on you. Thankfully, it will be obvious who it is if you’re honest with yourself. It’s a card that asks you to change things by appealing to ancestors, the spirit world, and your unconscious self. An enemy or obstacle could be revealed in a dream, or you may find a vision is crucial to your success.
Eight of Spades
The Eight of Spades finds you crushed under harmful patterns. It can indicate addiction and abuse of all kinds. What the Eight of Spades brings up must be resolved, though that won't necessarily be easy. These are the obstacles that must be overcome over and over again in order to live a fulfilling life.
Nine of Spades
The Nine of Spades is one of the most difficult in the deck. It can bring news of sickness in the family, breaking points in relationships, and deterioration in things you wanted to last. The key is to face these problems head on, and accept what you cannot change. This card usually occurs with timing in the present, and prepares us for events in the near future.
Ten of Spades
The Ten of Spades bring the end of projects, and sometimes life (especially when paired with the Ace of Spades.) All things end in time. The Ten of Spades brings a return to peace on the other side of this ending. Purification and cleansing work is indicated. “Let the dead bury their dead.” (Matthew 8:22)
Jack of Spades
The Jack of Spades can reveal an enemy, hater, or rival. This is a person who can be calculating, cruel, and surprisingly honest when they want to be. As an energy, the Jack of Spades is a gust of dry wind. It often brings news. With the Queen of Spades, it could indicate a troubled child or one with a single parent.
Queen of Spades
The Queen of Spades is an independent and sharp-tongued queen. She knows her way around all types of work, and may indicate the development of further spiritual gifts. She makes a difficult mentor, but great wisdom is her reward. The Queen of Spades may be quick to judge, but she also helps us build discernment and the temperament to offer and receive honest feedback.
King of Spades
The King of Spades is eloquent, charming, and tricky. They can be out for self, cunning, and something of a pretty boy when this card manifests as a person. They’re likely to appear in a position of visibility or even power. They’ve come to improve your plans, defend you or against you, and to document what’s going on around you. This card can bring justice, increased contact with the law, or important paperwork.
Suit of Clubs
Suit of the poor and working classes. Emphasizes the role of work and luck in daily life. The Clubs are here to remind us that time will go by without us. They encourage us to find purpose in every action every day.
Ace of Clubs
The Ace of Clubs asks us to find purpose in our day in, day out lives. It reminds us that sheets need to be washed, babies need to be changed, and beyond all that, you still have to write your screenplay if you want to have written a screenplay—and even if it never gets picked up.
Two of Clubs
The Two of Clubs bring you into partnerships that make sense. It’s traditionally a marriage card, but can also bring business partners, and likeminded friends. You may start a project with another person; be prepared to see it through.
Three of Clubs
The Three of Clubs is a card of expansion, travel, and collaboration. It’s a writer’s card that asks you to create in public, and let people see your face. Honor your ideas as they come. There can be a great deal of nervous energy when this card appears. Use it to your advantage.
Four of Clubs
You’re comfortable keeping your own company, but are you isolating yourself? You may spend long hours in the office, and away from those you love. You could be completing something that requires time alone, or preparing for a new chapter in your life. You can be very realistic about your strengths and flaws at this time.
Five of Clubs
The Five of Clubs usually comes up when we’re already tapped out or when a change of direction is necessary. It continues any difficulties you’re having about your material concerns, and often brings new, less than delightful developments.
Six of Clubs
The Six of Clubs lets you know you’re headed in a mature and logical direction, guided by common sense. You’re focused and single-minded about getting what you want. It’s an excellent time to assemble a team, but check your ego. You’re in danger of being swept away in your pet projects
Seven of Clubs
The Seven of Clubs is a card that finds you doing the most. You have too much going on and you need to calm down before you hurt yourself. This card can also indicate the need to find what you’re most passionate about before you go public with it. You may still be in the decision phase without knowing it. Often this haste comes from your perception that help is urgently needed in some area of your life. Do you have to be the one to provide it? Fools rush in.
Eight of Clubs
Conditions could improve rapidly when you see the Eight of Clubs. Make sure you’re ready for positive movement, deals, and inquiries under this influence. Be open to surprise developments.
Nine of Clubs
The Nine of Clubs is an ideal card to see when you have documents to sign, promotions to make, or need to cement a plan in stone. Take advantage of this professional luck as soon as it makes itself available to you.
Ten of Clubs
The Ten of Clubs is always a welcome card for those who own a business. You can achieve at high levels, and find yourself among excellence. Let it go to your head so that you can protect what you have earned.
Jack of Clubs
The Jack of Clubs is a trustworthy young person headed in the right direction, or someone you’re just meeting who possesses good character. They’re willing to work hard for what they want, but need some guidance.
Queen of Clubs
The Queen of Clubs gets shit done. Their tendencies towards hard work can lead to burnout, but it can just as easily lead to great success if there’s someone around to take care of them. Your work may be very satisfying at this time. You could become popular online for a project, though only after a period of consistent hard work.
King of Clubs
The King of Clubs is dependable in an old fashioned way. They're the kind of person who could have several lovers, all of whom he treats well. A straightforward decision maker, and an excellent business owner. Great to see if you’re a craftsman.
Suit of Hearts
Hearts are the suit of the priest class and human desires. Hearts emphasize the turns of fate around our emotional lives.
Ace of Hearts
There's a softness and whimsy that comes with the Ace of Hearts. You may receive an email or text from an old lover. You could find hidden love letters. This could be positive or negative. Perhaps the letters are for another. The texting lover may be a known quantity, and a dud. But the Ace of Hearts makes it so hard to keep our head on straight.
Two of Hearts
The card of romantic connection and emotional understanding. You’re ready to know and be known. Create and deepen the connections that your ancestors send you; you’ll know in your heart when it’s the right fit.
Three of Hearts
Three is a crowd! You may find a rival for your lover’s affection or that someone else is benefiting from your plans. Be careful with your heart, because all is not as it seems. Even if you’re in an open or polyamorous relationship, make sure things are on board with all parties.
Four of Hearts
Four of Hearts brings family, commitment, and stability to relationships. It gives us the space and support we need to rest. It’s a comfortable card that keeps you close to home and in the arms of those you love.
Five of Hearts
The Five of Hearts is the card of love in commitment, especially marriage. Commit to what you love, be faithful and true.
Six of Hearts
The Six of Hearts offers an opportunity to appreciate positive movement towards your emotional goals. Relationships are headed in the right direction. Your self-esteem is improving. You could be going out and meeting new people who feel in alignment with who you are now.
Seven of Hearts
Are you trustworthy? How do you interact with the parts of yourself you don’t particularly like? The Seven of Hearts is an invitation to your shadow side, and that of people around you. With the Three of Hearts, it can indicate a perpetually toxic relationship
Eight of Hearts
Tongues are wagging about you when you see the Eight of Hearts. If you see the Eight, Three, and Seven of Hearts together, you need better friends. Get from around them people; they don’t want the best for you. A jealous friend is not a friend. Beware the evil eye.
Nine of Hearts
The Nine of Hearts grants wishes, so be careful what you ask for at this time. You’re likely to feel a great deal of joy at this time. Don’t rub it in the faces of those nearest to you.
Ten of Hearts
The Ten of Hearts brings joy and excitement to your life. You may find yourself at an anniversary dinner, or even a party celebrating long-term love and family. You’ll have much to celebrate.
Jack of Hearts
Be careful of people who pledge their love to you at this time. You may fall in love with a snake in the grass, or find that the unhealed parts of yourself cause you to be the snake. Like the Jack of Spades, the Jack of Hearts is a one eyed Jack. Remember you don’t know all there is to know about the people you’re connecting with at this time.
Queen of Hearts
The Queen of Hearts is psychic, spiritual, nurturing, and caring. They are full of compassion, which can often work against them. This card can refer to someone who is considered beautiful, as opposed to hot. They can be very magnetic, and a martyr.
King of Hearts
The King of Hearts is handsome, loving, and usually devoted (though some are definitely players.) Once they settle down, they may not be totally faithful, but they do settle down for good. This could be a person in the arts, or someone with a well-manicured appearance. Their clothing is ornate, and their presence is memorable.
Suit of Diamonds
Diamonds are the suit that manifest in our life in the shortest period of time we’re talking about seconds, minutes, maybe hours. The work of the Ace of Diamonds can be done within the day. It’s coffee with a friend whose job is hiring. It’s the pair of shoes you can finally afford
Ace of Diamonds
The Ace of Diamonds is the quickest card to manifest the work it does in the deck. The effects can appear suddenly—they can also disappear without notice. The Ace of Diamonds is the card most associated with luck in the deck.
Two of Diamonds
The Two of Diamonds brings connection around what’s physically tangible. It may bring partners in crime, sexual partners, or aligned opportunities. Look to any court cards in the spread to see who may be coming.
Three of Diamonds
The Three of Diamonds highlights your values. You may feel in a conflict over what you want and the methods you have at your disposal. Creative opportunities to make money may present themselves at this time. If you’re working on a project, don’t abandon it before it’s done.
Four of Diamonds
The Four of Diamonds can lead to quick wins, successful bets, and playing around with a good thing. If you’re starting from scratch, this can be a great thing. If you have something to lose, play as safe as you can. You’re a convincing speaker, and an influential person when this card comes around.
Five of Diamonds
The Five of Diamonds brings some quick money or rapid change, generally unexpected, into your life. You can feel quite lucky when this card comes around, but don’t let it go to your head. It is but one point in your overall journey, and the more comfortable you get, the more you’ll invite envy and criticism.
Six of Diamonds
The Six of Diamonds increases your prosperity and shows you that you’re on the right path. You may have recently made a major change in your life, and are wondering if you’ve done the right thing. The Six of Diamonds isn’t a final verdict on the issue, but it says your ship is pointing in the right direction. You may see the first fruits of your labor at this time.
Seven of Diamonds
You could get taken down a peg at work, or rejected by a potential lover at this time. Remember that it’s obstacles that hone our paths and make us the best versions of ourselves. You don’t have to fear a roadblock; you do have to find a workaround.
Eight of Diamonds
It’s time to build a new foundation, likely through mentorship and education. Scholarships, investment in your business, and grants are indicated by the Eight of Diamonds. Build what you want as wisely as you can. The hard part is keeping what you have once you build it.
Nine of Diamonds
Big wins and huge losses can live side by side when the Nine of Diamonds is around. It’s a complex card that can give and take in turn. Make sure those around you are truly supportive and not secretly on the take. It’s a good time to review your journey so far, and ensure you’re still focused on heart centered things.
Ten of Diamonds
Parties—especially those that make money, strip clubs, and mixers are all favored under the influence of the Ten of Diamonds. If you’re looking for a new date, this is an excellent time to see and be seen. If you need money in a timely fashion, consider options that bring people together. There’s always the possibility of fights under this influence, due to intoxication if paired with the Eight of Spades, or romantic competition with the Three of Hearts.
Jack of Diamonds
The Jack of Diamonds can wield a temper, but otherwise makes a reliable companion, though often short-term. A running buddy or a wing man. Of changeable personality and interests
Queen of Diamonds
The Queen of Diamonds can indicate you at your most attractive and confident. You exude sensuality and everyone is interested in getting to know you better. An excellent card to see when you’re single or searching; you could be the star of any gathering you attend. Get ready to turn heads.
King of Diamonds
A good partner and a reasonable person, The King of Diamonds understands what makes them tick. They’re often in fast paced fields, or even lucrative hustles. You’ll always enjoy them when they’re around—just don’t expect to see them too often
Further Thoughts
Hey, I’m Cyrée
I’m a rootworker, diviner, and clinical herbalist. I believe that spirit work is an essential part of all movements for justice. I hope you’ll take a look around, there are plenty of opportunities here to deepen your connection with your gifts (with my guidance.)
New to Hoodoo cartomancy and don’t know where to start? Here are the card meanings I suggest for all fifty-two playing cards as a professional card reader!