kartomantie

Kartomantie, or cartomancy, is the practice of foretelling or divining information by interpreting cards drawn or laid out in a ritualized manner. Practitioners may use traditional playing cards, tarot decks, or oracle decks, and readings are typically framed around the symbolic meanings of individual cards and their arrangement.

Historically, the use of playing cards for divination spread in Europe from the 14th to 16th centuries; Tarot cards originated in 15th-century Italy primarily as a game deck and were later adopted for occult purposes in the 18th century by writers such as Etteilla. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, cartomancy gained popularity within occult movements, giving rise to many specialized systems.

In tarot readings, decks are divided into Major Arcana and Minor Arcana, and common spreads include three-card readings and the Celtic Cross; interpretation depends on card meanings and orientation (upright or reversed) as well as the context of the question. In non-tarot cartomancy, standard playing cards (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades) or Lenormand decks are used, with meanings mapped to suits, numbers, and symbols.

Modern kartomantie encompasses a wide range of practices, from ritualized readings used for personal guidance to casual interpretations in books and online. It remains controversial in scientific and critical communities, while proponents describe it as a symbolic or intuitive tool for reflection, decision-making, and self-awareness.