The Master Method: Knowledge is Power

WE have here a detailed and exhaustive method by which the cards can be read. The beginner may feel somewhat alarmed at the mass of explanatory matter there is for him to study, but when once the information has been acquired, the would-be cartomancer will find he possesses a sense of power and comprehension, that will give both confidence and dexterity to his attempts to unravel the thread of destiny.

Four Twos Added to the Usual Pack

The selected pack of thirty-two cards, which have been mentioned in connection with several of the preceding methods, are in this case augmented by the addition of the four twos, one of which is sometimes taken as the representative of the inquirer. There is no hard and fast rule about this, however, and another card may be taken if preferred. The accompanying table shows that not only has each card its own signification, but that every position upon the table within the cube in which the cards are arranged has its own meaning. These must be carefully studied, first separately and then together. It would be a help to the beginner to make a separate chart for his own use, and to have it at hand when laying the cards according to this system.

THE MASTER METHOD

TABLE OF THE POSITIONS AND THEIR SEVERAL MEANINGS

No. 1. Project in hand.	No. 2. Satisfaction.	No. 3. Success.	No. 4. Hope.	No. 5. Chance. Luck.	No. 6. Wishes. Desire.
No. 7. Injustice	No. 8. Ingratitude.	No. 9. Association.	No. 10.Loss.	No. 11.Trouble.	No. 12. State or Condition.
No. 13. Joy.	No. 14.Love.	No. 15. Prosperity.	No. 16. Marriage.	No. 17. Sorrow. Affliction.	No. 18. Pleasure. Enjoyment.
No. 19. Inheritance. Property.	No. 20. Fraud. Deceit.	No. 21. Rivals.	No. 22. A Present. Gift.	No. 23. Lover.	No. 24. Advancement. A Rise in the world.
No. 25. Kindness. A Good Turn.	No. 26. Undertaking. Enterprise.	No. 27. Changes.	No. 28. The End (of Life).	No. 29. Rewards.	No. 30. Misfortune. Disgrace.
No. 31.Happiness.	No. 32 .Money. Fortune.	No. 33. Indifference.	No. 34. Favour.	No. 35. Ambition.	No. 36. Ill-health. Sickness.

The thirty-six cards must be shuffled and cut in the usual way, and then placed upon the table in six rows of six cards each, starting from the left-hand corner where square No. 1 is marked on the chart. The position of the inquirer must be carefully noted, and then all the cards in his immediate neighbourhood must be read in all their bearing, individually, and with regard to their position, and their influence upon the representative card.

The Thirty-Six Squares and their Significance

We will take the meanings of the thirty-six squares in connection with the several cards that may cover them.

No. 1. THE PROJECT IN HAND

When covered by a heart, the inquirer may hope that the project will be successfully carried out.
When covered by a club, kind and trusty friends will help forward the project.
When covered by a diamond, there are serious business complications in the way of the project's accomplishment.
When covered by a spade, the inquirer will have his trust abused and those in whom he has confided will play him false, to the detriment of the project in hand.

No. 2. SATISFACTION

When covered by a heart, the inquirer may look for the realisation of his brightest hopes and his dearest wishes.
When covered by a club, satisfaction will be derived by the help of true friends, who will do all in their power to promote the inquirer's happiness.
When covered by a diamond, there will be jealousy at work to mar the inquirer's satisfaction.
When covered by a spade, the hope of success will be well-nigh shattered by deceit and double-dealing.

No. 3. SUCCESS

When covered by a heart, the inquirer may hope for complete success.
When covered by a club, any success will be due to the help of friends.
When covered by a diamond, the success will be but incomplete.
When covered by a spade, all chance of success will be eventually destroyed by underhand means.

No. 4. HOPE

When covered by a heart, the inquirer may look for the fulfilment of his dearest hopes.
Covered by a club, hopes will be realised through the agency of helpful friends, or be due to the obstinate determination of the inquirer.
Covered by a diamond, it shows that the hopes are groundless and impossible of realisation.
Covered by a spade, wild hopes are indicated, tending to mania, and provocative of grave trouble, or even tragedy.

No. 5. CHANCE - LUCK

Covered by a heart, good luck will attend the hopes and plans of the inquirer.
Covered by a club, means moderately good luck, especially due to the kindly offices of friends.
Covered by a diamond, does not promise much luck to the inquirer; rather an evil than a good influence.
Covered by a spade, bad luck, robbery, financial ruin, disaster, and possibly death.

No. 6. WISHES - DESIRE

Covered by a heart and surrounded by good cards, it promises the immediate fulfilment of the inquirer's highest desires.
Covered by a club, a partial gratification of the inquirer's wishes may be expected.
Covered by a diamond, the earnest efforts of both the inquirer and his friends will only be crowned with imperfect success.
Covered by a spade, disappointment and non-fulfilment of desires.

No. 7. INJUSTICE

Covered by a heart, any injustice done to the inquirer will be rectified and withdrawn, so that the passing cloud will turn to his ultimate advantage.
Covered by a club, the wrong already done will require long and courageous efforts to efface its effects, and the inquirer will need the support of his best friends.
Covered by a diamond, the harm done will not be entirely remedied, but the inquirer's good name will be re-established.
Covered by a spade, injustice will bring about sore trouble and serious misfortunes.

No. 8. INGRATITUDE

The four suits have exactly the same influence upon the situation in this number as in the preceding one.

No. 9. ASSOCIATION

Covered by a heart, the partnership will be successful and have the best results.
Covered by a club, good results of co-operation or partnership will be effected through the agency of true friends.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will need to use all possible caution and diplomacy, and even then the results will be but unsatisfying.
Covered by a spade, the connection will not benefit the inquirer, in fact he may suffer terribly from it, but his friends will profit thereby.

No. 10. LOSS

Covered by a heart, shows loss of a benefactor, which will be a great grief to the inquirer.
Covered by a club, the loss of dear friends and the failure of cherished hopes.
Covered by a diamond, loss of money, goods, property, and personal effects.
Covered by a spade, the best interests of the inquirer will be seriously compromised, and he will have to renounce them.

No. 11. TROUBLE

Covered by a heart, very great trouble caused by near relations, or born of love for another.
Covered by a club, trouble with friends.
Covered by a diamond, money troubles.
Covered by a spade, trouble arising from jealousy.

No. 12. STATE OR CONDITION

Covered by a heart, the conditions of life are steadily improving.
Covered by a club, the improvement will be slower and more uncertain; hard work and good friends are essential to ensure advancement.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will only attain to a satisfactory position in life after he has overcome numerous and powerful enemies. He will never get very far however.
Covered by a spade, the inquirer's circumstances are bound to go from bad to worse, in spite of all he may do.

No. 13. JOY - DELIGHT

Covered by a heart, deep, unruffled delight, joy of a pure and disinterested nature.
Covered by a club, joy from material causes, better luck or greater prosperity.
Covered by a diamond, joy springing from success in profession or business, gained in spite of jealous opposition.
Covered by a spade, joy from having been able to render a service to a superior, who will not forget it.

No. 14. LOVE

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will be blessed and happy in his love.
Covered by a club, he may rely absolutely upon the fidelity of his beloved.
Covered by a diamond, love will be troubled by jealousy.
Covered by a spade, love will be slighted and betrayed.

No. 15. PROSPERITY

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will enjoy complete and well-merited prosperity.
Covered by a club, betokens moderate prosperity, due to hard work and the kindly offices of friends.
Covered by a diamond, prosperity will be damaged by the jealousy of others.
Covered by a spade, serious misfortunes will arise in business, brought about by the malice and fraud of other people.

No. 16. MARRIAGE

Covered by a heart, the inquirer may look forward to a happy and well-assorted marriage.
Covered by a club, foretells a marriage prompted by practical or financial considerations alone.
Covered by a diamond, the married life will be troubled by the jealousy of one or both partners.
Covered by a spade, inquirer will lose the chance of a wealthy marriage, through the deceit and jealousy of his enemies.

No. 17. SORROW - AFFLICTION

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will pass through a love trouble, but it will only be of short duration.
Covered by a club, trouble will arise from a quarrel with a dear friend, but it will end in complete reconciliation.
Covered by a diamond, there will be sorrow caused by jealousy.
Covered by a spade, bad faith and underhand dealings will bring affliction upon the inquirer.

No. 18. PLEASURE - ENJOYMENT

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will enjoy the bliss of mutual love, undimmed by even passing clouds.
Covered by a club, there will be love of a more imperfect and superficial character.
Covered by a diamond, love will be tormented and distracted by jealousy.
Covered by a spade, love will be unreal and evanescent, unable to bear the test of time, or to survive the first disagreement.

No. 19. INHERITED MONEY OR PROPERTY

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will come into a large inheritance, to which he has a legitimate and undisputed right.
Covered by a club, a friend will bequeath a portion of his property or money to the inquirer.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will lose part of his rights, owing to the jealousy of another person.
Covered by a spade, an entire estate will be stolen from the inquirer by intriguing rivals.

No. 20. FRAUD - DECEIT

Covered by a heart, the deceiver will be caught in the trap he has laid for the inquirer.
Covered by a club, by the aid of true friends the inquirer will escape from the effects of an act of treachery.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will have to suffer great pain from the consequences of deceit, but it will only be a passing trouble.
Covered by a spade, deceit and underhand dealings will culminate in calumny which will cost the inquirer many friends, and have serious consequences for him.

No. 21. RIVALS

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will obtain his desire in spite of powerful or puny rivals.
Covered by a club, rivals will be overcome with difficulty, and with the help of generous friends.
Covered by a diamond, a rival will so far outwit the inquirer as to obtain some of the advantage, wealth, or favour for which he is striving.
Covered by a spade, the rival will triumph over the inquirer, robbing him, and plunging him into disgrace both with his benefactors and with members of his own immediate circle.

No. 22. A PRESENT OR GIFT

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will have a very handsome and unexpected present.
Covered by a club, the inquirer will receive a gift that is bestowed upon him from motives of self-interest, or in a spirit of vulgar display.
Covered by a diamond, points to a gift intended to act as a bribe.
Covered by a spade, indicates a present which is given to further the deceitful ends of the donor.

No. 23. LOVER

Covered by a heart, the lover or the lady, as the case may be, will be both fond and faithful in life and death.
Covered by a club, the beloved will be faithful, but somewhat faulty in other respects.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer may be prepared to find the beloved both jealous and disposed to sulk.
Covered by a spade, the beloved will prove faithless, selfish, and vindictive.

No. 24. ADVANCEMENT

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will soon see a rapid improvement in his worldly position, and it will exceed his wildest hopes.
Covered by a club, there will be a moderate and satisfying advance in the inquirer's circumstances, which will be the result of his own hard work, aided by the sympathy and help of his friends. He will be contented and happy.
Covered by a diamond, advancement will only be obtained after a hard struggle against difficulties, caused by the jealous ill-will of others.
Covered by a spade, the underhand dealings of his enemies will destroy all hope of a rise in the world.

No. 25. KINDNESS - A GOOD TURN

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will receive a kindness which far exceeds both his expectations and his deserts.
Covered by a club, this good turn will be well deserved, but only obtained by the help of disinterested friends.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will only obtain a modicum of kindness, and that after he has surmounted serious obstacles built up by the jealousy of his enemies.
Covered by a spade, the inquirer will not benefit by the good turn which he well deserves, but he will have to see it diverted from him by double-dealing.

No. 26. UNDERTAKING - ENTERPRISE

Covered by a heart, whatever undertaking the inquirer has in hand will meet with signal success.
Covered by a club, the enterprise will be a financial success, owing to the help of friends.
Covered by a diamond, the success of the undertaking will be hindered and decreased by the jealousy and self-seeking of some people concerned in it.
Covered by a spade, the inquirer must prepare for failure in his enterprise, owing to the malicious intrigues of his rivals.

No. 27. CHANGES

Covered by a heart, the change contemplated by the inquirer is a good one.
Covered by a club, a change for the better will take place in the inquirer's circumstances, owing to the good offices of friends.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will make an earnest attempt to change his position in life, but his efforts will be fruitless.
Covered by a spade, a change, very much for the worse, is to be apprehended. It will be brought about by the malice and double-dealing of those who seek to harm him.

No. 28. THE END (OF LIFE)

Covered by a heart, by the death of a relation or friend the inquirer will come into a considerable fortune.
Covered by a club, a handsome legacy from a friend may be expected by the inquirer.
Covered by a diamond, one who wishes ill to the inquires will depart this life.
Covered by a spade, this portends the untimely death of the inquirer's greatest enemy.

No. 29. REWARD

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will be rewarded out of all proportion to his efforts.
Covered by a club, a due and fitting reward will be meted out to industry and perseverance.
Covered by a diamond, a well-merited reward will be hindered and reduced, by the unscrupulous action of others.
Covered by a spade, the inquirer will be done out of his just reward, by the double-dealing and dishonesty of certain people.

No. 30. DISGRACE-MISFORTUNE

Covered by a heart, misfortune will come to the inquirer, but it will not do him any permanent harm.
Covered by a club, the inquirer will suffer through the disgrace of a friend.
Covered by a diamond, misfortune will be brought about by jealousy, and will indirectly affect the inquirer.
Covered by a spade, dishonesty and double-dealing will cause disgrace, from which the inquirer will suffer long and acutely.

No. 31. HAPPINESS

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will experience unexpected happiness which will be both deep and lasting.
Covered by a club, a stroke of luck will come to the inquirer, through the good offices of friends.
Covered by a diamond, the jealousy and ambition of false friends will result in good fortune to the inquirer.
Covered by a spade, the life of the inquirer will be in danger from the malice of his enemies. Their murderous schemes will be happily defeated by the vigilance of his friends.

No. 32. MONEY - FORTUNE

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will rapidly acquire a large fortune, by making a hit in his profession, or by a lucky speculation.
Covered by a club, by hard work and sustained effort the inquirer will secure a competence, and will receive both help and encouragement from his friends.
Covered by a diamond, through misplaced confidence in unworthy friends the inquirer will see his fortune pass into dishonest hands.
Covered by a spade, not only will the inquirer be tricked out of his money by dishonest acquaintances, but he will have to suffer for their misdeeds in his business or profession.

No. 33. INDIFFERENCE

Covered by a heart, thanks to his indifference and want of heart the inquirer will lead an unruffled, if somewhat joyless, life.
Covered by a club, lack of interest and energy will allow the inquirer to let slip things that would give him pleasure.
Covered by a diamond, the inquirer will forfeit the love and regard of valuable friends owing to indifference and utter unresponsiveness.
Covered by a spade, as a result of culpable indifference the inquirer will be robbed and impoverished.

No. 34. FAVOUR

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will enjoy all that love can bestow upon the beloved.
Covered by a club, the inquirer will honestly seek and acquire the favour of influential persons.
Covered by a diamond, the favour of the great will be long and earnestly sought by the inquirer, who will not succeed single-handed.
Covered by a spade, no effort of any kind will admit the inquirer to the favour to which he aspires.

No. 35. AMBITION

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will shortly arrive at the highest point of his ambition.
Covered by a club, the moderate ambition of the inquirer will be realised.
Covered by a diamond, the lawful ambitions of the inquirer will be partially frustrated, by the ill-will and jealousy of certain acquaintances.
Covered by a spade, the principal ambition of the inquirer will be defeated by underhand transactions, and he will even suffer from the consequences of perfectly justifiable steps which he may take to accomplish his desire.

No. 36, SICKNESS - ILL-HEALTH

Covered by a heart, the inquirer will suffer from passing ailments, that will leave no bad results.
Covered by a club, a rather serious illness may be expected.
Covered by a diamond, an acute attack of a definite disease.
Covered by a spade, a very severe illness, that may materially interfere with the inquirer's career or happiness.

Tendencies of the Suits

It will be seen in the foregoing definitions that hearts are almost invariably the sign of good luck, love, and happiness. Even where the position is indicative of misfortune, the presence of a heart has a mitigating effect upon the evil. Clubs rank next in order of good fortune, and seem specially connected with the precious gift of true friendship. Diamonds seem accompanied by the disquieting elements of jealousy and rivalry, which strew obstacles in the path to success and happiness, while for sheer bad luck and dire disaster the ill-omened suit of spades stands unrivalled.