Signification of Suits in the Master Method

Hearts

THE King of Hearts: In this method he represents a married man or a widower. Should the inquirer be a woman, and this card fall upon either of the squares, 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, he then denotes a lover. Should the inquirer be a man, the king falling in the above-named squares signifies a rival.; When this card falls on either of the following numbers, 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 29, 23, 24, 29, 31, 32, 34, the situation is favourable, and the inquirer will have his wishes granted with respect to the special meaning of the square.; When the king falls on No. 1, 5, 6, 9, 12, 22, 26, 27, or 28, it foretells a satisfactory solution of any matter connected with the subject represented by the squares.; Should he fall upon an unlucky square, namely, No. 7, 8, 10, 11, 27, 20, 22, 30, 33, 35, or 36, he mitigates the evil fortune of the positions.
The Queen of Hearts: She signifies a married woman or a widow who desires the happiness of the inquirer, and does her best to promote it.; If the inquirer is a man, this card falling on the squares 24, 22, 23, 24, or 32, represents his lady-love. In the event of his being already engaged, his fianc?e will possess all the most lovable and desirable qualities.; When the inquirer is a woman, and the queen of hearts falls on either of the above-named squares, it shows that she has a rival to reckon with. Should she be engaged, it indicates that her future husband is both young and well equipped for social and professional success.; When a very elderly person consults the cards, the above combination foretells a peaceful, contented old age.; To any one interested in agriculture, the same combination promises abundant crops.
The Knave of Hearts: This card represents a good-natured, amiable, but rather insipid young man, devoid alike of violent passions and exalted aspirations.; When a young girl consults the cards, this knave falling on the squares 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, may be taken to personate her fianc?.; When the inquirer is a young, unmarried man, the same combination indicates that he will marry the object of his choice, after he has surmounted considerable obstacles by his tact and quiet determination.
The Ten of Hearts: The signification of this card does not differ from that given in the general definitions save in the following cases:; When it falls on square No. 10, it signifies success.; When it falls on square No. 14, it signifies success in love.; When it falls on square No. 16, it signifies a happy marriage. If, in the last-named case, a knave or a seven falls on No. 7, 15, 17, or 25, there will be several children born of the union.; If the ten of hearts falls on squares 18, 19, 31, or 32, it foretells wealth, intense enjoyment, and real happiness.
The Nine of Hearts: The only addition to the general signification is, that when this card falls near the seven of clubs, it denotes that a promise already made to the inquirer will shortly be fulfilled.
The Eight of Hearts: This card is the special messenger of good things when it falls on one of the following squares: 5, 9, 15, 18, 19, 22, or 31.
The Seven of Hearts: If this card falls on No. 14, 23, 23, 24, or 32, when the inquirer is a bachelor, it signifies that he will very soon take unto himself a wife.
The Two of Hearts: This is frequently taken as the representative card, and in that case is entirely influenced by its position on the chart, taken in connection with the cards that touch or surround it.
The Ace of Hearts: This card represents the house of the inquirer as it does in other methods. It is very important to note its position on the chart and its surroundings.

Clubs

The King of Clubs: Taken generally, this card represents a married man or a widower, whose worth as a friend is not to be excelled.; When the inquirer is a young girl, and this king falls on No. 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, she may rejoice, for she will shortly be united in marriage to the man she loves.; Should a young man be consulting the cards, this king falling on any of the above-named squares denotes a generous, high-minded rival who will meet him in fair fight, and who is far above anything like taking a mean advantage.; When this card falls on No. 18, 19, 20, 27, or 28, it represents the guardian of a minor, whose line of conduct will be determined by the cards which surround or touch it.
The Queen of Clubs: When a bachelor consults the cards, and this queen falls on No. 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, it promises him a lady-love whose beauty shall be her strongest attraction.; Should a woman be seeking to know her fate, this queen falling on either of the above-named squares warns her that she has a rival. In the case of the inquirer being a married man or woman, this card represents a woman of high position and great influence who is attractive, to the inquirer, and who will be the means of bringing him or her valuable and pleasing intelligence.; In the case of a business man the above combination denotes that he will be entirely successful in the enterprise which is engrossing all his thoughts at the moment.
The Knave of Clubs: This card may be taken to represent a sincere and lasting friendship founded upon a basis that will endure.; When the inquirer is a young girl, and this card falls upon either of the matrimonial squares, namely, 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, it signifies some man who wants to marry her.; In the case of a bachelor, this card on the same squares tells him that he has a rival, either in love or in his business career.
The Ten of Clubs: This card is the harbinger of good luck if it falls on No. 3, 5, 15, 18, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, or 32.; Should this card fall on squares 10, 17, or 36, it implies that the inquirer will be asked for a loan in money, which he will be unable to lend.
The Nine of Clubs: This card means a present, and if it follows a club, the gift will be in money; if it follows a heart, the inquirer may look for a present of jewellery; if it follows a diamond, the gift will be but trifling in value; and if it follows a spade, the recipient of the present will derive no pleasure from it.
The Eight of Clubs: has no special significance outside the general definition.
The Seven of Clubs: This represents a young girl capable of the highest self-devotion, even to risking her life in the interests of the inquirer. The exact nature of her relations and services to the object of her affection will be decided by the surrounding cards.; In the case of a bachelor, this card falling on any of the squares 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, represents the lady of his choice.; In the case of an unmarried girl or a widow, the same combination points to a generous rival.; Whenever this seven comes out near the nine of hearts, the wish card, it is a token of some signal success for the inquirer.
The Two of Clubs: This represents the trusted friend of the inquirer, and the square on which it falls will give the requisite information, if its meaning be taken in conjunction with those of the surrounding cards.
The Ace of Clubs: This card is the sign of a well-ordered life and legitimate hopes, and foretells success in an ordinary career, or the attainment of celebrity in special cases.; Should the inquirer be a soldier by profession, it signifies a fortunate turn of events, that will secure him a rapid rise in the army.; To one interested in agriculture, it promises plentiful crops.; To a traveller, it foretells a most satisfactory result from his journey.; To an actress, it promises phenomenal success in a leading r?le. Should the inquirer or one of his parents be a dramatic or lyrical author, this card is the augury of theatrical success.

Diamonds

The King of Diamonds: Should the inquirer be a young girl, she will do well to note whether this card falls on any of the matrimonial squares, 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, for in that case her present admirer is not to be trusted, unless he has cards of good import touching him, or is preceded by either a heart or a club.
The Queen of Diamonds: If this card falls on any of the matrimonial squares, 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, it signifies to a bachelor that he will be engaged to one whose character is to be read in the surrounding cards. If this queen be preceded by a heart or a club, it promises good luck on the whole; but if by a diamond or a spade, the augury is bad.; Should the inquirer be a young unmarried woman or a widow, this card falling on the above-named squares indicates that she has a rival whose character is revealed by the cards touching it.
The Knave of Diamonds: For an unmarried woman or a widow, this card represents a lover from a foreign country. If it is accompanied by a heart, he has many good points to recommend him; if by a club, he is kind and generous; if by a diamond, he is bad-tempered, exacting, and jealous; if by a spade, he is an undesirable, and she had better have nothing to do with him.
The Ten of Diamonds: The general meaning of this card is a journey.; If it falls between two spades, the journey will be long.; If it falls between two hearts, the journey will be short.; If it falls between two clubs, the journey will be successful.; If it falls between two diamonds, the journey will have bad results.
The Nine of Diamonds: This card signifies news. If preceded by a heart or a club, the news will be good. If preceded by a diamond or a spade, the news will be bad.
The Eight of Diamonds: This card signifies a short journey. If it fall between two hearts, the expedition will be an enjoyable pleasure trip.; If between two clubs, it denotes a satisfactory business journey.; If between two diamonds, it signifies a trip begun for pleasure and ending in misadventure.; If between two spades, it signifies an unsuccessful business journey.
The Seven of Diamonds: This card stands for a young girl of foreign birth and breeding. Taken by itself it means love-sorrows and heart-searchings.; Should the inquirer be a bachelor, and this card fall on one of the matrimonial squares, 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, it signifies a lady-love as above described.; This seven is an excellent augury when it falls on No. 2, 3, 15, 16, 18, or 27.; The Two of Diamonds has practically the same signification as the deuce of clubs, unless it be selected as the representative card.
The Ace of Diamonds: The signification of this card is a letter.; If preceded by a heart, it is a letter from a lover or friend.; If preceded by a club, it ist a letter on business or one containing money.; If preceded by a diamond, the letter is dictated by jealousy.; If preceded by a spade, the letter contains bad news.

Spades

The King of Spades: When the inquirer is an unmarried woman or a widow, this card falling on one of the squares, 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, is indicative of a false lover whose character is mean and base.; When the inquirer is an unmarried man, the above combination signifies that he has a rival.; This card falling on the squares numbered 10, 18, 19, 20, 27, 28, or 29, represents a guardian or the executor of a will.; To a married man, this king is a warning that there are domestic ructions in store for him.; To a married woman, the card cautions her to be very much on her guard when in the society of an attractive but unprincipled man whom she has to meet frequently, and who will bring scandal upon her if she is not most careful.
The Queen of Spades: When the inquirer is a bachelor, this card falling on No. 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32, represents the lady to whom he will be engaged.; In the case of an unmarried woman or a widow, the combination signifies a rival in love.
The Knave of Spades, the Ten of Spades, the Nine of Spades, and the Eight of Spades: have no special signification other than that given in the general definitions.
The Seven of Spades: This card signifies all troubles and worries connected with the tender passion.; Should the inquirer be a man, this seven falling on squares 14, 22, 23, 24, or 32 foretells faithlessness on the part of his fianc?e, a betrayal of trust by some other woman, or a robbery.; When the inquirer is a woman, this card on any of the same squares points to a rival who will be preferred before her.
The Two of Spades: May be taken as a representative card, but otherwise has no special signification.
The Ace of Spades: Iis a card of good omen, meaning perseverance followed by possession, a happy marriage, success, and rapid advancement in business or profession.

An Example of the Master Method

We have taken the deuce of hearts as the representative card of the inquirer, who is a fair young girl seeking to know her fate. We will give the order in which the thirty-six cards come out, but intend to leave the bulk of them for the reader to solve according to the instructions given.

We have taken the inquirer and her immediate surroundings as an example of the working of the method, and feel sure that any intelligent reader will be able to complete the reading for himself.

Ace of clubs
Eight of spades
Two of clubs
Knave of hearts
King of diamonds
King of hearts
Eight of diamonds
Ten of clubs
Ten of hearts
Seven of spades
Nine of spades
Two of spades
Nine of hearts
Eight of clubs
Queen of diamonds
Two of hearts
King of spades
Queen of hearts
Ace of spades
Ten of spades
Knave of spades
King of clubs
Nine of clubs
Eight of hearts
Queen of clubs
Knave of diamonds
Queen of spades
Seven of diamonds
Seven of hearts
Ten of diamonds
Knave of clubs
Ace of diamonds
Ace of hearts
Seven of clubs
Two of diamonds
Nine of diamonds

We find the inquirer in No. 16, which square when covered by a heart indicates a happy and well-suited marriage. On her left in No. 15 (prosperity) she has the queen of diamonds, a very fair woman who is fond of gossip, and somewhat wanting in refinement of feeling. She will interfere with the inquirer's prosperity through jealousy, but on the whole she will bring good luck because she is preceded by a club. To the right. in No. 17 (sorrow) we have the king of spades, a dark, ambitious, but unscrupulous man, who is the inquirer's legal adviser, and will bring grave sorrow upon her by his underhand dealings. Immediately above her we have in No. 10 (loss) the seven of spades, a card representing troubles connected with a love affair. This square being covered by a spade indicates that she will be unjustly compelled to relinquish her rights, and her chance of marriage may be lessened or postponed by the loss of her fortune.

On the left above her we get in No. 9 (association) the ten of hearts, a most cheering and excellent card, promising her success and happiness in a partnership which she is contemplating. On the right, above, in No. 11 (trouble) we have the nine of spades, a bad omen, signifying the failure of her hopes through the jealousy of some other person.

Immediately below her we find in No. 22 (a gift) the king of clubs, who is her true and valued friend, either a married man or a widower. He will make her a present, and will be actuated by certain motives of self-interest in so doing; but she may keep a good heart, for his presence in that position on the chart indicates that she will soon be united to the man of her choice. On the left, below, in No. 21 (rival) we find the knave of spades, a legal agent whose influence will be instrumental in enabling a rival to triumph over and bring discredit upon the inquirer. On the right, below, we have in No. 23 (a lover) the nine of clubs, which in this case means a gift in money. We may take it that her faithful lover, uninfluenced by her pecuniary losses, has decided to make her a present, probably in the form of marriage settlements.

The remainder of the chart will provide the student with many more interesting particulars regarding the fate of this fair inquirer, and at the same time prove an excellent exercise in the art of cartomancy.

Playing card spread