Cartomancy in Folk Witchcraft: Playing Cards and Marseille Tarot in Divination, Magic, and Lore

by Roger J. Horne

In this new and vastly expanded edition, Cartomancy in Folk Witchcraft offers readers a well-sourced and practical guide to the witch’s card-based arts, unifying the realms of Marseille tarot and playing card divination and magic. Exploring the cards as a book of occult art authored by the Devil himself and drawing on cartomantic and folk-magical texts from hundreds of years in the past, this work is designed to serve as both guide and inspiration, allowing cartomancers to build on the lessons through their own experiments over time. Innovative approaches to old traditions in this volume include unique spreads, such as the “witch’s table,” advanced reading techniques, and rarely detailed methods of cartomantic craft, including Leland’s Aradian spirit conjuration, card-based sigilization and incantatory formulae, and ritual card pairings for sabbats and seasons. Newly included in this expanded edition are detailed card-by-card descriptions for both playing cards and Marseille tarot cards, a full chapter devoted to analyzing patterns in the tarot sequence, and an exploration of games and play using cards in order to develop budding skills in reading. The sound approaches in Cartomancy in Folk Witchcraft offer a corpus of transferrable lessons that can be utilized with any playing card deck or old-style tarot deck alike, emphasizing skillful pattern discernment over keywords and memorization.

Roger J. Horne is a writer, folk witch, and modern animist. He is also the author of A Broom at Midnight, Folk Witchcraft, and The Witch’s Art of Incantation. His personal spiritual practice is informed by the magical currents of Scottish cunning craft and Appalachian herb-doctoring. Through his writing, Horne seeks to help other witches rediscover the living traditions of folk craft and connect to their own sacred initiatory threads of lore, land, and familiar spirit. Read more about his work at rogerjhorne.com.

Genres: Witchcraft, Tarot, Spirituality, Magic, Divination

212 pages, Paperback

Published March 29, 2022

Reviews

[Laura]

Cartomancy in Folk Witchcraft is an introduction to working with playing cards in both divination and folk craft. Horne's method of interpretation involves reading "suit-number convergences," which he likens to alchemy [17]. He draws parallels between playing cards and the Marseille tarot lineage, and makes the case that his techniques for reading the pip cards are also applicable to the Marseille minors; he does include a chapter on patterns in the Marseille majors and also includes reference to the Knights in his discussion of court cards.

I would class this book as intermediate overall. The sections on playing cards read as fairly beginner friendly - I could easily navigate these sections as someone versed in pip tarot decks and basic numerology, but not particularly experienced with playing cards - whereas the section on the tarot majors I think would be most interesting to those already familiar with the major arcana. This is not a book I'd suggest as someone's first tarot book, or first divination book even, but it does feel approachable and for the most part doesn't presume much background knowledge. Horne notes that folk magic emerges "around what is available, what is useful, and what works best" [155] and presents ideas for workings that many could perform using only objects already present in their home. Basic folk magic concepts such as sympathy are explained clearly and concisely, and ethical and ontological questions (ex. the appropriateness of cursing, the possibility of communication with the dead) are addressed quite effectively given the book's short page count.

I really appreciate Horne's overall approach and tone. He presents cartomancy and folk craft as alive and constantly adapting, writing that "as participants in tradition, we are not confined but set free by its wisdom" [204]. He encourages readers to draw on their own lineages and traditions, and advocates for an inclusive approach to reading the cards that dispenses with some historical ideas that presumed and reinforced gender binary and gender stereotypical thinking by, for instance, associating certain cards with certain genders only. I would definitely recommend this book to an intermediate practitioner & look forward to reading more from Horne.

[Jen]

I liked that this book treats playing cards and Marseille tarot as practical divinatory tools with a life outside the usual modern tarot classroom. Roger J. Horne writes with affection for folk practice, and the sections on card pairings, suits, simple techniques, and using cards within witchcraft give the book a grounded, hands-on feeling. It is concise enough that you can actually try things as you read instead of spending three hundred pages in theory before you ever lay down a card. I also appreciated that he does not treat Marseille tarot and ordinary playing cards as totally separate species. My main criticism is that the book is so brief that its historical and folkloric material sometimes feels more like an introduction to a much larger conversation. I wanted fuller sourcing, more regional specificity, and clearer distinctions between documented practices, broader cartomantic traditions, and Horne’s own ways of working. “Folk witchcraft” can mean alot of different things, and the title made me expect a little more depth there. Still, it is a good doorway for readers who are curious about card magic and cartomancy but do not need another generic Rider-Waite-Smith guide.

[Sandor Paulson]

One of the best books on divination and witchcraft I have read, bar none. A ton of amazing information in here on various subjects, packed into a reasonable amount of pages. The information the minor arcana/pip cards work well for those using marseille tarot as well as traditional cartomancy. The information on spellwork using playing cards is great too. Highly recommend, especially for those who want to move beyond the Rider-Waite.

[Siana Modron]

It is a comprehensive guide to folk cartomancy, easy to read and very interesting. While it contains some information that I already knew - often from a different angle though - it also provided a wealth of new knowledge. I loved rituals with the cards and the instruction of sigil drawing! A must read for those who are interested in divination with playing cards, a much overlooked tool, in my view. I love this book and it is definitely a keeper and a re-reader.

[Damian]

An excellent book by Horne—this author never disappoints. This book isn’t just about reading the playing cards; it also includes several keys for interpreting the Marseille deck from a folkloric/traditional witchcraft perspective. Beyond the divinatory aspect, Horne proposes a large number of magical workings that can be done with the deck. This book is definitely well worth it.

[Nicole Bergen]

A good, easy-to-read overview.

[Stephanie Solis]

A comprehensive guide to get started with playing card and marseille tarot divination. I really enjoyed the additional exercises toward the end too. This will definitely be my guide book for divining with playing cards long term.

[cagedpopmachine]

My favorite book on playing cards and recommended for folks interested in tarot de Marseille as well