cartomancy
Noun: Cartomancy is the practice of using playing cards (or specially designed cards, such as tarot cards) for the purpose of fortune-telling or divination. It involves interpreting the cards' symbols, suits, numbers, and positions to gain insight into the past, present, or future.
- (The skill of divination using standard cards.)
- (The belief system behind using cards for fortune-telling.)
- (The broader category of card-based divination.)
"to practice cartomancy": to engage in the art of interpreting cards for divinatory purposes.
- He decided to practice cartomancy after learning the meanings of the four suits. (He began using cards to tell fortunes.)
"a cartomancy reading": a session where a practitioner interprets cards for a client.
- The cartomancy reading revealed a period of change in her career. (The interpretation of the cards indicated upcoming transitions.)
Cartomancer (n): a person who practices cartomancy.
- The cartomancer shuffled the deck carefully before beginning the reading. (The fortune-teller who uses cards.)
Cartomantic (adj): relating to or characteristic of cartomancy.
- She used a cartomantic system based on the minor arcana. (Pertaining to the divinatory interpretation of cards.)
- Card reading: a general term for interpreting cards for divination.
- Taromancy: a specific form of cartomancy using tarot cards.
"Read the cards": to perform a cartomancy reading.
- She offered to read the cards for her friend at the party. (She performed a cartomancy session.)
"Lay out the cards": to arrange cards in a specific spread for interpretation.
- The cartomancer laid out the cards in a Celtic cross pattern. (She arranged the cards for a reading.)
Cartomancy is distinct from other forms of divination (like astrology or palmistry) because it relies specifically on the symbolism of cards. It does not refer to the act of playing card games or to the cards themselves as objects; it is solely the interpretive practice.