The Playing Card Oracles: A Source Book for Divination

Where to begin with this marvelous work? Let's start with the actual...the book as a whole in its physicality. The cover is thick and glossy with a wonderful image painted by the author's late father (and artist of the cards). The image is of a woman who is both queenly and otherworldly and this sets the tone for the book beckoning us in to turn the pages of a manifest mystery. The pages themselves are creamy ivory, the font falls easily on the eyes. I enjoyed the way the author has carried over the black/red/ivory playing card theme to the book itself. I like to think this is intentional and since everything else about the book feels so well-thought out I'm assuming this was, too. There is space on the page to absorb the information. The addition of red ink as part of the text is wonderful, drawing the eye away from certain aspects of the material to allow for reflection and aha moments. The author writes with a wonderfully fluid style, a collusion of the poetic and the divinatory held together by the visual. There is a feeling of being able to take one's time with this book, the pace is measured but never slow and as such the material is very accessible while at the same time not losing its esoteric mystery. Her words are an entry point, a place in to deeper thresholds of the intuitive and oracular experienceOn to the contents which are very clearly laid out. The book is actually divided into two books. Book One contains four parts and Book Two contains essays, notes and commentary. The author deals with card symbolism and goes into detail on such things as colors, numbers and calendar correspondences. The Suits are dealt with at some length. Each suit is given its complementary season, element, life-stage, direction, body part, compatible suit and keywords. Beneath that about 1.5 pages are devoted to the suit itself finishing up with a poem in red by various mystics. This is a particularly lovely way of bridging the prosaic with the mystical. The bulk of Part One is then given over to the Oracles themselves, the cards. Each card is given a repro picture of the original, a full page description and interpretation along with a few bulleted qualities as a quick summary. The cards are divided by number rather than suit and each group of numbered cards begins with a description of the qualities of that particular number. There are also the geomantic representations of the numbers added when applicable which makes for a helpful resource when working with that aspect of the cards.Part Two of Book One deals with the various ways to prepare the space, ritual, prayer, asking the right questions and shuffling. Next we're introduced to some introductory spreads. These are explained in detail--position, meaning of position, how to work with different suits within a spread, a few case studies. There is a lovely section entitled 'Generating Suit Energies' to help when Suits (and thus the qualities that suit represents in our life) are lacking. Each Suit is given its own prayer in red followed by a brief description on how to generate more of that energy in one's life. It's both a poetic and practical way to enlarge both one's cartomantic experience and one's life experience. Really, there's a little bit for everyone in this book!Part Three deals with the ancient art of geomancy and this is where the Oracles really come alive and are allowed to dance. Space is given to the history of this ancient form of divination and then moves onto instruction on how to work with it as it relates to the PCO. This was a very exciting aspect and despite its esoteric overtones it was explained very clearly by the author and I was able to apply it to a reading with ease. It takes the reading to a whole new level adding depth, complexity and mystery to ruminate on and live with.The final book in part One, called Final Frontiers, is described as "the place you can only enter alone, the realms of your own inner being." It explores such themes as Intuition, grounding (with a wonderful recipe roasted root vegetables) the Sacred Pause and how to navigate the tricky road of reading for yourself. This part closes with two complex and inter-related spreads called Reading the Seasons and the Mystic Square. They are fascinating and allow for incredibly detailed and nuanced readings.She closes this section with some lovely words of blessing..."Ultimately reading is an act of grace, an affirmation of the wisdom in all things. This is probably why I love the art so much and also why I wrote this book. Sharing the experience multiplies the satisfaction. May your efforts be returned to you in blessings never imagined."Book Two deals with the history of playing cards as well as essays, notes and commentary by the author's late father. This additional information gives the reader and practitioner a context and corollary to move from which feels very helpful in grounding the art in a larger temenos and allowing one to feel one's own unique place in the long lineage of cartomancy.

Wonderful book, cards and tons of information on her YouTube and website. I read tarot and love it, but I've been exploring playing cards because, I feel, they can be more intuitive, expansive. I'm now journaling with the cards and book to see where it goes.

I immediately purchased this deck and the companion book to go with them. I’ve been reading tarot and oracle so why not playing cards too ♥️ This deck and box came shrink wrapped , 👍 I love the sturdiness of the cards, not flimsy at all, easy shuffle and accurate as heck. I’m so excited to add another tool to my readings 🙌💪🥰

This book is a WONDERFUL source of information even if you don't own the deck of cards. 257 pages packed with wonderful insights and information. There is much detail about numbers, symbols, color, suits, and court cards. There are many spreads, info on intuitive reading and much much more. The information in this book is good for tarot as well as for playing card decks. The deck that goes with this book (I bought them separate) is VERY small. 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches. The deck is lovely and I love the art work but it is way too small for my liking. This book is a must have for card readers of any kind. Oracle, tarot, playing cards... this book will help any reading. I LOVE IT !!!Update 2014... This book has become my most trusted sorce for interpreting Tarot. It's my go to book. I cannot say enough good about this book!!!

This is one of the best divination books regarding using the Playing Cards as a conduit. My grandmother read fortunes to her friends and family when I was a little girl. I watched from the tabletop and was always intrigued. When I picked up this book and these cards, the world seemed to present itself without coaxing. Ana's explanations and system are not the easiest to learn; but, if you put the time and effort into it and get the foundation of her system down ... it can provide an endless source of information garnered from the past, present and future for all those who ask.

This is not the same as tarot, my usual go-to. But it goes places that most cartomancy books don't, making it a valuable addition to my library. Very nicely written, gorgeous artwork.... lovingly offered to those who are interested in life's mysteries.

Still one of my favorites on card reading. Tons of supplemental info on other oracles used in her system.

Awesome information. I'm so glad she finally came out with a book to go with the cards!

Beautiful and a bit different cartomancy deck. The artwork is stunning!! Nice cardstock and very informative little white book.

I got it thinking I would get the best book on the subject... but it is a big confusing because the meaning of the cards are different than what I have read in my other books... She also use as reference images her deck that has specific beautiful images... so I will say this is more a companion book of Ana Cortez playing card oracle deck.

Bel mazzo lo cercavo da tempo .... molto particolari ma necessitano del suo libro a parte per poterlo utilizzare al meglio ... quindi libro utilissimo e ben fatto

Beautiful cards, but you have to learn the system