di Andrea Romanazzi

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Cartomancy is a divinatory practice that involves the interpretation of playing cards to obtain information about the future or to explore the unconscious. In Italy, one of the most established traditions is the use of Neapolitan cards for this purpose. These cards, with their rich and symbolic iconography, offer a fascinating means of interpreting future events and reflecting on the hidden aspects of life.

The origins of Italian cartomancy date back to the 15th century when tarot cards were introduced as decks of playing cards. Initially used for entertainment, these decks gradually took on symbolic and divinatory meanings. Unlike tarot cards, Neapolitan cards are deeply tied to Italian culture and popular tradition, particularly in Southern Italy. Their iconography and symbolism resonate with local history and traditions, making them a natural medium for divinatory practices that are often passed down from generation to generation.

While tarot cards have a long esoteric tradition, with complex symbolism and a structure of 78 cards including the Major and Minor Arcana, Neapolitan cards have always offered a more direct and practical approach to divination. Their structure of 40 cards makes reading and interpretation simpler, allowing them to be used and passed down within families.

Despite the “simplicity” of their reading, the Neapolitan cards, with their 40 colorful cards and four suits—swords, clubs, cups, and coins—carry a wealth of symbolism that reflects the daily life of the region. Interpreters of the Neapolitan cards began to develop specific approaches to reading these cards, with interpretations more closely related to daily life and interpersonal relationships. Readers of Neapolitan cards became key figures in public squares and popular fairs, offering readings accessible to people from different social classes. This change contributed to democratizing cartomancy, making it a more widespread and rooted practice in Italian society. There are many ways to interpret the cards that vary not only from region to region but also from family to family. Each suit has its meaning. The cups are related to love and feelings as well as family and social relationships. The swords represent difficulties and, more generally, obstacles and challenges to face, the coins economic aspects, while the clubs express work, physical strength, but also some difficulties related to the family sphere. The cups are associated with emotions, relationships, and love, often representing romantic life and emotional connections, while the coins concern the material world, financial security, and career, offering insights into economic and professional matters.

Of course, depending on whether the card is upright or reversed, the meaning becomes the opposite of what is indicated here.

It is said that the first person to officially write about cartomancy with Neapolitan cards was a certain Chitarrella, a mysterious figure associated with the formalization of the rules of some traditional Italian card games in the 18th century, particularly those of Scopone and Tressette. It is believed that Chitarrella was a priest or a Dominican monk from Naples, and his most famous work is the “Codice di Chitarrella,” written in 1750, considered one of the first formal testimonies of the rules of these games and contributed to their spread and standardization. His work was published at a time when card games were extremely popular and widely played throughout Italy, and his writings have become a fundamental reference point for enthusiasts of these games. Although there is no evidence that Chitarrella wrote specific works on cartomancy, popular tradition also links him to this practice.

While a comprehensive treatment is not possible, we indicate the most common meanings of the cards. The meanings are given for the upright position, whereas the reversed indicates the opposite or mitigates the positive meaning and/or reinforces the negative one.

Cups

• Ace of Cups: Indicates the family place, home, emotional stability, and domestic happiness. It symbolizes harmony, joy, positive events such as marriage, and pregnancy.
• 2 of Cups: Represents the card of couples, infatuation, engagement, and marriage. It symbolizes solid union and attraction.
• 3 of Cups: The card of positive interaction and family serenity. It can indicate the arrival of a child, solid relationships, and joy.
• 4 of Cups: Perfect harmony at work and in the family. It indicates justified suspicions but also a final agreement in relationships.
• 5 of Cups: Announces surprises and positive news. It indicates enrichment, family union, and joy.
• 6 of Cups: Influences from the past or situations to face. It can mean love torments, doubts, and love adventures.
• 7 of Cups: A very positive card, a symbol of happy union, new happiness, and sincere love.
• Page of Cups: Faithful wife or devoted lover. It indicates sincerity and dedication.
• Knight of Cups: The arrival of good news and engagements. It represents courtship and powerful friends.
• King of Cups: The lover, loving partner, trusted friend. It symbolizes sincerity and love.

Clubs

• Ace of Clubs: Great strength, vigor, and vitality. It indicates triumph, prestige, and good health.
• 2 of Clubs: Verbal clashes and disagreements. It symbolizes the difficult attainment of balance.
• 3 of Clubs: Good collaboration in family or work. Love anxiety but solid relationships.
• 4 of Clubs: Situations that emphasize positivity or negativity. It indicates serious disappointments and quarrels.
• 5 of Clubs: Money inflow and promotions. It can also mean torment and secret meetings.
• 6 of Clubs: It amplifies the meaning of nearby cards, both positively and negatively.
• 7 of Clubs: The start of a period of tranquility and relaxation. It indicates stability and confirmations.
• Page of Clubs: Help from a mature woman, like a mother or aunt. It represents trust and support.
• Knight of Clubs: Travels and work changes. Slow ventures, but also relocations.
• King of Clubs: A reference male figure. It indicates news and support from men.

Coins

• Ace of Coins: Fortune, money, happiness. It cancels out nearby negative influences.
• 2 of Coins: Happy couple and perfect union in business. It can indicate debts when reversed.
• 3 of Coins: Career advancements and earnings. It also represents luxury.
• 4 of Coins: Sudden gains and losses. Financial blocks and failed projects.
• 5 of Coins: Arrival of money in the family and work advantages.
• 6 of Coins: A fluctuating and stagnant situation. It indicates tears and loneliness.
• 7 of Coins: Lucky card, winnings, and success. Secure money and gains.
• Page of Coins: Wealthy and loyal friend. Willing to help, but negative when reversed.
• Knight of Coins: Work trips, earnings. Crises, and debts when reversed.
• King of Coins: Rich and powerful person, honest relationship. Opposite when reversed.

Swords

• Ace of Swords: Problems, pains, imminent adversities. Surprise and peace when positive.
• 2 of Swords: Couple problems and separations. Union and pleasure when positive.
• 3 of Swords: Negative card, separation, and betrayals. Poisonous words and quarrels.
• 4 of Swords: Poor health and obstacles. Dangers and accidents.
• 5 of Swords: Creative blocks and enemies. Remorse and repentance.
• 6 of Swords: Betrayals from friends and family. Obstacles and pains.
• 7 of Swords: Similar to the 6 of Swords but more focused on family.
• Page of Swords: False and wicked woman. Creates problems.
• Knight of Swords: Unpleasant news and family or work problems.
• King of Swords: Problems with justice and authority. Difficult and bad man.