Lesson 4 - To Start at the very Beginning ...

Aces, as i'm sure you remember, are all about beginnings. Sometimes they may represent something completely new for us, but often they are part of  a cycle of  beginning, completion and beginning again which plays out through our lives. In fact, we often hear it said that "as one door closes, another opens", and this is the nature of the Ace. The Ace provides us with opportunities, sometimes challenges, to start afresh. Both optimistic and future focused, these cards provide the energy which opens the door.

The Ace of Hearts - New Emotions

This card is often taken as the sign of a new romance, but i would caution against reading it as such as it takes 2 to tango, so to speak. However, what we do see here is the emergence of loving feelings on the part of the querant. This may be in respect of the desire for romance, though it could also indicate love towards one's friends, family, neighbours or towards people in need. This card then might be seen in the spread of a person who seeks a personal relationship, or in that of a person considering a career in nursing, for example. Equally this card may indicate artistic beginnings. You can see then, that it is important to develop a good sense of intuition, and should not be surprised if you draw the Ace of Hearts at this point as it is also linked to intuition and psychic ability.

The Ace of Clubs - New Ideas

As Clubs are ruled by the element of Air we can expect the Ace of Clubs to represent intellectual beginnings. New ideas, new ways of thinking about a situation, or starting a course of study could be represented. A person about to go into teaching might see this card in their spread. Equally the Ace of Clubs relates to all forms of communication including the written word, TV, radio, and the internet and could suggest a desire to pursue such interests or to enter such a career. At the very least, this card shows that your querant is starting to think about something in an objective way.

The Ace of Diamonds - Financial Opportunities

The Ace of Diamonds suggests new beginnings in the realms of business and finance. This card could indicate openings for financial advancement in whatever form that might be. For example, if the querant is unemployed this could suggest a new job opportunity, though for another person it might indicate new investments or even the start of a new business venture. It would be fair to say that all the Aces are opportunistic but that it is probably most evident here as it's effect is manifest in the material world of money and belongings.

The Ace of Spades - Transformation

I'm sure you will have heard the Ace of Spades referred to as the 'death card', and may be wondering what that has to do with beginnings! Would you be surprised if i was to tell you that this idea has more to do with taxes than divination? Let me explain.

'Old Frizzle' from the IPCS

You'll have noticed that the Ace of Spades is frequently the most elaborate card in the deck. It's design is often highly complex and  features much larger than the other Aces. Generally it is this card which bears the manufacturer's name. This dates back to a period in British History when playing cards were heavily taxed. Originally the Ace of Spades was 'stamped' to show the tax had been paid but this was later replaced by a government issued card (seen here) bearing the royal coat of arms which showed the 'stamp duty' had been paid. Forgery of the card was punishable by death, as to avoid taxes was seen as an act of treason. In 1805, a man named Richard Hawkins was executed for his part in forging 2000 playing cards, and that it would seem, is where the card's reputation as an omen of death began. More recently, the card was used by the US military in Vietnam, as a form of psychological weapon. They would place the card in the mouths of those they killed so that the card became associated with death in the minds of the Viet Cong.

To break with this morbid association, you may choose to select a deck where the Ace of Spades is more simple in design. Or alternatively you could use an elaborate one to educate your clients about it's history and reassure them that this is nothing to fear.

As for it's significance in a reading, it can be seen as the beginning of a spiritual phase in a persons life. Remember that Spades are ruled by Fire, and just as fire is difficult to predict, the same can be said of all the Spades. I mention that as they really do take some getting used to, so don't give up if you find yourself struggling to get to grips with them. The key word is transformation. If you think of fire burning everything in it's path and leaving room for something new, you will be on the way to understanding this card. Any positive changes that a person is considering making in their lifestyle will be indicated by this card. It often carries a degree of risk, so may well appear when a person is planning a major life change.

I suggest you spend a little time working with just the Aces. See if you can think of times in your life which relate to the different suits. Then narrow it down to events in the last year, month, and finally to the last week. Beginnings aren't always life-changing events. For example, if you have started reading a book in the last week you will have been tapping into the energy of the Ace of Clubs. See how many ideas you can come up with and keep notes. These will prove an invaluable resource and help you make real progress with your readings.