Tarot Divination:
Three Parallel Traditions
Edited & Translated By
James W. Revak

THE RECURRENCE OF CARDS OF
GIVEN RANK IN A SPREAD(a)

KINGS

WAITE: 4 Kings = Great Honour; 3 Kings = Consultation; 2 Kings = Minor Counsel.
Reversed: 4 Kings = Celerity; 3 Kings = Commerce; 2 Kings = Projects.

ETTEILLA: 4 Kings = Great Honour; 3 Kings = Consultation; 2 Kings = Minor Counsel.
Reversed: 4 Kings = Celerity; 3 Kings = Commerce; 2 Kings = Project.

QUEENS

WAITE: 4 Queens = Great Debate; 3 Queens = Deception by Woman; 2 Queens = Sincere Friends.
Reversed: 4 Queens = Bad Company; 3 Queens = Gluttony; 2 Queens = Work.

ETTEILLA: 4 Queens = Great Debate; 3 Queens = Deception by Woman; 2 Queens = Female Friend.
Reversed: 4 Queens = Bad Company; 3 Queens = Gluttony; 2 Queens = Company.

KNIGHTS

WAITE: 4 Knights = Serious Matters; 3 Knights = Lively Debate; 2 Knights = intimacy.
Reversed: 4 Knights = Alliance; 3 Knights = A Duel, or Personal Encounter; 2 Knights = Susceptibility.

ETTEILLA: [No meanings provided.]

PAGES

WAITE: 4 Pages = Dangerous Illness; 3 Pages = Dispute; 2 Pages = Disquiet.
Reversed: 4 Pages = Privation; 3 Pages = Idleness; 2 Pages = Society.

ETTEILLA: 4 Pages = Contagious Illness; 3 Pages = Dispute; 2 Pages = Anxiety [Disquiet].
Reversed: 4 Pages = Privation; 3 Pages = Idleness; 2 Pages = Workman, Work.

TENS

WAITE: 4 Tens = Condemnation; 3 Tens = New Condition; 2 Tens = Change.
Reversed: 4 Tens = Event, Happening; 3 Tens = Disappointment; 2 Tens = Expectation Justified.

ETTEILLA: 4 Tens = Prior Court Convictions; 3 Tens = New Condition; 2 Tens = Change.
Reversed: 4 Tens = Event, Happening; 3 Tens = Disappointment; 2 Tens = Expectation.

NINES

WAITE: 4 Nines = A Good Friend; 3 Nines = Success; 2 Nines = Receipt.
Reversed: 4 Nines = Usury; 3 Nines = Imprudence; 2 Nines = A Small Profit.

ETTEILLA: 4 Nines = Good Person [Citizen]; 3 Nines = Great Success; 2 Nines = A Little Money.
Reversed: 4 Nines = Usury; 3 Nines = Imprudence; 2 Nines = Profit.

EIGHTS

WAITE: 4 Eights = Reverse; 3 Eights = Marriage; 2 Eights = New Knowledge.
Reversed: 4 Eights = Error; 3 Eights = A Spectacle; 2 Eights = Misfortune.

ETTEILLA: 4 Eights = Reverse; 3 Eights = Marriage; 2 Eights = New Knowledge.
Reversed: 4 Eights = Error; 3 Eights = A Spectacle; 2 Eights = Barrier.

SEVENS

WAITE: 4 Sevens = Intrigue; 3 Sevens = Infirmity; 2 Sevens = News.
Reversed: 4 Sevens = Quarellers; 3 Sevens = Joy; 2 Sevens = Women of No Repute.

ETTEILLA: 4 Sevens = Intrigue; 3 Sevens = Infirmity; 2 Sevens = Minor News.
Reversed: 4 Sevens = Bad Person [Citizen]; 3 Sevens = Joy; 2 Sevens = Woman of No Repute [Prostitute].

SIXES

WAITE: 4 Sixes = Abundance; 3 Sixes = Success; 2 Sixes = Irritability.
Reversed: 4 Sixes = Care; 3 Sixes = Satisfaction; 2 Sixes = Downfall.

ETTEILLA: [No meanings provided.]

FIVES

WAITE: 4 Fives = Regularity; 3 Fives = Determination; 2 Sixes = Vigils.
Reversed: 4 Fives = Order; 3 Fives = Hesitation; 2 Fives = Reverse.

ETTEILLA: [No meanings provided.]

FOURS

WAITE: 4 Fours = Journey Near at Hand; 3 Fours = A Subject of Reflection; 2 Fours = Insomnia.
Reversed: 4 Fours = Walks Abroad; 3 Fours = Disquiet; 2 Fours = Dispute.

ETTEILLA: [No meanings provided.]

THREES

WAITE: 4 Threes = Progress; 3 Threes = Unity; 2 Three = Calm.
Reversed: 4 Threes = Great Success; 3 Threes = Serenity; 2 Threes = Safety.

ETTEILLA: [No meanings provided.]

TWOS

WAITE: 4 Twos = Contention; 3 Twos = Security; 2 Twos = Accord.
Reversed: 4 Twos = Reconciliation; 3 Two = Apprehension; 2 Twos = Mistrust.

ETTEILLA: [No meanings provided.]

ACES

WAITE: 4 Aces = Favourable Chance; 3 Aces = Small Success; 2 Aces = Trickery.
Reversed: 4 Aces = Dishonour; 3 Aces = Debauchery; 2 Aces = Enemies.

ETTEILLA: 4 Aces = Gambling; 3 Aces = Small Success; 2 Aces = Trickery.
Reversed: 4 Aces = Dishonour; 3 Aces = Debauchery; 2 Aces = Enemy.



Notes.

(a) Mathers did not address card combinations of this type in his The Tarot.

Red indicates passages from Waite which parallel those of Etteilla, in the opinion of the editor

For further details concerning the presentation and sources of this material, see the Introduction.


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Copyright © 2000 James W. Revak.  All rights reserved.  Version 1.1 (3/27/00).