HISTORY OF THE PACK OF CARDS
modern sense
the
suit, in
this has
Curiously enough
of the word.
always been the suit we
13
now
call Clubs,
which
originally represented the Tiller of the Soil.
Obviously there is a sound philosophy in this arrangement, for the mass of the people were indirectly taught
that good fortune would follow their
tions,
own
and that they should not bhndly
personal exerrely
upon the
favour of the high gods.
This suit has been variously represented in the past
Baton is shown sometimes as a branch with sprout;
the
ing leaves
it
;
seems probable that our modern Club
is
derived from the lucky Trefoil, a very old and widespread
superstition.
It
may
represent the " business " end of a
with the shortened handle turning downwards.
the Club or Trefoil suit is the lucky one for
spade,
Anyhow
Divination purposes.
easy to see
It is
squared
a crudely
Diamond, with
it is
its
how
the Piece of Money, originally
of
piece
modern
also quite clear that the
and blade
It is
of a
metal,
changed into
association with wealth
;
the
and
Spade represents the handle
Sword, typical of the fighting caste.
important that we should clearly understand these
changes before we consult the cards as to our future,
because the modern suit names are merely nonsensical,
whereas the original Tarot suits assist us to follow the
reasoned meanings given to the various cards.
Here, then, in the old Tarot pack of fifty-six cards,
as also in the
we have
modern Playing pack
four typical suits.
the alteration in number, unless
for the
number
it
" Thirteen " superstition,
in
all
Divination.
of fifty-two cards,
It is difficult to
account for
was done out
of respect
that being the fateful
Yet the original fourteen
cards to the suit was not altered for Divination purposes,
but purely for games
!
This appears so contradictory