HISTORY OF THE PACK OF CARDS
19
with a Virgin Crystal, that had never before been used
On the other hand, the most hopelessly
was made at a big gathering of people interested
occult subjects. Here the " atmosphere " should have
for Divination.
ridiculous
in
been sympathetic in the extreme, yet the unfortunate
Crystal-gazer admitted that she had been all at sea the
It seems
whole afternoon, and could not explain it.
only too obvious that the Crystal itself had become confused with the rapid and continuous change of " influences," as questioner followed questioner, every few
minutes.
It is
claimed that Cartomancy avoids
all
such troubles,
because the shuffling of the cards by the questioner
is
the essential starting point, not a mere personal touch
or usage of
sense in
some
this
Cartomancy
article.
There seems to be much sound
if that is accepted, then
argument, and
justifies its
claims both as a simple and as
a reliable means of Divination.
—and fascina—in the fact that the cards can be dealt and arranged
Cartomancy has an additional advantage
tion
many different manners, and it is quite usual for
two or more of these to produce somewhat similar results.
I have frequently found that one particular point is
emphasised in this way, though the additional minor
points may, and should, vary.
I claim that these minor points should be expected to
in so
vary,
because the personal influence of the questioner
must also vary from moment to moment. We find this
in everyday life, and it appears to be an essential of our
very existence. For a whole day, a full week, even for
a month or more, our main and principal thought may
concern one particular person or matter, yet every
of that time our
minor thoughts
with scores of different ideas.
will
moment
concern themselves