Reading Gypsy Fortunetelling Cards - From ‘Meanings’ to Common Sense
Piatnik’s 1960s edition of Gypsy Fortunetelling Cards. From my private collection.
Ever since I started this blog, I never anticipated that writing about Gypsy Fortunetelling Cards would draw significant attention. Yet, I find myself both surprised and proud to share that the most-read article of 2024 on my website is “Keeping a Relationship: A Gypsy Fortunetelling Cards Reading”—by a considerable margin. Considering that this deck was Central Europe’s “best-kept secret” for more than 150 years, you might understand why I initially thought it would remain a local or niche interest. Then again, we’ve seen the same trajectory with the Lenormand deck, which has gradually transcended its German, Belgian, and Dutch origins to gain widespread global recognition.
So, let us have a little context recap:
Piatnik’s Gypsy Fortunetelling Cards boast a rich and diverse history of practical use across Europe. Their origins trace back to the 19th-century Austro-Hungarian Empire, where they first appeared alongside similar oracle decks under the name "Aufschlagkarten," typically comprising 32 cards. This coincided with the popularity of the reduced Piquet deck of 32 playing cards, widely used for divination in Central Europe. Pitanik later expanded this deck to 36 cards. However, unlike Lenormand decks, which incorporated small playing card insets for symbolic references, the Gypsy Fortunetelling Cards are unnumbered and do not reference other fortune-telling systems, standing entirely on their own.
Similar to the Lenormand deck, these cards reflect the concerns of 19th-century bourgeois society: marriage, domestic matters, financial success, and social standing. In the 20th century, Piatnik updated the deck’s visual style and expanded it with four additional cards: Love, Some Money, Loss, and Sadness. The deck’s popularity spread widely throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire, securing its enduring legacy in the former territories of Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Austria, and Germany. Today, it remains an inseparable part of the region’s fortune-telling culture.
The cards themselves represent clear and easily understood concepts: love, friendship, enmity, loss, and success. Yet, there are always those who insist on “hidden” meanings, often claiming that these interpretations were handed down by a great-grandmother or a mysterious teacher. While such stories add a certain charm, I do not subscribe to the idea of secret transmissions. Instead, I believe there is nothing wrong with acknowledging the obvious and focusing on what is visually evident on the table.
I may repeat myself here, but perhaps these “hidden meanings” were useful to your grandmother or mentor in their time and context, but what relevance do they hold for you here and now? Every reading is rooted in the present moment, and what matters most is the ability to interpret what you see, not what others might have imagined or passed down. With this in mind, let us shift our focus to the "meanings" of the cards—not as static definitions but as dynamic tools shaped by context and common sense.
As interest in the reading techniques of Gypsy Fortunetelling Cards continues to grow, I wanted to share some interpretations that can serve as a starting point for others. Rather than offering rigid rules or definitive meanings, my aim is to provide practical insights that can help readers develop their own understanding of the cards.
The order in which I present the cards is entirely arbitrary, as these cards were never numbered. For clarity and structure, I’ll begin with those that serve as person significators before moving on to those representing everyday matters.
These interpretations are not guided by any fixed canon but are instead rooted in acknowledging the obvious, the plausible, and the probable. By focusing on what is visually apparent and culturally relevant, my hope is to inspire others to approach the cards with clear eyes and common sense, allowing the messages to reveal themselves naturally.
Lover: Male significator, representing an adult man or the querent’s male partner.
Sweetheart: Female significator, representing an adult woman or the querent’s female partner.
Widower: An older man, often a father, grandfather, or older male relative; also represents a literal widower.
Widow: An older woman, often a mother, grandmother, or older female relative; also represents a literal widow.
Child: Represents an infant or the querent’s child. It may also symbolize something small, new, or in its developmental stages.
Enemy: An antagonist, either a person or a situation opposing the querent. It can also represent a criminal, conspirator, or "a man in the shadows."
Officer: An official or man in uniform, such as a doctor, specialist, soldier, police officer, or other professional. It may also symbolize “the other man.”
Priest: A man of the cloth, religious official, counselor, magician, or someone of unwavering faith.
Thief: Represents a literal thief, someone who steals goods, ideas, happiness, or opportunities. It may also indicate an unexpected loss, an intrusion, or a malevolent spirit.
Judge: A judgment, decision, or literal judge; may also represent a professor, teacher, or high-ranking official.
Thought: A thinker or intellectual; also symbolizes concerns, studying, meditating, or thinking through an issue. Sometimes represents a lonely man.
Unexpected Joy: A surprising windfall, luck, or a benevolent young man; may also symbolize a helpful spirit.
Desire: A woman gazing through a window, representing expectation, projection, wishful thinking, daydreaming, or secret admiration.
Sadness: A lonely woman, depression, or despair.
Fortune: Represents happiness, abundance, the Goddess Fortuna, or a young woman in her prime.
Hope: Stability, anchoring, and hope; may also represent a proud woman or someone grounded and practical.
Journey: Travel, movement, transportation, or a man in a car; signifies a trip or journey.
Message: A messenger, tutelary spirit, or God Hermes; also represents communication, written or electronic.
Death: An ending, the death of someone or something, or the spirit of a deceased person.
Love: Love, Cupid’s arrow, infatuation, or an angel.
Fidelity: A dog, pet, guardian, faithfulness, or patiently waiting.
Malady: Illness, a sickbed, rest, or sleep.
Anger: Conflict, a fight, abuse, tyranny, or an attack where the bigger overwhelms the smaller.
Merriment: Dancing, a date, a party, a happy occasion, or a first meeting.
Visit: A visit or meeting, whether private or professional; may also signify an interview, two women, or extended family.
Loss: A chance game, financial loss, a board game, a card game, hangout, or a lost bet.
Marriage: A relationship, union, wedding, or coming together with a blessing by a third party.
Jealousy: A love triangle, voyeurism, secret admirer, stalker, mistress, or someone disapproving of a relationship.
Misfortune: An accident, fire, car crash, war, or lifesaving efforts.
Falseness: A sudden attack, snake’s bite, or untrustworthy person; may also symbolize a cat, snake, or pet cat.
House: A home, place of residence, building, or haven.
Letter: Written information, official correspondence, documents, papers, or tests.
Money: Financial means, wealth, material goods, valuable objects, or a chest.
Some Money: Small financial means, pocket money, bad financial situation, meager funds, or dealing with bills or taxes.
Gift: A present, gesture of appreciation, pretty objects, aesthetics, jewelry, or kind gesture.
Constancy: The all-seeing eye, divinity, divine intervention, transcendence, vision, observation, or being watched.
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The meanings presented here are not convoluted interpretations shrouded in mystery but straightforward observations rooted in cultural competence and common sense. Each interpretation reflects the probable and the obvious, aligning with what the imagery and context naturally suggest. No meaning—whether from tradition, guidebooks, or personal anecdotes—should ever override the clarity of what your own eyes see on the table. Ultimately, the strength of any reading lies in trusting your ability to connect the cards to the querent's reality and what is being put on the table in front of you.
I hope this list will not serve as a canon to be blindly followed but as inspiration to open your own eyes to that which stares you in the face. The beauty of the cards lies in their ability to speak directly to the reader, and it is through your own observation and insight that their significance comes to life.
If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of Piatnik’s Gypsy Fortune-Telling Cards, join my upcoming workshop! We’ll cover the foundations of reading this deck and engage in a practical discussion on interpreting health-related questions—an area not often explored with these cards. This hands-on session is designed for cartomancers who want to refine their approach and exchange insights. Spaces are limited, so be sure to sign up.
