The Deck of Fortune

Deck of Fortune Tarot - cartomancy with astrological associations

Cartomancy is older than tarot. Most people do not know it by name, but almost everyone has heard of reading the future with ordinary playing cards. This deck by Jane Struthers puts that old practice in a new form.

The 52 cards follow the structure of a standard playing deck: four suits, hearts through spades, but with a design that goes beyond the plain symbols you find in a regular card game. Each card has its own illustration in clear colours.

What the astrological layer adds

Struthers links each card to an astrological concept. Hearts resonate with water, diamonds with earth, clubs with fire and spades with air. That connection makes the cards useful for anyone already working with astrology, but the guidebook explains everything clearly enough to work with even without prior knowledge.

The guidebook contains a description for each card, astrological background and a number of concrete spreads. Everything is aimed at practical questions: love, work, decisions, timing.

Who this works for

This deck is designed for beginners in cartomancy. The guidebook offers step-by-step instructions, and the cards are clear enough to start working with quickly. Anyone with experience in tarot can discover a different, more direct way of reading here.

Cartomancy focuses more strongly on everyday events and less on psychological archetypes. That makes it a good complementary system alongside tarot, or a standalone tool for quick answers.

Try the three-card spread as described in the guidebook: past, present, future. The cards give a clear picture quickly without lengthy interpretation.

About Jane Struthers

Jane Struthers works as an astrologer, tarot reader and writer. She is the resident astrologer for the British magazine Bella and has written several books on esoteric subjects, including The Palmistry Bible. Her style is accessible and practical, without jargon.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 52
• Size: 160 x 160 mm
• Weight: 227 g
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9780753734667
• Publisher: Pyramid
• Contents: 52 cards and instruction book
• Author and designer: Jane Struthers

Questions we often get

What is the difference between cartomancy and tarot?
Cartomancy works with 52 cards in four suits, tarot with 78 cards including the major arcana. Cartomancy is more direct and focuses more on everyday events and timing. Tarot works more with symbolism and archetypes.

Can I use this deck as ordinary playing cards?
The structure matches a standard playing deck, but the illustrations are designed for divination. They can be used for regular card games, but that is not what they were made for.