The Raven's Crucible

Tag: folk magic

  • Playing Card Cartomancy II: The Suits

    Last week we talked about the importance of color in playing card cartomancy. This week we’re getting more specific with an examination of the suits. In the playing card deck we are discussing there are four different suits: diamonds (♦️), clubs (♣️), hearts (♥️), and spades (♠️). For readers coming from a tarot background, it…

  • Playing Card Cartomancy I: The Colors

    Last week we kicked off our series on playing card cartomancy. In this post we’re going to be exploring the first foundational element in cartomantic divination: color. Throughout this series, I’m going to be assuming a standard set of American playing cards, such as those made by Bicycle. Such a deck has fifty-four cards (thirteen…

  • Playing Card Cartomancy: An Overview

    Playing Card Cartomancy: An Overview

    Last month I wrote about how different divination systems have different characters and vocabularies. One of the systems I referenced repeatedly was playing card cartomancy. It’s one of my favorite systems, so I’d like to start a new post series walking through the basics of that. First off, what is cartomancy? Cartomancy is a form…

  • St. Cyprian: Magic’s Unlikely Saint

    I’m generally circumspect when it comes to naming specific spirits I work with in my own practice. The one exception is St. Cyprian of Antioch, who was one of my earliest patrons. St. Cyprian of Antioch1 is a fascinating figure for those interested in magic, particularly magic in the Solomonic tradition. He was dropped at…