Back in Part 2 of this series, I dismissed the LWB (Little White Book) that accompanies the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards out of hand, categorizing it as “less than worthless.” I made this value judgment because, other than providing two layouts (with an example reading for only one of them), the LWB gave no clues on how to read the deck. A comment made by a Living With Cards visitor prompted me to take a second look.
If you own this deck, you’ve certainly noticed that the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards LWB consists of a scrap of paper approximately nine inches wide by 3-1/2 inches high folded into eight panels of information. Because of its tiny size, the information contained within this “book” is beyond brief. Panel 1 is the Introduction. Panels 2 and 3 contain instructions for “The Short Reading” (no reading example is given), while Panels 4-7 address “The Long Reading” (includes a brief reading example using the “fortunes” written on the cards only). The last panel is simply a title page.
The layouts themselves, as described in the LWB, seem to be a blending of traditional cartomancy layouts and Lenormand tableaus. “The Short Reading” employs 17 cards while “The Long Reading” uses 51 cards.
Being a proponent of “less is more,” further down in this post I’ll show you a recent spread I cast using the Gypsy Witch Short Reading layout, along with my “tweaks” to the Gypsy Witch instructions, as well as my commentary. But first, take a look at the template itself:
Gypsy Witch Cards: The Short Reading Layout
You can see from the layout graphic, “The Short Reading” basically consists of a Lenormand Square of Nine (in blue) surrounded by eight additional cards (in red).
Gypsy Witch Cards: Short Reading Instructions:
Note: The instructions outlined in the LWB for both “The Short Reading” and “The Long Reading” include a preliminary card draw to ascertain whether the Querent (person asking the question) will get his or her wish. For the purposes of the following reading example, I chose to ignore that instruction… If you choose, however, to perform the preliminary card draw, be sure to reshuffle the cards before continuing.
Once the cards are shuffled (or reshuffled, if you are using the preliminary draw), the Gypsy Witch Short Reading instructions next say to place either the Lady or the Gentleman as Card 1 within the Square of Nine, place the remaining eight cards around Card 1, then go on to place an additional eight cards around the Square of Nine. The instructions do not specifically state the order in which to place the cards and the layout graphics above and below reflect my own choice of card placement. Additionally, for the purposes of the following reading example, I also chose to let the deck pick the first card, come what may…
And on that note, let’s proceed with the reading example…
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards “The Short Reading” Example: “What Is Going on with This Lady?”
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards
The cards within the Square of Nine will describe what is going on with this Lady, i.e., the internal process. The cards outside the Square of Nine will show the outside influences that have contributed to the Lady’s current situation.
The Square of Nine: Internal Process – The Situation in Which the Lady Now Finds Herself
Row 1: 18 Lady + 24 Hand in Hand + 31 The Roads
This Lady is facing a decision (Roads) regarding a significant relationship (Hand in Hand).
Row 2: 34 The Star + 15 The Letter + 52 The Shepherd
She is seeking guidance (Star) and support (Shepherd) via the written word (Letter). Perhaps she is reading through posts on an internet support group or forum, attempting to see if anyone is experiencing a similar situation. She may be posting some details concerning her situation onto an internet forum or social media account, perhaps hoping to receive feedback, support or guidance from people who may care about her. Alternately, she may be consulting her own Inner Guidance — or astrology chart — and writing down the insights she is receiving. She could be texting loved ones who support her, asking for advice or guidance. The playing card inserts on the cards in Row 2 show that her ability to “think intelligently” about the situation is blocked (Spade + Diamond + Spade).
Row 3: 4 The Key + 28 The Anchor + 32 The Mountains
Whatever is going on in the Lady’s life has knocked her off-center (Anchor + Mountains). She needs to re-establish a sense of security (Key + Anchor) and a sense of inner guidance (Star + Key), but this will not happen immediately (Mountains).
The decision(s) (Roads) she needs to make about the significant relationship (Hand in Hand) will take some time (Anchor, Mountains), and not without a fair amount of soul-searching (Star) and support (Shepherd).
Cards Outside the Square of Nine: External Circumstances that are Affecting or Influencing the Lady’s Situation
The cards outside the Square of Nine show the external circumstances that have contributed to, or have caused, the Lady’s current situation.
I am not particularly surprised to see that it is a man (Gentleman)…
At the least, this man is causing a problem in the Lady’s life (Fox + Gentleman) that is disrupting her harmony (Snake + House). At worst, he has deceived her and has possibly cheated on her (Fox + Snake + Gentleman). He has disrupted what she has believed to be a stable relationship (Snake + House with Ring), and this has all happened fairly recently. It is a new development (Children).
Looking deeper, the man in question may be childish or immature (Gentleman + Children) and/or someone who does not take the relationship with the Lady as seriously as she does (Gentleman + Clover). While it is possible this man was recently offered a new job that will require him moving far away (Clover + Ring + Ship + Fox), it is equally possible that the man is leaving the Lady for another woman (Ring + Ship with Snake). If so, it is possible that either this other woman (Snake) has children and/or that his relationship with her is a brand new development (Children).
Summary
The Lady has come to a crossroads/ decision point (Roads) regarding a significant relationship (Hand in Hand).
A separation/ removal (Spades) is impacting her ability to think intelligently (Diamonds) about her options, and is setting her into a tailspin of depressed and negative thoughts (Spades). She is reaching out for guidance and support, most likely via online communications, texting, etc. (Star + Letter + Shepherd). Some sense of inner security must be regained (Star + Key + Anchor) before any decisions (Roads) can be made. There is no solution at the moment (Mountains as Pivot Card in the Square of Nine).
The cards that are placed outside the Square of Nine suggest that an actual or suspected breach of trust (Fox + Snake + House) by a significant other (Gentleman) is the cause of the problems (Fox). The significant other may be immature (Children) or the type that “lives for today” (Clover). He may be leaving the Lady for a new job elsewhere (Clover + Ring + Ship + Fox). It is equally possible he is leaving her for another woman (Snake) whom he met very recently and/or who may have children (Children).
The Lady needs to step away and sort things out (Roads) before she can move on with her life. Her trust has been breached (Fox, Snake, Anchor) and she is going to need a fair amount of time (Mountains as Pivot Card) and support from people who love her (Star + Shepherd) before she will be in a position to make healthy decisions.
Conclusions
The quality of information I ascertained from the Gypsy Witch Short Reading layout has convinced me that this particular card spread certainly has merit, and I would use it again.
If you own the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards deck, I would encourage you to give “The Short Reading” layout a try. You could also use this layout with any Lenormand deck. I think you will be pleased with the results.
Blessings,
Mary Hawkins
Note: If you’ve missed my previous posts on the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards, you can click on the links below or use the Gypsy Witch link under Categories in the side bar to your right.
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 1
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 2
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 3
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 4
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 5
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Meanings and Combinations: 24 Hand in Hand
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Meanings and Combinations: 44 The Broken Glass
