Playing Cards

[dms1972]

I was listening to a video of Doreen Irvine (author of from Witchcraft to Christ) and she was talking about playing cards - (ie. the ones with kings, queens, jokers etc) and she mentioned the meaning of these cards. The King represents the devil, the Ace = death, or darkness, 10 = lawlessness and so on. Some have blasphemous meanings she said. The Puritans called them "the devil's picture book". Is this refering to Tarot Cards, or the playing cards used in games like Bridge, Poker etc.

What I want to know is was this the original meaning of the cards, because I wonder if in fact the original meanings might have been perverted and they thus acquired or where given these alternative meanings when used in some circles.

 

[disciple Clint]

I was listening to a video of Doreen Irvine (author of from Witchcraft to Christ) and she was talking about playing cards - (ie. the ones with kings, queens, jokers etc) and she mentioned the meaning of these cards. The King represents the devil, the Ace = death, or darkness, 10 = lawlessness and so on. They have blasphemous meanings she said. The Puritans called them "the devil's picture book". Is this refering to Tarot Cards, or the playing cards used in games like Bridge, Poker etc.

What I want to know is was this the original meaning of the cards, because I wonder if in fact the original meanings might have been perverted and they thus acquired or where given these alternative meanings when used in some circles.

 

[Paidiske]

Playing cards originated in China and developed different designs as they spread to different areas, and all different kinds of cards have at times been used for divination (cartomancy) and the like. Even tarot cards are playing cards which become popular for divination because they were seen as exotic (in the Anglophone world).

But as far as I've been able to find out, the "original" purpose was basically games, probably with the different cards representing different values of money being gambled.

 

[dms1972]

Thats more or less what I think.

seraching on the internet - the Kings are sometime associated with David, Charles, Alexander the Great, and Cesar. Likewise the Queens are sometimes associated with historical, mythical or biblical figures.

How Many Queens Are There in a Deck of Cards?

In a 52-deck of cards, there are four queens, one for each suit: Queen of Clubs, Queen of Hearts, Queen of Spades, and Queen of Diamonds. Like all the other face cards, the four queens have a long and varied history. While some are named after fictionalized characters, such as Greek goddesses...

journeyz.co

I wonder if Doreen Irvine was talking more about Tarot Cards, than ordinary playing cards?