The History of Cartomancy

The History of Cartomancy

From What Magic Is This? by Douglas Batchelor

April 18, 2026 · 3h 6m

About this episode

This episode explores the fascinating history of cartomancy and its role in western culture over the past 600 years.

Playing cards have always been magical. While not as ubiquitous and long tenured as dice and other means of games and gambling, card games have been a part of western culture for over 600 years. Inevitably, as soon as something gets used for games, it immediately gets used for divination and fortune-telling as well. This form of divination has been called Cartomancy and since the 15th century it has an incredibly diverse and fascinating history, one which currently sees it as the second most popular form of divination in the western world.

People in this episode

Host: Douglas Batchelor

Topics covered

  • cartomancy
  • divination
  • playing cards
  • history
  • fortune-telling
  • western culture

Keywords

  • cartomancy
  • playing cards
  • divination
  • fortune-telling
  • western culture
  • history of cards

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The History of Cartomancy

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