Learn foundational methods of divination from the Father of Cartomancy
• Provides the first English edition of Etteilla’s seminal text, an Etteilla deck, and a tutorial on how to make your own deck
• Offers eight main spreads along with variations, devised by Etteilla, and accompanying commentary and case studies
• Shares how Etteilla’s 1770 method set the standard for most European cartomantic divination, influencing the development of both cartomancy and tarot
Etteilla is the pseudonym of Jean Baptiste Alliette, known to divination devotees as the Father of Cartomancy. His 1770 manual, revised in 1773 under the title La Seule Manière de Tirer Les Cartes, was the first book on how to divine from playing cards, and it remains the basis for many cartomantic decks and tarots today. Now, for the first time, Etteilla’s manual is available in English.
This deck and guidebook gives readers a set of Petit Etteilla cards and a fully annotated translation of his text. The book explores how Etteilla’s deck and interpretive methods serve as the foundation for decks to follow, including the Lenormand and Rider-Waite-Smith decks. Readers will learn each card’s meaning (both upright and reversed) and the significance of each card’s placement in a spread. In Etteilla's system, each card’s meaning and associated words are printed on the card, allowing readers the freedom to use intuition instead of memorizing the meaning of each card. The result is an innovative system that offers a highly personalized method for readings. Readers will also learn how to make their own decks to further personalize their connection with Etteilla's method. This book offers eight spreads devised by Etteilla, with variations of each, along with commentary, case studies, and practices to enrich your understanding.
Long before tarot was used for divination, Etteilla (Eye-tie-ya) was using his own method of cartomancy. Etteilla's method is considered the father of all cartomancy methods that came after - Lenormand, oracles, tarot and everything else. Using a reduced set of 32 cards, this method features meanings written directly onto the cards, so it's much less about intuition and more about reading the cards like a story.
This version features a translation of Etteilla's original text, with notes and annotations by Caitlin (as she notes, Etteilla is quite wordy in spots.) The text is laid out in 31 lessons, each of which builds on the previous ones. I tried reading it through quickly, but this is a book that forces you to slow down and go slowly, so I settled on one chapter a night. I still feel I haven't quite got everything - this is genuinely an investment, not a quick hobby - but I'm feeling a little better about it having taken my time. I plan to go back over it again now that I have a basic understanding so I can build on that!
The set comes with a deck. If you're used to tarot cards, these cards will seem small, as they're standard playing card size instead. Etteilla cards are read right to left, which can take some getting used to, but practise makes it easier. I still wouldn't say I'm expert, but I'm getting there! The way they fit together is fascinating and not at all like tarot, so if you plan to try this, let go of all preconceptions first.
This is a fascinating piece of cartomancy history and a wonderful addition to my shelves. I'll definitely be coming back to it in the future - I look forward to learning more about it!
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