https://anacortez.com/blog Ana Cortez - forty years of devotion to the divinatory art of the 52-card deck. Books, card meanings, the Order of the Black Ace, and gatherings beneath the Dark Moth. en-us https://anacortez.com/titanic-symbolism-explorations-into-the-unconscious-2026 https://anacortez.com/titanic-symbolism-explorations-into-the-unconscious-2026 Originally published April 2012. Reposted April 2026 It all began as I sat to compose my regular feature forecast, called “Oracle Speak.” I had Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Symbolism https://anacortez.com/court-cards-and-decans-the-escape-from-reincarnation https://anacortez.com/court-cards-and-decans-the-escape-from-reincarnation The Hidden Architecture In my previous article, I demonstrated the fatal flaws in the Golden Dawn and Crowley’s Thoth Tarot decan correspondences - how 56 cards Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Court Cards Astrology https://anacortez.com/history-tarot-playing-cards-timeline-origins https://anacortez.com/history-tarot-playing-cards-timeline-origins True history of tarot and playing cards – from Mamluk Egypt to the invention of tarot in Renaissance Italy – Knights Templar reality and Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT History Tarot https://anacortez.com/tarot-vs-playing-cards https://anacortez.com/tarot-vs-playing-cards Tarot vs Playing Cards: Which System Goes Deeper? If you’re exploring card reading and wondering whether to learn tarot vs playing cards, here’s what Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Cartomancy Tarot https://anacortez.com/crowley-thoth-review-fatal-flaw https://anacortez.com/crowley-thoth-review-fatal-flaw “Mother of Light, and the Gods! Mother of Music, awake! Silence and Speech are at odds; Heaven and Hell are at stake…” –Aleister Crowley Sat, 06 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT Tarot Reviews https://anacortez.com/the-forgotten-origins-of-playing-cards-decoding-ancient-wisdom https://anacortez.com/the-forgotten-origins-of-playing-cards-decoding-ancient-wisdom For centuries, playing cards have been in our homes, our hands, and our games. But what if these familiar objects hold a deep, ancient Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT History https://anacortez.com/lady-cards-pt-2-dont-read-courts-until-you-see-this-2 https://anacortez.com/lady-cards-pt-2-dont-read-courts-until-you-see-this-2 As we move bravely into the new world that is fast approaching, we need as our foundation a deck that is equally balanced between male and female. Enter the Lady cards. Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT Court Cards https://anacortez.com/lady-cards-dont-read-courts-until-you-see-this https://anacortez.com/lady-cards-dont-read-courts-until-you-see-this There are certainly a lot of mysteries in cards. Perhaps one of the juiciest we will explore in this video. Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT Court Cards https://anacortez.com/playing-cards-revealed-as-time-machine https://anacortez.com/playing-cards-revealed-as-time-machine We are entering an era where there are no hiding places. Long held secrets are coming to the surface in every area of human Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT The Calendar https://anacortez.com/how-to-read-playing-cards-santa-fe-nm-classes https://anacortez.com/how-to-read-playing-cards-santa-fe-nm-classes Event Announcement! New “Dark Moth” Cartomancy Collective is happening in Santa Fe, NM! A brand new monthly gathering hosted with Author Ana Cortez, for Thu, 18 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT Teaching https://anacortez.com/doors-of-somlipith-what-is-it-review https://anacortez.com/doors-of-somlipith-what-is-it-review What Is It? The Doors of Somlipith is a book and card set that brings the 52-card deck to life with a roar. It’s Fri, 31 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT The Books https://anacortez.com/doors-of-somlipith-divination-playing-cards https://anacortez.com/doors-of-somlipith-divination-playing-cards “It’s a climactic moment in human history, and the Moth knows exactly what he’s doing.” The Doors of Somlipith is the new Book Wed, 29 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT The Books https://anacortez.com/geomancy-with-cards-the-creation-of-figures https://anacortez.com/geomancy-with-cards-the-creation-of-figures Playing cards create geomantic figures. Read that statement again. Playing cards CREATE geomantic figures. For centuries, card reading with playing cards and divinatory geomancy Sat, 11 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT Geomancy https://anacortez.com/past-lives-layout-using-playing-cards https://anacortez.com/past-lives-layout-using-playing-cards For those willing to put a little time in for reflection, the “Past Lives Layout” is an effective tool for activating memories of other lifetimes…. Tue, 26 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT Layouts https://anacortez.com/geomancy-revelations-and-its-use-with-cards https://anacortez.com/geomancy-revelations-and-its-use-with-cards Ana Cortez guides you through the mystery, history, and applications of divinatory geomancy, along with the method of CREATING GEOMANTIC FIGURES WITH CARDS to work in conjunction with card meanings. NEXT LEVEL CARD READING – using playing cards. This is actually an older… Sun, 11 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT Geomancy https://anacortez.com/playing-card-oracle-decks-a-quick-history-of-whats-what https://anacortez.com/playing-card-oracle-decks-a-quick-history-of-whats-what CJ Freeman (1941-2010) was a prolific Oracle Artist who delved into the mysteries of the 52 card deck through a unique, intuitive art process. Over a 35 year period, CJ created hundreds of pieces of self taught art to explore the mysteries of the subconscious mind, and… Thu, 30 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT The Deck History https://anacortez.com/cartomancy-secret-meanings https://anacortez.com/cartomancy-secret-meanings Secret meanings hidden in plain sight. The CODING of our reality is here, in ordinary playing cards. An overview of How to Read with Playing Cards, based on the Source Book, The Playing Card Oracles. Wed, 19 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT Cartomancy https://anacortez.com/lock-and-key-cards https://anacortez.com/lock-and-key-cards ALWAYS remember, cards when combined CREATE THINGS. Like castles in the ethers around your cards. It is the magic we must seek in our readings…. Thu, 13 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT Practice https://anacortez.com/empowering-alternative-to-reading-reversals https://anacortez.com/empowering-alternative-to-reading-reversals Reversals is a topic I am passionate about in card reading. To me, the whole idea of “reversals” feels very mental, very theoretical. I Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT Practice https://anacortez.com/origins-of-the-playing-card-oracles https://anacortez.com/origins-of-the-playing-card-oracles Do you know the origins of the Playing Card Oracles? One thing you’ll notice is that it is very unlike any other way of card reading. Thu, 07 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT The Deck C.J. Freeman https://anacortez.com/story-of-the-vintage-playing-card-oracles https://anacortez.com/story-of-the-vintage-playing-card-oracles I want to take this opportunity to tell you a bit of the story behind this rare “Vintage Edition Playing Card Oracles Deck, and Mon, 16 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT The Deck History https://anacortez.com/mystery-in-meowwolf-cards https://anacortez.com/mystery-in-meowwolf-cards So I wrote a story a while back for Meow Wolf’s exhibit in Santa Fe. Known as “The House of Eternal Return,” it is Tue, 03 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT Symbolism https://anacortez.com/revelations-time-and-sex-in-cj-freeman-art-deck https://anacortez.com/revelations-time-and-sex-in-cj-freeman-art-deck Now, as the Playing Card Oracle Decks are getting more recognition and exposure than ever (both versions now living in Meow Wolf’s amazing “House of Eternal Return”), there Tue, 22 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT C.J. Freeman Symbolism https://anacortez.com/when-cards-feel-contradictory-how-to-blend-cards-together https://anacortez.com/when-cards-feel-contradictory-how-to-blend-cards-together Ana shares her practice tips for Blending Cards Together that may seem contradictory at first. Thanks for watching! Wed, 27 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT Practice https://anacortez.com/charles-freeman-bio https://anacortez.com/charles-freeman-bio Growing up I always adored my dad, C.J. Freeman. He was my hero. But as I got older, I began to slowly understand why Mon, 28 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT C.J. Freeman https://anacortez.com/doing-a-daily-card-a-deceptively-simple-practice-anas-tips https://anacortez.com/doing-a-daily-card-a-deceptively-simple-practice-anas-tips Doing a Daily Card! A Deceptively Simple Practice - Ana's Tips - a short talk from Ana Cortez on reading the 52-card deck. Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMT Practice https://anacortez.com/ghost-hunting-and-divination-river-town-ghosts-leave-traces-in-playing-cards https://anacortez.com/ghost-hunting-and-divination-river-town-ghosts-leave-traces-in-playing-cards Took an absolutely fantastic and chilling ghost tour in the historic river town of Galena, IL over the Labor Day weekend. Took a little Fri, 11 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT Practice https://anacortez.com/why-every-tarot-reader-should-learn-playing-cards https://anacortez.com/why-every-tarot-reader-should-learn-playing-cards Perceptions of Playing Cards For some, learning to read Playing Cards may seem like a frivolous venture. After all, much of what we find Wed, 12 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMT Cartomancy Tarot https://anacortez.com/geomancy-meets-cards-an-introduction https://anacortez.com/geomancy-meets-cards-an-introduction Geomancy Meets Cards: An Introduction with Oracles Author Ana Cortez Fri, 10 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT Geomancy https://anacortez.com/why-oracle-alchemy-had-to-be-written https://anacortez.com/why-oracle-alchemy-had-to-be-written This new book Oracle Alchemy is the result of a very organic and prolonged meditation of sorts. Ironically, I am a Gemini, so at first I Wed, 15 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMT The Books https://anacortez.com/how-to-use-52-card-deck-as-a-calendar https://anacortez.com/how-to-use-52-card-deck-as-a-calendar One of the juiciest parts of The Playing Card Oracles System: Using the Playing Cards as the Calendar They Already Are! Get the PDF, “How to Use Your Playing Cards as a Calendar,” detailing this same method described in the video HERE. Wed, 01 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMT The Calendar https://anacortez.com/interview-shaheen-and-ana-talk-cards-alchemy-edition https://anacortez.com/interview-shaheen-and-ana-talk-cards-alchemy-edition Original Post borrowed from: shaheenmiroinsights.com Shaheen: I had the honor of interviewing Ana Cortez! She is the author and co-creator of The Playing Card Wed, 25 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT Interviews https://anacortez.com/story-telling-and-the-magic-of-lancelot-jack-of-clubs https://anacortez.com/story-telling-and-the-magic-of-lancelot-jack-of-clubs In order to give more background, history, story, ETC… to these wondrous cards of my father’s, of which there are now over 100 published images Tue, 17 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT Court Cards https://anacortez.com/self-taught-artist-amazing-new-art-enlivening-playing-cards-tale-fortuna https://anacortez.com/self-taught-artist-amazing-new-art-enlivening-playing-cards-tale-fortuna There is a lot of “hoop-la” right now about the new Alchemy Edition Deck, (most of which being made by me!) which it most Wed, 04 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT C.J. Freeman https://anacortez.com/mysterious-lainey-playing-card-oracles https://anacortez.com/mysterious-lainey-playing-card-oracles “Crow Dance” – an excerpt from the upcoming new book by Ana Cortez, “Oracle Alchemy.” “After high school graduation, I decided it was time Wed, 25 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMT The Deck https://anacortez.com/numerology-cards-natural-combination https://anacortez.com/numerology-cards-natural-combination Numerology is truly an ancient means for better understanding oneself and the world, but what if there is yet another little known possibility to this tried Thu, 29 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT Numerology https://anacortez.com/new-alchemy-edition-deck-by-c-j-freeman https://anacortez.com/new-alchemy-edition-deck-by-c-j-freeman This latest Playing Card Oracles: Alchemy Edition Deck is the third published playing card deck for card reading by my dad, C.J. Freeman (1941 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT C.J. Freeman The Deck https://anacortez.com/keeper-of-weird-the-almost-lost-legacy-of-c-j-freeman https://anacortez.com/keeper-of-weird-the-almost-lost-legacy-of-c-j-freeman The creation of the newest deck of Oracle Playing Cards feels like one of the most karmic undertakings I have ever experienced. What a journey. In fact, in the 35 years since the art was created, a lot of times it felt like these fantastic and original images would never, ever see the light of… Tue, 09 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMT C.J. Freeman https://anacortez.com/the-importance-of-being-childlike-creepy-basement-things-playing-cards-as-a-time-machine-zannas-interview-with-ana-cortez https://anacortez.com/the-importance-of-being-childlike-creepy-basement-things-playing-cards-as-a-time-machine-zannas-interview-with-ana-cortez Reprinted from Tarot Notes – Major and Minor, a blog by Zanna Starr. To see the original article click HERE. An Interview with Ana Cortez Ana Cortez Ana Cortez, the author of The Playing Card Oracles (A Source Book for Divination), describes the book as “the result of a remarkable journey that… Mon, 17 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT Interviews https://anacortez.com/the-ammonite-a-card-layout-for-solstice-and-equinox https://anacortez.com/the-ammonite-a-card-layout-for-solstice-and-equinox [caption id="attachment_1576" align="aligncenter" width="596"] John Alan Elson – http://www.3dham.com/3dammonite2/[/caption] This is a card layout gifted by the ammonite, a crystalized fossil from ancient sea, which forms in the shape of the sacred spiral. This layout was brought to life on the… Sat, 21 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT Layouts https://anacortez.com/quietly-screaming-playing-cards-were-made-for-card-reading https://anacortez.com/quietly-screaming-playing-cards-were-made-for-card-reading Playing cards were made for divination. No, REALLY! They were never made for games, unless you consider prediction a game. And the truth is, plain old boring playing cards, no fancy embellishments or pictures for card reading added, are all you really need to give a super kick-ass reading. Why?… Fri, 21 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT Cartomancy https://anacortez.com/playing-card-messages-at-the-indian-musem https://anacortez.com/playing-card-messages-at-the-indian-musem A recent visit to the New Mexico Museum of Indian Arts and Culture produced a surprising experience with playing cards that i suspect will linger in my heart for a long time to come. To think that playing cards and Indian artifacts could come together in any sort of meaningful way whatsoever is… Wed, 05 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT Symbolism https://anacortez.com/until-now-no-one-has-used-the-52-card-deck-as-the-simple-obvious-calendar-it-is https://anacortez.com/until-now-no-one-has-used-the-52-card-deck-as-the-simple-obvious-calendar-it-is Until “The Playing Card Oracles” was written, there was NO written material on how to make use of the natural, OBVIOUS, calendar in the Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT The Calendar