A French Method of Fortune-Telling by Cards

By A. E. Waite, with introduction and commentary by Denise Alvarado

Enter the candlelit salons of old Paris and the root doctor’s table of the American South with this rare and restored guide to fortune-telling using ordinary playing cards. A French Method of Fortune-Telling by Cards reveals one of the earliest and most elegant systems of cartomancy ever recorded—the French piquet method—brought to life through the scholarship and cultural insight of Denise Alvarado.

Arthur Edward Waite, famed creator of the Rider-Waite Tarot, shares a concise and detailed divination system using the thirty-two-card piquet deck. Alvarado’s introduction traces the evolution of playing-card reading from Enlightenment-era Paris to its enduring presence in Hoodoo and New Orleans Voudou, where the humble deck became the people’s oracle.

This beautifully formatted Hoodoo Almanac Special Report includes Waite’s complete text, extensive historical commentary, card meanings, and practical reading instructions for love, inheritance, lawsuits, theft, travel, and more.

Inside you’ll find:

• A historical overview connecting French cartomancy, Etteilla, and Mlle Lenormand.

• Detailed instructions for the piquet method of divination.

• Interpretations for every card in all four suits.

• Insight into the legacy of playing cards in Hoodoo and Louisiana Voudou.

Whether you’re a seasoned reader or simply card-curious, this 55-page edition bridges European esotericism and African-American folk wisdom in one fascinating, accessible guide.

✨ Part of the Hoodoo Almanac 2025 Literary Treasure Hunt Series. ✨