Counting Methods With Oracle Cards

Let's take an initial look at this useful traditional card-reading tool

“Counting”, usually in 3s, 5s, 7s and sometimes even 9s is an advanced reading method that’s been used by traditional card readers to both lay and read cards for centuries, appearing to be especially popular in France, as well as with Romany card readers. The French cartomancer Jean-Baptiste Alliette aka Etteilla was especially keen on it too as a method to use with his proto-Tarot decks, often in quite convoluted ways (possibly, a cynic might suggest, to add to the the sense of great mystery and theatrical performance in his readings.)

The Golden Dawn & Crowley’s Book of Thoth classic Tarot spread the Opening of the Key also makes use of counting as a means of revealing the message, although the method used in that mostly isn’t really the focus of my post on this, as it’s slightly different from the classic methods used with other oracle decks. There, the counting involves the playing card numbers, different numbers for court cards, and directions.

Nonetheless, as the idea of extra hidden messages in one’s readings is incredibly appealing, counting as a method can be extremely satisfying with the “reveal” of its messages, and is well worth incorporating into your readings if you’d like to give them a little something extra OR simply extract an initial overview for a reading.

3s, 5s, 7s and 9s: Why These Numbers?

Personally, I mostly use 3s and 7s for my “counting” efforts. But traditionally, the numbers chosen, always odd, are considered positive or lucky numbers in numerology. Spiritual growth or learning for number 9, depth, intuition and wisdom for number 7, number 5, luck and intelligence, and 3, joy, good fortune, success, so you might want to consider that when thinking about which might work best for you in the context you want them.

Counting Methods Of Laying The Cards

We’ve already seen the counting method in play while laying a number of our more familiar spreads here on the Daily Oracle. For instance:

• The Kipper Master Card Spread (counting in 3s)

• "Mystic Sevens" Layout (counting in 7s)

Meanwhile, there are a few methods we’ve not really explored yet which involve not only counting but using the playing card references of the chosen decks (so this would work for Lenormand, Gypsy Witch, Sibylle des Salons/Indovina or Vera Sibilla) which all have playing card references, albeit different from one another.

Obviously, then, counting with playing card references would NOT be a suitable method for Kipper, Sibilla della Zingara/Gypsy Oracle or the Zigeuner Oracle Cards, as they lack any playing card references. And no, the numbers printed on the cards where present aren’t the same.

So let’s take a look at another method we could use for those that do have playing card references. Then we’ll take a look at how we might use counting to read spreads of different sizes. Read on to find out more!