"The Gypsy's Answer": Traditional Hungarian Spread

A traditional 13-card spread from the Austro-Hungarian "Traditional Zigeuner (Gypsy) Fortune Telling Cards"

Here’s another classic spread, and I’m going to show you this with the deck it was originally intended for: the Traditional “Zigeuner” (aka “Gypsy”/“Gipsy” or Bohemian) Fortune Telling Cards. It is a 13-Card Spread, and it looks like this:

In this spread with this deck, the traditional “final” card (for the final outcome) is ALWAYS meant to be the Merriment card, especially if you’re doing personal readings. So you can ask it any question you like, but the use of that card as the final one gives it a focus which is always on your happiness. (Traditionally, this is the significator card for the Grand Tableau with this deck also, if you only have one querent.)

So, although the spread can get quite deep, and of course, quite dark too (this traditional Austro/Hungarian deck has something of a dearth of positive cards, it must be said), the good thing is, the spread is always geared towards the best outcome or higher self of the querent in the end, even if some of the rest of the reading seems negative. So that’s just another thing to love about these traditional cards.

As a reminder, the cards’ meanings are pretty similar to those of the Vera Sibilla, to which they are related. For a comparison of the two decks’ meanings, take a look here:

I should point out, too, that there’s a specific way to lay the cards here, plus there are two distinct ways to read them, although I blend those into a fuller reading. The instructions that come with the Piatnik deck itself are quite vague and contradictory. PLUS you can adapt this spread to use with other decks (yes, it does work, and very well) AND change the “final card”, either to something of your choice, OR leave it open to fall as it will. You can also just add a card to the Merriment card, to see how whatever you’re asking might affect your happiness.

Either way, it’s a fantastic and useful spread to know about. Let’s take a closer look.