Vendredi: King of Spades

The general consensus among root workers who practice divination with playing cards is that the King of Spades represents a very bad man.  Words like ambitious, deceptive, bad luck, egotistical and even dangerous are thrown out like bread to ducks.  The over all impression is a Machiavellian type who is a cross between the modern psycho-pomp images of Lord Valdemort and Glenn Danzig. 

To that I say, first of all, rock!  (Really, that’s far more about the Danzig but anyway…)  In all seriousness, though, I have found that these interpretations tend towards over-reaction.  In some cases, in all fairness, they lean more in the direction of the kind of histrionics that a certain type of cartomancer imagines their clients expect.  That said, an objective view can reveal things yet more sinister than the stereotypes.

Personally, I would temper the notion of evil with the idea of real power.  I have found that, very often, the King of Spades represents a man in charge.  He is a judge, a governor, a business mogul and yeah, in one specific instance of a reading I did for a young lady, a rock star.  Any man with the ability to run their not only their own life but the lives of others falls into this category.  It is easy to see how this person might be perceived as manipulative or even down right evil; they didn’t get where they are by being nice.  

Often this man is a firm disciplinary both publicly and personally.  He is a generous friend, but cross him and you will pay the price.  He is not generally highly moral – although he may appear to be so in the role of a religious leader – and he is not above illegal dealings.  I have no trouble seeing great American anti-heroes like Jean Laffite and John Dillinger in the King of Spades; charming, well dressed and deadly.

Regardless, it’s time to lock up your daughters, or in the case of the ladies your hearts, when this guy shows up.  True love is not in the offing, but the good times will roll.

The King of Spades is one of the few face cards that, even if he is not recognized by the querent, his type is almost certainly indicated somewhere in their future.  Both men and women should take precautions to recognize what he is, and then make their judgments as to relationships or business dealings with eyes wide open.  Forewarned is forearmed.  Vendredi heureux

Header: King of Spades via Back to the Castle