Last Updated on April 14, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

The Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards offer a fascinating method for divination, combining traditional card reading techniques with insightful symbolism. In this guide, we’ll explore how to interpret the cards, understand their meanings, and use them to gain clarity in various aspects of life. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced reader, this deck offers a rich and intriguing way to explore your future.

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards box

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How to Play Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards

Getting Started with the Gypsy Witch Cards

The reading instructions included with the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling (GW) deck are famously brief and vague. Over time, however, readers have developed various methods to interpret these unique cards. This post is the first in a series of tutorials based on the approach I use.

Step One: Setting Up the Reading

The GW deck includes two cards meant to serve as significators: the Lady (Card 18) and the Gentleman (Card 19). These cards don’t carry symbolic meaning in a reading but are used to focus energy on the querent. If the Gentleman appears in the Lady’s reading (or vice versa), it can represent a romantic partner or someone influential in the situation. Whether you leave these cards in the deck or remove them before a reading is up to you.

A basic reading begins with the significator and continues with five additional cards, read in pairs (similar to Lenormand-style readings). Common spreads use sets of five or seven cards. As with most cartomancy systems, open-ended questions tend to yield more insight than yes/no questions. That said, yes/no readings are possible using a simple method explained below.

Sample Reading

Katrina and Anthony have been dating for over a year. While Anthony has been upfront about not wanting to marry, he also says he loves her—leaving Katrina hopeful, yet uncertain. She wonders if he’s open to deeper commitment, like moving in together, and wants clarity on how to proceed in the relationship.

Using the Lady card as the significator, I laid five cards to the right (as the Lady faces right). The first pair: Key + Dog. The Key indicates she’s discovering the right steps toward success, while the Dog signifies loyalty and trust. This suggests her faithfulness is gradually building trust with Anthony.

Next pair: Dog + Pig. This is another positive combination. The Pig symbolizes luck, and in love readings, it represents a healthy mix of emotional and physical connection. Her trustworthiness is helping her win his heart.

Following that: Pig + Children. This pairing points to a sincere, more innocent relationship than what Anthony has previously experienced. Finally: Children + Fox. Though Anthony still harbors some suspicions—likely rooted in past experiences—the surrounding cards suggest he may eventually let go of those doubts. While marriage isn’t directly shown, the cards indicate a shift in his mindset toward something deeper.

Yes/No Reading Method

Katrina also wants to know: Will Anthony ask her to marry him within the next two years?

Yes/no questions should always include a time frame, even if the querent doesn’t specify one. For this type of reading, I do not use a significator. Instead, I draw a set number of cards—always an odd number to avoid a tie (which results in a “maybe”). I typically use five cards, but you may choose one or three. Avoid using seven or more.

For the answer, only the playing card insets matter:

Hearts and Diamonds = Yes
Clubs and Spades = No
Jokers = Remove them, as they do not count

In Katrina’s reading, four out of five cards were Hearts or Diamonds—so the answer is a clear yes.

Understanding the Structure of the Gypsy Witch Cards

Each Gypsy Witch (GW) card is composed of several key elements. In the upper left corner, you’ll find a traditional playing card inset. To the right of that is the card’s number, and below it is a short verse. This verse offers keywords and clues about how to interpret the card, including proximity effects. The card’s title is woven into the verse itself. Beneath the verse and inset is a small illustration—like in the example of card number 38, The Flames.

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There are multiple ways to read GW cards. A good place to start is with the keywords found in the verse. For example, The Flames symbolizes good fortune. Its fiery imagery suggests it can burn away bad luck, weakening the influence of negative surrounding cards and enhancing positive ones. GW cards can be interpreted in pairs, similar to Lenormand readings, or as individual cards influenced by nearby ones. The approach you choose depends on your personal style—just be consistent in your method.

For a more layered interpretation, consider the playing card inset. Each suit carries meaning:

Diamonds: Represent finances and material possessions — generally positive.
Clubs: Suggest conflict or “bad vibes” — typically negative.
Hearts: Relate to emotions and relationships — also positive.
Spades: Indicate obstacles, delays, or stagnation — usually neutral.

In the case of The Flames, the inset is the 7 of Diamonds. The number seven is traditionally associated with luck, and Diamonds are a positive suit—making this one of the luckiest cards in the deck. Altogether, The Flames is considered the most auspicious card in the GW system.

The Near-Far Method in Gypsy Witch Readings

One approach to reading the Gypsy Witch (GW) cards is to interpret them in pairs—similar to the Lenormand method. Another, known as the near-far method, involves reading each card individually while also considering its proximity to other cards. Today’s blog post focuses on this traditional near-far approach.

The near-far method is widely considered one of the most authentic and time-honored ways to read the GW deck. Each card has its own standalone meaning, but its influence can shift depending on how close or far it is from other specific cards. Many of these positional cues are printed directly on the cards themselves, though experienced readers also rely on traditional associations that aren’t explicitly noted.

Take The Order card, for example. Its verse references card 48, The Money Safe: “near 48, a sure sign of business success.” Here, “near” generally means next to or no more than one card away. Additionally, common interpretations suggest that if The Order appears near The Ring, it may point to a business partnership or contract, even if that pairing isn’t printed on the card.

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Sample Reading: The Near-Far Method in Practice

Latrice is interested in exploring a romantic connection with her coworker Will, who caught her attention during an office gathering last month. To see what might unfold, I used the Vintage Gypsy Witch Oracle—a beautifully self-published version of the GW deck by Lyn Boyle of Aquarius Well-Being, available on Etsy.

For the spread, I used a Three-by-Three layout, which is one of the options in my reading services. Latrice is represented by The Lady card placed at the center.

Top Row – Influences from the Past:
This row reflects past circumstances affecting the present. The cards suggest that office gossip has been circulating. The Flowers represent friendships or acquaintances, but their position next to The Coffin implies a loss of respect. When followed by The Rapiers, it appears that these so-called friends are attempting to harm Latrice’s reputation.

Middle Row – The Present Situation:
This row highlights current dynamics. The Mountain symbolizes an adversary, suggesting one of these gossipy coworkers may be competing with Latrice for Will’s attention. However, The Rider appears directly to the right of The Lady, which indicates positive news or success—unless it’s adjacent to a negative card, which in this case, it isn’t. The Rider’s placement next to The Lady reinforces that Will is more interested in Latrice than the competitor.

Bottom Row – Future Possibilities:
In this final row, The Order appears beside The Letter, a strong combination suggesting Latrice’s professional reputation will remain intact despite the gossip. The Order relates to business matters, and The Letter often brings good news. The last card, The Lion, typically signals a shocking or negative surprise—but its position beside The Letter softens its impact. This suggests an unexpected but not harmful twist. Based on the cards, Will is likely interested in Latrice. However, professional shifts are also on the horizon. It’s likely she’ll receive a promotion or move to a different department, which could change the dynamics of their relationship. The future will require thoughtful reassessment.

Adding Direction to Your Gypsy Witch Readings

So far, I’ve walked you through reading Gypsy Witch (GW) cards using Lenormand-style pairings and the more traditional near-far method. Now, we’ll introduce another layer: directional cues for longer spreads. This technique is particularly useful in Grand Tableaus but can be applied to other extended layouts. Not every card will be read in a directional spread—it all depends on the path the cards lead you through. Whether or not to use directional reading is a personal choice and may vary depending on the situation. Before beginning any spread, decide which method you’ll use so your approach is consistent.

How to Use Directional Cues in a GW Grand Tableau or Extended Spread

Start by selecting the Lady or Gentleman card to represent your querent. Then lay out all 52 cards in the Grand Tableau formation. In this method, the Main Person card (Lady or Gentleman) will fall at random in the spread.

Once located, take note of which direction your Main Person is facing. In the original GW deck, the Gentleman looks to the left, so your reading begins with the card immediately to his left. The narrative then follows a winding path through the spread, guided by the cues on each card, continuing until it either reaches a dead end or loops back to the Main Person from a different direction (above, below, or opposite side).

Refer to a directional chart when interpreting cards, but keep in mind that card artwork can vary between versions. For instance, Aquarius Wellbeing offers deck variations on Etsy, and I’ll soon be releasing a version of my own. Use the illustrations on your specific deck to determine the true direction each card is facing.

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If a card points back to the previous card or lands at the edge of the layout, look for another card of the same suit nearby. If there are multiple possible directions, assess the surrounding cards:

If there’s a suit match, follow that path.
If there’s no suit match, follow a card of the same color.
If only opposite colors surround it, that’s a Dead End.
If more than one path is available, it means the querent has a choice. You can offer different outcomes based on each route.

When using the Joker, the rule changes slightly—only the most positive path is followed. Look at the cards adjacent to the Joker and choose the direction indicated by the most positive surrounding card.

Sample Directional Reading: Grand Tableau

Carole is concerned about her career and asks what the future may hold. In her Grand Tableau, The Lady lands as the first card in the top row and is facing right. This means we begin to the right of her card.

The next card is The Rider, indicating she won’t wait long for changes—news or progress is coming soon. The Rider directs us to continue right, leading to The Money Safe, which is open toward her. This is a strong indicator of financial improvement, such as a raise or bonus.

While The Money Safe would typically send us left, that’s the direction we just came from. Instead, we look diagonally down and to the right, where we find The Flames—a Diamond card matching the suit of the previous one. The Flames is considered the luckiest card in the GW deck, suggesting that Carole is headed exactly where she wants to go professionally.

From here, The Flames guide us diagonally up and to the right to The Mouse. This card represents minor setbacks or small drains on her energy or progress. However, following The Flames, these challenges are likely to be insignificant.

Since The Mouse lands on the top row and points upward—with no matching suits nearby—the path ends here.

Even though all 52 cards were laid out, only a handful were read, guided by the flow of directional cues. In the next post, I’ll walk you through a Grand Tableau without using directional methods to show how these different approaches shape the reading experience.

The Classic Grand Tableau without Directional Cues

In the previous article, we explored reading with directional cues in the Gypsy Witch (GW) deck. Now, let’s dive into the traditional Grand Tableau, where directional cues are not used. This method involves the entire deck, excluding the Joker(s) and one Main Person card. The Main Person card is chosen based on the seeker’s gender identification. In this example, I’ll use The Lady, Card 18.

Setting Up the Grand Tableau

Remove the Main Person cards (Card 18 and 19) and all Jokers from the deck.
Shuffle the deck 10 to 12 times.
Cut the deck into 6 roughly equal stacks, and randomly pick them up.
Lay out the cards in rows as follows:
- Row 1: 6 cards.
- Row 2: 8 cards, aligned under the first row’s empty spaces.
- Row 3: 8 cards under Row 2.
- Row 4: 3 cards to start, then place your Main Person card (Card 18, The Lady) in the 4th position. Finish with 4 more cards.
- Rows 5 & 6: 8 cards each.
- Row 7: 5 cards, starting under the second card of Row 6, leaving two “blank spaces” at the end.

See the diagram below for an example layout.

Reading the Grand Tableau

Reading begins with the card immediately to the left of the Main Person card, and the spread is interpreted in concentric rectangles. The further out a rectangle is, the further into the future the messages pertain. The initial rectangle, closest to the Main Person, blends the recent past with present circumstances and the near future.

For instance, in this example spread, the first rectangle consists of Broken Glass, Lightning, Money Safe, Sun, Amor, Ring, Birds, and Heart. Use the distances between the cards to guide your interpretations. Each card will either be positive, negative, or neutral, which should be balanced within the reading.

Interpretation of the Spread

For the first rectangle:

Broken Glass and Lightning indicate a recent run of bad luck and unpleasant surprises for the seeker.
Money Safe directly above The Lady suggests she’s managing financially, just getting by.
Sun and Amor signal that her husband has been supportive, reinforcing their strong, stable marriage.
Ring, Birds, and Heart suggest there are gossipy individuals who have been speaking ill of the couple, but it does not appear to threaten their relationship.

For the second rectangle (extending the reading to the next 6–12 months):

Flowers brings happiness and harmony.
Roads indicate upcoming decisions, and while some challenges may arise (as seen by their proximity to Clouds), the outcomes will be positive.
Ship signals improved financial outlook.
Moon, located near Rider, suggests that good news is on its way and challenges will be overcome.
Stork and Rapiers indicate conflict concerning the seeker’s living situation, but Pig and Rose suggest she’ll overcome these challenges, especially with wise counsel.
Mouse over Fish points to potential financial or property losses due to mismanagement or theft. However, the proximity to Flames reduces the negative impact, as bad luck is burned away.
Anchor and Dog show that a loyal partner will help keep the seeker grounded.
Lion, Railroad, and Lily warn of an unexpected loss and possibly a journey, which could involve a death in the family.

The third rectangle (looking 1–2 years ahead):

Snake suggests challenges from someone else, though they are distant and should resolve favorably.
Letter and Mountain indicate a potential legal issue.
Bear and Tree show financial growth.
Whip, Order, Children, and Clouds suggest career success may come at the cost of family life (with Clouds indicating some strain on family relations).
Eye and Clover nullify any suspicions or negative influences, with Clover offering luck.
Book and Park indicate a social connection from the past will resurface.
Flame, Key, and Scythe point to a resolution or diagnosis of long-standing issues.
Dog, Wine, Star, and Bride suggest that the seeker’s marriage will be mostly happy, though some minor disagreements may occur.
The final card, Coffin, being far from The Lady, indicates that any truly disastrous events will be avoided.

The Wrap-Up

The far-right column, consisting of five cards, offers an overview of the reading and serves as a final conclusion. In this example, the five cards are House, Cat, Tower, Hand-in-Hand, and Fox:

House indicates the seeker’s home life is central to the reading.
Cat and Tower suggest that any negative influences or people trying to harm the seeker will be kept at bay.
Hand-in-Hand and Fox reinforce that the seeker’s strong relationships and friendships will protect her from harm, softening any usual negative traits associated with the Fox card.

This method offers a broad and insightful look into the seeker’s future without relying on directional cues. The path of each rectangle tells a unique story, providing a clear narrative for each stage of life. Let me know if you’d like more examples or if there’s a specific area of this spread you’d like to explore further!