Use Your Mind To See The Sudden Light

/

My pal, Toby H., sent me this email recently:

Strange world. Everything below sounds like some shit you'd make up for a great intro into sharing an effect.

My buddy Andrew owns and operates a little bookstore on the outskirts of Seattle. He wrote me a few weeks ago saying this weird old lady who owns the butcher shop down the street came in with a box of books from her "sister." She said sister in such a way that indicated it was unlikely there was an actual familial connection. Either way, this woman, affectionately called RED BONE by most of the people on the block, because she used to have red hair and is a butcher -- really it's cause she's a mean old bitch and nobody can stand her. I digress, Red Bone comes in with this box from her "sister," Maimie. It's full of old fortune-telling stuff. Real shut-eye stuff. Maimie lived in Helena Montana and collected this stuff from all over the country in the 1920's. She was a local legend and likely the only fortune teller in the county. People would come from all over the place to hear Maimie's fortunes. She'd write these elaborate prognostications and divinations etc. Way more elaborate than what you'd get from a gypsy lady in Brooklyn.

Anyway, my buddy sold me the lot Red Bone brought in. The highlights included some fortune-telling cards from the turn of the century. AND some hand annotated playing cards for fortune telling. Everything is in pristine condition. Quite the find.

I loved the story and the haul of goods he got. Toby was kind enough to send me the Red Bee deck which has been hand inscribed with fortunes or card meanings or something like that. It’s a great little conversation piece. And it can, of course, be used as a Hook to eventually transition into some type of effect that goes a step beyond what people might expect from some cards with pithy sayings on them.

Now, at some point I’m thinking of including these cards in a future GLOMM auction. Given that the one currently going on is poised to crack $1000 soon, it seems like something I should do again at some point in the future.

But that would mean only one person would get the joy of owning this deck. And only one person could tell the story of Red Bone and her “sister.”

So I figured I’d offer you the information that’s written on the cards so you can make your own deck, adopt the story, and use it as your own hook to create special experiences in the future.

I’d recommend going on ebay and getting your hands on an old deck. It will fit in with the story better and will likely be easier to write on. Of course a really old deck will be almost useless for many effects. Even just spreading or dealing these cards is almost impossible. But you wouldn’t need to use the actual old deck for any trick you go into. You could just use this deck as your starting point, discuss some history about it, and then transition out of it, e.g., “I’ve been reading up on this sort of stuff, just because I find it interesting, not that I believe in any of it. Oh, actually, there’s one thing I’ve been wanting to try along these lines. Hold on, let me get a deck we can work with….”

The information on the cards looks like this:

Each card has information oriented in two different directions. I think the cards have different meanings depending on which side is “up” from the perspective of the people looking at the cards.

For each card I’ll give:

  • The message in the first orientation

  • The message in the second.

Ace of Clubs

  • Fame, good job, social success. Twins of any kind.

  • A present. Advancement. A welcome visitor. Joining your true mate.

Two of Clubs

  • Good news. Good business in sight.

  • A surprise - good or bad. A rich marriage.

Three of Clubs

  • Investigate to help someone. Worry for or thru a loved one. High position for a loved one thru your help.

  • Sooner than you expect. Good luck soon by your touch. Your child or friend needs you.

Four of Clubs

  • Make an effort to carry out those good ideas. Good business in sight.

  • Stick to your course, it’s best. A splendid opportunity.

Five of Clubs

  • A trip of long duration. Interesting meeting. Avoid something unpleasant.

  • Why did you miss that chance? Repair the damage now. A short trip, then chance for action

Six of Clubs

  • Summer. A dangerous rival.

  • Months. A trip of long duration.

Seven of Clubs

  • By water route. Sunrise.

  • A sea voyage. Commercial success.

Eight of Clubs

  • Tears. Struggle with final success.

  • A winter trip. Twins of any kind.

Nine of Clubs

  • Trail, Street. Vacation

  • Adventure, romance or flirtation. Outdoor work.

Ten of Clubs

  • Good luck. Some money coming.

  • Success. Business. Money

Jack of Clubs

  • A female relative. Remove misunderstanding.

  • A female relative. Consult a doctor.

Queen of Clubs

  • Soulmate. Expected news. A letter.

  • A jealous woman. Unexpected message or letter.

King of Clubs

  • Private boss. Good person. Thrill of your life. Benefactor.

  • A good man. Confide in him. Platonic love.

Ace of Hearts

  • True love. A common sense marriage. (Marriage?)

  • Happiness, Harmony. A telephone with good news. (Children if wanted.)

Two of Hearts

  • A triangle. Girl. An aerial trip. Unfaithfulness.

  • A kiss. Boy. Happy ending. Brighter surroundings.

Three of Hearts

  • A new house with little joy. Marriage ill-advised. Don’t take a new mate now.

  • Health regained for someone near. It was for the best, now consult well and act wise. You can better your family’s outlook.

Four of Hearts

  • Romance in disguise. Happy outcome after a short trip or disturbance.

  • A re-union for better. Find happiness where it lies closest.

Five of Hearts

  • Use your natural shrewdness in the cause. Use your mind to see the sudden light.

  • Stop! Think well, then proceed. Some adventure in store for you.

Six of Hearts

  • In fall. Tropics, far off country. A divorce. Forget the past.

  • Days. Motor trips. With surprise. A wedding in near future.

Seven of Hearts

  • In the room. Lucky number. A part. Meet interesting person.

  • Near. Local. Soon. Full of promise. No cause for worry.

Eight of Hearts

  • With certainty. Your best chance coming.

  • With certainty. You’ll meet an admirer.

Nine of Hearts

  • Auspicious for your wish. A celebration, wine and music.

  • Watch good for your chance, now! Follow your opportunity wherever.

Ten of Hearts

  • Glad tidings. A sudden turn toward luck.

  • Cheerful news. Better than it looks.

Jack of Hearts

  • Favorable connection. An eccentric person likes you.

  • Friend or relative. You are eccentric.

Queen of Hearts

  • Main female character. A blonde loves you.

  • Main female character. Contentment thru a woman.

King of Hearts

  • Main male character. A cultured man.

  • Main male character. A good provider.

Ace of Spades

  • A funeral. Sickness. Accident.

  • Great vexation. A warning - beware!

Two of Spades

  • Great disappointment. Delay. A change for worse.

  • Legal papers. Bills. Serious quarrel. A sudden journey not for pleasure.

Three of Spades

  • Don’t confide in strangers. Love with your pocketbook at the right time, but think of yourself at other times.

  • Curse his (her) indifference with patience. Avoid trouble on the 3rd day of next month coming to your door,

Four of Spades

  • Disappointing news which you can turn to good account. Be guided by your dream the forth night.

  • Don’t lend to strangers. Opposition from yourself by old ideas.

Five of Spades

  • Fight bad luck on the fifth day, week, month and year.

  • A soft voiced person will cross your path, beware! Insure against loss by fire.,

Six of Spades

  • Missed your best chance. Years. Guests, unwelcome, and trouble.

  • Suffering thru affections. Winter. Something stillborn.

Seven of Spades

  • Opposition. Scandal. Indifferent mate.

  • Loss by fire or theft. The end. Out in the country. Dissension.

Eight of Spades

  • Big house, office, shop. A dark troublemaker. Irritation or spite.

  • Public building - prison. Financial loss. Grief. Accident.

Nine of Spades

  • Bad omen. Doubtful. Bad news from a distance.

  • House - Home. Hard work. A warning! Be cautious!

Ten of Spades

  • A handicap. Need and Want. You need rest.

  • Bad news. Be careful for 10 days. Discard plan.

Jack of Spades

  • Young person of opposite sex. Can’t be trusted. Bad influence.

  • Young person opposite sex. Watch out! Don’t encourage him (her).

Queen of Spades

  • A widow or divorcee. Police - detective - spy.

  • A jealous woman, a shrew. Unfair competition - cheating.

King of Spades

  • Judge, lawyer, sheriff. A lawsuit. Avoid him.

  • Consult a lawyer. A bad affair or business deal. Don’t marry him.

Ace of Diamonds

  • Realized ambition. Important letter or document. A ring.

  • Big money. Your wish granted. Advancement.

Two of Diamonds

  • Big or interesting news. Small sum of money. Belated recognition or position of honor.

  • Enjoyable trip soon. You’re marry late, but prosper. A letter, act on it at once.

Three of Diamonds

  • Trust in your lucky star. Pleasant news soon. Cheer up and act soon.

  • A little alteration will make your plan succeed. Write that letter. Don’t think of gold when you dig for it.

Four of Diamonds

  • A short separation. Loss thru your fault. A conference will benefit all concerned.

  • A visit after you reach home. Assist someone till it hurts, it will bring luck to you and yours.

Five of Diamonds

  • You can make a good investment in somebody else’s failure. A pleasant surprise.

  • Start doing your share, you’ll get unexpected help. You’ll profit thrug. astranger’s bad luck.

Six of Diamonds

  • Spring. Your lucky star rising. You should write a letter.

  • Weeks. Just a gold-digger. Soon a lot of fun. (Or a flirtation?)

Seven of Diamonds

  • Your wish come true. Everything in your favor. A pleasant surprise.

  • Desires fulfilled. Some distance away. Recovery. Improvement.

Eight of Diamonds

  • Moderate success. News of death. A slight miscarriage.

  • A good deal (transaction). Social success. Benefitting conference.

Nine of Diamonds

  • Unexpected money or present. Visit from afar.

  • An early job or engagement. A new acquisition.

Ten of Diamonds

  • Business. Money. Lucky year.

  • Wealth beyond your dreams. Good luck. Raised pay.

Jack of Diamonds

  • New interest to occupy you. A broken chain. Away from home.

  • Any change. A changeable person. Time for a change.

Queen of Diamonds

  • A nagging woman. Suffering thru flirting. News by mail.

  • A woman fond of pleasure. A rich woman. A lucky connection.

King of Diamonds

  • Follow his advice. The turning point in your life. Powerful friend.

  • Government. Rich boss. Good partner. Male relative.

There you go. If your handwriting is distinctively awful like mine, then find someone with nice handwriting to do it for you. You’ll probably want to smudge it up or scratch it up after you do the writing to make it look more dated. If nothing else it’s a chance to practice some no-fail prop making. If it doesn’t end up looking old and dated, it doesn’t have to be. It can just be something you picked up at a garage sale. Either way you end up with a one-of-a-kind looking prop you can use to capture the imagination of people who might be into that sort of thing.

Thanks to Toby for passing this along.