Cartomancy
is a form of fortune-telling or divination using a deck
of cards. The practice of cartomancy has been observed
since playing cards first came into use in Europe in
the 14th century.
Practitioners of cartomancy are generally known as cartomancers,
card readers or, simply, readers. Some practitioners
have claimed that cartomancy's origins date back to
ancient Egyptian times, the art being derived from wisdom
given to the ancient Egyptians by the scribe-god Thoth,
although this belief is by no means common today.
According to some traditions, a deck that is used for
cartomancy should not be used for any other purpose.
Cartomancers generally feel that the deck should be
treated as a tool and cared for accordingly. Some cartomancers
also feel that the cards should never be touched by
anyone other than their owner.
