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Kipper Card Meanings

The Kipper is a specialized forecasting system that focuses exclusively at providing advice about a Dating Game. Therefore avoid using it for answering questions about business or civic matters, and instead use it only to answer questions pertaining to your love life. Always bear in mind that in matters of the heart especially, your agenda may not be their agenda, and as such you may receive answers you didn't want to see.

There are 36 Kipper cards, and each Kipper card is differentiated only by its standardized card Number. Traditionally, card publishers will include a brief keyword phrase of their own devising on each card to help newbies. Originally these phrases were only written in German, but several decks with phrases written in English are now available.

Kipper cards are always read upright inside of Spreads (card #8 often fulfils the role of a "reversal" aspect), which can be either Tableaus or Strings. Individual cards can also express a clear Yes, No, or Maybe answer. Card interaction is a key feature of Kipper Spreads, and the cards reveal quite a bit about the dating game players. The de facto reference deck is the 1920s facing variant of the classic "Original Kipper".

In a Spread, cards falling to the left of a focus card are usually seen as being in the past, while those to the right are seen as being in the future. Note that although amplifying readings using image facing has been a popular adjunct since the mid 20th century, there are no standards requiring how images must face (and most LWBs don't even mention it), so facing interpretation is always arbitrary deck (and cartomancer) dependent.

Although small in number, Kipper cards are very versatile. Four of the cards express low/high aspects of their theme. Twelve of the cards are antonyms of each other. One card can flip another cards' meaning. Ten cards specifically refer to the actual players in the Dating Game, with six of these referring to major players. The other cards refer to the events in the melodrama. Many cards can reveal an aspect about a card that they are paired with, and some can even recommend actions for the Querent to take.

Kipper Lessons (*.mp4)

Lesson 1 - The Dating Game

Lesson 2 - Persons in the Kipper

Lesson 3 - Action in the Melodrama

Lesson 4 - A Spread Speaks

Lesson 5 - Choosing a Spread

Kipper Card Facing - Facing comparison between five popular Kipper decks

Card examples are taken from the classic Original Kipper. Above the card photo is the cards standard number, along with a keyword phrase that I believe expresses the card meaning succinctly. Below the card photo are bullet points. The [ ^ ] symbol shown on some person cards indicates whom the avatar is often traditionally substituted for (actual avatar assignment is always at the discretion of the cartomancer). The [ * ] symbol indicates a course of action that the card is suggesting for the Querent. The [ "" ] symbol indicates an alternative card meaning.


01 - Prime Gentleman	02 - Prime Lady	03 - Marriage	04 - Meetups

Man in prime of life Male Querent Male Significant Butch Significant	Woman in prime of life Female Querent Female Significant Effeminate Significant	Union Marital bond Committed cohabitation	Physical socializing Courting opportunity


05 - Older Gentleman	06 - Older Lady	07 - Pleasant Message	08 - False Person

Fatherly figure Mature male Querent Mature male Significant `^ Rival masculine Suitor ^ Cuckold`	Motherly figure Mature female Querent Mature female Significant `^ Rival feminine suitor ^ Cuckquean`	Upbeat tidings * Reveal your satisfaction	Deceptive Person * Warning to reevaluate "Flips meaning of paired card"


09 - Change	10 - Journey	11 - Sudden Riches	12 - Privileged Woman

A shift New direction Relocation Change of view	Round trip Away on travel * Take a trip	Major monetary increase Financial windfall "Gain"	Young woman Free spirit Artistic `^ Potential tryst partner` "The finer things in life"


13 - Wealthy Man	14 - Upsetting Message	15 - Success in Love	16 - Collect Thoughts

Young man Person of means Well connected `^ Potential tryst partner` "Auspicious results in money matters"	Downbeat tidings * Reveal your displeasure	Sex Intimacy Mutual love	Reflecting Forward planning * Think it through


17 - Bestowed a Present	18 - Child	19 - Ending	20 - House

Minor recognition Meriting acceptance	Dependent child * Warning of childishness "Fresh start"	Conclusion Termination	Stability Domesticity A secure physical retreat


21 - Private Matter	22 - Regimented Person	23 - Dispute	24 - Theft

Embarrassing secret Present tense Privacy	Controlling person Official Tries to manage your affairs for you "The executive branch"	Disagreement Denial	Unexpected loss Clandestine exploitation * Avoid self-imposed deprivation


25 - High Honors	26 - Fortune Smiles	27 - Gift of Money	28 - Expectation

Major recognition Meriting reverence	Success Good luck Ease	Minor monetary increase Unexpected extra cash	Short wait * Be patient


29 - Trapped	30 - Judgmental Person	31 - Malaise	32 - Adversity

Unwanted obligation Restricted Isolated	Resolving person Arbitrator Tries to make your decisions for you "The judicial branch"	Uneasiness Suspicion Temporary indisposition	Failure Bad luck Troubles


33 - Doubts	34 - Absorbing Distraction	35 - Long Road Ahead	36 - Hope

Uncertainty Concern Depression Pessimism	Hobbies Delinquency from the game	Long wait * Be persistent	Wishing Open mindedness Wanderlust

Deck Division

Person Cards == 01, 02, 05, 06, 12, 13

(secondary players == 08, 18, 22, 30)

Action Cards == 03, 04, 07, 09, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

Antonym Cards

01 --- 02
05 --- 06
07 --- 14
26 --- 32
28 --- 35

(11 --- 24)

Similar Cards

17 --- 25
27 --- 11

Card Leaning:

YES == 03, 05, 06, 07, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 36

MAYBE == 01, 02, 04, 09, 10, 16, 23, 28, 30, 34, 35

NO == 08, 14, 19, 22, 24, 29, 31, 32, 33

Spreads

All Card

The most traditional of the Kipper Spreads is this "All Card" Spread variant, which uses all thirty-six of the Kipper cards laid out in a rectangular tableau. Begin the Spread by thoroughly overhand shuffling the deck face down.

After shuffling, divide the deck into 3 relatively even piles, laying the lower portion on the left, the middle portion in the middle, and the upper portion on the right. Now flip these piles over to reveal the bottom card in each pile (see illustration). If any cards are reversed, spin them so they are upright. The interaction occurring between these three cards in this string Spread reveals an overarching motif hanging over the reading, and thus will color the remainder of the reading.

Now flip the piles back over, and re-stack them together with the lower pile on the bottom, the middle pile in the middle, and the upper pile on the top. Start peeling cards off from the top of this stack consecutively, turning each card face up to build a rectangular tableau of nine columns wide by four rows high (see the illustration for card laydown order). If any cards are reversed, spin them so they are upright. The first card laid down from the top of this stack indicates the overall Theme that this Spread decided it wishes to discuss regarding the Querent, and it should be pondered upon (including how the motif is coloring it) before the other cards are read.

After all the cards have been laid, find the appropriate card that indicates the Querent (card 01, 02, 05, or 06). Focus primarily on reading the 8 cards immediately surrounding this card. Note that due to the Querent cards position, not all eight cards may be displayed (an important factor, as this skews the emphasis of the reading towards a particular direction). The three cards to the left talk of the past, the three cards to the right talk of the future, while the card above and below talk of the present. The four cards immediately diagonal from the Querent card, while primarily subordinate and thus only shading the meaning of their adjacent card horizontal of the Querent card, will also tend to shade the meaning of their adjacent card vertical of the Querent card.

The Footing card below the Querent card is considered to indicate a situation that is currently being quashed by the Querent. Pay particular attention to the Heading card directly above the Querent card, as it is considered to be the key developing situation that the Querent is currently pointing towards. Note that either or both of these situations may be in their infancy, and thus barely perceptible to the Querent.

How other cards in the Spread are interacting with the Querent card can be gleaned by examining all of the cards aligned vertically, horizontally, and to a minor extent diagonally of the Querent card. Upon these cards is where the three overarching motif cards will have the most influence.

Cards on the vertical column have the strongest influences, as they are directly affecting what is happening in the present. Any cards below the Footing card are qualifiers to the footing card, while any cards above the Heading card are notable qualifiers to the heading card.

Cards on the horizontal row are examined from far left to far right. Cards flowing inwards from the left towards the Querent card reveal how the past moved towards the Querent card to reach the present, while the cards flowing away from the Querent card towards the right indicate how the future might develop from the present.

As already noted, cards on the diagonals in relation to the Querent card are only subordinate shadings affecting the cards on the horizontal row. Cards flowing diagonally inwards from the left towards the Querent card reveal how the past moved towards the Querent card to reach the present, while the cards flowing diagonally away from the Querent card towards the right indicate how the future might develop from the present.

* At the end of the reading you could optionally gather clues about influences which may be affecting any of the other Person cards in the Spread (cards 01, 02, 05, 06, plus potentially 08, 12, 13, 18, 22, 30). Read only the 8 cards surrounding the Person card. The three card motif might have some influence, but never the Theme card.

Focus Card

The "Focus Card" Spread is another traditional Kipper Spread. In its full form it uses all 36 cards laid out in a bulls eye pattern, and is intended for revealing the circumstances surrounding a Kipper person of interest. Begin the Spread by thumbing through the deck to find the Person card (card 01, 02, 05, 06, 08, 12, 13, 18, 22, or 30) to be the Focus, then lay this first card down face up and upright. Next thoroughly face down overhand shuffle the remaining cards in the deck.

After shuffling, start peeling cards off from the top of deck consecutively, turning each card face up to build the bulls eye tableau (carefully examine the illustration to understand the criss-cross card lay down pattern). If any cards are reversed, spin them so they are upright. The first cards laid will form the inner ring, the next group of cards laid will form the outer ring, and the last group of cards laid will form the border. The card from the bottom of the deck is the bulls eye, and this last card is laid down on top of the Focus Person card in the very center of the tableau.

The Spread is read by evaluating cards based upon their relative linear distance from the Focus card. The farther away from the Focus card (the bulls eye card being closest), the weaker that cards influence will be upon the Focus card. In many cases the reader may not have to look much beyond the innermost ring, as most cards lying beyond are typically insignificant to the reading. For this reason, many readers will abreviate the Spreads construction, partially building the tableau with only ten cards before they begin their reading (the Focus card, the first 8 cards drawn from the top of the deck, plus the bulls eye card taken from the bottom of the deck). Should it be necessary, the reader can always later build the next ring from the cards still undrawn from the deck.

Clarifications:

Card quirks

Card 3 refers to a committed union, regardless of the parties or how it is implemented.

Card 4 is not a virtual connection. It is an actual physical encounter, where your presence has the potential of being observed.

Card 13 is not just a financial hookup. It can also be a person who can hook you up to social connections.

Card 15 refers to a mutual condition. It does not mean a one-sided infatuation.

Card 18 is treated by the Kipper more like baggage than a person.

Card 23 is more about bickering than a situation requiring arbitration.

Card 24 is not burglary, or even necessarily financial, but rather more in the nature of insider exploitation.

Card 31 is not a condition requiring hospitalization, but rather more in the nature of a discomfort.

Card 34 refers to being intentionally absorbed with an activity that interferes with dating.

The infinite meanings of card 8

Card 8 is an indicator of a deception. ALWAYS LOOK AT THE CONTEXT.

When we say card 8 flips an associated cards meaning, we do not mean complete reversal. Card 32 for example does not suddenly become card 26. It means that you are being deceived in the same way, and perhaps even in the same mild manner, that false eyelashes are a deception. In some contexts though it will instead mean that you are deceiving yourself about some aspect of the paired cards matter, and as such it is thus a warning to reevaluate.

Card 8 can of course stand on its own, in which case it would signify that there will be an interaction with a deceptive person. If paired with cards 1, 2, 5, or 6, it usually indicates that the person the paired card represents is being deceptive. This would also apply to cards 12, 13, 18, 22, and 30 if they are representing persons. Be especially leery if card 13 is representing a banker, because it, as well as card 27, may come with obscured obligations or deprivations.

Pairing with cards 7 or 14 usually indicates that what you are reading is probably not the whole story. This would also be true of card 4 where the communication is face to face, because pleasantries may be given just to be polite, or things may not be able to be said due to the presence of another within earshot. Dig a little deeper before becoming elated or upset. Remember the quote from Samuel Clemens that Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. Card 19 though will usually still mean an ending, and the deception would only be in the details, such as a sharp breakup having a possibility of future reuniting.