The Mystic Test Book, or the Magic of the Cards

Olney H. Richmond examines playing cards and their history, and how their symbolism and uses contain many sacred mysteries and mystical revelations which date back centuries.

The Mystic Test Book is an eye-opening and exhaustively illustrated work of history, tracing the origins of playing cards and examining their unique appearance. Over 280 distinct images populate the pages of this unique manual, showing the permutations and kinds of playing card, the differences between the four suits – hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs. The author advances the ‘destiny card’ system, whereby cards can be used for predicting the future or for discovering meaning behind past events.

To further explain, Richmond explores the astrological Zodiac and the well-known system of Tarot cards. As this book is primarily concerned with the traditional 4-suit pack of 52 playing cards, we are shown how these can be purposed to spiritual or fortune-telling ends. The relationships of the cards to astronomic phenomena – the movements of the planets, moon and sun – are elaborated upon. The author was part of a secret order who made it known that his writing services were required; thus, obscure and esoteric knowledge of the cards fortuitously found its way into the Mystic Test Book.