Why Symbolon is an Astro-Cartomancy Masterpiece

Cards that combine astrology and cartomancy (fortune-telling with cards) are numerous, and this genre is generally called Astro-Cartomancy. Decks that place more emphasis on astrology often highlight the term Astrology itself. If you want to choose a quality deck, you need to understand the underlying astrology; there are many poorly designed decks that use astrological symbols superficially.

​ The Symbolon deck, published in the U.S. in 1993, is based on astrology and belongs to the specialized card category. It's a professional work created through the collaboration of three experts—a testament to solid investment and expertise.

 

Astrology: The Necessary Foundation

Astrology requires study because it possesses a clear philosophical structure and system for interpreting the relationships between planets and zodiac signs. Without knowledge of these mechanics, it is difficult to understand.

Astrology uses symbolic signs. The English term is Symbol, and the Greek term is Symbolon—hence the name of the deck. Therefore, knowledge of these astrological symbols is essential.

Despite this, the Symbolon deck is popular even among those who know nothing about astrology because the visual messages are clear and effective for general cartomancy readings.

 

 

House Chart

The Planetary Structure of Symbolon

If you examine the House Chart, you'll notice that Mercury and Venus appear twice. The zodiac contains 12 signs, but there are only 10 planets (excluding Earth). From Earth's perspective, Mercury and Venus are inner planets with shorter orbital periods, meaning they are observed much more frequently. This is why they each govern two signs in the chart.

 

The Symbolon deck’s structure establishes 12 foundational personalities/temperaments—each being a set of one zodiac sign paired with its ruling planet. The deck then symbolizes the potential outcomes when these personalities interact.

 

The Card Structure

Each Symbolon card reveals the zodiac sign and planetary symbols in its four corners. The pairs that belong together are often visually separated across the left and right sides of the card.

The cards are simple if you memorize the Zodiac Sign-Planet pairs from the House Chart. By knowing and applying the basic attributes of each planet and zodiac sign, you can enrich your card readings, gaining a deeper understanding of the background and underlying cause of the question asked.

 

For example, the image on the side shows the symbolism created when the Lover and Master combine: it symbolizes professionally nurturing and raising life conceived through love. The key concept, which can be reinterpreted to fit any situation, is Responsibility for Creation. The crucial prerequisite is that the 'Lover and Master have combined,' implying a fascinating backstory behind every card.

​

 

The structure of the Symbolon deck

 

The Symbolon Deck: A 78-Card Epic

The structure of the Symbolon deck is a system where different <Zodiac Sign-Planet> pairs meet, resulting in a new keyword being generated from that synthesis.

• The 12 yellow cards form the basic personalities/temperaments (e.g., Warrior, Lover, Mediator). Users often classify these as the Major Arcana because they represent the fundamental energies. (Although some incorrectly divide the Major Arcana into 10 planets and 12 signs, the Symbolon deck itself does not separate the two; they are always paired.)
• The remaining cards are called the Minor Arcana, and the total card count, 78, mirrors that of the Tarot deck. (Note: These are called this for convenience and are not Tarot cards.)

When you categorize the rest of the cards according to the 12 base cards, a grand epic unfolds. The dramas of various protagonists play out within the deck, representing scenes from our own lives.

This large narrative structure was likely considered both a strength and a weakness by the creators before its release, leading to the deck's subtitle: Deck of Remembrance. It is meant to recall past memories to reflect on the present. However, the fear that younger users might not grasp this grand narrative is unfounded—even teenagers have their own life stories. The real challenge is the difficulty in interpreting the images from a teenage perspective.

The Symbolon deck actively positions itself as a Psychological Card Deck rather than just an Astrological Card Deck. This intention is clearly revealed on the card whose keyword is Ego, which represents the sign of Leo under the guardianship of the Sun.

Therefore, readings can focus on the psychological aspects—exploring desire and frustration, courage and fear—by broadly applying a psychological perspective that divides the reading into conscious and subconscious realms.