The Original Petit Etteilla

A Cartomancers Guide to Divination

by Caitlín Matthews & Rebecca Birrell

The Original Petit Etteilla

A Cartomancers Guide to Divination

by Caitlín Matthews & Rebecca Birrell

A complete translation of the very first book ever written on divining with cards, a full course on how to read the Petit Etteilla and a 33 card deck.

In 1770, Etteilla published his book Etteilla, ou manière de se récréer avec un jeu de cartes, or A Way to Recreate Yourself with a Pack of Cards.

The Petit Etteilla is a practical system of divination suited to questions about everyday events. His unique system forms the foundation and roots of cartomancy for the purposes of divination.

The cards have both upright and reversed meanings, including additional meanings that arise from multiples, card counting and proximity to the Etteilla Carte blanche.

By laying and reading the cards from right to left, and combining the keywords of the ‘forename’ and the ‘surname’ the story is woven together in the form of a sentence.

Etteilla remains the father of cartomancy, influencing modern cartomancy and divination decks across Europe and beyond.

Now his original book is available in English with an english deck and a complete course on how to read his Petit Etteilla.

By Caitlín Matthews and Rebecca Birrell

For more on Caitlín Matthews:

Website https://www.hallowquest.org.uk/

and Substack https://substack.com/@caitlinmatthewstigerna

Book cover of 'The Original Petit Eteilla: A Cartomancer's Guide to Divination' by Caitlin Matthews and Rebecca Burke, featuring vintage fortune telling cards.

  • The Original Petit Etteilla is the important link between older tarots and modern cartomancy. Caitlín and Rebecca have created a masterful guide, a rare gem that brings depth, clarity and historical insights to this wonderful tarot. This guide is a wealth of wisdom, the only resource you need to understand this system.

    Serge Pirotte, author of The Art of Interpreting Lenormand, and Mastering the Oracle Belline.

  • Lovely full-color designs by Rebecca Birrell and lively and engaging text by Caitlín Matthews A veritable gift for fans of playing card history, designers, collectors and readers, to name a few. I can dip in for a fun taste or can dive deeper to more easily engage with intricate Etteilla style inspirations.

    Mari Hoshizaki,  Creative & Movement Arts Instructor

  • The Original Petit Etteilla is a wonderfully presented and approachable introduction to a historic card-reading system. The “Framing Your Question” chapter is especially helpful, setting the tone for meaningful readings. Even though I haven’t used this system often, I’m excited to learn more and add it to my cartomancy toolbox. The clear explanations and charming artwork make it easy to learn and a joy to use. I highly recommend this to anyone looking to broaden their cartomancy practice.

    Jen Sankey, Author of Enchanted Forest Felines Tarot, and Magical Manifesting with the Moon: A Guide to Lunar Magic 

  • The Original Petit Etteilla is a deep dive into a cartomancy system which laid the groundwork for other methods, including my own beloved Lenormand. In this book, appropriately referred to as a “course” by Caitlín Matthews, you will learn the history, lore, and methodology behind the Petit Etteilla created by occultist Jean-Baptiste Alliette in the late 18th Century. Matthews provides the original text, but also walks readers through the text with a modern sensibility, making it accessible for today’s readers. The sublime art, by Rebecca Birrell, is a perfect complement to this bridge between the Age of Enlightenment and our own era. If you are curious about how playing cards can show us the story of our lives, this book would be the place to start, and pays homage to who and what started it all.

    Erika Robinson, author of The Language of Lenormand

  • A welcome in-depth guide for both newcomers, and those already focused on the process of understanding the meaning of reading the cards within the Etteilla system. The Original Petit Etteilla is a captivating read. A must have for tarot enthusiasts, historians, and practitioners alike, this historical guide offers beautifully written and detailed explanation of what can often be seen as a complex reading style.

    Kim Arnold, Founder of the UK Tarot Conference and Author

  • Caitlín Matthews has skillfully prepared this translated version of the rare Petit Etteilla fortune-telling system, making it easy to understand, and accessible for both seasoned readers and newcomers eager to explore cartomancy. Rebecca Birrell’s beautiful cards offer printed meanings for added support. Discover how to predict for yourself and others through this system! Discover how to predict for yourself and others and design your own deck from Etteilla’s instructions!

    Jozefa (Madame Seaqueen), author of the Ask my Cards blog.

  • In this accessible step-by-step guide, Caitlín Matthews intertwines her translation of the 1773 Etteilla’s French text with her suggestions on using the Petit Etteilla method, making it relevant to a 21st century diviner, with the lessons expanding Etteilla’s text and spreads Spreads. Elegantly designed by Rebecca Birrell, The Original Petit Etteilla – A Cartomancer’s Guide to Divination Book and Deck Set is a must for any cartomancer looking to expand their divination skills.

    Mascha Coetzee, cartomancer, tarot history enthusiast, and deck reviewer @ Musings by Mascha

  • The Original Petit Etteilla casts fresh eyes on a delightful but long ignored deck. The cards have been given a wonderful clean modern look without detracting from the original source, and the book is a thoroughly comprehensive storehouse of wisdom. Perfect for divination enthusiasts, both old and new alike.

    Tara Sanchez, Professional Tarot Reader & author of Urban Faery Magick

A divination cartomantic spread with fortune telling cards
Fortune telling cards petit etteilla a cup of tea on a zodiac-themed saucer, three playing cards.