- Authors: Caitlín Matthews & Rebecca Birrell
- Publisher: Destiny Books (DestinyBooks.com) (imprint of Inner Traditions)
- Publication Date: 06-Jan-2026
- ISBN: 979-8-88850-301-0
- RRP: GB £27.99 / US $35.00
- Reviewed by: Margo Benson
As someone who has previously dabbled with the Petit Etteilla (using a few roughly translated pages of instructions) I am thrilled to get my hands on this wonderful and thorough course and deck. The collaboration between Caitlín Matthews’ deep historical research and Rebecca Birrell’s exquisite design, is a first class match.
Etteilla (Et-TIE-ya) was the pseudonym of Jean Baptiste Alliette, who reversed the letters of his name to market his brand of cartomancy. Caitlín Matthews has translated the original 18th century French, and presents us with Etteilla’s outrageous ego and self-congratulation, along with his intricate instructions into his method of reading the cards.
The 336-paged book consists of 31 lessons and practices, a bibliography, key to answers and an index – taking the reader from discussions around prediction and forming a question, through to a host of spreads. Matthews recommends a measured pace to study as the Petit Etteilla is a many-layered, multi-meaning system. Etteilla’s timing system certainly takes some time to grasp!
You are also encouraged to create your own deck, writing all the meanings on a set of playing cards to really drum in the techniques. My own attempts are both messy and invaluable.
Talking about prediction can lead to conflicts amongst cartomancers, so I love this passage from the book:
Outside of time, we look at the bigger picture and learn how fate, destiny, and luck are woven together and what kind of course they chart for us. In order to guide people through these shoals, cartomancers require both prediction and divination, stepping out of time to divine and see the picture from the widest possible angle and then stepping back into time in order to give the client the most accurate possibilities from the cards.
There are thirty-two 8.5cm x 5.5cm cards plus a Carte Blanche, titled ‘Etteilla’. The deck is a truncated playing card deck using the familiar suits of Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs and Spades, and using numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen and King of each suit. They are read both upright and reversed (reversals have alternative interpretations) and the meanings and keywords are written on the cards themselves. Unlike the Tarot, there are no esoteric wanderings to divine, all the meanings are right there on the cards. They are read from Right to Left.
The top line of meanings is called a Forename. The second line (called a Surname) contains another meaning plus a number. Most of the cards then have a third line contain a meeting number (M). This is where a pair of Surnames adds up to 31. When these appear in a spread this adds yet another meaning to interpret. Each side of the card contains the meanings when you’ve drawn 2 or more cards of the same number or court character. Eg 4xKings = recognition – 3xKings = consultation – 2xKings = a bit of advice.
It sounds more complicated than it is – clear questions and contexts are key. Once you’ve mastered the technique it just takes off and readings can be swift and precise. Also, I found that some keywords require more 21st century applications than others. Caitlín Matthews has included many more up-to-date thoughts on this, and by creating your own deck, you’ll perhaps add your own personal nuances. In one of my readings, ‘Orphan’ referred to an only child, and not one with deceased parents.
The beautiful card backs show a floral pattern where you can discern whether a card is upright or reversed when shuffling. I find this really helpful in making sure there’s a thorough mix before laying out a spread.
Outside of a Tableau, I’m not a huge fan of large spreads, but the Petit Etteilla really lends itself to this kind of storytelling. I particularly gelled with the Proximity Spread (8 cards plus the Etteilla card) and the Spread of Fifteen (15 cards, plus Etteilla, plus 2 ‘surprises’). In Etteilla’s book, the Spread of Fifteen mentions what could be the earliest instruction about choosing a specific topic to read on.
I’ve been learning and focusing on Petit Etteilla for a few weeks now and am totally hooked on the system. The authors have produced something very special here and I highly recommend this set to all cartomancers.
About the authors
The author, Caitlín Matthews, a doyenne of the cartomancy world, has published many books on tarot and oracle decks, as well as sacred and shamanic traditions of Britain and Ireland. She is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars, and runs a healing practice from her home in Oxford, UK.
For books, courses and events see:
Rebecca Birrell is an artist, designer and professional card reader and teacher. The recipient of more than 30 design awards, she has produced several Lenormand and Oracle decks as well as unique wearable art.
For her decks, art, courses and divination tools see:
myinnerwitch.com
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