Yes, Yannie, I started out reading playing cards. I had actually gotten my meanings for each card from a variety of sources--and adopted a bit from here and there that just made sense to me. Its been many years though, since reading the playing cards, as I made the jump to reading tarot and now making the jump into reading Lenormand.
There use to be a good site about reading playing cards--Hedgewitch, (though I can't recall the site now), that I did frequent when reading playing cards. I am not even sure if it is still up and running. However, I didn't agree with all of their meanings either, but overall liked their site. Someone else here may know more on that site then I can remember.
The one thing that they did have was this delightful little poem that I always kept regarding the rules to reading playing cards. I will share it below:
“The firstmost rule is easily had
Red cards are good and black cards are bad
The secondmost rule shall bring greater fruits:
It deals with the meanings of each of the suits.
The Hearts count as love, family, and friends.
Diamonds are money, wealth, means, and ends.
Clubs shall mean work, callings, and plans,
And Spades are the troubles that plague every man.
The thirdmost rule toward number inclines;
Just note the card’s pip and read here their signs;
An Ace brings beginnings
And Two gives exchange;
Three shows things growing,
But Four does not change.
Five is the body,
Its health and its stead,
Six shows a path
That the Seeker shall tread.
Seven brings troubles
That Fate has assigned,
While Eight shows ideas
And thoughts in the mind.
Nine heralds changes,
And Ten is the end,
While Kings are the symbols
Of power and men,
Queens are the emblems
Of women and truth,
A Knave is a message,
A girl, or a youth.”
I just never agreed that all red cards are good and all black cards are bad. I am of the mind that there is good and bad with every card--depending on the circumstances of the reading, the cards around it, etc. But, I've always been one (even in tarot) to figure out my own meaning for each card. This takes time and if you do this too, you'll see that you also change with the times too. At any rate, we have many playing card readers here on A.T. and a few threads sharing their views and readings as well. You can start by checking out here:
http://www.tarotforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=174
The one thing about playing cards is that they are easily accessible and inexpensive and you can also easily carry them in your purse. I need to get back into reading playing cards. Maybe one day.