Card Memory System

By taking a deck of cards, and telling a story about each card in order, it is possible to memorize a random deck of cards in just a few minutes.  Here is a sample of the first story I made up on the spot.

Ten men with spades came marching down the road. On the path they passed a rich woman. She had with her two of her sons, both named Jack. The first Jack was a loving man and the 2nd carried a sword.  While they were walking, a Queen came down the path with her son. She hailed the men with spades and gave 7 of them gems. There were 3 men with spades left so she gave them each four diamonds. If the men were to bet them at the gaming tables, they'd each win 8 diamonds.

After they went on their way a sadder group of people came down the path. It was a rich lady with a big heart. But she was being held prisoner by the King of Swords and the King of Clubs. On each of the king's shoulders was a raven. They were closely followed by 2 cardinals. Then there was a woman executioner in black. She carried 2 daggers. The rich woman was being accused of stealing a crown with 10 diamonds.


This story system can be used with a whole deck of cards. In this story the order of the cards was
10 of spades, Ace of diamonds, Jack of hearts and Jack of spades. Then the Queen of hearts, Jack of hearts, 7 of spades and 3 of spades. Followed by 4 of diamonds and 8 of diamonds.

Then the story changes. Ace of hearts. King of Spades, King of clubs. 2 of spades, 2 of diamonds. A of spades, 2 of spades, and finally 10 of diamonds.

I think if I make my story more fanciful next time it will be easier to remember. I'm primarily using tarot equivalents, where as the red cards are feminine and the black cards masculine. Also, spades are edged weapons like swords and knives.  Clubs (wands, also fire in most tarot decks) come into play in my stories. Diamonds are rich women, hearts are loving women. In one case I used black as ravens or crows. Red birds can be cardinals, or robins. But use whatever imagery suits you.

Here are some examples:

Ace of hearts:  A loving woman alone (Ace=one)
Two of hearts: A pair of lovebirds. (Hearts=love)
Three of hearts: A threesome of female lovers
Four of hearts: A red building or a  wedding chapel (Fours are buildings, a symbol of four walls equals stabilty. A wedding chapel because wedding=love=hearts=red
Five of hearts:  Hearts are also cups and emotions in a tarot deck so you could see this as 5 red cups/glasses/goblets.
So if in the story there was a woman in black drinking five glasses of red wine, I'd know that was the 5 of hearts.
Six of hearts: A red hexagon (hexagons have 6 sides). On the hexagon is a heart.
Seven of hearts: Since seven is the number of spirituality I might see that as an angel in a red gown.

Hopefully you get the idea. You don't have to use tarot meanings. Whatever is relevant to you will work. Like if you are an artist, then hearts can be artists, diamonds can be patrons of the arts, spades can be debtors, clubs can be agents.  As long as the story line makes sense to you that's what matters.