Kipper cards: a practical German deck

The free Kipper card reading at the top of this page pulls three cards for you. The first spot, "What awaits you," often points to a theme or event for the day.

The second card, "Who plays a part," usually shows a person or an influence. The last card, "How it turns out," suggests a possible outcome or feeling linked to the situation. When you look at your three cards, think of them as a short story.

The pictures are meant to be read pretty literally. If a person card comes up, ask yourself if someone you know comes to mind. If an event card like Meeting shows up, you can think about where a similar situation might pop up in your day.

Kipper cards are a deck of 36 fortune-telling cards that first appeared in Germany around 1890. People debate where the name came from, but the deck's style is super clear.

The pictures show scenes and people from middle-class life back then, like a courtroom (Court case), a living room (Living room), or a man at his desk (Work). Tarot uses a lot of symbols, but Kipper is very down-to-earth and about specific situations. These cards often point to real events, people you might run into, or places you might go. This makes them especially good for questions about practical, everyday stuff.

If you know Lenormand cards, you'll see some similarities, since both are small decks that aren't Tarot. But Kipper has way more person cards, which really puts the focus on relationships and social interactions. Lenormand usually mixes symbols, while Kipper cards often tell a story more directly through the scenes they show.

The Main Person (male) and Main Person (female) cards are key to the deck. When you ask a question, one of these usually stands for you.

All the other cards in a spread are then read in connection to this main person card, which creates a map of your situation. How far apart the cards are is a big deal in a reading.

1. Cards right next: Cards right next to your main person card suggest things that are close, happening now, or important.
2. Cards farther away: Cards that are farther away can point to things in the future, in the past, or things that aren't as important right now.
3. Pay attention: Many of the figures on Kipper cards look in a specific direction. Pay attention to where a person is looking.
4. Figure looking toward: A figure looking toward your main person card can show an influence coming your way or someone focused on you.
5. Figure looking away: A figure looking away might mean something is leaving, being ignored, or isn't a main part of the current picture.

The card called Journey is a great example of how practical Kipper is. It usually points to actual travel, a move, or a vehicle. This could be a short trip to another town or changing where you live.

• Cards around it: The cards around it give more context, showing what the travel is about or where it goes.
• Other card systems: Other card systems might use a card like this to mean a symbolic path, but Kipper usually stays very concrete.
• Journey card: The Journey card almost always means moving physically from one place to another.
• Personal growth: If you're looking into personal growth, other cards in the deck fit better.