Review: The Doors of Somlipith by Ana Cortez

My first contact with the method created by Ana Cortez and her father, C.J. Freeman, was through the original Playing Card Oracles, more than a decade ago. The book had a revolutionary effect on me as a divination practitioner, with its unique system that blended colours, numbers, elements and geomancy, creating a whole new divinatory mythos.

Now, so many years later, we have a new addition to this universe, The Doors of Somlipith. In her new work, Ana Cortez presents us not only with a new deck, but also with a new book that both expands and deepens what the original book taught us. But make no mistake – this is not a rehash of what has been published before. Absolutely not! Somlipith stands on the 'shoulders' of the original Playing Card Oracles, and uses it as a platform to launch itself to exciting new frontiers.

I believe the biggest difference in The Doors of Somlipith is that it goes beyond teaching divination (which it also does, in detail, in case you are a beginner), and feels more like a 'travel book' into the realms of the cards themselves. The lands and characters we first met in the Playing Card Oracles are explored in transformative ways. The potential interactions between such characters, influenced by the elemental and numerological aspects, helps you weave their stories in readings, turning The Doors of Somlipith into a living oracle, one that beckons the imagination while rooting itself in a very solid, logical method.

Geomancy, which was one of the greatest innovations of the original PCO, receives an even more in-depth treatment in this book, culminating with the connection between the court cards of the deck and the 16 geomantic figures themselves. The traditional 4-card reading is also deeply explored, with Ana providing countless examples on how to see the cards as a whole, and how to interpret the many layers a spread can provide.

As usual, Ana Cortez's writing style is a joy to read. The conversational tone makes us feel like she's right there beside us, and also lends a light touch to what is, in fact, a very deep and elaborate book. And, like with the first book, the way she mixes original tales, poetry and pure esoteric wisdom is rich and delightful. You do not read The Doors of Somlipith – you kind of dive into it. It's a fully immersive experience.

Last but not least, let me talk about the cards: pure luxury! They have a good size and a matte finish, which makes them a pleasure to handle and shuffle. The suit symbols and the names are in golden foil, and the colours are rich and breathtaking. The art is different from the original PCO, but still has the unique spirit of C.J. Freeman in it – always hinting at something magical, dark and mysterious…

Reading The Doors of Somlipith has been so mind-opening, at times even a bit overwhelming, to me... It's not fast-food oracle or spirituality; it's something the soul needs time to fully absorb, and I'm loving it! I see it as a deepening of the revolution started by the Playing Card Oracles, and one I am happy to be able to be a part of.

PCO: Healing the (other) divide?

Hummm... the 7♥ and the 9♦ facing each other on the top positions of the reading. Now, where have I see this before...?

Actually, not long ago! These same cards showed up in the exact same position in my New Moon Reading of March. It's interesting to see a repeated pattern in a spread... and what are the chances of this happening, right? Of course, this time the bottom cards are different, and that changes many things, but it still feels like the cards are saying "Marina, you are doing it again...".

I confess I did this reading out of impulse. I was feeling rather down and seeking clarity about my emotional life... The truth is that, right now, I should be ecstatic, as I am finally graduating, after nearly 7 years of hard work, while going through pandemics and floods and whatnot. But instead I feel... a bit dead on the inside. And that has been impacting my relationships, especially with BF.

So, like with the previous reading, we have the 7♥, the Sword of Healing, looking like it's duelling the 9♦, Gawain. My first impression was that there's a healing factor that wants to come into the reading, but is being kept out by the 9♦, which is a strong card of protection. Now, you might be wondering, why would Gawain protect one against healing? Well, the truth is that healing... hurts, sometimes. It involves scrutinising wounds and pains that we are not always ready, or willing, to face.

The card below the 9♦, which is in the Torso position (the prime place to look for anything concerning one's emotional life), represents whatever Gawain is guarding. And here we have the 5♠, the Impotent King, a card of limitations, of "entrenchment in the known" as Ana writes in her book. And think this card shows that the heart is in a very barren place right now, precisely because it's guarding itself so strongly. Objectively, the 9♦ in the Throat position could represent a fiery, defensive communication that can be "scorching for the unprepared" and is used to keep the heart safe. But the heart is not thriving in all this safety; instead, it's getting drier, more fearful, more isolated.

Then we have the bottom card, in the Foot position, the 8♥ (The Faun). This card looks a bit odd in such a 'serious' spread, but for me it has two effects. First, it softens the 5♠ above it, showing that not all lost for our Impotent King. Second, it's in the position of the physical body, so I can't help but connect it with sexual impulse – the heart may want to stay protected, but the body is ready for "high mischief", as Ana says when she describes the Faun. And I kind of like the way the Faun looks like he's about to creep up to the Impotent King and give him a scare!

So, how to connect all this? Like I said before, an opportunity for healing is near, but there are strong defences in the self that fight to keep the status quo, because true healing often involves letting go or changing certain dynamics that no longer work. And while the 7♥ is a healing card, it is still a sword, still a tool of change. Aggressive communication has been a way to keep the heart safe, to avoid the upheaval, at the cost of the heart's vitality. However, there is still a strong instinctual energy in the body that is making itself know and might end up triggering change too.

Gawain (9♦) is trying to keep the Impotent King dry, protecting him from that water from above... without realising that there is water coming in from the bottom...

In this reading, I feel like the divide is between the conscious forces that ruthlessly defend stability – in typical Diamonds + Spade fashion – and the subtle, yet powerful, emotional and instinctual forces, that can heal, but are also unpredictable.

This is such a powerful message, and makes so much sense to me, that I believe I will come back to this reading many times in the coming days. I am always in awe of the profound magic found in the playing cards...