The Girón Newspaper, the official daily of the province of Matanzas, surprised many by dedicating the closing episode of the first season of its podcast "Matanzas por Contar" to cartomancy as a Cuban spiritual tradition, a practice that the state media has historically approached with distance or overlooked.
The episode, titled "The Power of Cartomancy," was released on August 30 with a duration of almost 29 minutes. It is hosted by two journalists identified as "Betty and Giselle," who went out to the streets of Matanzas to gather opinions from citizens and interviewed the local cartomancer Lily González.
What stands out is not just the research topic, but the approach. The official media presents cartomancy in a positive and culturally legitimate manner, without ideological condemnation or folkloric distancing, describing Cuban cartomancers as part of "a deeply rooted spiritual and esoteric tradition that combines indigenous, African, and European religious practices."
Lily González has been working as a card reader since she was 17. She typically uses a Spanish deck and explained her method naturally: "I shuffle the cards 12 times, divide them into three, and tell you about your home, your health, and your happiness."
Regarding the prejudices surrounding the practice, the opinions of the population were quite diverse. "I don't think it's that diabolical, nor that dark, or anything," said a Cuban.
However, another person warned that "we must be very careful because we live in a world that is dual, in a world of darkness and light."
The podcast distinguishes two main branches of cartomancy in Cuba: the popular, which uses the Spanish deck for inquiries about love, work, health, and the future; and the religious, which is integrated with santería or spiritism to convey "messages from beyond."
Regarding divination instruments, the episode details the most commonly used decks: the Spanish deck, containing 48 cards divided into four suits (gold, swords, clubs, and cups); the French deck, with 52 cards (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades); and the Marseille Tarot, consisting of 78 cards —22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana—.
The episode's description encapsulates the underlying philosophy of the practice: "The cards do not dictate fate like an imperial law; it is our own decisions that shape the path."
The reactions of the interviewed residents of Matanzas range from skepticism to curiosity. One citizen admits that reading tarot cards challenges her: "And that amuses me a lot." Another Cuban asserts that "this life has many mysteries and one really doesn't know what the true reality is."
Cartomancy is not a marginal practice in Cuba: since 2013, Resolution 42 has recognized it as a self-employment activity, with a minimum fee of 150 pesos per month at that time.
The most well-known fortune tellers in Havana mostly worked in areas with high tourist traffic, but there are others who hold their consultations in their own homes, and sometimes it is necessary to make an appointment, as long lines often form.
This practice is not exclusive to women. There are men with great skills in card reading. It is common for Cuban cartomancers to have undergone a religious initiation or to be spiritualists. Some practice Afro-Cuban religions or profess the Catholic faith.
In times of crisis and desperation, more people turn to esoteric consultations in search of hope, a divine solution to their problems. Cartomancy symbolizes that fusion between popular spirituality and everyday life.
In Cuba, figures such as “Juana la cubana”, known for being the santera of the Plaza de la Catedral, and Marta Estévez, the cartomancer who inspired the famous film Las profecías de Amanda, directed by Pastor Vega and starring Daisy Granados, stand out.
"Matanzas por Contar" has explored themes of local history and mysticism throughout its first season—from the mummy of Matanzas to the mysteries of the French Pharmacy—but the episode on cartomancy is the one that concludes the cycle, giving it a prominent place within the production of the state media.
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