A New Divination Practice: Bringing Together Plum Blossom Numerology and Hana Carta（Hana-fuda)

The Beauty of the Seasons and the Wisdom of the East

Hanafuda, Japan’s traditional flower cards, are rooted in playing cards introduced to Japan in the 16th century. Over time, they developed into a uniquely Japanese deck depicting the beauty and changing moods of the four seasons throughout the twelve months of the year.

Cards originally created for games have often found a place in divination, too. Tarot and Lenormand cards are familiar examples of this.

I am developing my own approach to divination by bringing together Hanafuda and Plum Blossom Numerology (梅花易数), a traditional form of Chinese divination associated with the Northern Song dynasty.

Plum Blossom Numerology offers a way to explore a situation through the principles of the Eight Trigrams. Hanafuda adds another layer of interpretation through its flowers, seasonal imagery, and the natural rhythms reflected in its cards.

By combining these perspectives, I hope to help people explore where they are now and discover new possibilities for the road ahead.

The Meaning Behind the Name TEIKA (汀夏)

My diviner’s name, TEIKA (汀夏), holds a special meaning for me.

The character 汀 refers to the water’s edge, where the sea meets the land. It is a boundary between two worlds: a place where someone might set out across the sea, begin walking inland, or return after a long journey.

I want to be a presence that offers a sense of reassurance to people who arrive at this shore, whether they are preparing to move forward, choosing to pause, or finding their way back.

I do not want to tell people which direction they must take. Instead, I hope to sit with them, carefully explore the situation together, and ask, “Shall we try looking in this direction?”

The character 夏 means summer. I was born in summer, and the season has always held a special place in my heart. I love its heat and the longing for the sea it brings, as well as the quiet melancholy that comes when summer begins to fade. Summer feels like a season of great beginnings and endings.

Together, 汀夏 expresses the image of a shoreline at a turning point — a place to pause, reflect, and consider what comes next.

What Can a Reading Reveal?

During one reading, I encountered a hexagram whose meaning suggested caution around setting out on a journey. At the time, I did not know that the person I was reading for was going to travel. When I learned about the trip later, I was so surprised by the connection that I got goosebumps.

Of course, one experience cannot prove everything. But I was struck by how the meaning of the hexagram could be interpreted in a way that made sense in the context of that person’s situation. It made me curious about the possibilities of this approach.

For me, divination is not about declaring an unchangeable future. It is a way to look more closely at the present, consider different perspectives, and think about the choices that may lie ahead.

I hope a reading from TEIKA can offer you a small clue, a fresh perspective, or a new map as you find your own way forward.

TEIKA aka Nat