Las Vegas – What’s Hidden In the Name?
Sharon Jeffers

I’ve always been curious about the history of places and how they were named. It’s become even more fascinating over the past two decades while exploring the playing card deck and its ancient roots. It’s a little known fact that the original purpose of the playing card deck was as a calendar, and that the deck of cards is actually a book of ancient mysteries.

The Cards and The Calendar
Something to consider; there are 52 weeks in a year and 52 cards in the deck; there are 4 seasons and 4 suits; there are 13 weeks in each of the seasons, and 13 cards (ace-king) in each suit. There are also 13 lunar cycles in a calendar year. There are 12 months in the year, and 12 court cards (jacks, queens, and kings) in the deck. When added together by their individual values, the sum total of the card deck is 364. Add the Joker with the value of “1” and the total is 365, the number of days in the calendar year. The card deck has its own brand of numerology that assigns a value to each card in the deck. Using this system is how I uncovered the mystical secrets regarding the history and unfolding of Las Vegas and its name.

The Origin of Las Vegas’ Name
In the 1800s, extensive regions throughout the Las Vegas valley gave way to fresh artesian wells. These streams not only fed the Las Vegas Wash, they produced lush green foliage that graced the desert floor from the Las Vegas Valley to the Colorado River. History says that Mexican merchant Antonio Armijo and his caravan of men discovered the Las Vegas valley in 1829 when traveling through the area on their way from New Mexico to Los Angeles to establish new business. They followed the tributary along the Old Spanish Trail, from the Colorado River to the valley, making use of the waters along the way. It was on that trip that they named the region Las Vegas, which is Spanish for The Meadows. Imagine how beautiful it must have been.

The name Las Vegas has other meanings as well, such as the ones that are uncovered by this mystic science of the cards. The cards reveal a great deal about the influences at work behind the scenes of this city by way of its name and two very important dates from the past. The name Las Vegas, when calculated in the card system is the Three of Spades. This is that influence of; “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. The Three of Spades is the card of the artist and represents brilliance in business, with a special talent for bringing art, beauty, and fantasy together, often resulting in lucrative business ventures. At least that’s one of the higher aspects of the influence.

A look through the veil of what might be hidden with this card shows us that the influence of the Three of Spades is one that can be filled with fantasy and illusion, deception, addiction, hidden information, and that which is unusual, unexpected, and unpredictable. The Three of Spades is inventive, and its innate gift to be clever can be extremely efficient at hiding things. I would venture to think that there have been many unsolved mysteries, deaths, and missing persons throughout the history of Las Vegas. And of course, this is where many people go to secretly express their alter egos. This card rules sensuality and illusion at its very best and at its very worst. On the highest side of things, the influence of the Three of Spades embodies tremendous power for entrepreneurial endeavors, and the establishment of resources for good fortune and secured finances – especially having to do with illusion. Just as the magician pulls a rabbit out of his hat or a dove from his sleeve, the extreme inventive intelligence of this card can bring forth something from nothing, time and time again.

The Spade suit represents discipline, spirituality, and wisdom, and the three evokes the creative expression of those energies. The natural evolution of this card’s life path leads to higher consciousness and self-awareness. Its destiny is to bring higher values into form and function, and evoke change and self-awareness through the wisdom and expression of the higher mind. True good fortune will come from that which is hidden and mystical once it has been revealed, so all endeavors spiritual are actually seeds that are being called forth from the essence of this cards soul placement.


Important Days in Las Vegas History
Las Vegas was founded as a city on May 15, 1905. In conjunction with the yearly calendar, May 15 is a Four of Diamonds / Eight of Hearts day. How does this influence the city? The Four of Diamonds represents stability related to financial gain, and security with business ventures - most particularly those having to do with fantasy or illusion. The secondary card, the Eight of Hearts is known as the playboy/playgirl card. Need I say more?

On July 1, 1909, the new county was named after William Clark, who was responsible for bringing the railroad to southern Nevada. Las Vegas became the county seat. July 1 is the Ace of Spades / Two of Hearts day. The Ace of Spades is the card of the magician. The Two of Hearts is a powerful card of unity in love, and business partnerships. The Ace of Spades is a power to be reckoned with – this is a force of will and determination, and magic and mystical power. It is the card that represents the card decks mystic science.

On March 16, 1911, Las Vegas was incorporated. This day in the cards and the calendar is the Seven of Diamonds; the Millionaires Card, and the King of Diamonds; the card of manifestation and mastery over money and the successful businessman. These are influences that are determined to succeed, and often establish kingdoms of success.

There is much, much more to all of this, and the hidden influences that govern the unfolding destiny of Las Vegas. Ultimately, all of these influences have exalted expressions for higher awareness. The Three of Spades is a card of deep spirituality, and the Four of Diamonds established sound values. The Eight of Hearts is the card that represents the power of love, and the Ace of Spades is the card of spiritual transformation. The Seven of Diamonds unites spiritual and material values, and the King of Diamonds is ultimately the master of higher values.

There are many secrets and mysteries hidden in our deck of fifty-two playing cards, about each of us personally, and the places in our world. The discovery and unveiling of the card deck is intriguing, enlightening, and a lot of fun to discover that it’s all in the cards! ◆