Recently a tarot reader wrote to me asking about how to discern the meaning of cards that keep showing up in one's readings. It will happen from time to time when reading for oneself where the same card or cards will reappear no matter what the subject or question. It would be fine if we knew what message these nagging cards were trying to convey, but we often don't. Their reappearance becomes more of a frustration than anything else and they seem to block us from figuring out the rest of the reading, too.
So what to do when these naggers show up time and time again? I think just the fact that they're being repetitive can cause a kind of "block" to our understanding of them. If a card or series of cards shows up once, we have no problem interpreting them, but once they start becoming frequent visitors we start to wonder what else they're trying to say apart from the original reading. The more we try to figure it out, we tend to over-think. Over-thinking usually blocks us from hearing our intuition and the situation gets frustrating as we pour over the individual card meanings, looking up definitions, and searching tarot websites for clues. One meaning leads to another, and another, and another....
I've experienced the best results from simply doing another reading on what the recurring cards are messaging. You'll want to remove the repetitive cards from the deck before laying out your reading because the last thing you want is for tarot to answer with those same cards, which is what usually happens. What does the 2 of Pentacles mean for me in these readings? The 2 of Pentacles. Thanks a lot, tarot. In the case of multiple recurring cards, I would do a reading on each and one for them together. A short, two or three card spread asking a direct question is best such as, "What does this card mean for me now?" is best. It is also helpful to have a position in your reading for "The card does not mean this," which will help rule out some of the various things your mind has been mulling over. Most importantly, do not over-think these readings and go with your initial intuitive meanings that come to you.
Another option is to consult another trusted tarot reader. I often receive feedback after a reading that the cards I pulled were the same cards the client had been seeing repetitively in their own readings but my more objective view was able to see what they had not.
Do you have another way to figure out those nagging recurring cards? I'd like to hear your suggestions!
