Interpreting The Cards That *Aren't* There

Exploring the cards that are visible in our spreads is the obvious way to approach any reading. But what about the cards that didn’t make an appearance? Could they also lend some insight into the bigger picture?

I’ve talked a lot about the concept of “reading in the flow”, which is essentially looking at any reading from multiple angles and perspectives. It is a way of observing how the cards interact with each other, where they connect, and also where they repel. Using this method, which examines many variables, we combine intuition with what is visible and ultimately walk away with a much broader understanding of the message.

One aspect of this approach is noting the cards that didn’t show up and considering what implication if any, that may have to the interpretation of the reading.

Let me highlight exactly what I mean with some scenarios below and then we can play around with two visual examples!

The Cards That Come Before/After:

This can be especially potent if you’re only pulling one card, but also works well to explore cards in a spread that perhaps illicit confusion. Sometimes it can be helpful to consider the cards that come before and after that card, sequentially speaking. So let’s say you draw the 5 of Pentacles and you’re struggling to understand what it may mean in the context of your question. Sometimes it can help to consider what came before i.e. The 4 of Pentacles or what comes next i.e. the 6 of Pentacles. While the 5 may not make sense, you may find some current understanding in the 4 or a glimpse of what is to come in the 6. Regardless, even having an understanding of the way in which the cards evolve can lend greater insight into what the individual cards mean.

An Absence of Majors, Minors, or Courts:

We talk about the significance of seeing many majors in a spread, but what if we examined what it meant from the opposite angle. Does your spread lack majors? Does it lack minors? What may that say about the overall message? Perhaps you’re asking a question about your job and you get a spread full of Majors. While you may have expected this to be a fairly practical reading, the absence of minors may be telling a very different story. Or maybe you’ve asked about relationships, and not a single court card showed up. What may this indicate? It is especially telling when the absence defies our expectations!

An Absence of Suits:

Similar to Majors, Minors, or Courts, you may find yourself staring at a fairly balanced landscape, but then notice it is totally absent of Wands. What could the missing suit (or element) be suggesting in the overall theme of the reading? Always consider the question first and then determine what a missing element may mean. Context is important! Perhaps you were asking about very tangible concerns and therefore it wouldn’t be surprising to see Wands missing. On the other hand, maybe you’re asking about a passion project in which case, you’d almost be expecting to see one or two. Examine the question, your expectations, and then compare that to what showed up!

What’s On The Bottom?:

For many of my readings, I will sneak a peek at the card on the bottom of the pile. This card may not have technically made it into the reading, but for me, it can provide an additional layer. People have different approaches on how to interpret this bottom card. For myself, I see it as being the furthest away from the top and therefore, an indication of what the answer or inquiry is *not* about. This helps clarify things for me. Other people regard the bottom of the deck as an underlying concern, a shadow element, a deeper aspect, etc. However you approach it, this card that most certainly did not make it into the reading could provide a helpful level of insight.

Adding Up The Numbers:

Another technique I sometimes perform is adding up all of the numbers present in the reading to come up with an overall vibration. To do this, I add and continue to reduce until I have a single digit. If the single-digit ends up being a 4, for example, I may also regard some of the qualities of The Emperor as being overarching. The Emperor may be nowhere near the reading, but the presence of the number may add another level of understanding helpful to the interpretation.

In addition, if you’re looking at number patterns in a reading, you may find you have many 7s or 3s for example. Again, you could take that as being a significant element and also explore what a 7 or 3 is in its higher expression i.e. The Chariot or The Empress. However, you approach numbers in your reading, looking at the tarot cards they also correspond to is just one more way to explore the cards that *aren’t* there.

Let’s take a look at some visual examples of this method in action. The first image features a spread with 5 cards. Let’s pretend the inquiry topic is around the completion of a creative project. Take a moment to observe what is there and then reflect on the questions that follow.

Page of Cups, 4 of Pentacles, 3 of Cups, 4 of Cups, 7 of Swords.

Do the suits that showed up match what you would expect to see?
What elements are missing?
What may that lend to the overall message?

What I see here is an absence of that Fire element represented in the Wands suit, which I would almost expect in matters of creativity. In addition, there are no Major Arcana cards present. The Page of Cups in the center of the reading may symbolize our seeker. Having no fire and majority water may indicate that there isn’t enough passion or motivation to inspire this project along. Having no Majors present may indicate that this particular project is less involved in our seeker’s personal/spiritual development and more connected to the day-to-day. Is their heart really in it?

Let’s look at another example that touches on an element that we haven’t explored. It has to do with numbers - can you spot it? (let’s assume this inquiry is a general one with no question)

The Ace of Cups, the 3 of Swords, and the 4 of Wands.

What elements are missing?
What may this lend to the overall message?

The overt absences here include no wands, no courts, and no major arcana. But let’s also look at that number sequence. We have three cards that actually go in order - 1, 3, and 4. What’s missing? There is a gap between the Ace and the three. May it be meaningful that the 2 has been left out? 2s are often about duality, partnership, connections, and balance. Perhaps these aspects need further exploration or conversely, have no bearing on the outcome?

Let’s also add up the numbers to see if we can find another missing element. 1+3+4=8. This could imply that the overall vibration of this reading is in line with the number 8. While no 8’s showed up in our spread, perhaps Strength also carries a message for our seeker.

As you can see, there are many ways to explore the gaps in our readings. Just as we read between the lines in our conversations and interactions each day, so too can we approach this tool with that level of scrutiny. What is on the surface? What is below? What is obvious? And what remains to be seen? As you engage with what you technically see, also invoke your intuition to clarify what, if any, of the elements discussed are actually pertinent. Sometimes these missing pieces jump out and sometimes they sneak by. We can decide just how close to look and how important these pieces become to the message. It is always a careful balance of intuition and reason and I hope this technique has provided you some food for thought on how to enhance both.

Julia