The Significance of Drawing the Same Tarot Card: A Reality Check
I shuffled my deck today and drew the same card as yesterday: the 5 of Pentacles. I could have shuffled again to get another card. What would be the likeliness of it happening in threes? I just learned the significance of threes in Tarot. But, let’s save that for another blog post at a later date.
The significance of drawing the same card two days in a row should not be overlooked. Earlier this morning, I read and responded to a comment left by Catherine Chapman of Tarot Elements. She offered some interesting feedback on the key symbolism in the card–poverty, which can be applied to all of the elements in life, not just materialistic. In my interpretation, I explained the apparent symbolism in the card: the stained glass, the snow, the impeding blackness of the situation, the two haggard-looking people who appear in distress, the lack of hope. But, I made no mention of the universal theme.
Drawing the same card serves as a reminder that you may be overlooking something. Perhaps you are stubborn. Or, you may be unconsciously avoiding the issue or issues at hand. Regardless, much like the Five of Pentacles serving as an eye opener which I mentioned yesterday, drawing it twice is like putting a red flag in front of a bull. It’s time to take charge and raise awareness at the conscious level.
There is an inquisitive post on Tarot Elements about stripping down to the essential universal points in each card and focus on the universal themes that can be applied to the card in any deck. These universal themes serve as key elements in the Tarot journey. In Tarot, the Minor Arcana relate to actions involving situations that can be changed, as opposed to the Major Arcana cards that depict a specific time or cycle during the journey.
How does this drawing today apply to me? It serves as a reality check. I need to go back to the drawing board and focus on pulling the symbolism together at all times. It may also server as another reminder to not be afraid of confronting what is the most obvious point.
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Totally, your post is a great reminder not to overlook the importance of the unimportant. It’s very easy to overlook these things and see them as unimportant but as your post points out – best to notice.
The 5 of Disks is a strange card; unusual in the Disk suit as it depicts an almost emotional quality to it that the other disk cards do not. There is always a certain strain, a certain desire, a certain isolation that this card alludes to. Also, using Rider-Waite imagery we can see something of the outsider to the card – not that it looks like they enjoy the reputation but what outsider does.
Going ‘outside’ of the traditional interpretation of the card (debt and so on), this card can appear when somebody is starting something new, with all the strain that comes with it. Its perception as much as anything else. The key with this card is that emotions play a larger role than the suit of Disks suggests.
Hi Douglas,
I agree with you about the emotional themes in this card even though pentacles/discs are associated with material goods as opposed to spiritual. I guess it serves as a reminder to keep things in balance as well, regardless of suit.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about it applying to to something new. There is a theme of uncertainty that is apparent in this card, and that’s where numerology comes in! Catherine pointed that out in my initial post. When the time comes in the future, I will need some book selections as well as links to aid in the learning process.
Warmest regards, Nicole
Hi Nicole,
You’re right to pick up on the significance of a second drawing of the same card. It is usually because of something we missed, or a the point just wasn’t driven home enough. This happens a lot in Tarot, you’ll frequently find yourself asking the question ‘what didn’t I get?’
Often, seeing the same card repeatedly can also suggest the situation around you just hasn’t changed sufficiently and you’re still dealing with the same issue – a point being driven home for a different reason.
When I read this post, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride for you, in how far you’ve come so quickly. I know you’re a writer and that you work in publishing, but this post in particular shows you’ve taken a leap in how you see things, and how you’ve analysed this situation, how you approached it.
I’m thoroughly enjoying watching your journey, and on occasion being part of it. Thank you for another wonderful ’shout out’. It feels awesome that you get such a lot from what I write, but I want to share with you that it’s a two-way street – I’m gaining an awful lot from being part of this too – the learning never ends, for any of us
Best wishes,
Catherine