Repetition of cards in a Tarot spread

In a Tarot card reading, it is quite interesting and typical to see certain cards repeated. The Tarot reader will often use multiple spreads to address the client's various questions in the course of a single reading. And throughout those spreads, one or two cards (or perhaps three) may appear repeatedly.

Today let's examine the significance of these recurring cards in a Tarot card reading.

It's not easy to do a Tarot card reading. Clients often have a wide range of questions about many aspects of their lives. Naturally, it makes sense to create a unique spread that serves as a guide for the client for each of their queries.

Many Tarot readers may have noticed the appearance of recurring cards when performing these spreads. These cards occasionally appear in questions related to the same situation, but they also frequently appear in spreads made for different scenarios. Many Tarot readers may find this a bit overwhelming and disconcerting.

Even in my own readings for clients, I have observed the appearance of repeated cards on numerous occasions. As always, when this occurs, I rely heavily on my intuition to guide me.

More often than not, I've seen the first interpretation apply to essentially every time the card appears.

What does it mean when a card repeats itself in a Tarot reading?

The following are some instances of card repetition in a Tarot reading that I have observed:

The repetition of cards in a Tarot reading essentially indicates that the meaning or interpretation of that specific card is being highlighted again.

The cards attempt to convey to the client that this condition or scenario will play an important role in the events depicted in the spreads.

 

If the card represents a circumstance, the repeating card may indicate that this situation will serve as a pivotal event or key scenario in the reading, impacting all subsequent scenarios that arise.
The scenario of the repeating card can also help determine when other events connected or not mentioned in the spread will take place.

Examples and explanations of the cards that are repeated in tarot readings

Let me offer some examples to illustrate the ideas I have just presented.

The letter of Justice

The Justice card appeared frequently in several spreads during one of the readings I did for a client. She was wondering a lot about her relationship and career. Now, the letter of Justice frequently refers to decision-making and acting on those conclusions.

But if the card is turned upside down, it suggests that the choice was being made, or in this case, that the client was not acting on the choice they had made. I eventually had to talk to him about the problem because the card kept appearing (and always in the same reversed position). He admitted that the accented interpretation was correct.

In the end, I had to explain to him how his inaction had triggered other events throughout the numerous spreads I had created for him. Since he was the one who decided to take the final action, I of course let him do it.

However, it seemed to me that the letters were screaming at me, informing me that most of their problems and obstacles in life were mainly due to their inaction regarding the decision. Furthermore, if he didn't act, his life would continue to repeat itself until he learned the karmic lesson he needed to learn: acting on a decision he had already made.

The 8 of Swords card

As I've already indicated, recurring cards can occasionally indicate that a certain circumstance in your life will have a significant impact in the coming months. The 4 of Wands card kept coming up in this reading for one of my clients.

And of course, she informed me that she was preparing for a trip out of town to attend the wedding of an old friend from school. I completed a few spreads for her during the reading, most of them career-related.

The 4 of Wands card

This letter kept coming back, too. I just told him that something extremely fascinating would happen during that time, especially regarding his work. A few weeks later, I received a call from my client. She told me about a very intriguing job offer she had received after meeting someone at that wedding – with great excitement!

The Emperor's Letters

Especially those of the Major Arcana, which are linked to a specific Sun sign, can also serve as clocks. Of course, not everyone will agree with this aspect of their interpretation, but in certain cases, my intuition serves as the best source of guidance in these situations.

We all know that the Emperor card represents the sun sign of Aries. March 20th to April 20th is Aries time.

The Emperor card came up in my client’s General Session reading. And all I could think when I turned to look at it was “Aries Time.”

I ignored her as she had no further comment and instead focused on the cards around her, telling my client that all of the things she was describing would likely occur during the time of Aries.

The client then asked me more questions and I continued to do a few more readings, during which the Emperor card naturally appeared again.

So, as far as time frames go, I mostly stuck to Aries time! Once Aries time was over, my client called me one day to share all the exciting events that had happened to her during the month of April (Aries time!), just to chat.

Hopefully, these fun examples will allow you to decide for yourself how repeated cards can emphasize the circumstance or time period they are representing.

Of course, you may have had different experiences, which is ideal! That's how the cards work! Each of us hears them in a language we understand.

Can you help us to share?