Tarot Pick-A-Card: What Are You Not Seeing?

Take a dive with me into the unconscious and attempt to discover what you might be missing.

Hi readers, welcome to another tarot pick-a-card reading! Today I have drawn cards for four piles to ask “What are you not seeing?”

I always feel as if the shuffling process is so random. I shuffle sort of chaotically and cards fall out. Sometimes it’s one card that sticks out and I pick it from the deck. Other times, an entire stack fell out. I divided these stacks across all four piles one card at a time. From this process emerged synchronicities that I couldn’t have possibly seen coming emerge during the reading. I don’t always completely understand how it all works. There must be a greater truth that connects and relates with all of us.

Decks

Today I am using the Wild Unknown Pocket Tarot, the Seed and Sickle oracle deck the I Ching complete divination kit, the Tea Leaves fortune card deck, and the What’s In Your Stars astrological oracle deck.

How to pick your pile

The first method is to pick a deck from the image below. What illustration calls to you? Each card has a stone paired with it. What stone calls to you? Next, you can pick a random number 1–4. Or, use the descriptions. Below I have listed the name of the herb depicted, the number on the herb card, and the name of each stone that I placed on each card in the image.

Pile Your Pile

Pile 1: Mandrake, the number 50, and a scolecite stone.

Pile 2: Elder, the number 34, and a petrified/fossilized wood stone.

Pile 3: Tulip, the number 14, and a Botswana agate stone.

Pile 4: Alder, the number 43, and a white jade stone.

Disclaimer: tarot pick-a-card readings are for entertainment purposes only.

Pile 1

Significator card: Mandrake

If you feel that other people can grow and learn and be better than you, remember that being an adult is not a race. You have different strengths, desires, and circumstances. The mandrake takes three years to mature. Legends say that tiny humanoid-like creatures grow in their roots. These creatures would like to send you messages. Open your eyes up to the universe through your dreams and your surroundings.

Astrology: Uranus, Change — “tumbling down a hill”

There is nothing that looks fun about free-falling down a hill — but this is actually a pretty positive card. This card suggests that you let the wind blow you where it wants you to be. You have been holding on so tight and rightfully so. But, the universe says that it’s time for you to innovate, rebel, and find some fresh ideas. So, go ahead, and find a safe hill to roll down. Protect your head, but also let yourself go.

I Ching: 36, Brightness Hidden

You might appear as if other people do not agree with some aspect of who you are or what you believe. You might feel like you can’t show yourself. It appears that getting an upper hand might not be an option for you at the moment. Just make sure to keep your light alive and in a safe place. Make sure you keep that fire burning by remembering to feed your soul.

Tea leaves:

• Ram, a stubborn, aggressive person
• Gong, an exciting event
• Camel, preserver and you will overcome problems
• Clouds, temporary problems
• Dog — far away, a distant friend is thinking of you

Tarot Cards:

It appears that you are busy, overwhelmed, caught up, or otherwise “in the weeds”. In general, things are much better than they look to you right now. Your tea leaves suggest that your troubles are going to be short-lived. And, your cards ask that you stop and smell the roses. Your cards read more like a round-up than a story. Like instruments in an orchestra, you might need to back up to hear the cards harmonize together.

Eight of pentacles -

A spider sits in a vast web dotted with eight tiny coins. An overwhelmed person might look at this card and have no idea what it is trying to say. The web is so detailed that it covers the entire card. What are the coins doing there? Is the spider stuck? Why does the web get looser in the middle? Why is there a spider on the eight of pentacles? Consider if you have been so bogged down in details that you haven’t been able to see the bigger picture anymore.

Daughter of Pentacles -

A deerling is shaded below a rainbow, out of the spotlight. In this card, traditionally called the page of pentacles, a person, or a child, works hard completing smaller logistical details that are a part of the bigger picture. This deer, these details, don’t scream and shout for attention. They happen in the background quietly. You need credit given where credit is due.

Five of swords -

One sword cuts a rope so all the other swords tumble and clang on the sidewalk below. It might have appeared like there is or was conflict or competition. But this is actually just preventing you from seeing other perspectives. Now that all the swords are free perhaps you will have an opportunity to compare notes.

Four of wands -

These wands look a little more like the kind of sticks that fall off a tree during a storm. These “wand” sticks are the kind of thing a kid might pick up and use on a playful pretend adventure through their backyard. How do you find joy?

Life is busy, I get it. But, we all need the time and space to shoot some hoops or do other fun things just to burn some of that “mundane” energy away. The four of wands is a celebration card. Are you coming up on a milestone? Or did you just pass it and forget that you deserve to chill a bit?

Nine of pentacles, reversed -

This is an interesting nine of pentacles. It is reversible. I didn’t initially even notice that it was upside down. Apart from the Roman numerals on top, what’s up is down and what’s down is up. Consider if any limitations you think exist could be self-imposed. Shift your perspective and you might find that everything you want in life could be within reach.

Eight of swords -

A monarch butterfly hangs from a sword. It is out of the way of danger, but just barely. The butterfly appears like it is ready to emerge and fly. Instead, the butterfly wills itself to stay in its cocoon out of its fear of the swords. You might be too focused on your limiting beliefs, the details, or the competition. There is a path forward for you. Don’t let the criticism get to you.

Did this reading resonate with you? Let me know in the comments. Thank you for reading along with me today!

Pile 2

Significator card: Elder

It is said that the Elder tree is alive with pixies, fairies, and the “forest spirit”. This sort of magic is appealing. The hot springs bubble with steam, and the trees are so large you could build a house inside them. However, if you linger, they will lure you into sleep. Taken metaphorically, you may be tempted to slow down. Resist this temptation. Opportunity is headed your way. If your head is down, this opportunity will simply skip right over you.

Astrology card: Scorpio material, endings, “a tadpole on the brink of transformation”.

The featured image is one of a tadpole, swimming in circles. At the center, the tadpole is still small. As the tadpole swims through the spiral it transforms, slowly. Growing legs, filling in its body. When the spiral is complete, the tadpole has become a frog. Something new is coming toward you. Perhaps you have tried to transform yourself before and failed. This time, your cards seem to think that you are ready.

I Ching: 59, dispersing

The imagery of this card appears to leave us at a river crossing. The king has given his blessing for us to cross this boundary. As we cross, the old rules fizzle away. When we come to the other side, it feels as if a weight has been lifted. What will you do with your energy now that you have been liberated from the king’s rulebook?

Tea Leaves:

• Flowers, happiness.
• Nest, an emotionally secure, loving family is important to you.
• Dagger, fear, worries, tense situation
• March (month, the coming of spring, a parade, or the number 3)
• Owl, good advice from a wise person

Tarot Cards:

Here is a quick look:

• the moon — hidden information
• three of pentacles — collaboration and/or teamwork
• six of cups — what experience do you have with similar situations
• ace of swords — be objective
• son (knight) of cups, reversed — Your intuition has a thing or two to say. Speak up.
• two of swords — blinded by a decision

I feel your “March” tea leaf is more of a sign that spring is coming and you are ready for what’s next (instead of any sort of forecasted prediction). Your Oracle cards are all really positive. Spring is a transformational time of year. Your cards appear to call you to enjoy the coming season of nature’s rebirth. Consider it a Greek mythological equivalent of Persephone’s escape from the dark underworld, where she hides during the cold months in the Ancient Greek’s explanation of winter.

In terms of what you are not seeing right now, you might be overlooking some critical insights. These perspectives can help you make progress in your life. Like a person bewildered by the magic swarming the elder tree, it seems you’re in a situation where you’re stuck between different options or perspectives. Or maybe you have been struggling to see things. This could be making it difficult for you to make progress or find fulfillment. Don’t allow yourself to slump right now, just after we’ve crossed the king’s river. You can transform from tadpole to frog. The cards suggest that you may need to take a step back, and consider different options and perspectives. Consider going for a hike. Or, perhaps there is an indoor pool nearby at a gym or a school that allows adults to pay for a set amount of swim time. If you are into golf, go do that. Find a way to get your body moving in or with a natural element, such as air (golf), earth (hiking), or water (swimming). In doing so, you might find that you also free your mind to wander and process things. Trust your instincts and emotions. Don’t allow a bright, blinding light to prevent you from moving forward.

Did this reading resonate with you? Let me know in the comments. Thank you for reading along with me today!

Pile 3

Significator card: Tulip

In the Victorian language of flowers, a tulip can represent a declaration of love. This card itself appeared on the first day of February when I shuffled and took photos and began writing the first two piles of this reading. It is a lovely card, and just in time for Valentine’s day party planning. Express your joyful summertime self. Don’t allow your enemies to spin negativity at you. That enemy that tells you that you aren’t capable might be yourself.

Astrology card: Gemini material with Communication, “a message in a bottle travels by sea”

Picture yourself with a bottle of water. Perhaps it is a river, a pond, a lake, or if you live on the coast, maybe an ocean. A bottle appears at the water’s edge and you grab it. You open the bottle and haggle with the paper inside to get it out only to recognize your handwriting.

This is the bottle that you put out into the universe, returned to you. The symbolism of this card is meant to represent that what you put out into the universe will return to you. The universe also wants you to know that what you say, write, do, etc. has a greater impact on the people around you than you realize.

I Ching: 1, creative force

You must be a driven sort of person to be able to attract a card like this. I say “driven” because sometimes the term “creative” infers “manifestation”. A creative force is a person in tune with energy that results in manifestation. It’s the act of creation. We all create. We create friendships, families, homes, and work. We either do this ourselves or by engaging with others. This creative force is the intent and energy that flows through you and your work. Your efforts will create results.

Tea Leaves:

• Apple, temptation will test you
• Chain of events that will affect your life
• Carriage, is a journey, either physical or mental
• January — month, the number 1, or frigid cold, physically or emotionally
• Finger, wanting you of a problem either now or in the near future

Tarot Cards:

There is some really big energy here! Your cards are the daughter (page) of cups, strength, the magician, father (king) of pentacles, two of cups, and daughter (page) of swords. There is a fair amount of duality here. There are two major arcana cards, two daughter/page cards, an actual two, and then an authority figure: the king of pentacles. 222, and a King. Seeing this, I think I will read your cards in pairs. Let’s break it down.

In your spread, the daughter of cups is clarified by the father of pentacles. The swan daughter up against her stag father isn’t necessarily able to use her full range of emotional intelligence. The father, usually quite practical, up against this daughter, isn’t fully himself either. He usually is very pragmatic and realistic, but his daughter’s perspective is getting to him. Don’t fall into the temptation to fight with this person. Instead, you need to find balance. You can be both emotional and intellectual. By being both you will tap into your full potential. To fully realize what’s going on, you might need to be both the daughter (emotionally intelligent) and the father (practicality and structure).

Next, we have strength clarified by the two of cups. There is resilience in partnership. The flowers on your two of cups cards are roses, but let’s pretend they are tulips. If you have been experiencing frigidity from someone important in your life, it is important for you to be strong and resilient and to take the high road by reaching out and making up with this person. Your tea leaves warned of a problem that needs resolution, and here it is clear as day in your cards. The lion with a tulip in his mouth. The sun shines above the lion. Step into the light and understand that your actions might have affected this person. Then, journey (with the carriage) into their perspective when you meet with them to see how this dispute can be resolved.

Finally, we have the magician clarified by the daughter of swords. The magician is resourceful, creative, and powerful. The daughter of swords is analytical and critical. In this duo, I see a need for you to develop personally. By pairing the magician and the daughter of swords in your efforts to grow as a person you will become a better and more well-rounded version of yourself.

I am not sure where exactly this fits in for you, reader, personally regarding “what you are not seeing”. At the moment, I am coming up against a fog. Perhaps this is because you need to undergo an individual reflection. What I am seeing is balance, potential, and the need for you to develop in your resourcefulness and analytical nature to find your way through the chain of events you might have found yourself tied up in.

However the apple resonates with you — this is that. What does the apple have to do with the person you thought of drinking from the other goblet in the two of cups? Who did you need to “take the high road” with? What are your circumstances regarding the perspective that you needed to get from them? Consider journaling or meditating on this. You will become better after having gone through this.

Did this reading resonate with you? Let me know in the comments. Thank you for reading along with me today!

Pile 4

Significator card: Alder

It is said that if you befriend a raven — disclaimer, please don’t approach dangerous birds — it will teach you something. Ravens are monogamous animals that mate for life. The appearance of this card as described in the Seed and Sickle guidebooks indicates that teamwork is going to become important to you. Beware that there might be conflict. Navigate it with an open mind and prioritize the relationships with clear communication.

Astrology card: Moon, emotions, “waves roll in, day after day”

The Moon symbolizes the emotional rollercoaster we all experience — from our deepest fears, hopes, and desires, to our mood swings and fluctuating emotional states. It can also represent the power of dreams and imagination, and our ability to see beyond the limits of the physical world. Perhaps there is a new opportunity coming your way? If you are scared for the moment, let yourself feel it. Then, gather your courage and prepare. Remember the passion and drive that attracted this opportunity to you in the first place.

I Ching: 64, not yet across

In this tarot pick-a-card article we drew both the first and the last card in the I Ching. Life is a circle. I don’t know if you have seen the movie “This is 40,” but it sort of just starts in a place and then ends in an equally random but different place. The I Ching ends kind of like the movie “This is 40.” Nothing is concluded because midlife just sort of goes on. You are not yet across the river, but you can see the river from where you stand. This guidance might not exactly be helpful for everyone reading it. The advice is simple, keep going.

Tea Leaves:

• Scales, keep your life in balance
• Pin, new job/career
• Leg, stepping into a new experience
• Angel, spiritual guidance. Protection from harm.
• Pail, time to get out of a situation.

Tarot Cards:

Unlike the other piles, this one unfolds like a story.

Eight of Cups

I love engaging in things that bring me joy. I bet you do too. But, the eight of cups appear to indicate that these joyful pastimes have potentially crossed into indulgences, and it’s time for you to take a break from it. I do it, too. I spend hours sometimes just looking up other people’s tarot pick-a-card readings. But, at a certain point, I realize I have spirituality-ed myself out and it’s time to do something else, like put my laundry away.

Justice

Tagging onto the last card, this justice card asks how to find balance. In this beautiful card, a black cat and a white cat sit on rainbows. Their tails twirl around the world below, holding up like the Greek god, Atlas. A sword, representing intellectual fairness sits between them. There is yin and yang, reflection, and balance. What about your life feels unbalanced?

Ace of Pentacles

By engaging in the act of discovering balance, you may realize the full breadth of abundance that surrounds you. What has been allowing you to engage in your passions? How do you feed your soul and nourish your body? It’s February, but the year is still fresh. Growth is very much possible for you this year. Take a look at your tea leaves — it’s written all over them.

Death

Change is coming. So is spring. Emerge from your shell or your cabin and feel the wind on your face. It is time to dump out the pail — half ice and half water now that winter is abating. To “step into a new experience” you must first open yourself up to the process of transformation indicated by the appearance of the metaphorical “death” card.

Five of Pentacles reversed

Like your angel tea leaf, there is support available to you. It might be as simple as gathering your courage and asking. Upright, this card would appear to drop a petal from the flower. Reversed, the petal returns to the flower, ripe to revive itself and ready to stand tall.

Father (King) of Wands

Finally, the king of wands appears to us as a rattlesnake. The rattlesnake’s throne is a stick it props itself up against. Behind him, we witness his full power through a lightning bolt he summoned. I see here that you have leadership potential. Your tea leaf, “new job/career” appears to me as if you could be on the brink of a new endeavor. The pail is now clear, your angel has spoken. Your life is now balanced. It’s time for you to take that next step.

Did this reading resonate with you? Let me know in the comments. Thank you for reading along with me today!