Missing Card theory

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Jul 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Helruna	22 Jul 2002
Has anyone ever heard of the "missing card theory"? The person who mentioned this theory said, it might have been by someone called Black Hawk or so??? Any ideas, comments? BB, Helruna

Laurel	22 Jul 2002
Heya. I did an extensive google search on both Black Hawk and Blackhawk regarding tarot theory, missing cards, etc., and came up with zilch. Laurel

Helruna	22 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Laurel Heya. I did an extensive google search on both Black Hawk and Blackhawk regarding tarot theory, missing cards, etc., and came up with zilch. Laurel lol - oh my, exactly what I feared would happen. I contacted the person I have heard this idea from, and hopefully, I will get the information! If so, I will post it here. Thank you for your attempt though, I appreciate it! BB, Helruna

jema	22 Jul 2002
hi his name is James Rioux also called Black Shadow. (i had him as a mentor a while back) his site and the article is found here: http://jamesriouxctm.tripod.com/tarot/articles.html and i find myself using his method quite often:)

Helruna	22 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by jema hi his name is James Rioux also called Black Shadow. (i had him as a mentor a while back) his site and the article is found here: http://jamesriouxctm.tripod.com/tarot/articles.html and i find myself using his method quite often:) Thank you SOOOOO much Jema!!!! :D I'll dive right into the article in a few minutes! BB, Helruna

jema	22 Jul 2002
pure luck i guess, i was thinking about BlackShadow just the other day and found his new site. i had him as a mentor when i was reading for the free tarot network but we lost touch some time ago. when you read the article we could discuss it here! the article is really just a start, an opening for further discussions. i find the "missing card" theory insteresting to use esp for my daily readings. when the month is gone i sit down and look it all over and see just what "gaps" i see. and try to figure out why they are there.

emily2otters	22 Jul 2002
wow. thanks, guys, for leading us to such a great article. i look forward to reading the rest of the articles on blackshadow's page as well...

Mermaid	22 Jul 2002
Thanks for posting that Jema and Helruna, that's a really interesting article. I especially liked his idea about 'blurring the lines', it makes a lot of sense.

Helruna	22 Jul 2002
Why not discuss it ? Sounds like a good idea. I will print the article out. Yesterday evening I just was too tired to really focus on it. But I will do today. :D BB, helruna

Jenny-Li	23 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by jema when you read the article we could discuss it here! the article is really just a start, an opening for further discussions. i find the "missing card" theory insteresting to use esp for my daily readings. when the month is gone i sit down and look it all over and see just what "gaps" i see. and try to figure out why they are there. Gosh, that's a really interesting article, I had never heard of it before Helruna asked (I'm so glad you did, by the way...!) (although I haven't finished reading the the article yet), but the general idea makes a lot of sense to me - I think! Any discussion is great - you know I won't be able to stay out of it anyway...! :D I love discussions about how to approach and relate the cards to each other and to other elements in the reading (question, querent, spread etc), I think it's a part of studying the Tarot that gets a lot less attention than getting to know the individual cards... Jenny :)

vision	23 Jul 2002
Wow, thank you for highlighting this interesting topic. I read the article and it makes sense. Never thought it like this before. I've learnt something new today Yippeeee :) Vision

RedWood	23 Jul 2002
Definate thanks on this thread...Now that I have read the article it is like WOW..kind of a clarity for me...

Helruna	24 Jul 2002
OK, I got a question. I finished reading the article, and its very interesting. :D James mentions basically two "versions" of missing cards: - in the sequence (like Devil - Tower - Star, or 5 of Wands - 6 of Wands - 7 of Wands) - as "sets" (3 Queens...) I see the idea behind the sequence, but I am not sure how I would read the "set" idea. Any ideas? The sequence makes sense to me and is easier to grib, I wouldn't be sure how to interpret the "set" though. Would it indicate that the missing "set card" indicates the energy or attributes missing? And, what do you think is more "useful" in a reading: sequence or set? BB, Helruna

jema	24 Jul 2002
i see the missing card in a set as a missing energy. like in every other reading were we notice with suites are lacking. like cups from a love reading and so on. here we can see now only if the element is lacking but what specific card. say if i get 5 wands, 5 swords, 5 pentacles but don't get the 5 cups. that can say a lot about what i do or don't do to heal myself, that i deny my emotions. and perhaps i should allow myself to to really feel the impact of the event - to grief. just one example.

Laurel	24 Jul 2002
Wow. That is an amazing article. I'm still mentally filtering through it. It seems like blurring the lines would work extremely well with a Daily spread/journal, where one could look at patterns over time and see what's missing or establishing itself. Laurel

Helruna	24 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by jema i see the missing card in a set as a missing energy. like in every other reading were we notice with suites are lacking. like cups from a love reading and so on. here we can see now only if the element is lacking but what specific card. Good point, Jema! :) That is how I would interpret it too - as seomthing that is lacking, or being overlooked/denied perhaps. Thank you for your input! BB, Helruna

Helruna	24 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Laurel Wow. That is an amazing article. I'm still mentally filtering through it. It seems like blurring the lines would work extremely well with a Daily spread/journal, where one could look at patterns over time and see what's missing or establishing itself. Laurel Yeah, I think that's one good method and something I sure will take into consideration in the future. I agree this method would go along with a Tarot journal/daily draw very well. I have to keep my journal a bit more up-to-date though to make some "valid" comments and see into the patterns... darn, at times I fall short in this area. ;) BB, Helruna

jamesriouxctm	25 Jul 2002
Hello everyone! Jema told me that my "Missing Card" article was being discussed here, so I thought I should pop in and add a few words to the thread - though to be quite honest, you've all done a good job of covering the bases. I did wish to emphasize that, while "Missing Card" is used mainly for readings as an interpretive aid, "Blurring the Lines" is also a very powerful tool for exploring card meanings outside the context of a predetermined spread. There are some examples of this in the article proper, and I can give more if people are interested in that sort of thing. Actually I'm in the process of developing a way of teaching Tarot that uses the same principles upon which these two techniques are based - namely, that the Tarot cards follow a meaningful sequence and that they are best described and learned in terms of that sequence. It's a more holistic view than the "please memorize these 78 pages of card meanings" approaches so prevalent these days, and I think it will be easier to work with when all is said and done. One thing I wanted to ask while I'm here is whether anyone else uses patterns like "Missing Card", or like the others I've described on my website (time flows, critical points, and so forth) in their readings. Surely I can't be the only reader to have come across these incredibly useful techniques. So if someone out there has a story about an interesting pattern of cards, by all means, let us know! Similarly, if you can think of other ways in which to apply some of these techniques (such as journaling, which Laurel mentioned) then feel free to share them. And of course if there are any outstanding questions about Missing Card or the other techniques described in my articles, I'd be happy to answer them. Peace be with you, James Rioux, Certified Tarot Master jamesriouxctm@hotmail.com http://jamesriouxctm.tripod.com/

jema	25 Jul 2002
Hi James, thanks for droping by:) i think one of the things your article brings up to the surface is the question on how we group the cards. is there another way to see them interact then in sequence? if we find out which cards "go together" then we can also see which card might be missing. and try to figure out why. http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5756 is an interesting post with some ideas on how to find missing cards not in sequense or in a "set" by using the numbers and astrological signs. but i think this is also a very personal thing - how we link the cards. for example - in my mind the hierophant-hermit-hanged man are linked by their special energy. i wouldn't expect them all to come up in a reading but if i see two of them i do make a note of which one is missing since that can give me a clue on how the person/me are handling the life-quest. just some ideas... i'll stop now and let someone else talk:)

Helruna	25 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by jema Hi James, thanks for droping by:) i think one of the things your article brings up to the surface is the question on how we group the cards. is there another way to see them interact then in sequence? http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5756 is an interesting post with some ideas on how to find missing cards not in sequense or in a "set" by using the numbers and astrological signs. but i think this is also a very personal thing - how we link the cards. I have been wondering the same as you, since I've read the article. I see your connection between the Hierophant - Hermit - Hanged Man (and it's not just the "H" *G*), although I have never thought about it in this way. I have heard about the gematria, but not really used it yet that much. Regarding the astrological signs, this could be very personal, especially in regard to the Minors as they can depend also on the view of the creator/author of the deck, and of course, how you see the cards and their correspondences. I would be interesting to go through older readings and to see if there are patterns in the numerological and astrological sense. A silly thought of mine - could the Elemental Dignities be used in a similar way here? BB, Helruna

Helruna	25 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by jamesriouxctm Hello everyone! Jema told me that my "Missing Card" article was being discussed here, so I thought I should pop in and add a few words to the thread - though to be quite honest, you've all done a good job of covering the bases. I did wish to emphasize that, while "Missing Card" is used mainly for readings as an interpretive aid, "Blurring the Lines" is also a very powerful tool for exploring card meanings outside the context of a predetermined spread. Actually I'm in the process of developing a way of teaching Tarot that uses the same principles upon which these two techniques are based - namely, that the Tarot cards follow a meaningful sequence and that they are best described and learned in terms of that sequence. Hello James!! I like your article very much about the "Missing Card", and its the first time that this topic has been brought to my conscious awareness so far and it makes a lot of sense to me. It seems to be indeed, a more holistic way of viewing and interpeting/reading the cards and a spread than just seeing what suit is missing or so. I'd be interested to learn more about the teachings that you have in mind. :) If you don't mind, would you keep us update on this, as I think that not only me would be interesting in learning more about this? So far, I had to go and check my older readings to get some more ideas regarding this topic. Again, thank you for dropping in! It is nice to meet you. BB, Helruna

jema	25 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Helruna A silly thought of mine - could the Elemental Dignities be used in a similar way here? BB, Helruna hehe, i was JUST thinking the same thing. i still don't have those ready in the front of my mind though - i still have to look them up. but i think one could use them to group cards. and therefore even to see "missing" cards. haven't tried it yet though. but will make a note of the EDs for this months daily readings.

harleen	25 Jul 2002
thanks guys, I am off to take a look...! very interesting.... I am back by the way *waves* sorry I've been so quiet, so much else has been going on I got caught up!!! Harleen :)

The Missing Card theory thread was originally posted on 22 Jul 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.