The "extra" card that some decks include...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 Aug 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

rajarod	27 Aug 2002
Hi. I was thinking this afternoon about the extra card that some tarot decks include. Both my Tarot of the Spirit deck as well as my Templar Tarot deck include this type of card, and I’ve read about some other decks that do that same thing. Now I don’t mean extra cards with title information or card interpretations, or instances where the author offers two or more different versions of a card for you to choose from (Cosmic Tribe, New Golden Dawn, and Thoth come to mind), but rather “mystery” cards, whose meaning is to be revealed through meditation. I’ve always been hesitant to use these cards, and I have always left them in the box when using these decks for readings. I don’t know why, but I’ve always had some fuzzy gut feeling that they didn’t belong, or were somehow detracting from the inherent completeness of the tarot. I just wondered what others thought about these types of cards, and how they use them in readings. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas, rod

Kyrielle	28 Aug 2002
I've wondered the same thing. Other decks I've noticed with extra cards are the Londa, Hanson-Roberts, and Connolly. There's another thread I started a while ago where other people offered their opinions, but I don't think anyone went into meditation as a reason for the cards. That's intriguing, because the extra card in the Connolly Tarot is a picture of a door with the words "Gateway to Meditation" on it. Brian Williams, in the book to his Renaissance Tarot, calls the extra card that comes with that deck the Presentation Card. It has a man and a woman, the suit symbols, the sun and moon, and a yin-yang mandala. It is described in the Minor Arcana section of the book, but no suggestion is given of using it in reading or meditation. Londa suggests that her extra card be used in readings to give a special flavor or emphasis. This card has a masked figure on it and says "Who are you really?" It's never come up for me yet, but I can imagine it being an indicator of the querent needing to give some extra hard thought to the meaning of the position in which it appears. The Templar's Magic Flute I think is intended to accompany the rest of the cards. It's also yet to appear in a reading for me, but I'm not sure what it might signify. I would think it might have a personal meaning that's different for every individual. In that case, it's really no different from the rest of the cards, only you're coming to the Magic Flute with absolutely no preconceived notion of what this card means. I'm thinking somewhere along the line of a higher evolution of the Fool, but don't let that overly influence you. Of course, the extra card could just be a technical matter dealing with evening out the printing sheets, but I have a mystical mind. I want there to be a deeper purpose, even if there really isn't! So maybe it's ultimately up to us to experiment and invent a use for the extra cards. -- Kyrielle

Helruna	28 Aug 2002
The Shapeshifter, for instance, has, in fact, three extra cards! :) I have never hesitated to use them in a reading. To me, they "belong" to this deck, and are part of it. I understand that some do not feel comfortable with using those extra's and if you don't like it, don't do it. :D I see no problem or conflict in using them, nor do I see any problem with interpreting them when showing up in a reading. I am not sure, though, that the three cards from the Shapeshifter are "only" for meditation purpose or have to experienced through meditation. They have their own meanings, stated in the book. Interesting question though. :) BB, Helruna

SharonElizabeth	28 Aug 2002
I have the Hanson Roberts deck which has an extra card which features a woman holding back a curtain, on the card it says "To All Believers". When this card comes up in a reading I see it as a sign that a little faith is needed, not everything wil reveal itself in this reading but it will be revealed in time. I just got the Legend: Athurian tarot which comes with an extra card featuring the crest of the Knights of the Round Table. I'll use it pretty much the same way, just in saying that if it comes up it will mean that that not everything can be seen right away. I've always felt that these extra cards should be included in the deck, plus I haven't the heart to store something so beautiful in the box. When I first got the Hanson Roberts deck I used to keep the extra card on top of the deck and then place it above the area where I was going to read as a symbol of what I was doing. One day I accidentally shuffled it into my deck, and decided to leave it there to see if it would come up. I'm sure that if it's your gut feeling that you should not include these cards, rajarod, then don't include them. It's only from following my gut feeling that I have included the cards.

Mojo	28 Aug 2002
My primary deck (Royal Fez Moroccan) comes with an extra card which is totally blank. I love including this card in the deck because it is so shocking when it turns up in a reading. It totally throws the querent off, which makes them more dependent on me for the interpretation. One of my biggest pet peeves in doing tarot for people is when the querent has had a lot of readings, or if they've played with the tarot themselves and they think they can do the reading for themselves (or try to guess the meanings based on past experience). Since I am not a traditional reader in any way, I like to discourage this and have them allow me to weave together a story (with their help, of course.... I'm a very interactive reader). The blank card never fails to shut them up! I use it to focus on the definition of the particular position in which it appears within the spread, and it is interpreted alternately as a "void" or a "blank slate" or a gap of some sort. This is a great tool for generating discussions about direction and possibilities, which is what I always aim for in a reading.

Jewel	28 Aug 2002
I don't include them ... why? I have no clue ... never thought about it much, except with the Osho-Zen deck where I deliberately chose not to use it. But who knows? this thread has raised my curiosity about it. Loved your post Mojo!

Phoenix	28 Aug 2002
I sometimes use them (The Londa Tarot) and sometimes don't(Osho-Zen). They are usually included in a deck because it is easier to print 80 cards on a sheet, as opposed to 78.

the hermit	28 Aug 2002
I'm with you, Mojo... interruptions can be annoying as hell. Hadn't thought of the effect the blank or "extra" card might have! I have a particular client I might just try it on... maybe it'll shut him up :D I do use the extra Hanson-Roberts "To All Believers" card for meditation.

DaMuse	29 Aug 2002
This was copied right off the Templar Tarot web site under Reviews & Comments. I would like to find support for this source but until then I will just consider it a possibility. "Received July 7, 2002: [refering to the magic flute card] There are some sources which believe that there used to be another card in the deck. It represented man, as he journeyed along the path. It would not have had a number as it moved through the major arcana (which represents the spiritual journey) so that it was free to be anywhere. It is possible that the methods of reading which have someone draw a card to represent themselves, are "borrowing" from this tradition. No decks known to me have retained the vestiges of this card. It is also interesting that he called it the Magic Flute. As you may know, that was an opera, by Mozart. He was a mason and the story is that of a flute who wanders through life's adventures. There is a wealth of symbolism in the story. Some say that the flute is symbolic of man... i.e., 7 notes and 7 chakras and how they play against each other. It certainly seems to me that Allen was inpired by someone of deep Masonic knowledge. Meditation would not only put the "reader" in connection with the meaning of the card, but also help them discover where they are on the path. I look forward to studying the cards further. Best, CF"

The The "extra" card that some decks include... thread was originally posted on 27 Aug 2002 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.