I just had that thought after reading another post so i thought i would throw it out there for the forum for thoughts on the matter.

i can help to think that you could do a reading with cards missing.  because, their are plenty of meanings to the cards to cover what is missing and if you use intuition the cards will find a way to get their meanings across to you.  

what i am thinking though is are the cards not a "whole" therefore can throw the reading off?

can what to hear what people think about this?

I dont do reversals, George. Why? Because I believe the cards will still bring out the meaning or messages whether I cause reversed cards duirng my shuffling process or not.
The same way, I believe, if there were cards missing with or without your knowledge, then the meaning or what the querent needs to know will still be delivered by other cards.

It is all how we view and regard the tarot cards. Some people call it a chance thing; some call it spirit intervention..... What is your take?

I feel, if you are dealing the cards and do not know that there are cards missing, then the resultant reading will still be apt to the question asked. But once you find out that there is a card missing (or two) I feel you will not be confident to do readings.  

Despite what I have just said above, I would feel lost if I knew there were cards missing. A new deck could be the ultimate answer, but I would be EAGER to find the missing cards of my existing deck.

I think with the other post it might be important to know which two cards were left behind? But that is a different scenario to permanently losing a card and 1) knowing about it or 2) not knowing?

If you are using a large spread then I think it can matter, and also if it were a Major card then I would take interest of which one it was and if it was relevant.

One theory might be that the cards will tell their message whatever.

Another might be that the reading will be skewed if the missing cards were needed.


When I reorganised my lounge for Christmas I found a card underneath the settee, the deck I have been very successfully reading with for the past year. The card was The Magician. Perhaps because this is a card whose meaning could be 'replaced' by others it did not matter? Perhaps none of the readings I gave needed the card?

I think that the crucial point may be whether we know or not?

If we find out that there are cards left in the box when we go to replace the deck after a reading, might we doubt that reading then? I think I would.

Interesting question

I dont think so... If the querent has been satisfied with the reading and it has resonated with them... I say: a plane can still fly and land with an engine out....

Yes, interesting question, one that may strike different opinions.....

I tend to think it is all in the reader from where the meaning of the cards are coming from.  i use my intuition when reading cards. so maybe that is chance but i tend to think it is energies i am picking up on and reading that.  i don't believe the cards are being placed by some divine hand.

i did misplace a couple of cards and just i felt like a parent who lost their child in an airport. i found those cards but i felt panic and couldn't imagine what i was going to do if i didn't find them.  so i would think i couldn't read either without finding those cards and making the deck whole too.