August 22, 2025

What’s Holding Me Back Right Now? | Pick-a-Card Tarot Reading

Hello, my spiritual friends! I usually do Collective Tarot readings, but today I felt called to do a pick-a-card reading.

The theme of this reading is: “What’s holding me back right now?”

Take a moment to choose a group from the image and read your message below. You can choose multiple groups if you feel guided to. The image of the Tarot cards is at the bottom of this article.

I hope this reading brings you insight and clarity!

Overall Message

It feels like there are two groups of you here.

For some of you, you’re thinking about cutting cords with someone toxic—or even violent. Maybe you’ve already stepped away from them, but now you’re feeling guilty or second-guessing your decision.

For others, it looks like you’re still picking up on the energy of someone you’ve already walked away from. But it looks like they were the one who hurt you deeply enough that you needed to stay away.

If this resonates, then today’s message is for you.

Group 1

Since the Lovers card came out as the first card, this could be about love. However, I feel like it’s more about jealousy, “mean girl” situations, sister conflicts, or relationships with a mother figure.

I feel like what’s holding you back right now is your reputation. You could be an influencer or someone in the spotlight, because it seems like someone is watching you.

The people observing you may have mixed feelings toward you. For example, they might admire you and want to get closer, but at the same time, they could feel jealous. It seems like they have things they want to say to you, but they might be keeping those thoughts to themselves.

The advice is to choose your audience. If this is about relationships, then you can stop teaching them like you used to. Maybe you were guiding them to find their potential and shine, but ultimately, it’s their responsibility to discover themselves through self-reflection.

They could be looking up to you, but it’s probably becoming a little too intense—almost like they’re addicted to you. I think this energy is heavy on you and may be blocking your ability to shine and rise. It’s better to find a way to create some distance from those who are weighing you down.

Group 2

You could be involved in a lawsuit, going through a divorce, or witnessing someone receiving justice for what they’ve done to you.

I feel like what’s holding you back right now is a strong desire for justice to be served to someone who hurt you deeply. They may have lied to you, manipulated you, tried to control you, or used their mind to trap you.

You might have felt trapped by their lies and manipulation, especially if they treated you well to gain your trust. Betrayal is often one of the biggest causes of grudges because it exploits people’s kindness and trust, making them feel foolish for being deceived. It seems they have committed a serious sin.

The advice is to seek professional guidance if you’re involved in a lawsuit or divorce.

If this is about your strong wish for justice, don’t worry—it is on its way. However, you might not witness all of it directly, and there’s a reason for that. You are meant to be guided toward a much brighter path. You don’t have time to linger with them.

One of the greatest forms of justice is simply leaving—no longer caring about them, no longer giving them attention. This can deeply affect those who harmed you because it leaves them lonely, perhaps in ways they didn’t expect.

In the future, you will gain more freedom and abundance, released from their heavy, negative energy!

Group 3

Since the Hierophant card is here, this reading could be for someone who’s having conflicts with parents, teachers, or someone going through a divorce.

I feel like what’s holding you back right now is loneliness. However, it seems like someone has been constantly monitoring you, which can be exhausting.

I sense very conflicted feelings from these cards—like feeling lonely when you’re not being watched, but at the same time, wanting to be released. On the other hand, there’s someone—or perhaps multiple people—watching you, almost monitoring you heavily.

If this is about parents, they could be checking your social media a lot. They might also be observing what you’re reading, or even letters from friends or lovers. It seems they have a very structured mindset, expecting you to be a certain way and not allowing you to have friends they don’t approve of.

The advice is to break free from their ideas. If this is about teachers, parents, guardians, or someone you’re supposed to look up to, you can respect them only when their mindset is healthy. If they’ve become controlling and are taking away your freedom and possibilities, then it’s time to learn to be independent and distance yourself from their way of thinking.

Life can teach you so much—friends, fights, reconciliations, lovers, breakups, and more. Life is not clean; it’s messy. But you wouldn’t learn how to navigate it if you were kept from those experiences.

Of course, there are some things worth listening to them about, to stay safe and disciplined, but they cannot keep you in a box forever—and I think you already know that.

I hope this reading encourages you to find who you want to become!

🌟 This is a general Tarot reading for the collective. Some messages may speak to you, and others may not. Please take what resonates and trust your own inner wisdom.