How to Phrase your Tarot Question
The key to an effective Tarot reading is…
Asking the right question.
If you ask a vague question, you will usually get a vague answer. Taking the time to craft a question that gets to the heart of the matter will ensure you get the answers you are seeking.
Keep reading for advice on how to ask a question that will support you to get the most out of your Tarot reading.
Be Specific
This is crucial. The wording of your question is the basis of your reading. If you aren’t specific, it can throw off the entire reading. For example, consider this question:
“What is the cause of the tension in my relationship with my in-laws?”
At first glance this may sound like a very specific question. However, it doesn’t specify which in-laws you want to know about. Parents-in-law? Brother-in-law? All of your in-laws? It’s possible that the issue between you and your father-in-law is completely separate to the issue in your relationship with your mother-in-law. If you want to know about the tension with your mother-in-law, then you need to specifically ask, otherwise you may end up with a reading based on your relationship with a different person. Additionally, this question looks at the current cause of tension in the relationship. If you actually want to know about the cause of the tension in your relationship with your mother-in-law dating back to when you first met her, then you need to specify that.
If you want an accurate reading, work out what you really want to know and phrase your question so that it doesn’t leave room for misinterpretation.
Ask Open Questions
The Tarot is intended to tell a story. Asking an open-ended question gives the Tarot space to tell that story. “Should I break up with my partner?” is a closed question. It doesn’t give you any information on what factors you should consider before making that decision, or what factors were considered when the cards came to that answer. With a closed question, you are handing over your decision-making power to the Tarot, rather than equipping yourself with the information you need to come to a conclusion. On the other hand, “What do I need to know about my relationship with my partner?” is an open question, giving the Tarot space to freely communicate any messages intended for you whilst giving you the insight needed to make an empowered decision for yourself.
I use the Tarot to help people make decisions and to offer advice. I do not read for questions where the Tarot makes decisions for you. Consequently, I do not read for yes/no questions. If you would like some examples of open questions, see the section below on “Suggested Questions”.
Ask Empowering Questions
I believe the future is not set in stone. You are always able to change your circumstances and manifest the outcome you want. This is why I don’t read for yes/no questions, because everyone has free will and we all have the ability to create and change our future. Closed questions assume the future is certain and takes away your power to be in control of your life.
A closed question like “will I find a long-term partner?” assumes that you are powerless and must surrender to your fate. If the answer to this question is yes, you may become complacent and not take the action needed to find your long-term partner. If the answer is no, you’re likely to give up looking for your long-term partner and may miss the opportunity to find them.
However, you can reframe this question to provide you with an empowering answer, such as “what can I do to find a long-term partner?”. Phrasing your question in this way allows you to take conscious steps towards achieving your desired outcome, rather than leaving it up to the Universe to determine your fate. I don’t read timeline questions for the same reason. “When will I find a long-term partner?” assumes the future is set in stone. Providing an answer to this question may stop you from taking the necessary action to meet the timeline. If you request a reading from me and ask a “when” question, you will receive insight into what needs to happen before that outcome can come to fruition, but I will not provide a timeline.
Make your question about you
I do not read for third-parties (that is, a person other than the person requesting the reading). This involves getting into the mind of someone without their permission and my ethics do not support that. When phrasing your question, it is essential that you are the focus of your question. I will not read for a question such as “why is my son withdrawing from his friends?” because that question is not about you. However, you can rephrase this question to “how can I best support my son at this time?” because this shifts the focus of the question to you, instead of being a third-party question. If you aren’t sure how to phrase your question so that it isn’t a third-party question, please feel free to contact me prior to purchasing a reading.
Suggested Questions
If you want a reading but aren’t sure how to word your question, I’ve included some ideas below:
What do I need to know about…[insert topic]?
What steps can I take to… [insert desired outcome]?
How can I… [insert desired outcome]?
What are the pros and cons of… [insert topic]?
What is blocking me from… [insert topic]?
What are the most important factors for me to consider when making a decision about… [insert topic]?
What should I reflect on from my experience with… [insert topic]?
What lesson did… [insert topic]… teach me?
If you are still stuck and would like help wording your question, please reach out via the contact page.