Why the wording matters
Compare two questions about the same worry. “Will I ever find love?” can only be answered yes or no, and either answer leaves you no better off. “What is getting in the way of the relationship I want, and what could I do about it?” asks for observations you can test against your own experience and act on. The cards, or the reader’s impressions, are the same in both cases; the question decides whether the session is useful. This is true whether or not you think anything more than a good conversation is happening, and it is also why general statements that fit anyone are so much easier to pass off when the question is vague.
Working questions by topic
Relationships
What is affecting the connection between me and my partner right now? What do I bring to my relationships that helps, and what gets in the way? What would help me and my sister talk again?
Work and career
What am I not seeing about this job offer? What is holding me back from starting the business? What would make the next year at work more satisfying?
Decisions
What should I weigh up before I decide about the move? What would I regret not considering? What is the fear underneath this choice?
Personal growth
What pattern keeps repeating in my life, and what does it need from me? What am I avoiding? What would help me feel steadier?
Turning one big question into a spread
A broad question such as “how do I find my direction?” can be broken into follow-ups that each get their own card or answer: what is coming into focus for me now; what am I already doing that fits; what stands in the way; what resource have I not used; what is the next small step. Breaking it down like this is also a good way to prepare: if you can write the follow-ups, you know what you actually want from the session.
Questions to leave out
- Anything about health, pregnancy, medication or someone else’s illness. A reader is not a clinician.
- Legal cases and investments. A reader is not a lawyer or a financial adviser.
- Dates: when will I marry, when will I die, when will it happen. No one can know, and a date is a hook that keeps you waiting.
- Another adult’s private feelings or intentions. The reader cannot read someone who is not there, and the answers are guesses.
- Whether you are cursed. The answer to that question, from a reader who raises it, is the start of a paid removal; see curse-removal scams.
Ten things not to ask a tarot reader goes through the most common ones and what to ask instead.
Preparing for a reading?
The full guide covers choosing a reader you can check, setting a budget, what to watch for during the session and what to do with what you hear.
‘Ask better questions’? That sounds like classic self-help jargon. Sure, it’s nice advice, but it ignores the fact that sometimes life just doesn’t make sense, no matter how well you ask your questions.
‘What can I do to create the love life I truly desire?’ – Seriously? Next thing you know, they’ll tell you that asking your cat for advice is valid too! Just go out and live life without needing cosmic validation.
‘How can I discover my soul’s purpose?’ Is anyone else tired of hearing about this ‘soul purpose’ trend? How about just enjoying life without overthinking every little thing? Sometimes pizza is all the purpose you need!
‘Will I ever find love?’ Honestly, if only it were as easy as pulling a card! Maybe I should just start shuffling my deck instead of swiping on dating apps—at least then I’d have some magical guidance!
I absolutely loved this article! It really opened my eyes to the importance of asking the right questions in Tarot readings. I never realized how much depth could come from a well-framed question. Truly enlightening!
‘What may stand in the way of me fulfilling my soul’s purpose?’ – Now that’s a question worth pondering! It’s crucial we dig deep into our motivations instead of scratching the surface with shallow inquiries.
The article does a great job of explaining the significance of open-ended questions in Tarot readings. It’s fascinating how they can lead to deeper insights rather than simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers. I’d love to see more examples!
Honestly, this seems like a bunch of nonsense. Tarot cards are just cards, and asking questions won’t change anything. If people need to rely on fortune-telling to figure out their lives, that’s pretty sad.