Controversial opinion: You must approach a tarot reading with a clear question you want answered. This is crucial.
What is the purpose of a reading if not to answer a question? If the reason you are picking up the cards is that you have an issue or situation on your mind, ask that burning question. The more specific you are, the more specific the answer will be.
Be mindful of the language you use when formulating your question. I like to keep the tone empowering rather than fatalistic. Ask: “How can I?” Don’t ask: “Will I ever?”
For example, ask:
“How can I invite love into my life?” Don’t ask: “Will I ever find my soulmate?”
The words “will I” imply that you don’t have any say in the matter, that you’re subject to the whims of fate. They make it appear that you can’t, or don’t need to, take effective action toward your goals or dreams.But a tarot reading can inspire you with possibilities and surprise you with your own agency and capabilities.
So don’t give away your power. If you’re facing circumstances you can’t control or change, the cards can still provide you with strategies to help you navigate and understand what you’re experiencing.
Ask empowering questions that begin with phrases like: “How can I…?” Or: “What do I need to know about…?” Or: “What would happen if I decided to…?” Or: “What do I need to focus on…?”
It can also help to include timing in your question, if that is relevant. For example: “How can I secure a fulfilling and high-paying job before the end of the year?” Or: “What if I decided to move to another country within two years?”
Take a deep breath and think seriously about what you want to know. If you don’t have a specific question or are performing a daily draw, focus your intention by asking something like: “What do I need to be aware of today?” Or: “How can I make the most of today?”
And be sure to make your question about you. It is questionable tarot ethics to ask questions about a third party who isn’t present or hasn’t requested a reading. Trying to figure out what someone else is thinking, feeling, or doing won’t bring clarity or peace of mind. In my experience, the cards resist questions that attempt to discern how to influence someone else’s behavior or feelings toward you. Instead, ask what it would be beneficial for you to know so that you can navigate the situation, or how it would be best to approach that person in the state they are in.
EXERCISE:
Ground and center yourself before you read the cards:
You may not come up with the best question for the cards if you’re distracted, distraught, or excited. So it’s important to ground and center yourself to ensure that you go into a reading in a calm and focused state. The easiest way to do this is with a brief meditation or by just taking a few deep breaths while feeling the support of the surface on which you’re sitting and the earth beneath your feet. You can also visualize a bright, white light infusing your entire body, clearing away any stagnant energy.
And now, for the most challenging part. Release any expectations you may have about yourself or the content of your reading, trusting that you’ll receive the answer you need right now. The messages from the cards may be surprising and the outcome may be unanticipated, so stay curious and playful, and open to new perspectives. This provides another opportunity to remind yourself that you don’t have to be perfect, bang-on, or astonishing.
EXERCISE:
Pull a card for guidance on your question:
If you are struggling to come up with a question, surrender to the universe. Shuffle, asking the cards to show you what you need to see or focus on right now. Pull one card – and see how it relates to your situation or the issue on your heart. Use the meaning, symbolism, colours, people or creatures, numbers etc on the card to help you understand what you really want or need to ask.
Want to bring more power and MAGIC to your Tarot readings? Check out my book, Talismans and Tarot, available wherever fine books are sold.
