3 Tips to Phrase Questions for Tarot Readings

Will I meet a tall, dark stranger? When will I get a promotion? What are the winning lottery numbers for this week?

Hmm... is she being facetious? Why yes I am! These types of questions aren't suited for the tarot. Here's why.

Tarot works best as a map or forecast of the present situation. It does not do well with yes or no questions (and what’s the fun in that?), inquires into the affairs of other people, or specific timetables. Because we are constantly changing and our choices affect where we end up – thank goodness! – the future is never guaranteed. We can, however, see what general direction we’re heading in based on how we’re living now.

But fear not. Maybe you are curious about that tall dark stranger. There are many ways to reframe your question to get pertinent information about the situation.

I’ve outlined three tips to help phrase your tarot questions to get a clear and accurate reading.

1.      What do I need to know about…

Use this phrasing to open up a narrow question. If you want to know about that alluring man you just met change you question accordingly:

Is Mr. Handsome interested in me? --> What do I need to know about my growing relationship with Mr. Handsome?

Why it works: Instead of focusing on outcome (yes or no) this question focuses on you and the present moment. It’s much more constructive. With this reading you're not waiting for the yes or no prediction to come true. You get to see how your outlook and actions influence your relationship. Now there’s something you can work with!

2.      How and Why

Use how and why to expand on the journey ahead (how) and your motivations (why). For example, say you want to move and are wondering when you’ll get your act together.

               When will I move? --> How will my move unfold?

Why it works: the reading will reflect the process of moving – including your motivations, fears, incoming energies, etc. - allowing you to gain understanding of the things working for and against you. With this you can gain an idea of how long it can take and give you the opportunity to make changes to slow down or charge full speed ahead.

3.      Focus on Yourself

You may be tempted to ask the tarot about another person. You’re dying to know what your aloof coworker thinks of you. Why not ask the tarot? I don’t think so. Not only is this a fairly shifty thing to do, but it also bypasses the true connection that you as the seeker have with the cards. Use this to your advantage like so:

               What does Trisha think of me? --> Why am I concerned about Trisha’s opinion?

Why it works: You’re refocusing the question back on yourself, the place where you can make the most change. The cards will truly reflect your situation and not overstep into speculating about Trisha’s. If you're thinking that sounds like a boring reading to get, you're right. This exercise helps identify which questions are worth asking tarot. You might want to change your question and choose something more pertinent to you. Good boundaries = good readings. 

To Recap

DO Broaden the focus to the whole situation by avoiding yes and no questions.

DO start your question with “how” and “why” to get the most information.

DO keep it about yourself in readings about relationships with other people.

DON’T limit yourself with fatalistic yes and no questions.

DON’T fixate on specific timelines.

DON’T ask for lottery numbers ;)

Still curious about questions? Stuck on something you’re trying to phrase? Let me know in the comments below. 

For more information on the uses and limitations of tarot see my FAQ and Code of Ethics. 

Feel like you're got the perfect question you want to explore? I'd love to help answer it! Book a reading with me here. 

Weekly Forecast: Sept. 12-18

Cards from the Tarocchi di Donne by Gloria N. Castellucci

Life can be full of action. We find ourselves running from one thing to the next, writing out epic to do lists and checking off the boxes with a fast and furious sense of satisfaction. This can be exhilarating. We’re being productive! We’re kicking ass! We’re getting things done.

Being a productive badass is not sustainable in the long run, however. We’re human. We need to rest, we need to relax, and we need to have time to just be. The good things in our life don't need us to be running around frazzled to exist. They will still be there if we stop to smell the roses.

Strangely, this actually increases our power to accomplish our goals. We have time to remember why we’re doing what we’re doing, giving meaning and motivation to our actions. It's not always an easy thing to do, however, especially in our work-obsessed culture.

The cards for this week show a high potential for burnout at an already busy time. Action and activity are front and center - expect a full schedule and multiple people competing for your attention. Remaining mindful and grounded will be a challenge, but very worth it.

The Ace of Pentacles shows us that this is a very exciting moment. It’s also the carrot dangling above us, tempting us to overwork ourselves: There’s a new opportunity available involving our daily lives, most likely money. Who wouldn’t want to get a jump start and make this happen?

Pursuing money and a tendency to overwork are a dangerous combination. The Five of Wands suggests a delicate balance. There’s just enough on our plates that we’re able to juggle it if we concentrate hard enough. Add one more piece and our abilities are stretched too thin. We have to drop something or the whole thing comes tumbling down.

This brings us to The Tower, perhaps one of the more blunt cards and also one of my favorites. The Tower reminds us that we are at a pivotal moment. If we continue as is, overextending ourselves and focusing on action over mental and emotional health, we cannot accept the new opportunity without causing our balance to collapse.

In a beautiful way, the outcome depicted in The Tower redirects us to the Ace of Pentacles. It tells us that if we rush headlong into this new beginning we would squander the gift that is being offered to us. Here, these two cards remind us that good fortune is worth celebrating. 

We’re at the beginning of a cycle. There is no need to rush a good thing. In fact, doing so will only work against us.

If we take it slow and enjoy what we have while welcoming change at its own pace we can give ourselves the space and time to decide how to restructure our lives when the time comes. 

So relish the opportunities sent your way, take the time to reconnect with yourself and your motivations, and remember you have the choice to adapt as you see fit. This unknown future could be the best yet. 

What to Expect from an Email Reading

Cards from the Tarocchi di Donne Tarot

I get a lot of surprised faces when I tell people I offer tarot readings by email.

Maybe it’s because the word “email” isn't so evocative. And maybe it's because many people don't realize that a helpful tarot reading is so easily accessible.

Of course, I Iove imagining people picturing me crouched over a crystal ball wearing hoop earrings. But that's hardly the only way to experience tarot. (Though don't get me wrong - I love a good pair of hoops.)Email readings are just as intimate, effective, and insightful as tarot face-to-face. 

In fact, they’re one of my favorite ways to read tarot for other people. Here's why:

1. Connection

You don’t need to be sitting across the table from a reader to have your cards read. And you’d be surprised at how strong the connection between reader and seeker can be via email. Writing allows me to easily shed assumptions and distractions to focus on the heart of your question. I get to connect with the intention and meaning behind your phrasing in a way that feels just as powerful as a face-to-face reading. 

2. Clarity

You don't have to worry about digesting and keeping up with everything I'm saying. All the ins and outs of the cards are laid out on the page so you can read and revisit them later. 

3. Focus

 Email readings allow me to connect directly with your question or topic. After meditating on your question and shuffling the cards, I am free to let my intuition do the work and create your reading. To learn more about my behind the scenes process click here. 

4. Presentation

Have you ever taken thorough notes only to look back at them and have no clue what you've written down? In an email reading, I do all the recording and organizing for you. Your reading will come in a beautiful pdf (if I do say so myself) that's easy to follow.

5. Resource

You now have a lovely pdf of your reading to refer to. Go back and look at the card to help guide you forward, check back on the areas that spoke to you, and keep track of your progress.

6. Flexibility

Struggling to find the time to schedule a face to face reading? Looking for quick insight? You can order an email reading at any time without the hassle of making an appointment. Simply send off your question and get a reading within days.

7. Options

Email readings can be quick bursts of inspiration or in-depth explorations. You get to decide just how much tarot you need. Since I like to use tarot for the big and little things in life, I offer readings that range from quick 1 card takes (Sneak Peek) to deluxe 10 page readings (Heart of the Matter.) 

Lovely Links & Happenings

How has the week been treating you, snap peas? I've been basking in the glow of early fall. It's still hot here in North Carolina, but the light has changed and the leaves are juuuust starting to turn. It's absolutely gorgeous. 

In exciting tarot news, I finally got my paws on Ricardo Cavolo's fantastic Tarot del Fuego. I'm so glad I pulled the trigger because this deck is wonderfully vibrant and engaging. And that's not to say the pop art style and multiple colors make it any less insightful. You'll be seeing much more of it on the blog soon...

Here are some other gems that captivated me this week - hope you enjoy and please share your own discoveries below.

Hilary Parry gives tarot readers helpful tips for how to recover from a bad reading. 

How amazing is this moon garland?? I'm swooning.

This wonderful Manifesto at the Midheaven sums up perfectly some of the issues I have with the commondification of mysticism.

Made my first panzanella - it was delicious and easy-peasy. Definitely recommended for a low key dinner party aka the best kind of dinner party.

DIscovered a blog about "strange and lovely" words called Other-Wordly.  It's very moving to see feelings expressed in other languages - check it out for a dose of beauty.

Read a fascinting article about the Miss America pageant. Entertaining, surreal, and more than a little disturbing - makes me think about the pressure for women to smile almost constantly,.

Watched Don't Breathe (mostly through my fingers, I have to admit!) Very suspenseful, though as a lifelong horror fan, I'd say it's more of a thriller. More spookiness please!

And finally, someone created a Mario spinoff called Ennuigi where Luigi chainsmokes and contemplates his past. An accurate portrayal of how I feel when I'm grumpy. It's delightful!

8 Books to Get You Started on Your Tarot Journey

So you have a tarot deck (or two, or three - I know how it goes!)

Now what???

Things have changed a lot since I was an awkward teenager first discovering the tarot. Picture me lurking in my bedroom late at night with my trusty Rider-Waite-Smith deck and two dog-eared books and you get the picture.

A few gems to get you started

In a way, the limitations of the time were helpful. Without lots of book choices on Amazon or card meanings online I was able to focus on the information I had with me. Now I have to sit on myself to avoid spending too much on books or getting sucked into an internet vortex. Sometimes I’m successful, and sometimes… not so much.

So my perhaps old-timey recommendation? If you’re starting out, grab a book or two and really get to know them. Practice with lots of readings and thumb through to the meaning of each card. Notice what rings true to you and what confuses you. Write it all down. I can’t overstate the usefulness of a tarot journal.

You’re well on your way to tarot proficiency!

Here are the books that guided me on my journey, as well as some newer additions that can do the same for you.

Learning the Tarot: A Book for Beginners by Joan Bunning

I started out on this book and it is wonderful. A comprehensive tarot course with succinct and accessible card definitions perfect for the beginner. This one is concise and easy to navigate with helpful sections on cards that compliment each other and just enough information to get you started without overwhelming you. Joan Bunning also offers the course for free on her website here, though I recommend supporting her wonderful work and enjoying the feel of a book in your hands.

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack

I adore this book. It’s like an old friend I will never get tired of having tea with. Filled with wonderful insight and deep meaning, do yourself a favor and pick it up. There’s a reason why this is sometimes referred to as the “Bible of tarot.” Pollack’s immersive writing style and serious tarot chops make each page a fountain of insights. It has a more spiritual and historical orientation, but is never overly-dense or dogmatic. After reading it you feel deeply connected to the cards on multiple levels.

the creative tarot: a modern guide to an inspired life by jessa crispin

For those of you who want a less-woo, more focused look at the tarot, Jessa Crispin’s book offers a creativity-centered approach to the cards. Her writing is incredibly clear and engaging and she illustrates how to use the cards to tap into the creative process. Each card meaning connects to artists with inspiring connections to their lives and concludes with recommendations of songs, paintings, plays, and films for further insight.

Tarot Wisdom by Rachel Pollack

As anyone who’s studied tarot for a long time will tell you, you never stop learning! In this book, Rachel Pollack returns to the cards and shares what she’s learned since the publication of Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom. Expect more beautiful and insightful tarot interpretation put together in a masterful, easy-to-follow way. This book is very in-depth and incorporates many other mystical traditions into tarot. I suggest getting this after you’re familiar with Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom only because it’s easy to get carried away with this much magic.

Holistic Tarot by Benebell Wen

What a tome! This book is packed with card meanings and much, much more. Inside you’ll find a wealth of spreads and explorations into the history, uses, and philosophy behind tarot. And pretty much anything else you want to know about the practice. The only caveat? It’s a lot to digest. For those looking to dip their toes in, this book can be a little too much too soon, but if you’re the kind who wants all the information in one book, this is the one for you!

The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination by Robert M. Place

 My favorite book on the history of tarot. If you’re persnickety about historical accuracy and want to cut through the occult legends and myths around tarot pick this one up asap. Place’s scholarship is excellent and clarifies many of the misconceptions about tarot’s origins with clarity and respect. His explorations of the meanings of the Marseille and R-W-S systems are very enlightening, too, and this book makes for an excellent reference you’ll turn to again and agan.

The Encyclopedia of Tarot vol. 1 by Stuart Kaplan

Decks, decks, and more decks! A great resource on tarot history and, you guessed it, tarot decks. From the Medieval origins of the tarot through the twentieth century, this book has all the information and illustrations you need. Helpful for those curious about the evolution of tarot as well as those interested in collecting. Start with volume one for a useful intro, and add others as your journey progresses. The extensive photos also help curb excessive deck purchases…

modern tarot: connecting with your higher self through the wisdom of the cards by michelle tea

A newer addition, this book has a wonderfully approachable tone and engaging anectdotes from the author’s life and tarot journey that help the reader better understand the cards and how they apply to real life situations. What’s more, each card meaning is followed by a spell or ritual you can do to deepen your practice. It’s a jaunty, fun read for the witchier tarot seekers out there.

How about you? What books have helped you on your journey with tarot? 

Weekly Forecast: Sept. 5 - 11

Cards from the stunning Fountain Tarot

Picture the beauty of a sunrise. The dark sky begins to glow at the horizon. Night is over and the day is about to begin. At this moment we are unaware of the glory of the details. What color will the clouds be illuminated with, if there are any clouds at all? Will be see a flock of birds fly by on their way to begin their days? Will the sun glow orange or a pale yellow as it travels up the sky?

I like to think of aces as the moment we take in these beautiful details. We are too entranced by the newness, the reality of the sunrise to question, stress, or overload ourselves with plans for the day. We simply accept the gift as it’s presented to us.

This day and age it’s hard to hang onto this feeling, but I urge you to savor this moment for as long as you can.

This week brings in a pair of new beginnings, so get excited, remain in the moment, and get ready to be inspired.

Maybe you’ve been contemplating turning a personal passion into a business or looking to share your creative output with the world. The ace of coins and the ace of pentacles give you a glowing go-ahead. Now is the time to launch new projects and embrace your creative and practical side. If you cultivate your goals you could end up creating something satisfying and sustainable. This is a week where creativity and financial success are primed to meet. Who doesn’t love this combination?

If you’re not quite there yet or feeling unfocused, the energy this week will be prime for brainstorming and exploring opportunities. There is a great deal of positivity and inspiration at foot!

The powerful enthusiasm that comes with aces can lead to overthinking and insecurity. If you’ve ever had a flash of inspiration, gotten excited, and then lost your steam when you sat down to make it happen you know what I’m talking about.

The Hanged Man shows us another way. Instead of scrabbling to control our inspiration, this card encourages us to step back and let these forces work their magic. Stay playful and embrace the energy of the aces this week. Sometimes our ego is the ultimate roadblock to brilliance. Talk about putting a wet blanket on a lightning bolt. So tell your inner critic to kindly take the backseat as you explore.

They key is to remain flexible and trust in the gifts you’ve been given along with your capabilities.

The verdant lushness of the Ace of Coins clues us into a little trick. While coins signify financial matters in their most literal sense, they also evoke a sense of being grounded and connected to nature. As the week brings more practical opportunities to you, connect with the world around you to avoid stress and overload – take a walk, spend some time with your pets, or get dirty in your garden. This can also temper the sometimes manic energy that comes with wands.

I’m excited to see what we make of these incoming opportunities, so make sure to share what these aces bring you way and enjoy the week ahead!

Is Tarot Right for Me?

Sometimes it takes a while to start something new.

You’ve been intrigued by tarot for a bit, maybe even walked into a metaphysical shop to look at the decks. If you’re like me, you probably got overwhelmed fast. Let’s see what we have here… Medieval Tarot, Cat Tea Party Tarot, Steampunk World of Warcraft Wolf Tarot???

Yes, it’s a lot to process! And you might start wondering if tarot is a good fit for you after all.

As an unabashed tarot nerd, I have good news for you. If you’re interested in tarot, get a deck and start exploring now.

You don’t need a long lineage of fortunetellers in your family, an “angels descending from the clouds” spiritual awakening, and you certainly don’t need to pass a test.

Your curiosity is pointing you in a very exciting direction. Why not follow it and see where it leads?

It doesn’t matter what your spiritual background is, or if you’re even planning to use tarot as a spiritual tool at all. I believe that tarot benefits people of all stripes (or spots) and is very adaptable. So if you plan to use tarot for divination or you just want to use the images to jog your creativity, please go out and snag a deck.

The world could use your unique take on the tarot, so don't hold yourself back.