The question/query?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 May 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

RedEarth	12 May 2003
I have noticed that sometimes some people give what I think as alot of detail when asking a question for a reading, and other times it is a 5 word question! What do you prefer/what works best for you etc? I think I prefer less, but can see why in some cases 'more' would be helpful, but saying that, you could get 'more' as you go along. See, still undecided ! ;) But am interested to know what more experienced tarot readers think. RedEarth

Kiama	12 May 2003
I'm gonna be awkward here and say both! This is because whilt I prefer a short question to ask whilst shuffling (Such as "What will happen if I quit this job?") I also like a bit of background information from the questioner so I know where they're coming from. So, when a questioner comes to me and starts rambling on about the details of the question, I listen, then help them formulate a short question to focus on with the reading. Hope this helps! Kiama Edited to add: I also find background info helpful because sometimes I get somebody asking me 'I need to know about what will happen between me and this girl I really like', and the reading is all confused... Then I ask them how well they know the girl, and they admit that they've only actually seen her twice in a nightclub, she doesn't even know that the questioner exists, and the questioner hadn't actually even said 'Hi' to them before... Having background info helps to assess how much the questioner has actually put into the situation before they came to the 'all-knowing Tarot reader'!

Jenny-Li	12 May 2003
I'm all for background and issue, and like Kiama, I want the general story first, but then I try to boil it down to the core of the matter, what the person's problem is. I don't alway formulate that as a question, or even in words, but make it an "emotion" I keep within while doing the question. Sounds corny, but I don't know how else to put it... :( I make sure I know what the issue is, once that's done I don't always have to have a particular question - most people tend to search for general guidance anyway, what direction to move in etc. I could never do the completely uninformed reading, that some people seem to perfer. Tried it, but feel I can't work that way! :) Jenny :)

baba-prague	12 May 2003
I often ask people to be clear about the question themselves, but not to tell me what it is to begin with. I give an overview reading first, then ask them to tell me more - after that I go through the reading again in more detail, focusing it more specifically on their query. Why does this work? (for me - not saying it would for everyone) Well, I suppose in part it helps to convince people that there is something valid going on - I find it's usually quite easy to see what the question must be about from the reading, and the fact that I can outline this before having been told the question helps to reassure people that it's "genuine", not me in some way twisting the cards to suit what they've asked. It's more than that though, I actually like to have my own mind clear of preconceptions when I see the spread, and not knowing the question at first does help me to see the reading with clarity. One good piece of advice I've had recently from someone on Aeclectic is to keep your own ego out of a reading. It's good advice and I suppose not knowing the question to begin with helps me do this - it means that all I can do is straightforwardly read what I see, without any "spin" on it from my own opinions. It is a bit unnerving the first time you do it - it feels like you are a bit "blind", but try it out. It does work! Karen

Kiama	12 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by baba-prague I often ask people to be clear about the question themselves, but not to tell me what it is to begin with. I give an overview reading first, then ask them to tell me more - after that I go through the reading again in more detail, focusing it more specifically on their query. Oooh, I'd never thought of doing that before, and it sounds very effective. I must admit to having some concerns about querents thinking I'm 'making it all up', so maybe giving this a try will help... Thanks baba-prague! :D Kiama

Alissa	12 May 2003
I hate too much info. Some is helpful, but not too much is my preference. I often ask if they have "a specific issue or question to address, just yes or no please." And I smile. By adding that last little bit on the end, they know not to launch into a tirade. If they answer yes, I then say, "Can you tell me, in like 2 sentences or less, the issue or question you'd like addressed?" And they usually laugh, getting the point that I don't want their lifestory as a preamble to our reading. Instructing them to focus intently on their issue is always helpful. Before I started telling people how to behave with me, with these little scripts I use, I would often get people who would sit down and then tell me all about how upset they were about X or Y, and I would listen and listen ... and then still have no idea what the hell their question was. Focusing their intent into a good question is a helpful process for me as a reader too, because it helps me to begin to tune in :).

Diana	12 May 2003
Well, I used to think that a short question would be more helpful. Now I let people ramble on as long as they want to, if they want to. Oft times if people need a reading, it's because they need to get something off their chest. They have no-one else to talk to or the people they can talk to don't give them the advice they need. So they talk, and laugh, and cry, and when they're over, I say something like "Okay, now I wonder what would be the most pertinent thing to ask the Tarot to get to the root of your problem". This again can take from up to a minute to ten minutes to discuss. By that time, they will have most likely have already had so much insights into their problem, just by talking about them to a third person, that the actual reading is only the cherry on the top.

Kiama	12 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Diana Oft times if people need a reading, it's because they need to get something off their chest. They have no-one else to talk to or the people they can talk to don't give them the advice they need. I was just about to say this, but Diana said it sooner and much better than me! So I'll just agree with her and add my two pence... Alot of the time I use the Tarot to 'explore the situation, emotions, and fears/hopes of the questioner' in relation to a question, and sometimes all that it is needed is for the questioner to just talk... Often people don't say things out loud very often, especially when it's about something very personal. Saying it out loud however does seem to clarify things alot for many people... Sometimes the querent won't need me to do a Tarot reading at all, and they will launch straight into it all. Sometimes though, I'll do the spread, and after a few cards they'll open up and it'll all come flooding out. It just depends how eager the querent is to express their feelings and thoughts on the situation. Kiama

allibee	12 May 2003
Then there is the other side of the coin - internet readings. And in particular, email/messageboard readings, where the onus is really on the reader to 'perform' to their best. There is no feedback halfway through the reading to clarify a point, no chance to redirect in the face of the real issue, so you just have to get on with it. I don't want a person's life history. I just ask for a direct question, which in turn will get a direct response. I HATE general questions over the net, because 9 times out of 10 they don't want to admit what they really want to look at. This is an example of a good, well thought out, direct question: I am thinking of turning my hobby into a business, what should I do to make the best of it I can? This is a bad question: I want to know when I'm going to get rich! Personally speaking, as I may have mentioned before, I do one spread as an overview - to really get a handle on the situation. Then taking my lead from that I will shuffle and lay a bigger more appropriate spread and do an indepth reading. By now I should be getting a really clear message, and then I may do more shuffles and spreads to clarify - for my benefit. I will then have a very thorough understanding, with the possibility of side issues being raised. Then, and only then, will I put it all together and give my indepth, direct response. Yes, I put in a lot of work, but it's worth it for the feedback. All the: how on earth did you know's; that's amazing - I never even mentioned that's; etc., etc. :O) Just some thoughts Allison www.tarotpeople.com

Astra	13 May 2003
I tend to like questions that are specific, although I don't cavil too much about "just give me a general reading". Sometimes I end up doing a two-part reading where the first part is "What question does this person really want/need an answer to", which can go off on some very strange paths. What I get picky about is when someone asks a question that there may not be an answer to. "How do I get my boyfriend to propose" needs to reality check against whether the boyfriend has any intention of proposing under any circumstances. If I don't check, I may go along with their assumption that of course there is a way to do it, and spend the whole reading wondering why I can't get anything.

The The question/query? thread was originally posted on 12 May 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.