Forming a Question?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Mar 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Quietus	30 Mar 2004
I'm usually do a readings for myself. Family and friends won't let me pull for them. :( Howver, when I do a reading for myself, I tend pull a lot of what I interpreate as conformation cards. Or I see things in the cards that I alread know. Is there a right way to do a reading for yourself? Or a right way to ask a question? If I'm doing a reading for myself, I just think of the subject. Hep me. and I do me hep. heheheh

lunalafey	30 Mar 2004
Not sure of your exact question- your title threw me. Quote: Originally posted by Quietus ...when I do a reading for myself, I tend pull a lot of what I interpreate as conformation cards. Or I see things in the cards that I alread know..... This happens to me. I think most often when I am doing a reading that is "general"......like no question but present the cards with an issue in my life. I also found that the well used spreads like the PPF, BMS, CC, HS etc....tend to be less informative and more along the lines of giving confirmation. Making questions direct and specific might lessen this occurance. rather than "how is my job going?" one might ask "in what areas can I do better?" or "does this job have long term potential?" in love- "what about me and So-n-so?" one might ask "Where will we be tested most in our relationship?" "What is the focus of our relationship?" hope this helps

Jenny-Li	30 Mar 2004
There is ONE right way for you to read for yourself - your way. Yes, yes, I know - this sounds like a tired cliché, but it's really the truth. Personally I have usually worked around this by either designing my own spreads specific for the question at hand, so it's basically a one-reading-spread, I rarely go back to those custom-made spreads, they have served their role when I've used them for the issue I had when I made up the spread. And when I do that, I focus on what it really is I need to know. CC-positions, and positions in any other traditional spreads, are too wide, too general to make specific sense to a specific "problem". So what information do I need here? That's the main question when designing a custom-made spread. Figuring that out also means working through your problem, which might deepen your insight about your here and now situation. Last week I did find a spread I liked, because it was general enough not to focus on a problem at all, but at my personal growth in different areas at this point in time. The spread was posted by WalesWoman in the spreads section, and the reading I did in the Your Readings section here at the AT. I think you might be helped by focusing on what you can DO, not on who you are, and what you feel. The key is in your path, what direction you choose to walk, not in staying where you already are. That's what I think, at least. Not sure whether I answered your actual question or not, but I hope this helped a little at least. //Jenny :)

Marion	30 Mar 2004
I agree that when you ask a question at least one of cards is generally blindingly obvious. I use that term carefully because that's the card you should spent some time with, looking for the deeper aspects of the card and hence the situation.

Quietus	30 Mar 2004
Well, I was doing it all wrong! Well, asking the questions the wrong way, anywhoo. I keep using it like a Ouija board or something. Two totally different things. :) That brings another question: Do the Tarot tell you the answers to what you'd like to hear or the answers to what you should know?

bec	31 Mar 2004
denpending on what you are asking they will show what you know and sometimes something new. Many times when we do readings for our selves, deep inside we already know the solution - the reading will then work as a confirmation on that - or a good solid kick in the rear. I never have cards telling me only what I want to hear - but I do find it can tremendously hard to see what they are saying, when I dont wanna hear it. What I do then is kind of dealing with the basic meaning of the card - this card means this and this - and sort of work my way around my own stubbornness in not wanting to hear. Back to your question: Stating a question should be (in my opinion) opening your opportunity to take responsibility - like: What are my obtions... What do I need to know... Cards will tell you what you need to know. And sometimes that *is* what you already know inside. ( I will stop this rambling now :P )

Quietus	09 Apr 2004
That all makes good sense to me! Instead of asking "Will" questions, I should ask "What" or "How" questions? Right?

Simone	09 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Quietus Instead of asking "Will" questions, I should ask "What" or "How" questions? Right? Questions with "How" or "What" will attract answers in that sense: if you ask "How", you will get instructions, ideas or suggestions of how to proceed on your way to reach your goal. If you ask "Will", then you ask a yes/no question which is difficult to answer with cards (unless you only have 2 of them, or three, one with "yes" printed on it, one with "no" and perhaps one with "perhaps" }) :joke: :laugh: ) If you want to allow Tarot to deploy all of its wisdom for you, open up with open questions that are formulated, at the same time, as precise as possible (here I mean: no "either or" questions, this is confusing, too, or double questions - if you realise there is duplicity in your question, better break it down into two separate ones...) Lots of love Simone

The Forming a Question? thread was originally posted on 30 Mar 2004 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.