Questions that could not be asked?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Suriel	23 May 2004
I've heard that there are some questions that cannot be asked to the tarot cards...! Two example of these questions is : " Tell me does God exist?" " Where do i come from? go to?" Huh, well....is that we can only use tarot cards when we believe in God? We'll not get the answer if we question the Source of the tarot cards? Anyone has more examples? And please, i welcome any opinions...! :) Lswern

lunalafey	23 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Lswern I've heard that there are some questions that cannot be asked to the tarot cards...! Two example of these questions is : " Tell me does God exist?" ....is that we can only use tarot cards when we believe in God? Very interesting question, especially when everyone's concept of God is different. I suppose one could ask it of the cards and see what comes up. Though I don't know that I would question Gods existance, but rather "what?" is God, or where.....

Suriel	23 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lunalafey Very interesting question, especially when everyone's concept of God is different. I suppose one could ask it of the cards and see what comes up. Though I don't know that I would question Gods existance, but rather "what?" is God, or where..... Thanks for your reply..! I did ask a really "truth-questioning" question to my tarot cards -- "Is this world real?" And well, i didn't remember what cards had come up, but i remembered that the explaination i can made, is that the tarot cards said that this world, is neither real nor unreal (though i think it goes more to unreal), but i would need the courage to find the truth behind the world ( i remembered i got the "The World" and "The Wheel of Fortune" ) Oh, well, you can choose to don't believe this, and say that i might have some mistakes in the reading, (perhaps i shouldn't have asked it?)..... However, i need an answer, to what i believe.... Lswern

Ravenswing	23 May 2004
I don't see why one can't ask any question. Whether you can understand the answer is another matter... }) fly well Raven

jmd	23 May 2004
I in some ways agree with Ravenswing... ... though it may be that certain questions are inappropriate for other reasons. Personally, I can see why some may say that the questions posted by Lswern may be taken to be inappropriate. For example, the first is one which is normally described as requiring to be answered with faith, not knowledge; and the second is one whose partial answer may perhaps begin to be unveiled in the very contemplation of the iconography as found in Tarot, rather than answered. Nonetheless, other questions may yet remay inappropriate. For example, questions which seek not propriety, but evil. These, of course, remains amongst my personal view.

Catpaw	23 May 2004
Try reading Rachel Pollack's "Forest of Souls" and you will see that we can ask many questions, including those of origin and meaning of our soul and what nourishes our souls; what plan did God follow in creating the universe, and more. I find her questions deeply moving, sometimes amazing for the courage she possesses to go there, and I am in awe of her abilities as a Tarot teacher. I had the pleasure of taking one of her classes and she is a true Tarot Master. Hope this helps. CatPaw

lunalafey	24 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Lswern I did ask a really "truth-questioning" question to my tarot cards -- "Is this world real?" ......the tarot cards said that this world, is neither real nor unreal (though i think it goes more to unreal) Sounds about right- for not everything in this world is tangable. For some people, if they cannot see it or touch it, it's not real. When you arrive on the scene of a crime- even though everyone saw the same thing happen, they will all tell a slightly different story... So then, what is real??? Quote: However, i need an answer, to what i believe.... so why not ask- 'what are my true beliefs?' I think my next question for fun will be 'what is god?'

HOLMES	24 May 2004
my favourite game i ever seen was the adam family when christina ricci as wensday put puglsey into the electric chair and said we are to play a new game,, it's called is there a god lol . well for myself i have so far asked about alien abudctions, what does god give for a message, what does the master say , how about your innerchild, your past life, your higherself, your life inventory, the only question i don't do is when someone who is usually young ask , "WHEN WILL I DIE" and i say why the hell would you want to know that for i am not answering that question. as for your two questions stated , they are perfectly natural and i think it will be a long time before you read forest of souls unless you see it at your local libary , it is well worth a read , it has inspired me to do wisdom readings on plenty of things :O)

Suriel	24 May 2004
First, thanks to all your opinions!....:) Ravenswing --> I truly appreciate your opinion, but, what if, the tarot cards told you that God does not exist?.....Well, however, if God doesn't exist, the tarot cards wouldn't be able to read people's mind either..... (Since there is no Source anymore....) jmd --> Yeah, true, it's kind of weird if we question the tarot cards -- if we don't believe in it, how could you use it? Yeah, true, faith is needed basically, but isn't it more weird, that we question everything in our lives to tarot cards, but we never question the tarot cards?.....? Well, about reading on evil purposes, i think it's not actually cannot be asked, since the cards would just answer the good way to you.........i think........:) Catpaw --> Wow, cool, i haven't heard this book before! I might want to read it sometime!:) thanks for your suggestion.....! lunalafey -->Thanks for this opinion! I agree with you, but what i really meant in my question, is that " Is our world a material world that exist? Or just a imginary world inside the heart of God?" .... Yeah, good question, the "What is my true beliefs?"......Huh, if you believe in something, then it is always true to you......so, if asking what is my true beliefs, it just tells the things that are true to me, but sometimes they are not true themselves.......Hmm....i doubt that you get me here! :P HOLMES --> Cool, you've asked those questions! I would really like to know what answers were gievn to you.......! Can i know them? you can just PM me.......:) And, oh, well, there is no such thing as "When will i die", i think, not even God knows when we'll end, when we'll born ....Guess that God is a surrealist...! Get me? hehe......:) Finally, best wishes to all of you.......! Lswern

Lady Mary	24 May 2004
I (usually) don't ask the Tarot when I'm afraid of the possible answer or when I've already made up my mind to do something. Quote: but, what if, the tarot cards told you that God does not exist?. What card(s) would you expect if the answer was "no"?

Suriel	24 May 2004
Quote: What card(s) would you expect if the answer was "no"? Well, i personally think that if the devil, the world reversed, the moon and the hermit turn up, then it might be a no answer......couldn't really say a specific card, it depends on what you feel, like what you usually do, when you're doing a reading.... Oh, and well, as i've said, if the asnwer is no, then the tarot cards wouldn't be "Tarot cards"; if the tarot cards isn't "Tarot cards", then what it answer is just not the "answer"!.....!So everything just become unexplainable.... not logic...you get me? Ah, and, i personally think that, if something is unsure, then we must go for the answer, that's why we use tarot cards.....:) Thanks, Lady Mary...! Lswern

SongDeva	24 May 2004
I have to echo some of the others here, lswern. Get yourself a copy of Forest of Souls (seller idt88 on ebay has it for like $6!) I don't think there is any question you can't ask tarot. There is no question you can't ask, period, if you ask me.

miss_apples	24 May 2004
I dont believe that Tarot has a book of rules and I dont think there are questions that you absolutly cant ask. Everyone has different tarot morals which may keep them from asking a certain question, but anothers tarot morals may be different and they may think its ok to ask that question. I personally dont like to as time questions in general...such as when will something happen, just because time frames constantly change and anything can delay or quicken an event.

Suriel	25 May 2004
Quote: I have to echo some of the others here, lswern. Get yourself a copy of Forest of Souls (seller idt88 on ebay has it for like $6!)... Thanks, SongDeva! I will sure to read that book!.....;) Quote: I dont believe that Tarot has a book of rules and I dont think there are questions that you absolutly cant ask. ...I personally dont like to as time questions in general... Well, if that is so, then i'm going to ask the questions......! :) Thanks, miss_apples, and i agree that asking time questions isn't a rational action.....:P....... Lswern

Jewel	25 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Lswern Well, however, if God doesn't exist, the tarot cards wouldn't be able to read people's mind either..... (Since there is no Source anymore....) Not trying to be nit-picky (or rude), but tarot cards do not read minds. They show you potential outcomes or information based on how things are right now if something in the pattern did not change. Like a time freeze photo. Quote: Originally posted by Lswern Well, about reading on evil purposes, i think it's not actually cannot be asked, since the cards would just answer the good way to you.........i think........:) I believe that the intent of the reader will influence what they read in the cards. The cards are tools, and as any set of tools, how they are used is influenced by the one using them. Quote: Originally posted by Lswern Catpaw --> Wow, cool, i haven't heard this book before! I might want to read it sometime!:) The Forest of Souls is by Rachel Pollock and is a wonderful book. She uses her deck, The Shining Tribe, to illustrate the spreads she used in asking the deep questions, but you should be able to easily follow along using a deck of your choice. I loved it! This is a very interesting thread. Thanks for posting it.

Suriel	26 May 2004
Thanks, Jewel! I basically agree with you.....;) Lswern

Flavio	26 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Lswern Well, i personally think that if the devil, the world reversed, the moon and the hermit turn up, then it might be a no answer......couldn't really say a specific card, it depends on what you feel, like what you usually do, when you're doing a reading.... Totally agree on the feeling part, if you see the Devil you might think, there is no God because the Devil card is about materialism not spiritual matters, but at the same time if you see the Devil card you can be sure of the existence of God, if there are shadows then must also exist the light... Maybe there are truths that Tarot can reveal but we humans are not meant to know...

Suriel	27 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Flavio Maybe there are truths that Tarot can reveal but we humans are not meant to know... [/b] This sounds pain, yet it is more than true..... :( Yeah, we are human, and we are only human.... Sometimes i feel injustice -- we come from God, and God is the beginning of us, why, why can't we know ourselves -- the beginning of ourselves?? :( Well, whatever, thank you, Flavio Lswern

Niomi	27 May 2004
You might want to read The Tarot Speaks by Julie E. Lewis. It's a humorous online article on the subject. :)

Suriel	27 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Niomi You might want to read The Tarot Speaks by Julie E. Lewis. It's a humorous online article on the subject. :) Well, thanks, Niomi, for this link! :) I have some opinions here -- if God doesn't created the universe, then what does she do? What had she done? and, if universe does evolved for a long time period, then why does it evolve? why does it there, to evolve? Huh, well, perhaps i'm looking at things too seriously, you might think that........:) Well, however, thanks, Niomi Lswern

Flavio	27 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Lswern we come from God, and God is the beginning of us, why, why can't we know ourselves -- the beginning of ourselves?? :( Lswern I think that as in many things in life, the quest is more gratifying than the goal itself. Greetings

Suriel	28 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Flavio I think that as in many things in life, the quest is more gratifying than the goal itself. Greetings Hmm..yeah, true and wise words, Flavio. Thanks.:) Lswern

hedgecub	28 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Ravenswing I don't see why one can't ask any question. Whether you can understand the answer is another matter... }) I definitely agree. First of all, the very nature of a tarot deck limits the ways in which it can express answers. After all, it's a stack of cards with 78 pictures on it, which gives a wide range of expressions when combined with your intuition, but is still ultimately limited in the way it can express itself. Secondly, you have the added difficulty of the potential complexity of the answer. "Does God exist?" may seem on the surface like a simple yes/no question, but considering the sheer volume of works published on that subject, it's evident that the answer may well be far more complex than the scope of human understanding. So the answer may well be there in the cards, but you may not understand the way the answer is phrased, and you may not even be able to understand the answer itself, regardless of how the information is transmitted to you. Nevertheless, one of these days I'll pick up a copy of Forest of Souls, and perhaps turn my paw to consulting the tarot on these very philosophical questions. :)

Suriel	29 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by hedgecub So the answer may well be there in the cards, but you may not understand the way the answer is phrased, and you may not even be able to understand the answer itself, regardless of how the information is transmitted to you. Yeah, it's too pain to realize this -- that we are only human, and can only understand what human can understand..... Answers might be everywhere, but we can't see them....! Thanks, anyway, hedgecub...!:) P/S: I'll get my copy of Forest of Souls in June! ;) Lswern

Cerulean	29 May 2004
Let's make the question a little personal and then see if we could glean some nuggests? The question (made personal) Does God exist for me, in my belief system? (And why do I need to answer the question right now?) Let's say the answer: if the devil, the world reversed, the moon and the hermit turn up, then it might be a no answer The devil--attachment to material concerns, or perhaps a need or desire. Likely I feel confused and long for something. I would feel comforted if I could attach my beliefs and wishes to a higher force working good for me. The world reversed-instead of me having all that I have attained, all I see is my next desires and lack. I see my vision of heaven on earth all reversed, a huge hole. Many people in a bad situation would be crying, "There is no God." I may be in situation that I don't like, but I'm not in despair and I have to settle my situation. The moon-My longing and my dreams and fantasies seem to only underlie the confusion, longing for my material concerns or desires to be solved and a desire to escape from my present situation or my opinion of the current situation. Perhaps my desire to have something that I long for--which I think would answer all questions, help solve my problems--is just a symbol of being tired, working too hard. I've attached all my hopes to some outside goal that I have no control over. To really solve my needs and change my belief that God or outside force has control over me, I have to wake up from a 'nightmare.' The dream or fantasy is giving me a devil of a headache and even the dancing world figure is doing headspins! The hermit--ah, a spark of light. The hermit was in some systems a symbol of Father Time. In other systems, a symbol of retreat, pilgrimage...in the Thoth deck, I remember the hermit reminded me of a celestial being to help accompany the pilgrim, to even go beyond the three-headed Cereberus, to light the way through the passages of hell. Dante's Divine Comedy always gave the pilgrim a guide to light the way even through the darkest time. The wisdom that I usually find in research, ideas, change of attitudes, comes from small times with family, friends, the garden, kayaking, books, resting...I am still rich in these things. I have time to achieve my goals...the deadlines that I've been giving myself to complete certain things really matter less to others because there's no real need to 'attain' my goals right away. The wisdom of this reading highlights that I was actually saying to myself that I was attaching a belief in better circumstance to a belief to a better, higher source which I hoped would be looking out for me and solving my problems. However my best problem solving is sensibly identifying big goals and steps to goals and focusing quietly on what is achieveable in the next few days, weeks, and months. Since I've been able to do this in the past, I've actually solved my lacks and bad attitudes toward situations that I felt were overwhelming, devilish or bigger than I could handle. Let's see what I can adjust in my schedule, goals, studies so I can gain some delight and achieve some steps instead of thinking I'm in need and lack something else to complete me... The reason I felt the need to answer this question is because I am questioning some values and ideas and what I feel would complete me...but before I turn my world upside down to achieve my goals and ideas, I'm going to plan carefully in the eventuality that my fears about lacking what I need also come true. The value of this reading is being able to question my values and reflect on what the cards symbolize in my concepts. I hope this is helpful to you as an example of perhaps taking a bigger concept and bringing it closer to home so perhaps it makes better sense to viewing a situation. Maybe also it might help suggest why the cards in question might be helpful as a guide even if it doesn't seem to answer the initial question. Best wishes, Cerulean

Suriel	29 May 2004
Thanks, Cerulean! :) You have answered the question from a more narrow view -- from ourselves. Perhaps you are right -- that there is no a same God in everyone's heart, but everyone has their own God that fits their needs....! A quite existialism view, indeed -- we need God, so God must exist..... Whatever, i am really impressed by the way you see the question and the way you interpret the tarot cards, Cerulean. Thanks, for spending your time here! :) Lswern

The Questions that could not be asked? thread was originally posted on 23 May 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.