Obvious Questions

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

Kath	23 Aug 2004
Do you ever do spreads for yourselves, or others, where you know what the answer is, but you (or your querent) needs to hear it from the cards? I mean things like ‘What can I do to save money?’. The obvious answer, without using cards, is ‘stop buying junk, eat out less, re-think all unnecessary purchases (do you really need those new red shoes?) and make a realistic budget and stick to it’. My question is – if you already know the answer, why do some people need to ask the cards? Wouldn’t it be redundant to do a reading in such cases?

maria42airam	24 Aug 2004
Sometimes you know what you need to do, but -how- you are going to go about it is not clear. When I was little I read somewhere that Ben Franklin's best method of making a decision was to make a list of the pros and a list of the cons, and whichever was longest you go with. Although this may work for working on external projects like painting or wallpaper, etc. Internal "projects" aren't as clear because there tend to be emotions involved. I find that the cards bring up possibilities, sometimes some that you don't want to think about, but there they are in front of you. Or sometimes, ideas that you didn't consider at first. Maybe a court card pops up that reminds you of someone that can help. So you know that you need to save money, but the cards say, hey maybe you can ask Beth to cut your hair after all she cuts her daughter's hair and it always looks nice (3 of cups), instead of spending $50.00 at the salon (9 of cups? not sure about this one). Maria

Shesawolf	24 Aug 2004
Not only will the cards re-enforce the obvious... but many times (for me anyway) they show me WHY!?! WHY am I spending money on junk instead of saving??? And sometimes they show me ways to fix what's REALLY wrong... the problem isn't that I spend too much money - that's the symptom!!! The problem is that I'm not feeling emotionally fulfilled right now, and perhaps I need to develop my creative side (The Empress) or I should spend time developing my craft (The 8 of Pent)... I find my cards a great way to discover the root cause ...

MeeWah	25 Aug 2004
As this thread is not about an actual reading per se, it will be moved to Talking Tarot as more appropos & will garner more attention.

Eco74	26 Aug 2004
I agree with Shesawolf. The cards may very well state the obvious but can also present it in a way that makes you understand what is keeping you from taking these steps. Do those red shoes maybe represent something that you just can't let go of? Does eating out indicate a fear of being left out of things? Does buying things somehow feed your selfesteem by confirming your status in society (if you have money you have success)? Is the lack of a set budget reflecting a fear of seing the true situation when you can only really feel happy in the dreamworld you set yourself up in? And how can you change this? The cards can give such hints too. You eat out to not feel left out, well have your friends over at home instead (3 of cups). Buying things makes you feel part of the world around you, well share the things you have instead (6 of cups or 7 of pentacles) and you will find that you can also find your place by giving and not just "taking" part. So, while we can most definately know the answer to our questions even without using the cards, they can give us some new takes on the situation which we may well be in need of in order to move on with it.

Alta	26 Aug 2004
I agree with Eco. I have had people ask me for readings on topics that I think the answer must be obvious. But I do the cards and whole new layers of meaning slip into the simplest question. How can I save money? is a question that could evoke all kinds of factors.

Kiama	26 Aug 2004
Sometimes spreads on these questions which you already know the answer to can enlighten you, help you realize what your real concerns and feelings are, or go into more depth with the answers you already know. So, sometimes I'll use the cards to answer the question. But when it's a friend of mine, and they already know the answer, and I already know the answer, and I can tell they just want some home truths, I'll put the cards down, shake my head and simply say "No need for a reading. Here's the answer." And we'll talk. Friend to friend. Kiama

katie_here	26 Aug 2004
you know what the obvious answer is, but you want the cards to give you the go-ahead. You're spending too much money, but hey, you've had a bad time lately and need to spoil yourself, so don't feel guilty, buy that unnecessary piece of junk. I wonder if that's what some people are looking for. I'd love the cards to tell me to buy whatever I want and my bank balance won't know about it!!!.

Alta	26 Aug 2004
Sometimes I get the uneasy feeling that some people think if they get the right cards, it will change things. This is not to be encouraged. :(

MeeWah	26 Aug 2004
Some folks need to see the obvious in black & white. Or in this case, *in the cards*. They want to be told. I see nothing wrong in that, though everyone has free will to accept or reject. Also as Marion points out, an apparently obvious question can lead to peeling back the layers of an onion. There is oft more involved than the surface question.

Ace	26 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by MeeWah Also as Marion points out, an apparently obvious question can lead to peeling back the layers of an onion. There is oft more involved than the surface question. That is TRUE! I had a friend ask me about trying to work less. Her job (which she loved) was so totally obsorbing, she was getting sick. I answered (without the cards) with all the obvious answers and she got mad, "that wasn't what I wanted, I wanted your psychic senses to tell me what I am missing!" I deserved that, but I didn't have a deck with me at the time to try reading to look for other reasons (such as a desperate need to save them all! (she worked with HIV positive people) even if she couldn't or some other senario).

The Obvious Questions thread was originally posted on 23 Aug 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.