irrelevant readings

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Aug 2001, and now archived in the Forum Library.

lola	22 Aug 2001
could anyone comment on why many readings seem to come out totally irrelevant to the question. Are the cards just forecasting whatever comes up in the querent's immediate future or do they really address specific questions?

Mojo	22 Aug 2001
There's always relevance. But sometimes it hides pretty well. There are times you will stare at the cards for hours and not be able to figure out what the hell they're saying to you, but then all of a sudden two days later something happens and it pops into your head what the cards were talking about. Pay attention to those lessons and eventually you'll be able to see them when they're still just in the forecast phase.

Jane	23 Aug 2001
Hi, I agree with Mojo that the cards are relevant. They are usually telling me what I should be focusing on and not what I think I should be focusing on. :) Jane

tarotbear	31 Aug 2001
Sometimes the querent lets their mind wander, or is not focusing- and you get garbled results. They may be thinking about the sale of their house and you get a reading about health issues. They are thinking about the sale, but at the same time they are worried about moving away from their elderly mother. Sometimes Tarot gets tricky like that. The readings is still revelant to the Querent, but not to the question they 'asked'.

EveAnna	31 Aug 2001
I've found that I have to be really focused when I'm trying to do a reading for myself, if my mind wanders, I get a reading which seems totally irrelevant to what I've asked. I even managed to do a reading for my absent Mom the other week, because I was thinking about her as i got my cards out of their box :) When I have an intense reading I usually get a headache, which takes about an hour to go, but these readings are worth it :) I know then that I have really connected to my deck.

MeeWah	31 Aug 2001
There is always some relevance, although it may not be clear at the time. As others have mentioned, clarity is influenced by the focus or how the question or topic is expressed. Sometimes the cards are intent on directing attention to something the querent may not be aware of or has not heeded.

Talisman	31 Aug 2001
Gosh, sorry to disagree with everyone, but -- Perhaps you are hungry, or distracted, or irritated, or something is annoying you or a small dragon has clawed through your clothing and is ripping through your abdomial wall and is scattering your guts all over the room, or-- Something really bad is going on! Sometimes it just doesn't work. Talisman

Major Tom	01 Sep 2001
I've always found that when the cards don't seem relevant to the question asked that I've asked the wrong question! :D Try discarding the question and just interpreting the cards. EveAnna - My empathy engaged when I read about your headaches. You shouldn't have to suffer for your craft }> May I humbly suggest you give yourself permission to connect to your cards without a headache?

misifu	01 Sep 2001
I disagree. The Tarot always gives the correct answer no matter how irrelevant it may seem to you. For instance, sometimes you may get a court card, such as a King or Queen when your question has nothing to do with a person or persons. However, the more one studies, the more one realizes that the Tarot HAS answered the question. Again, a tarot journal always comes in handy. Keep on trying, you'll always get your answer. Lots of Love, Misifu

tarotbear	01 Sep 2001
Talisman - sometimes it helps to wear a light chainmail shirt under your clothing while card reading to keep the little dragons at bay until you are finished... :-P :-P ( Sounds like a medieval version of 'Alien')

EveAnna	01 Sep 2001
Hi Major Tom, The headache isn't really that painful plus I don't get it every time I read but when I do and I'm doing the reading its like a veil has been lifted, the cards are vivid, so clear and the meanings unmistakable. I would rather not have the headache, :), but they happen. I will try that though when i ask my question I'll ask for a clear reading without the headache :) Also it only every happens when I read for myself never for others.

Demon Goddess	02 Sep 2001
I'm just new to the board, so forgive me if I speak out of turn. I never ask a question, I always just let the cards tell me what they have to tell. I find that if I ask a question, it just makes the person I'm reading for think they're the ones deciding what the cards will be about and it gives me a headache. The power that I feel from the cards decides what to tell, and I've yet to ever find irrelevance. Even if I've wanted a response to a specific question, the cards answer what they want not what I want them to. The reader who mentioned the headaches (I'm sorry I don't know anyone's names yet)... I used to get those until I stopped trying to make the cards give me a response to a specific query... have you tried reading without a question in mind?

jade	03 Sep 2001
i never ask questions, therefore, i never get irrelevant readings although, i have one a couple of sep. occasions gotten a reading that made absolutely no sense whatsoever and i realized that the querent wasn't supposed to get a reading at that time. that doesn't happen anymore because now i listen to that little voice saying, 'nope, not now'. :-) jade

Kimon	03 Sep 2001
Hello, I agree with Misifu; the tarot always, without exception answers. The point is if we are able to understand it. Sometimes the spread is in a fantastical oxford english, but sometimes its talking in some heavy dialect we have to concentrate a lot to understand. The difference is just in the outcome of our mouth to repeat what the cards say. If we have just understood the basic meaning, but not the details it is more stressful; anyway I dont think the cards ever shut up at certain ocasions. :-) Greetings, Kimon

Maur	05 Sep 2001
Quote: EveAnna (02 Sep, 2001 07:39): Hi Major Tom, The headache isn't really that painful plus I don't get it every time I read but when I do and I'm doing the reading its like a veil has been lifted, the cards are vivid, so clear and the meanings unmistakable. I would rather not have the headache, :), but they happen. I will try that though when i ask my question I'll ask for a clear reading without the headache :) Also it only every happens when I read for myself never for others. Me too. I also get headaches if I had a really good reading, and the meanings JUMP out at me. Its almost like a draining -- at different kind of headache. Maur

The irrelevant readings thread was originally posted on 22 Aug 2001 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.