I'll try to put it more clearly .... I think there is a difference in peoples general approach to life and to the tarot as well.
I know that it is common to say, the future is not fixed. That Tarot just shows trends and that we can influence these trends ourselves.
In my experience however, Tarot can show you things beyond your possible knowledge and control. You might guess what it is, maybe it's even clear from the cards, but sometimes you will only know afterwards.
If you are asking more for things beyond your control, that's the deterministic way.
Many thanks for clarifying this, now i better understand where your coming from.
Like you, i'm of the opinion that some things are beyond our control. For instance: luck or chance. Not to mention, destiny & fate.
I've been studying tarot for upwards of 16 yrs., and altho i've looked into the opening of the key spread, i've never tryed my hand at it. But then again, i've never had the time to truly devote to tarot.
Also just so you know, i read using both Rider-Waite & Thoth. Not to mention, I also read with non-scenic pips. + I use other decks where the imagery resonates with me.
In any event, I encourage you to try throwing 3 cards and look for their message. & Altho this kind of open reading sounds like a simple exercise, it can actually prove to be a bit of a learning curve, in the sense that there are many ways you can relate the cards to one another, given that you are not relying on positional meanings. So this method really gets you thinking about how the cards could be connected to one another.
& IF you read thru my first post, you'll see where I made various suggestions about possible ways of viewing them. & After you've studied them by viewing them in different contexts, you'll generally hit on the message they have for you. Then its up to you, whether you want to explore the message further, by asking specific question(s) based on the info. the Tarot has revealed to you.
& The fascinating thing about this method, are the messages that come thru! Or rather should I say, sometimes the cards thrown in the open reading will reveal a message that tells you everything you need to know. Or other times, they provide a starting point from which to continue reading. So this is something that one needs to play around with, to see whether it works for you.
One other thing re: this method of open reading, if you can't discern the message after studying the three cards, then check the shadow card to see if it's the missing link re: arriving at the message the cards have for you. IF not, then calculate the quint for the three cards drawn to see if this sheds any more light.
IF the message still isn't coming thru, lay two more cards.
& Just so you know, i lay this out by placing the first 3 cards drawn in a horizontal line. Then if i need to i'll add one card on top of the centre card, and another card below the centre card, to form a vertical line. The result being, that now you've created a 5 card cross.
Though don't be in a hurry to lay more cards, instead really think about the three cards that were thrown, and you'll be amazed at the amount of info. that can be gleaned from just 3 cards.
In any event, this is a good exercise for learning to connect with the cards. & It also allows your INTUITION to come into play.
Not to mention, but some readers favour this approach, in the sense that they don't use positional meanings. Indeed there is a school of thot that the cards can simply be read according to their meaning, though of course they still need to be read in relation to one another. & As such, the "card combinations" that appear create their own unique context, and otherwise set the stage for the reading.
Also when reading this way, keep in mind that the 4 Suits of the minor arcana relate to "different areas" of our lives, and so can be read to establish context. & The Court's can be considered in terms of people (ourselves or others) & Any Majors that appear can also help identify any major influences that are present.
As far as positional meanings go, why not make them up as you go along, by asking questions that are specific to the subject matter you are reading about? Leastways, that's how I do it 90% of the time. Or rather should I say, first I let the Tarot tell me what I need to know, then if I want I can take it one step further by asking questions.
PS: I apologize for the length, but as open readings work so well for me, I wanted to convey as much!