Which Questions You Should Never Ask Tarot

Hello, dear readers! Today, we’re diving into the art of questioning when it comes to tarot. Whether you’re a seasoned tarot enthusiast or just beginning your journey, asking the “right” questions can make all the difference in the guidance you receive. Tarot can be a beautiful tool for insight, self-reflection, and growth. But did you know that some types of questions may hinder your reading or lead you down a confusing path? Let’s explore the questions you should avoid asking tarot to maximize clarity and resonance in your readings.

Why Do Some Questions Not Work in Tarot?

Before diving into specific questions to avoid, let’s first understand why certain questions are less effective. Tarot isn’t meant to be a crystal ball telling you fixed outcomes, and it certainly doesn’t serve as a magic mirror for “yes or no” answers. Instead, tarot acts as a mirror reflecting the layers of your subconscious, offering guidance, revealing potential outcomes, and helping you uncover deeper truths within yourself. This journey requires open, introspective questions that invite growth and insight rather than quick, binary answers or permission-seeking.

With that in mind, let’s look at three main types of questions to avoid in a tarot reading.

1. Yes/No Questions

One of the most common mistakes people make is asking tarot cards yes/no questions, such as “Will I get that promotion?” or “Is my partner cheating on me?” While it’s natural to seek definitive answers, yes/no questions can limit the insight tarot can provide. Here’s why these questions don’t work well in tarot:

Tarot Is Not Absolute: Life is rarely black and white, and tarot reflects the nuances of life. When you ask a yes/no question, you’re limiting the potential of the tarot to show you the broader context, underlying factors, and possible paths forward.
Lacks Depth: Yes/no questions often overlook the complexities of a situation. Rather than asking, “Will I get that promotion?” a more open-ended question like, “What can I do to improve my chances of getting a promotion?” encourages a more profound exploration of factors you can control.
Closed-Ended Responses: Tarot operates on symbolism and interpretation rather than direct answers. When you ask a closed question, you miss out on the full range of insight the cards can offer, which is more suited to guiding, empowering, and enriching your understanding of a situation.

Instead, reframe yes/no questions into open-ended ones that invite guidance. For example:

Try This Instead: “What can I learn from my current relationship?” or “What steps can I take to improve my chances of a promotion?”

2. Questions Asking for Permission or Prohibition

Another common type of question that doesn’t work well in tarot is one that seeks permission or validation. Questions like, “Should I leave my job?” or “Am I allowed to pursue this relationship?” not only reduce the empowerment aspect of a tarot reading but also risk giving away your personal agency. Tarot readings should enhance self-awareness and empower you to make your own choices rather than dictate a path.

Avoiding Responsibility: When you ask tarot for permission, you’re essentially shifting the responsibility of decision-making onto the cards. Tarot is a tool for introspection and should help you feel more confident in making your own choices, not serve as an authority on your life path.
Empowering Decisions: Instead of asking, “Should I leave my job?” try reframing it as, “What factors should I consider regarding my current job situation?” This way, tarot can provide guidance on aspects that matter most, helping you reflect on what resonates deeply with your goals and values.
Learning from the Cards: Tarot helps us connect to our intuition. When we use it to decide on actions without our own involvement, we diminish our power to make empowered decisions based on self-knowledge.

Try This Instead: Reframe permission questions into ones that offer insight or bring clarity to your situation. For instance, “What are the potential outcomes of leaving my job?” or “What do I need to consider about this relationship?”

3. Overly Complex or Multi-Layered Questions

Sometimes, we have so many thoughts swirling in our minds that we end up piling multiple questions into one. For example, you might be tempted to ask, “What will happen in my relationship, my career, and my financial life in the next six months?” or “How can I improve my career, relationship, and health all at once?” While it’s natural to want guidance on many aspects of life, this approach can dilute the clarity of your tarot reading and leave you with an unclear answer.

Overwhelming the Reading: When you ask a layered question, you risk muddling the reading because the cards may attempt to answer too many topics at once. Instead, try breaking down your questions into separate areas to ensure each one receives focused insight.
Fostering Clarity: By simplifying and dividing your questions, you’ll get clearer and more insightful answers. For example, instead of asking about three different life areas in one question, you could ask, “What’s the main theme in my career path currently?” followed by “What energies are surrounding my relationship?”
Allowing Depth of Insight: Tarot shines when it can delve deeply into one topic at a time. By focusing on one area, you open yourself up to more nuanced interpretations that provide meaningful guidance.

Try This Instead: Break your questions down into more specific, single-focused inquiries. Instead of “What will happen in my relationship, career, and finances?” ask separate questions like, “What should I focus on in my relationship right now?” and “What opportunities are arising in my career?”

Crafting Effective Questions for Tarot

When approaching tarot, it’s important to keep your questions open, insightful, and empowering. Here’s a simple formula to help you structure better questions:

Start with “What” or “How”: These types of questions encourage reflection and exploration rather than definitive answers. Examples: “What can I learn from this situation?” or “How can I navigate this change?”
Focus on Growth and Self-Understanding: Aim to gain insight into your feelings, actions, or mindset. For example, “What personal growth is this challenge offering me?” instead of “Will this challenge go away?”
Be Present-Focused: Tarot works best when it helps you navigate the present rather than predict far-off events. Asking questions rooted in the here and now, like “What can I focus on in my personal growth journey today?” will yield more actionable guidance.

Examples of Empowering Questions

Here are some examples to help inspire empowering tarot questions:

“What do I need to know about my current path?”
“How can I align my actions with my higher purpose?”
“What energy should I embrace to navigate this challenge?”
“What can I do to nurture self-love and confidence?”
“What steps will support me in achieving balance in my life?”

Final Thoughts on Tarot Etiquette

Tarot is a tool for reflection, insight, and growth. By approaching it with open, growth-oriented questions, you allow the cards to serve as a mirror reflecting your inner wisdom. Avoid yes/no, permission-seeking, and overly complicated questions to let tarot provide the guidance and clarity that truly supports you on your journey.

Remember, tarot is here to enhance your intuition, not replace it. It’s a partnership between you and the cards, where your openness and curiosity make the journey worthwhile. So, next time you sit down for a reading, think about the kinds of questions that will truly empower you to understand and navigate your life with more clarity and self-trust.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!

Do you have specific questions you love asking the tarot? Or have you ever been surprised by a response you received? Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear your experiences and insights.

Until next time, may your tarot readings be full of wisdom and light! 🌿

With love,
Anastasia Holistic Sage 🌿