Good Questions Make Better Readings
Asking good questions is an effective way to get the most out of a reading. (It’s also a great place to start with any form of problem-solving, but I’m a tarot reader and astrologer so my focus here is on doing readings.) Whether they are consulting me for a reading or taking one of my classes on divination, one thing many people struggle with is coming up with good questions. For example, during readings people will often say, “I don’t know what to ask; just tell me what you see in the cards!”
Certainly if we have time, I can have them choose cards or a charm or crystal and use that to triangulate down to what’s going on in their lives. However, if we only have 15 minutes to do a reading I suggest that popular reading topics center on love, health, or money and ask which one might resonate for them today. If you ask a specific question we can use the reading time for finding answers. It’s a little like going to a doctor and saying you don’t feel well, but not really explaining that you have a pain in your stomach. Time and energy is wasted in the diagnosis until the doctor asks the right question.
Pythia, the priestess at the temple of the Oracle at Delphi answered questions through prophecies which were said to originate from the Greek god Apollo. Her clients were usually among the rich and powerful of the world. The process of getting a consultation was not easy and involved time and sacrifice. Once they arrived at the temple, the supplicant would enter a doorway over which three famed maxims were inscribed: “Know thyself”, “Nothing in excess”, and “Give a pledge and trouble is at hand”.
I find that interesting; here are three gems of advice before they have even entered the presence of the oracle! It suggests that the information they receive will be more useful or powerful if you answer these questions for yourself before even consulting an oracle. Overall the questions seem to suggest that the questioner should ask himself some questions before asking the oracle.
At other times we are asking a question, but it’s not the right one. Maybe we need to fine-tune it a little. I guess I’m saying to be specific, but not too specific. I came across a couple of sentences the other day that really caught my attention. It was in a guidebook for my “Stranger Things” Tarot. “What is the source of your conflict? Are you trying to solve the right problem?” Back in my quality management days in corporate America when we were trying to improve a process we always first asked what does the process look like now. Then we were able to analyze it better.
It’s the same with getting a reading. Let’s say you’re not happy at work and you think it’s because you don’t like your boss and you’re underpaid. You ask questions about how you can get along with your boss better and get brave enough to ask for a raise. After working through the reading it becomes apparent that you really don’t like the work you’re doing and no matter who your boss is or what they pay you, you’d be somewhat unhappy. That’s why I’ve learned to leave questions somewhat open-ended. For example, we could ask “What does the Universe want me to know about my job?”
Just to clarify: I’m not saying you always have to get the question just right to have a good reading. For one thing, sometimes we just don’t know what we don’t know! So asking what my favorite tarot mentor Christiana Gaudet always suggests: “What does the Universe want me to know?” is perfectly fine. I’m just suggesting that when you can drill down with a more specific question, your reading experience will be better.
For information about getting a reading from me or upcoming classes, check me out at the following:
561-315-5387
