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　　You enter a chamber through a beaded curtain and are greeted by an enrobed lady with a crystal ball and lots of jewelry with eyes on it. The smell of incense lies heavily on the air and a black cat appears from under the table, winking as it passes.

　　When you think of getting a Tarot reading, what do you picture?

　　We get used to seeing these kinds of stereotypical images on TV and in movies, but if you’ve never actually been for a Tarot reading, this may be an unrealistic place for you to start! Getting a helpful and satisfying Tarot reading actually starts with you! Knowing what to ask, keeping an open mind and preparing before you go can make all the difference in learning more about your world.

　　Starting with what you should know before you go, the do’s and don’ts when it comes to asking questions and even what to do with the information once you have completed your reading. We’ll prepare you for your best and most helpful Tarot reading yet – no crystal balls necessary.

　　

Before You Go – What to Expect From a Tarot Reading

A good tarot reader will want to ask you questions throughout your reading. What does this mean? Does this make sense to you? Do you have older men around you? Are there younger females around you? Birth dates, times, and locations of birth are also very important information to take with you to readings, or to tell your reader over email or phone.

　　If you get a reader who does not try to pull information out of you, you may want to look for another one. Your reader cannot actually “see all”, the more you help them the more they will be able to read your cards in a way that will help you develop yourself into its highest potential.

　　

What Can a Tarot Reading Reveal?

Truth.

The Tarot never lies, so if you really want the absolute truth about any situation, you can get it in as easy or quick as a 1-card draw. For single-card draws, it’s a little bit better to ask ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ questions, but you will still get the truth. For more complex answers, you want to do a more detailed spread or reading to find all of the factors related to your question. So if you are looking for an immediate answer to a burning question that will be the absolute truth, there is no quicker or more accurate way to get that than the Tarot.

　　

Key issues that you may not even be aware of.

Whether you’re getting information about something going on in someone else’s life, or in your own life, the Tarot always has room for a card in every spread called “Environmental or External Influences.” These are forces happening within your situation that you don’t know about, so it is really and truly worth consulting the Tarot over.

　　Say you’re asking the Tarot “When will he propose?” and in the “Environmental or External Influences” you see a work card show up, then your answer is going to be related to his work situation. Maybe he needs a promotion, maybe his boss needs to give him a raise, whatever that detail is that has nothing to do with you, will be found in the Environmental Influences position.

　　This is an awesome position to have in every reading, because when problems occur in our lives we often think we are the cause. This benefit to the Tarot will often help you realize that this situation has to do with external influences that are actually beyond your control. And, even if that answer isn’t the answer you wanted, at least you leave those readings with some peace and less stress because now you know it’s not you that is holding him back from proposing. This brings us to our next benefit!

　　

Relieve stress and find peace.

This is one of the greatest benefits to the Tarot! How many times have you sat with a friend who complains about their romantic life. They go on, and on, and on, about how something fishy must be going on because they haven’t heard from Alice or Richard in such and such a time. You, as a good friend, can go over and over the details with them, or you can whip out your Tarot cards and put the issue to rest relieving stress for BOTH of you in an instant.

　　We get so wrapped up in our own egos, we often create problems that are never there to begin with! This is one of the best reasons to consult the Tarot – it doesn’t know you or what’s going on in your head – it helps you weed out what is going on, from what is not, and that can be such a tremendous stress relief in your daily life!

　　

Have your hunches validated.

Just like the Tarot can tell you that you are way off on something, so too it can and will tell you when your instinct is bang on. It will also even tell you by how many degrees your instinct might be off! Ever have a big decision looming, and your gut was saying one thing but your brain something else altogether? That’s the beauty of the Tarot. It weeds that out for you too. You can ask a simple one card question like, “Is my instinct right about this?” and you will get an immediate “yes” or “no” answer. We always say, “follow your heart”, which is also your instinct, and follow your gut because it will never lie. The Tarot validates that.

　　

Tarot sharpens your instincts.

It is true that you can actually become more intuitive, just by using the Tarot. Not only do you now have the advantage of seeing the answer right in front of you, but the secrets to using the Tarot wisely and well are to trust the first gut impressions when you see the cards. The cards are very specific and detailed and standing alone will give you a lot of information about your situation. Using them regularly will begin to show you when your instinct is bang on, and when it’s not, and this then becomes an intuitive skill.

　　How? Well, you have gut hunches and instincts about life in general, and go to the Tarot to learn whether or not they’re validated. True instincts in your life will be validated by the Tarot, and the thoughts that are not instinctive, but fear-based, will also be shown to you. When you begin to see this on a regular basis, you actually begin to trust your instinct more, because the Tarot is teaching you what is, and what isn’t the truth.

　　What happens when you trust your instinct more? You get more and more information from the Universe that allows you to use it more wisely. In so doing, you become more intuitive, and with practice, you won’t even need the Tarot to enjoy that beautiful benefit.

　　Visit our Tarot Definitions page to learn more about the Major and Minor Arcana!

　　

How Should I Prepare for a Great Tarot Reading?

Be Open-Minded & Think Bigger Picture

If you are contemplating investing in a reading with Tarot cards, then you likely have a lot of questions going through your mind. The first of which is the obvious, “Will this be worth the money or am I just wasting everyone’s time?”

　　You may have a troubling situation or matter in your life, or maybe you have several. Which of these should you bring to the table? What if you don’t mention any of them, will your Tarot reader “figure you out” anyway?

　　If you know how to go into your reading, you will never wonder again if it will be worth your time. Believe it or not, the best way to get the most out of the Tarot is to know exactly what you are going to ask going in.

　　The first step is to open your mind.

　　Perhaps you are wondering about something specific such as, “When will John call me?” This could weigh on your mind so heavily that this is what you bring to the table during your reading.

　　Open your mind to expand the possibilities of your whole potential before the reading, and these possibilities will come through in your reading. If you are only asking internally, or externally when he will call you, you will get your answer and the Tarot will be done with you for that moment.

　　Not only have you gotten your answer, but you’ve just wasted a valuable Tarot reading that could have been revealing inside information on what will make the two of you work and gel together. Opening your mind before you go into the reading means opening yourself to every possibility and potential the universe has for you. Some people say the more specific your question the better. This isn’t the case. Changing the question to, “What lies ahead in my love life?” can reveal a whole lot more info than your original question!

　　This is the next key in developing the best question before your reading.

　　Be as general as possible.

　　This sounds counter-intuitive, but even if you have a specific problem in mind, asking yes or no questions can defeat your reading before you even get started. Pulling it back to a broader view can give your reading more room to play.

　　Questions such as, “Is Sheila the right girl for me?” are not even general enough. What if she isn’t? Then you’ll get a no answer in your reading, and not much else. Instead, as you shuffle or sit with your reader, ask general questions such as, “What is the right path in love for me?” You will be shown personalities and energies in the cards that you choose on the woman or man that is right for you.

　　It’s all in the question.

　　Here are some tips on how to prepare the best questions for your reading with the cards.

　　

Work on Your Questions – What Do You Really Want to Know?

The Tarot is one tool many astrologers and mediums use in their toolbox of resources when it comes to answering life’s deepest questions. Birth charts and planetary transits are others. You might be surprised at just how much information you can get from one simple Tarot draw! With these, you can find out when something is going to happen, what might be next in a certain situation, and you can even find out what you should do right now in a certain situation.

　　You may also learn from Tarot that you shouldn’t do anything, that you have already done the work necessary, or that some waiting and patience is necessary.

　　The two most common Tarot questions are about love or money. If your question for your next reading revolves around one of those life experiences, remember to go in as generally as possible. Open your mind, and give your reader a chance to connect your energy with the Tarot cards, and you will have a blessed and invaluable Tarot card reading every single time.

　　Let’s take a look at some of the key Tarot themes and how you could phrase your question to get the best results.

　　

Love

Of course you can ask about love – who doesn’t wonder about that?! Try to keep the question open-ended, though, as there are many different ways love can present itself. If you try to back your reader into a corner so that he or she will tell you what you want to hear, then you’re doing both of you a disservice.

　　You’re consulting your reader because you want to know what is possible. Don’t limit the potential, just because it doesn’t seem to resonate with your predetermined ideas. Sometimes being too focused on what seems to be good can blind you to the best that is yet to come.

　　Here are some great questions to ask about your love life:

　　What can I do to create the love life I truly desire? (From our friends at Biddy Tarot)How will I know when I have met the right partner? What can I do in my life to attract the best partner for me? Can’t wait to get started? Get your Free Daily Tarot Love Reading now!

　　

　　

Career

We love to talk to you about your career, but if you think that a reader is going to just pull a solution to the perfect job for you with no input on your part, you’re going to be disappointed. In order to best steer you to your heart’s desire, we have to get to know you. A good reader won’t just spout facts – he or she will engage you in conversation, so your reading can be full of what pertains to you.

　　There’s no point in a reader going on and on about what a good nurse you would be if you wish to be a stay-at-home mom – and they can both manifest the same way in a birth chart through the position of Cancer through the houses, or in the Tarot through where The Empress falls. Once we know what excites and motivates you, then we can look for that in your chart or in our oracles, and help you find the best way to manifest it.

　　What stands in my way when it comes to my career? What do I need to do to clear a path to the career/job I desire?How can I stand out more in my current role to receive more recognition?

Money

Let’s face it, everyone is interested in money to some extent or another because we need money in this society in order to stay afloat. You’re welcome to ask about money—but again, try to make it open-ended questions, and be open-minded about your reading. It may not be in your future to win mega-millions on the lottery, but you may have a multi-million dollar idea for an invention, or write the next blockbuster novel.

　　Money can manifest itself in many ways in the chart, as can luck. Remember, the planets influence you, but they don’t control you. Nothing can take away your birthright to free will. The potential for money will be there, sure, but it is what you do with that potential that can be the difference between success or failure.

　　What is my biggest challenge when it comes to money? What can I do to align myself with financial abundance? (From purefieldhealing.com)How am I holding myself back when it comes to my finances?

Health

Just like anything else (are you seeing a pattern yet), there are things that we can tell you, and there are things we cannot. Your psychic reader or astrologer is not a substitute for medical advice, and if you have any real health concerns, you should be discussing them with your healthcare provider. However, there are things that will show up as potential in your chart. Even though these things are present, that does not mean that they have to manifest, or that they have to control you.

　　Rather than asking your reader for a diagnosis, or a prediction of whether you or a loved one is going to come through a particular illness or incident, focus instead on asking your reader the best way to cope with things. This will provide more insight for you, and a lot less frustration for you both.

　　What can I do to move past my health issues? Are there any periods in the future where I should be more careful with my health? How can I best cope with the health problems of a loved one?

Death

Yes, Tarot readers get asked about this topic more often than you’d think. People want to know when they are going to die. Now, of course, we cannot play at being deities, and produce a date out of thin air— and would you really want to know? Most readers would rather encourage you to live life to the fullest, rather than advising you when you were going to die, anyway!

　　Rather than asking when you’re going to die, leave the question more open-ended. Tarot can be helpful in figuring out why you may be so concerned with death in your life or how you can move past fear or thoughts surrounding this topic.

　　If you really want answers around this topic, try these:

　　What can you tell me about my death?How can I move past my fears about dying? What lies beneath my concerns around myself or a loved one dying? Astrologers, Tarot readers and those who work with other forms of divination such as runes, the pendulum, the I-Ching, and more – can offer you a lot of insight and guidance when it comes to finding your way through the flotsam and jetsam life throws at you. However, there are questions that simply cannot be answered.

　　

　　This is often due to the client not understanding how to ask the question, which then makes the reading frustrating for both the customer and the reader. The pitfalls—and how to avoid them—aren’t hard to grasp though. Once you know how to word the question, you’ll be able to avoid the things you should not ask, and thus receive a Tarot reading or (In an astrology reading) chart interpretation full of valuable wisdom and direction.

　　Now that we know what we are asking, let’s make sure we aren’t committing any of the ‘Must Not Ask Questions’ when it comes to Tarot readings.

　　

Questions Not to Ask in Your Tarot Reading

Our friend in Tarot at thetarotlady.com suggests the simplest way to think about this is to shift your questions from “will” and “when” to “how” and “what.” This approach can leave you walking away with a guide to what you should do next instead of less helpful ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers that don’t give you much to work with.

　　

Questions That Start With “Will I?”

This goes for questions that start “Am I,’ also – as well as questions that start ‘will he’ or ‘will she.’ You see, the cards and planets can influence you, but they cannot control you – we all have the gift of free will.

　　Tarot readers and astrologers understand that nothing is carved in stone. If you want to do it, you’ll make it a priority and get it done. If you don’t want to do it, then it won’t be a priority for you and is thus unlikely to happen. There’s nothing magical or mysterious about that. It’s just a matter of choice!

　　A better way of phrasing this would be to ask:

　　What are my chances of doing this…Does this look like a good idea to pursue? How can I move past what’s frustrating me and move forward in a positive way? That way, your astrologer or Tarot reader can explain the strengths and the weaknesses around the situation for you. Then you can determine whether it is worth you investing your time and energy into it, or not.

　　

　　

“What Are the Lottery Numbers?”

This is another eye roll for most Tarot readers. For one, I have yet to see any planets or Tarot cards with winning lottery tickets on them. For another, if they really could accurately predict the winning lottery ticket numbers, do you think they would actually be working for a living?!

　　A better way of phrasing this is to ask about fortunate periods that are approaching, or if any financial gain is indicated in your chart. Also looking at astrology, there are aspects of the fifth house that can indicate good luck, there are aspects of the second house that can point to increased income, and there are planetary transits that can mean some periods may be more fortunate than others.

　　Your astrologer can help you determine when your luck may be at a peak or in a trough, but they cannot accurately predict winning lottery numbers. Just ask for any increase in luck or periods of financial gain, and you’ll get a much better reading than if you asked for winning lottery tickets.

　　

“When Will I Be Happy?”

Let’s be clear – your happiness is your responsibility. You may need to reset your expectations or require some help in moving past something that has made you unhappy, but the Tarot cannot nail down a date of when you will have a perpetual smile on your face. It can reveal obstacles in your way, or periods of great opportunity you can seize.

　　Choose to look for positive things and hang out with cheerful and giving people, and you will find happiness coming your way. If you focus instead on what is going wrong, remember that if you keep company with people who take advantage of you or bring you down, the joy you seek will elude you.

　　A better way to word this question would be to ask:

　　Are there future aspects I can tap in order to draw more happiness into my life?Are there any upcoming transits you need to be aware of, so I can take advantage of the energies they bring?There are always going to be positive and challenging transits happening, but don’t let that scare you. Very often these are when you leave behind what is no longer appropriate for you so that you can step into bigger things, and find the happiness that you seek once the transit has passed.

　　

　　

“Tell Me Something I Don’t Already Know About Myself”

Tarot or astrology readings are not games to play, and this question is neither helpful nor respectful. You wouldn’t go to a doctor and say, “Guess what’s wrong with me.” Don’t do it in your Tarot reading either. They are not there to tell you what happened on your 8th birthday. You already know that.

　　A better way to phrase this would be to ask your reader to help you understand what happened to you in your past, so that you can come to terms with it, get closure, and let it rest. People will tell you to ‘let it go,’ but you really can’t. You were there. You experienced it. It’s a part of you. Let it rest.

　　It’s still going to be a memory, but that memory doesn’t have to have a hold over you. Your reader can use the movement of the planets to help you understand aspects of your personality that may have come into play in the past, so that you can improve for the future.

　　You already know what happened. Let your advisor help you understand why, and give you a glimpse into what is yet to come. Your Tarot reader can help you with many things, but working miracles is not one of them.

　　Want to get started on your Tarot journey? Check out our Astrology Answers Master Tarot Deck!

　　

After Your Reading

With a bit of time and preparation on your part, you’ll soon start to see how to get a good tarot reading every time you ask your reader a question!

　　Remember, when it comes to your destiny, the planets and the Tarot can influence you, but they don’t control you. There is no crystal ball or magic wand to wave that will change your entire life in a heartbeat. A good Tarot reading can have a massive impact on how you view your life though – and can give you fresh perspective on how you can handle your issues and dreams in a way that will get you results.

　　To make a significant change in your world, you will have a greater advantage if you approach with an open mind and a willingness to take responsibility for what you need to do to achieve your desired results.

　　What questions will you prepare for your next psychic, Tarot, or astrology reading?

　　Related Article: 7 Simple Ways to Enhance Your Daily Tarot Reading