Lesson 3 of 3 · 15 min
Better questions and honest readings
The question you ask shapes the reading you get. So let's talk about asking better ones.
Questions that keep you stuck
Some questions put all the power outside of you. They're often yes/no, often about other people, and often about the future.
- Will he come back?
- Will I get the job?
- Is she lying?
- Will everything be okay?
There's nothing wrong with wanting to know. But these questions tend to make you anxious and passive. You're waiting to be told.
Questions that open things up
Better questions bring the focus back to you and what you can notice, learn or do.
- What do I need to understand about this situation?
- What am I not letting myself see?
- What would help me move forward?
- What's really going on for me here?
- What do I need to pay attention to?
- What am I afraid of in this situation?
Notice how these questions invite reflection rather than prediction.
Avoiding confirmation bias
We talked about confirmation bias in Module 3. It's especially sneaky with tarot.
You'll be tempted to read the cards in the way that matches what you already want. You'll focus on the bits that agree with you and skip the bits that don't.
Try this: after you've done a reading, ask yourself "what would I see in this card if I wanted the opposite answer?" It's a brilliant way to check you're not forcing it.
Not forcing the answer
If you pull a card and immediately think "no, that doesn't fit," pause before you dismiss it. Sometimes the card that doesn't fit is exactly the one you need to look at.
And if you notice you're pulling card after card to get the answer you want: stop. Put the deck down. That's useful information too.
Tarot spread · 3 cards
What I Think / What I Feel / What I Know
Pulls apart your thoughts, emotions and inner knowing: the core skill of this whole course.
How to approach it
Bring one decision or question to mind. Go slowly with each position and notice which card feels truest.
Before you interpret
- Which card are you most drawn to? Which do you want to avoid?
- What does your body do as you look at the 'know' card?
Using your own deck? Lay it out and use the notes below.
1. What I think
What's my mind telling me: the reasons, the arguments, the plans?
2. What I feel
What are my emotions doing with this?
3. What I know
Underneath it all, what do I actually know?
What do you notice?
First impressions, colours, body response, then meaning.
Saves automatically as you write
Reflection
- Where do these three agree? Where do they disagree?
- Which voice have you been listening to most?
Tarot spread · 3 cards
Situation / Feeling / Guidance
Separates what's happening from how you feel about it, so the two stop blurring together.
How to approach it
Hold one specific situation in mind. Keep the question open: 'What do I need to understand about this?'
Before you interpret
- Look at the three together first. What story do they tell?
- Do the figures face towards or away from each other?
Using your own deck? Lay it out and use the notes below.
1. The situation
What's actually happening, as plainly as possible?
2. My feeling
What am I feeling about it, underneath the obvious?
3. Guidance
What would help me see or respond more clearly?
What do you notice?
First impressions, colours, body response, then meaning.
Saves automatically as you write
Reflection
- Did the 'feeling' card surprise you?
- Is the guidance something you already half-knew?
Write, then go a little deeper
Write honestly about what's on your mind. You'll get a few personal reflection questions, shaped by the course, to help you notice what's underneath. They're prompts, not answers.
Take your time. Mark it complete when you've done the exercises.