The Nature of Questions

[Joan Marie]

I'm reading a novel called "Mercurious." I won't try and explain the plot, but there is a running theme/device of alchemy.

Today I read something that made me think of a really fundamental issue in Tarot: How to ask a question.

In the book, a character is noting how concepts can exist in the peripheral for ages but they aren't "discovered" until someone asks the right question.

Nature gives most of her evidence in answer to the questions we ask her. - from Mercurius

I thought right away about how things have fallen to the ground since...well ever, but it wasn't until Isaac Newton asked, "why is that?" that gravity was "discovered." (Galileo fans, please don't @ me.)

Also from the book is this quote from Werner Heisenberg (not the Walter White alter-ego from Breaking Bad, the real one)

What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning. - W.H.

The way we question nature determines what we see.

Is it the same with the cards?

Don't you find that clear, specific questions lead to clearer readings?

And how often are we missing the real question? How many people saw their apples lying on the ground and asked, "Why does god hate me?" instead of, like Sir Isaac, "why does it fall DOWN?" (thus advancing the science of physics) or "What makes the apple come loose from the tree?" (thus advancing botany and agriculture) or "Is there something I can do with all these bruised apples?" (answer: Apple Cider, thus advancing the pleasure of crisp fall days forever.)

If your question for the cards feels vague, it probably is and you will probably get a vague loosey-goosey answer. It's worth taking the time to really figure out what you really need to know and ask that question.

This will also help you determine a useful spread for the question...but that's another post.

[BlueStar]

Great topic! I agree, I think if you have vague questions you will get vague answers, and it's best to try and be sure you know what at the core you are really trying to find out or understand in order to frame the right question.

I've always believed that the phrasing of the question is vital, as in my experience I will get an answer to whatever I have asked. Kinda like the phrase 'garbage in, garbage out'. That's my experience. (I was joking to a friend once it's like doing a Google search. The results you get will depend on the question you ask. Ask the question differently and you will probably get a set of different search results:) )

This was really brought home to me when doing a reading once where I thought the question asked was simple and straightforward. I drew the cards and the reading just seemed like gobbledygook. It made no sense, it was as if the meanings were totally confused and disjointed. It was a mess. I'd never seen that before (it was actually quite interesting to see). I spent a while trying to understand what was going on, and then I went back to the question and finally realised my question was asking something that didn't actually make any sense at all! I had phrased it grammatically incorrectly so that it was the inverse of what could actually be possible. And so the reading actually reflected that loud and clear lol. It was as though the cards were telling me 'well your question makes no sense, so this can't be answered'!

I've found in other readings, where looking back I thought that my reading was wrong (in cases where an outcome could be clearly verified), that it was again because my question was ambiguous, or not as clear as I had originally thought, and later I could see that the cards did indeed answer the question that was posed! Not the question I thought I was asking.

Whenever I have taken time to ensure my question could not be misinterpreted as asking something else, then I get very clear results. I would say my readings have definitely improved over time because of it, and it's helped me become more confident in my readings too.

So for me personally, the question is really really important. I also never ask yes/no questions as I believe the cards are not suited to those kind of questions, making the interpretations more difficult, or open to misinterpretation.

I've often wondered how other readers that I see for example on YouTube can get clear answers with vague and ambiguous questions. I wonder if it's to do with the way one's own mind works, i.e. it may work for one person but not another.

There have always been stories of the person who asks for help from the spirit world/gods/universe etc. and they get exactly what they asked for, but find it's not really what they wanted because they didn't ask correctly. (Anyone seen the film Ghost Rider? ) So I see like that, but for tarot. You'll get an answer to the question asked.

[Joan Marie]

I saw this today on twitter and it reminded me of this topic and why you have to be careful with wording:

Me: dear god. Please destroy ICE and Amazon

God: yo I gotchu

God: *melts ice caps and starts burning the rainforest*

Me: wait no

[CaraHamilton]

As has been said all ready by Bluestar, Joan Marie, great topic.

I have noted from readings especially when I am doing them on stage, it is not so much the question but how the question is understood by the Questioner. Does the person asking the question actually understand what they have asked and are they genuinely wanting an answer.

Cara

[BlueStar]

I saw this today on twitter and it reminded me of this topic and why you have to be careful with wording:

Me: dear god. Please destroy ICE and Amazon

God: yo I gotchu

God: *melts ice caps and starts burning the rainforest*

Me: wait no

(albeit with a sad undertone considering what is happening in the world now... )

[Diana]

I saw this today on twitter and it reminded me of this topic and why you have to be careful with wording:

Me: dear god. Please destroy ICE and Amazon

God: yo I gotchu

God: *melts ice caps and starts burning the rainforest*

Me: wait no

(albeit with a sad undertone considering what is happening in the world now... )

Yes, we should indeed phrase our questions and requests and desires very carefully. Like if we say "I want peace on earth"... we mustn't forget that the word "want" in English also means a "lack of something". Like in "there's a want here that's not being fulfilled". The "universe" takes things very literally sometimes I think. It doesn't argue or quibble with us - we have free will after all.

[Joan Marie]

I'm reviving this old topic in the "Learning Your Craft" section in response to a member here who is in need of some guidance in forming good questions for the cards

What I'd like to ask is if people could maybe give some examples of good and no so good ways to frame questions.

There are a couple of examples in my original post in this thread but i'll try another here:

Here is a classic:

Instead of asking "What's going to happen today?" ask "What do I need to know today?"

The first question is just so broad that even if the cards could tell you, you would not likely be able to see the answer in the cards. It's also so wide open that it could mean anything, i.e. happen to whom? Where? Are the cards saying I will get fired from my job or that there will be a tsunami in Indonesia? Will I get a raise at work or will the stack market go up? Or will I get a raise at work or find a fiver on the sidewalk?

The second question is much more personal and it is far more likely that message the cards have is one you will be able to recognise and put to use.

The first question is asking the cards to pull an answer out of the air.
In the second question the cards are helping you to pull the answer out of yourself.


Any other examples?

[Rachelcat]

I don't want to derail your request for examples, but I have another related question about questions.

What do we do when people ask us about other people and things they don't have control over? For example, my friend asked me where the relationship between her son and his girlfriend is going. (She's doesn't like the girlfriend and doesn't want the relationship to go much further.) I tried to help her rephrase the question so it was about her: how will she be affected and how can she affect the relationship. Is there a better way to rephrase?

Ok, my example of a question and a better question:

Does that guy like me? can be changed to What can I do to find the right guy for me? (Or maybe in the middle What can I do to influence that guy to like me?)

[Pilgrim]

I personally dont like doing readings and asking questions on my self because there are ways to get answers before a question even comes to mind. If I am at a point where I do feel a reading is required I prefer to do it with someone I trust and who is truly in touch.

Asking a question/s in a relaxed state will deliver a much clear answer/s compared to asking a question at the moment. I find questions with "should" tend to be bad because it shows how confused the quarent is, and the level of direction they have into what they are asking. Should I, or what should I do are examples.

Self asking questions like how a person feels about me only reveals answers to how you truly feel within.

Regardless of the questions and how they are asked what's important is the answer and how its revealed within a reading. Yes, vague question can produce vague answers, but all answers to questions are revealed through the quarrents emotions. Answers to questions with in reading will mirror and reflect the emotional content within the question. Answers to questions also ask questions to the quarrent. A true honest answer sometimes requires soul searching, and when people ask a question they may not get an answer right a way because they may not be ready for it, and its because some answers just have to be experienced.

I do like doing reading on big events like elections, sporting events, and world affairs. I have been putting a journal together with outcomes to keep a record of accuracy.

[Papageno]

I don't want to derail your request for examples, but I have another related question about questions.

What do we do when people ask us about other people and things they don't have control over?

In essence, you're addressing the contentious nature of "third-party" readings.

Without getting into a big debate over the ethical issues, my only observation regarding such readings is that they are a reality, for better or worse.

Some highly respected readers vow that they will never do a third party reading citing ethical considerations, while other esteemed practitioners offer compelling arguments, validating the merits of such readings.

Perhaps the more important issue at hand lies at the heart of the underlying intent on the part of the querent, rather than putting the onus on the reader.

[Joan Marie]

For example, my friend asked me where the relationship between her son and his girlfriend is going. (She's doesn't like the girlfriend and doesn't want the relationship to go much further.) I tried to help her rephrase the question so it was about her: how will she be affected and how can she affect the relationship. Is there a better way to rephrase?

This is such an interesting example because I don't think there is a parent in the world who reads Tarot who has not asked the cards about their kids. It Seems like a pretty natural thing to do. Right or wrong.

Sometimes the question is just "how is he/she doing?
Because it's not like they always tell you.

But I have to agree that asking about a relationship that you already have a strong opinion about is, aside from any ethical concern, not the most productive question. But any 3rd party question raises this issue.

There is thread HERE about a similar issue regarding the ethical concerns of answering medical questions.

Like 3rd party questions, medical questions are typically met with a hard no from the Keepers Of Tarot Reading Ethics. But maybe it's time for a more nuanced approach. Here is an excerpt from that post:

My feeling is that a lot of times medical questions are about more than the illness. And that's where a Tarot reader may be able to actually help.
In a recent post on this forum someone asked about their grandmother's Alzheimers diagnosis and Charlie Brown replied that a better question might be how best to spend what remaining time there is with her. My guess is that was closer to the querents real question, what she really wanted to know.

I think the same applies to these kind of 3rd party questions. And maybe developing some sensitivity and some skills in helping people (and ourselves) to get to the real matter would be in order.

I would encourage you to have a look at that thread. There is a video there too that is really interesting.

[Papageno]

There is thread HERE about a similar issue regarding the ethical concerns of answering medical questions.

I would encourage you to have a look at that thread. There is a video there too that is really interesting.

a worthwhile video to watch, however, I would caution anybody viewing this to very carefully evaluate exactly what Ms. Wen is saying and not re-interpret what she is communicating for their own convenience.

Ms. Wen, who is also an attorney, is NOT endorsing readers to provide actual medical diagnoses, which can only be ethically done by a licensed medical health care professional.

Rather, she is suggesting alternative guidelines by which a reader can address healthcare questions and related anxieties, by way of spiritual guidance and re-phrasing questions to assist the querent in focusing on better understanding the emotional basis and ramifications of their health issues.

Ms. Wen does NOT condone illegal activity on any level, and that is evidenced in minutae, even when she is reviewing a Tarot or Oracle deck.

You will notice on her website, at the end of any given review, at the bottom of the page, this necessary FTC disclaimer:

FTC Disclosure: In accordance with Title 16 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 255, “Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising,” I received *insert name of any given deck* from the author for prospective review. Everything I’ve said here is sincere and accurately reflects my opinion of the book.

[Joan Marie]

a worthwhile video to watch, however, I would caution anybody viewing this to very carefully evaluate exactly what Ms. Wen is saying and not re-interpret what she is communicating for their own convenience.

Ms. Wen, who is also an attorney, is NOT endorsing readers to provide actual medical diagnoses, which can only be ethically done by a licensed medical health care professional.

I think she makes that abundantly clear and I doubt any reasonable person would misconstrue it.

(never heard anyone call her "Ms. Wen" before! You know it's a made up name, right?)

[Papageno]

a worthwhile video to watch, however, I would caution anybody viewing this to very carefully evaluate exactly what Ms. Wen is saying and not re-interpret what she is communicating for their own convenience.

Ms. Wen, who is also an attorney, is NOT endorsing readers to provide actual medical diagnoses, which can only be ethically done by a licensed medical health care professional.

I think she makes that abundantly clear and I doubt any reasonable person would misconstrue it.

Of course, and my post was not intended to insinuate that your drawing our attention to this video was in any way meant to be misconstrued as anything but disseminating constructive information. I apologize if my post came off as negative in any way.

My response was merely to underscore the pitfalls of misinterpreting the content of the interview, which is quite easily done, especially if people hear what they want and not what is actually being said, which happens more often than not.

Regarding "reasonable" people, it reminds me of the old saying observing that common sense isn't always so common.

[Papageno]

(never heard anyone call her "Ms. Wen" before! You know it's a made up name, right?)

no actually I didn't know it was a nom de plume, I never bothered to question it.

Ms. Wen........well, one does try to be respectful after all.

reminds me of a HS English class, one of the kids submitted a paper referring to "Mr. & Mrs. Macbeth"