The best way to do a yes/no tarot reading

#1 Decide if the question can be answered (and is best answered) with a yes/no question.

I have seem some mightly strange tarot card combinations in my time that simply make no sense at all. Almost always this is because the question can not be answered by the tarot- and the cards are trying to give an honest answer even when the question is crap.

There are so many questions where it just isn’t that simple. The answer is a sort of muddled, in the middle, maybe, could be, perhaps answer. So before you decide which is the best “yes/no” spread take a good look at the question.

I often like to add a “third, as yet unknown” option, or re-write the question so it is more predictive “what is most likely to happen” rather than a simple black or white option.

#2 Consider how you think tarot, fate, and the future work.

I believe the future is unwritten. The Tarot reflects my clients past, unconscious, hopes and fears. It then predicts the most likely outcome based on what has already happened (with the subtle addition of picking up on other people in my clients life too).

The more fixed someone’s mind is- the more likely they are to create that future. The more undecided, chaotic someones mind is- the more likely they are to change the future.

In predictive spreads that depend on other people- if people change their minds- so the future changes – one of the reasons I do multi-layered readings to let me get a feel of how certain the future is.

So a yes/no reading on “will he come back” may well be accurate at that very moment- but personally I would usually like to add at least one other card to look at “Is he decided, or still considering”

#3 The Role of a Tarot reader

I consider my role not only to be accurate, but helpful too. I like to add in an advice card to try and empower my client, help them to decide what is the best course of action for them.

“will he come back- yes or no” leaves no room for my client to empower herself. I would always add in an advice card” what should I best do” Perhaps the advice is " just give it time, or "connect with him he’s feeling hurt." Or maybe the advice actually says “walk away he is not worth the trouble”

Adding the advice card means that I am not only foretelling a clients future- I am empowering them to have some control over their future. Sometimes (often) I think that is the most important part of my job.

So- do I offer yes/no questions? I certainly do, and this is how I usually do it;

Card 1 Advice- something the client can do to influence the situation.

Card 2 – Option1 (yes)

Card 3- Option 2 (no)

Card at the bottom of the pack- something you need to know. Sometimes even with careful re-phrasing of the question the cards seem to say "yes, yes" or "no, no". I have come to accept this- it usually makes more sense to my clients than to me. (and life can be complicated).

I am not saying this is “the right way” to do a yes/no reading. What I am saying is based on my understanding of how tarot works, how the future works, and my role as a tarot reader- this is the yes/no spread that usually works best for me.

It allows advice to empower the client, and the card at the bottom of the pack often gives me an indication of changeability, or the presence of something not yet considered.

So to answer the title of my blog. The best way to do a yes/no question

#1 Check the question fits a yes/no format.

#2 Consider how you think fate/future & tarot work and choose a spread to reflect this.

#3Leave room for a little wiggle-sometimes the cards want to say more than yes or no.

#4 Accept the unexpected.