Answering Yes or No Questions with Tarot
Deck pictured is The Unfolding Path Tarot by Athene Noctua
Image description: Yes and No Questions with Tarot. Background contains amethysts and clear quartz, a lemon candle, a black and gold flower of life tarot mat, and the 10 of Cups.
A common question that comes up in the tarot community is whether tarot can be used for yes/no questions. Many people say it can’t be used for yes/no or strongly discourage it. One reason people say this is to encourage readers to ask thoughtful questions. Another common response is that there are better methods for answering yes/no questions like using a pendulum. However, pendulum doesn’t resonate for everyone, so exploring how to use tarot for yes/no questions can be a valuable practice for some readers.
Asking useful questions:
Before we get into yes/no, let’s explore how to ask better questions. For this example, let’s consider a sitter who wants to know about their upcoming performance review at their job. Many tarot mentors would advise that instead of asking “am I going to get the raise?” (yes/no), it may be more useful to ask questions like:
-“What actions will best prepare me for my review?”
-“What is the current energy of the outcome?”
-“Any challenges I should be aware of at this time?”
-“How can I increase my chances of a raise?”
-“How can I welcome abundance in my life?”
These are all good questions that deepen a reading, and they certainly provide a sitter with a lot more information yes/no would alone. Another reason these are good questions for this example is these questions have greater potential to make the sitter feel empowered in their situation than asking yes/no to the question of a raise might.
So how do we ask yes/no questions with tarot? And when might we want to?
How to ask yes/no questions with tarot:
My personal belief is that you have to be very intuitively open to what comes up for you with yes/no. You also need to be able to see beyond what you are hoping to hear. You need to avoid catastrophizing if the question is one you have strong feelings about. You should try to approach the question with an open mind, and a willingness to embrace your intuition.
Let’s say you ask a yes/no question and the two of swords comes up where the figure is looking deeply torn… Instead of turning to the internet to look up what other people believe, ask yourself what does your intuition pick up from the card? Is that a no? Is it reflecting back the discomfort and uncertainty that is present in the situation? Is it saying you have to sort through some indecision before you’ll know the answer? With practice and focus, you will be able to sort through these types of questions that may come up for you. Spend some time really sitting with the card. Work through what comes up for you and continue welcoming intuitive knowledge until you find what feels right. Remember that if this practice is new for you, it may take some time to build this specific skill with tarot. Keeping a journal and recording your thoughts will help you fine tune yes/no with tarot. Many people may find a guidebook helpful for this, there is no shame in needing help. However, you’ll grow much faster in your practice if you learn to tune in to your intuition for these questions.
Each card can vary for whether it means yes or no depending on the question. For example, if a card has a specific symbol on it, that symbol may carry different connotations depending on your question. Keep an open mind and keep practicing.
How I personally use yes/no in my tarot practice – channeling clarifiers:
The primary way I have used yes/no in my personal practice is to confirm channeled information from spirits. I’ll receive a channeled message and I’ll be listening carefully for what is being communicated. If I’m feeling uncertain if the message is over, I will ask “is that the end of the message?” to confirm whether to stop or keep going. Sometimes I may verbally repeat the message back then ask, “do I have that right?” This practice of using yes/no this way gave me much more clarity and confidence when I first started channeling messages in this way. It can also be useful if you are someone who tends to get in their head and feels uncertain whether you are receiving a message. In this case you might try “is there a message waiting for me?”
Using yes/no for decision making:
Some people may use yes/no to inform certain decisions. “Should I wear the black dress to the party tonight?” There’s nothing wrong with this method as a personal preference for those who use it. A method that I personally prefer to use instead with tarot when I am faced with a decision is to pull one card for each possible choice. Card 1: “What is the energy if I wear the black dress to the party?” Card 2: “What is the energy if I wear the slacks?” This method has come in handy for me with divination around spell work.
This blog was intended to dispel the myth that tarot cannot be used for yes/no questions. I am sure that there are other valuable ways to use yes/no in a tarot practice. Tarot is a deeply personal practice, so if your practice looks different, that is totally valid.
Thanks for reading this blog on yes/no. I’m a tarot coach who offers one-on-one tarot mentorships for readers who are looking to level up their tarot practice. I also offer tarot readings on a wide variety of topics. If you’re interested in hearing more about tarot mentorships or readings, please reach out.