How to Use Clarifying Cards in Tarot: Overcoming Challenges
Image description: Title reads: “Making the Most of Clarifying Cards”, Subtitle reads: “Common challenges for readers and what to do instead”. The text is in black on a white background. Behind the textbox is an image of a glowing full moon in the starless night sky, moonlight spilling onto clouds below. The image of the moon has a warm yellow toned overlay.
Pulling more cards doesn’t guarantee better answers, but a thoughtful clarifier can deepen a tarot reading. This post teaches developing readers how to make the most of clarifier cards and how to overcome common challenges.
When not to pull clarifiers and what to do instead
There are some situations where it is not a good idea to pull clarifiers. If you’ve fallen into these patterns, don’t sweat it. Many people struggle with this, especially when they are first starting out or when they are experiencing heightened emotions.
Moments of confusion - When some readers run into a card that confuses them, they may feel tempted to reach for another card (hoping the next card will resolve the discomfort.) They may feel intimidated by cards they find challenging. But these moments are opportunities for growth, these moments are great teachers.
Confusion shows us where we still have more to learn. It illuminates areas where we can develop our personal interpretations of the cards. I encourage readers to sit with confusion instead of running from it. In this situation, it is better to take your time reflecting on the cards you’ve already pulled instead of pulling clarifiers. You will gain deeper insight and grow faster the more you allow yourself to explore and reflect during those moments. If you’ve pulled cards in the morning, keep them in mind through your day. Reflect on them again at night. Learning tarot isn’t meant to be a race. It’s a spiritual journey of discovering yourself as a reader, of meeting new parts of yourself, of finding personal healing. Meeting yourself with compassion when a card confuses you will improve your experience of learning and that will carry over to improve your readings.
When the cards are unfavorable - Some readers may feel tempted to pull a clarifier card when they feel their first card reflects an unfavorable result. They want so badly to receive good news that they may be unable to put aside their own feelings to be objective. They may feel tempted to pull another card to lessen the perceived blow. Another common challenge when readers can’t be objective is a tendency to catastrophize cards. Anxiety can derail a reading in these situations, twisting the cards into the worst-case scenarios. With practice and reflection, developing readers can overcome these patterns and improve their readings.
Clarifier cards without a clear purpose in this situation will generally not add clarity, instead they can negatively impact our confidence in our abilities by muddying the waters. We may want to add specific questions to the reading or explore the topic in more depth in a subsequent reading, but a clarifier without a clear purpose will not improve things here. A better way to handle cards that we feel are unfavorable is to try to be honest with ourselves about the situation and to remember that we have free will. Sometimes we are shown an unfavorable outcome to spare us pain later. Sometimes it's a warning that allows us to change directions, rethink things, or prepare for the unexpected. Sometimes it’s an indication that we need to get out of our own heads. Unfavorable cards can reflect our anxieties about the situation, rather than the energy of the situation itself.
When we are unable to be objective for ourselves about a specific topic, we may want to consider getting a reading from someone else who can be objective about it. If we are unable to be objective about a reading we are giving to someone else, it is the ethical decision to politely decline the reading. You might consider referring them to another reader you trust. Regularly checking in with yourself about your boundaries and your emotional state is incredibly important, it is foundational when reading for others. We want to provide the best service we can, and being objective is an important part of that.
Another practice that can help readers who tend to catastrophize is to regularly review your previous readings. Comparing how you interpreted a card to what actually happened in your life is a great way to hone your accuracy, finesse your interpretations, and to overcome anxieties about “scary cards.”
Cards that don’t resonate immediately - Some readers may feel that they pulled the wrong card if it doesn’t resonate immediately. It’s not uncommon for developing readers to have insecurities about pulling the right cards, especially if we are learning to perceive energy in new ways. Sometimes we put pressure on ourselves that we must know the answers as soon as we pull a card. But oftentimes the point of these readings is for us to explore by spending time reflecting on the card. At times the meaning of the card is not obvious at first but will become clear as the day goes on.
You don’t have to immediately know every answer; the reflection is part of what you are meant to learn from that card. You may be going through a growth period where you are seeing the cards in new ways.
Feeling like the cards you’re pulling aren’t resonating can indicate a need to cleanse your deck, cleanse yourself, or cleanse your space. Routine energetic cleansing is good spiritual hygiene.
Feeling like your cards aren’t resonating can indicate that your energy was not centered or your intent was unclear before you pulled the cards. Randomly shuffling cards with scattered energy can result in that scattered energy showing up in your reading. Taking a few moments to center yourself, calm your mind, and focus the intent of your reading sets you up for success.
Feeling like your cards aren’t resonating can be an indication that it’s time to experiment with the way you’re pulling the cards. You might benefit from switching up your shuffling style, or experimenting with selecting cards fanned out on a table instead of through shuffling. Some readers use a pendulum to pick cards. There are many ways to perceive the energy of the cards in a deck, play with different methods and see how you feel about your readings. I switch between methods based on the energy of the reading.
Times when clarifiers can work well
Reading without a spread - A common situation where it can be a good idea to pull a clarifier is when you are reading without a spread. Readings with no set spread may be more open and free flowing, which can at times can feel a bit ambiguous (especially when you are beginning.) For readings without a spread, clarifiers may help you understand the reading more deeply. For example, you may want further information on a specific card placement, so you might choose to use a clarifier exploring what area of life a card might apply to. In this situation, clarifiers can help develop the message more fully. Being mindful and intentional is the best way to approach this. Pulling clarifiers in this situation can become like a chain of cards without a purpose if not pulled with intention. Know the direction of where you want to be heading for the reading, then allow the clarifiers to lead you like you are having a conversation with the cards.
Intuitive hits – As you continue developing your intuition and refining your abilities with clarifiers, you may get flashes of intuitive hits suggesting a clarifier. These can be powerful messages that are meant to come through for you. Generally, when this happens for me, the download of the message comes through as an intuitive hit as well. Sometimes the message comes through as claircognizance for me, which may or may not align with any standard meaning of a card or symbol. Don’t be afraid to pull clarifiers when this happens for you, go for it when you feel the pull of intuition!
Developing readers sometimes struggle to discern between intuition and anxiety. Anxiety feels rushed, tense, and fearful. Intuition feels more neutral or positive. Intuition may come in a flash, but in tarot readings intuition doesn’t rush you in the way anxiety will if left unchecked. Take a step back from the situation, take a deep breath, and calm your emotions. Check in with yourself and read your own energy. Are you pulling a card because you are anxious or do you have a more open feeling of curiosity? Are you experiencing an internal knowing? This discernment can take time to develop, but beginning your readings by centering yourself, focusing your energy, and being clear with your intention will set you up for success.
Ways to make the most of clarifiers:
Ask yourself why you are pulling the clarifier - A great way to hone your sense of when to pull a clarifier is to pause for a moment and ask yourself why you want to pull another card. What area do you want more information on? If you’re not confused by the first card, are you feeling like there’s more to that message that you want to hear? What is it exactly that you are seeking from a clarifier? Pausing and asking yourself these types of questions will likely make the guidance from the clarifier more insightful. The reasons that come up for you can help you formulate the question of the clarifier itself. If you are working with a spread, this can help you think of improvements to the spread for future use.
Utilize specific questions - Pulling a general clarifier without a specific question doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get closer to your answer. Instead, consider asking a specific question for the clarifier. “What area of my life does this relate to?” “Action to take here?” This can be formed from that reflection of why you want to pull the clarifier in the first place. This step makes sure the clarifier has a specific purpose, and that intention can make it easier to interpret.
Be willing to experiment. Be patient with yourself. Be kind to yourself.
Remember that tarot is personal and your growth is uniquely yours. Be willing to experiment with questions, spreads, no spreads, methods of cleansing, and methods of pulling cards. If you like clarifying cards, you might explore blending tarot and oracle cards in readings (which is a beloved practice for some readers.)
Be patient with yourself as you grow and be kind to yourself as you continue learning. Developing your tarot skills should feel rewarding. If you’ve fallen into patterns of judging yourself, or leaning on clarifier cards when you’re uncomfortable, try to be kind to yourself. The patterns we covered are common challenges that many readers run into. Experimentation, reflection, and continued practice are the path to improved readings.
The cards can sometimes bring us messages that are uncomfortable but remember that we always have the power to control our actions and decide our course. Readings are meant to support us by illuminating possibilities, they are not a reflection of a future that is set in stone. Discomfort with cards can reflect areas for us to work through with shadow work, it doesn’t mean that we are doomed. If you approach your tarot practice with the mindset that you can overcome challenges, you will find it to be more empowering and you will grow more quickly.
Thanks so much for reading this blog. If you are looking for support and guidance on your tarot journey, I offer one-on-one tarot mentorship to developing readers. It is my honor and joy to support readers as they develop in their own unique path and develop their own personal interpretations. It is my great pleasure to support clients with custom tarot readings on a wide variety of topics.
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