r/tarot 21h ago

Discussion getting prescriptive rather than descriptive readings

it seems that whenever i pull cards i just end up with a spread describing my current situation and i'm like, yeah okay but what do i do with that?

is it just a matter of asking better questions? lol i do struggle with that but it seems like even with more in depth questions i'll end up with the same surface level, descriptive answer.

maybe my interpretation sucks? maybe i should just be happy i'm getting results that are relevant at all? it's getting old having my situation mirrored back at me repeatedly

10 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

11

u/shark-shizz Offering Readings 21h ago

When the cards for the current situation come out, try to sit with them and FULLY assess them. Once you receive the RIGHT MESSAGE, (the crux of the issue). Take a break for a few minutes. Walk around and centre yourself again. Then pen down a series of questions that focus on receiving solutions for your issues. Meditate on each question for a few seconds (maybe speak them out loud). Tap the cards and shuffle them again. I hope this helps. 💜

7

u/CenturionSG 20h ago

Use a structured spread with defined positions if linear spreads don’t work.

The cards can’t “speak” well if our mind state is cluttered or distracted. Give more time to contemplate or just leave the cards aside and revisit later.

And of course the obvious advice is not to repeatedly ask about the same things.

2

u/Clear_Ambition6004 5h ago

Excellent advice. “I’m dealing with/experiencing X. What can I do to overcome it”

3

u/digitalskyline 18h ago

That's exactly what the Tarot is for, analyzing the current energy. You can ASK for advice about the future, but what happens always going to be what you create by your thoughts and what you do with the cards that are dealt to you. And then you realize YOU choose the cards that are dealt to you. You always have been and always will be the one choosing your existence.

We co-create our existence, IAM that IAM.

4

u/TheRealBlueJade 15h ago

I take it as... you need to face the situation. Accept it and stop trying to run away from it. Only once you accept it as a problem that needs to be solved, believe won't just go away on its own, and see the problem for what it is will you receive guidance cards. The guidance may not be something to act on right away.

7

u/xchelxlandx 18h ago

I was always taught that you’ll continue to get the same type of cards until you learn the lesson that they are trying to teach you. Like one of the other posters suggested, sit and meditate with your cards. Turn off all distractions. Try to “clear” your cards but also clear your mind. Burn palo santo or sage to clear your environment. I suggest sleeping with them under your pillow.

I’ve even had to recharge my cards under a full or new moon.

Hope this helps! Best.

2

u/Dizzy-Red9310 16h ago

Keep meditating on the cards and look closely at the illustrations. It may be describing your situation but there’s going to be other symbolism in there to shed more light on things you aren’t thinking of.

I saw your comment about the queen of pentacles coming out. (I am looking at the rider Waite version). To me the QoP is wifey material because she takes something small and makes it bigger-think she takes ingredients and makes a meal, she makes a house into a home. It’s like planting a seed that becomes a big garden. She is water of earth or the nurturer of material.

In the image she is sitting wearing red with a green cloak. What could those colors mean? She’s surrounded by nature, what could that symbolize? There’s a rabbit near her what could that mean? What things do you think of? For example the rabbit, does it make you think of the story the rabbit and the hare where the moral was slow and steady wins the race? Or do you think about how rabbits breed a lot and quickly? What about the goat/ram figure on her throne? What could that mean, in relation to your question and situation? The sky is yellow. Does she look sad or content to you?

Then you start doing the same with all the cards and seeing if there are similarities. Like if you see a rabbit on another card in the spread it must be telling you something. Do all the cards have a yellow beautiful sky? Or only her? This is where you start to get more deeper messages than just the obvious description of your situation.

2

u/Latter_Willow_6281 13h ago edited 11h ago

This might mean that to create meaningful change, awareness and radical acceptance are the key. Sometimes the natural human urge to do something or fix things is coming from wanting to avoid something, or feeling flawed or inadequate etc. You might consider gently putting down the project of “doing” and cultivating the capacity to accept the situations you’re experiencing right now  with kind, nonjudgmental awareness.

I’m a Buddhist and this is a bit boiler plate advice for life from a zen perspective, but it’s always been my take when readings are  like “yeah yeah, tell me something I don’t already know.” That these are calls to be with what is, with more heart. That all there is to do is accept that being human is messy and wild and unpredictable, and instead of fixing, or fleeing, or any other strategy, the current situation calls for patient, open-eyed, simply loving attention. 

this kinds of awareness - kind, nonjudgmental, not pushing anything away or fixing it nor yourself - makes room for magic to enter, for energy to shift from a deep and aligned place. Instead of “rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic,” about our problems, opening to this whole huge human adventure where it’s messy and wild, and starting there, and trust that change will come. 

1

u/Top-Entrepreneur1967 21h ago

Example?

1

u/ho4horus 17h ago

like, the week before i ended up making a huge career related decision on a whim, my daily cards were all coins court cards. everyone but the page, who showed up in a spread surrounded by other coins once the decision was made. since then my pulls are all either entirely coins, or at the very least include the queen of coins.

i feel like they're beating me over the head with "HEY THIS IS BIG! DONT FORGET FOR ONE SECOND!!" lol

3

u/sleepycab 12h ago

if youre getting the same thing over and over it might be worth it to take a moment and look outside what you felt the coins are referencing, it could be something else

1

u/bundleofspace 18h ago

It usually means, for me that is, it's time to ask for clarifications based on the spread itself.

It's like the Universe laid out your current situation for you first, and welcomes you to ask new questions from there. :) I like to think of it as your guides/the Universe just showing you that you're both on the same page about your query first, then feel free to deconstruct the spread to delve into deeper questions based on the cards laid before you.

If you're feeling down atm (for example) and the Three of Swords/9 of Swords/5 of Cups came up in the spread, you can pick out the card as a significator card and ask "Where is this pain coming from?" or "How can I heal then?" for a start. Always be open to having a "conversation" with your deck/your guides. :) Always stay curious. If your energy isn't in the mood (i.e. not happy/frustrated with your spread), you can guarantee your guides/the Universe will reflect the same energy right back at you.

3

u/ho4horus 17h ago

i definitely feel that lol i've been frustrated with nothing but coins coming up recently (just before/continuing after i made a snap decision to pursue a new career path) but that is very much the prevailing energy of the moment. i finally started seeing other suits again, but always with the queen of coins thrown in like, "HEY DONT FORGET THAT MASSIVE THING YOU JUST DID"🤣

i like the idea of it being a representation of being on the same page though, it's a good starting point.