Why do I get mixed messages?

[Deshy]

I'm a beginner.

Sometimes I ask a question about a friend and the cards are very negative

Hours later I ask the same question, I get a positive answer. 

 

Also when I ask "What's their karma for treating me poorly?" and the first card I get is "queen of pentacles". It's like they are going to get financial abundance after doing bad things to me. I've noticed that I usually get such jinxed up answers when I use tarot at night.

 

Could someone please spread some light into what I might be doing wrong? Am I asking too many questions?

[DanielJUK]

I moved this out of the technical support area to the tarot discussion section 🙂

We can't interpret cards or readings in this section but can discuss the issue generally in this topic

[gregory]

If you ask the same question a mere hours later you will usually get rubbish answers. That's the way of tarot. I've always suspected the tarot gods or whatever look at you pulling more cards when you don't like what you get, and think to themselves OK DON'T believe me then - and throw up a smokescreen....

 

I think one needs to think really hard about what one gets the first time. We may not like the message - but thinking about it will often add depth and useful information. I often find leaving the cards I've drawn to sort of settle overnight and looking at them again the next day makes things clearer.

[Misterei]

If you're a beginner ... PRACTICE on low stakes topics or even imaginary scenarios. There's a whole art to getting our own egos out of the way ... if we have ego attachment to the outcome ... garbage in garbage out.

 

Try reading on topics you don't care about to get out of your own way (if that makes sense). LEARN the cards first.

[gregory]

Oh YES. Ricklef wrote a whole book about this. Read on fairy stories, TV shows etc.

 

https://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/books/tarot-tells-the-tale/

 

[Grizabella]

On 5/5/2023 at 1:01 PM, Deshy said:

I'm a beginner.

Sometimes I ask a question about a friend and the cards are very negative

Hours later I ask the same question, I get a positive answer. 

 

Also when I ask "What's their karma for treating me poorly?" and the first card I get is "queen of pentacles". It's like they are going to get financial abundance after doing bad things to me. I've noticed that I usually get such jinxed up answers when I use tarot at night.

 

Could someone please spread some light into what I might be doing wrong? Am I asking too many questions?

First of all, nowadays people use the term "karma" without really understanding how karma works.  Karma isn't something we experience in this life. It's what we reap in the next life as a positive or negative consequence of what we've done or not done in this life according to the spiritual beliefs it came from.  It's probably the fault of the hippie generation using it wrongly.  LOL I'm of that generation.  A better way of expressing it would also go back to the hippies "what goes around comes around" or even further back in time to the Biblical days when it was said that what we sow, we will also reap.

 

But anyway, I think what you describe is really normal when you're first learning.  It's just something you'll find will change as you gain more experience.  The fact that you experience this at the end of the day suggests that maybe it's just because you're tired and that's influencing your reading. I've experienced it myself when I was learning.

[Juperko]

As a beginner in tarot reading, it's normal to have questions and uncertainties about the interpretation of the cards. Let's explore a couple of factors that could contribute to the variations in your tarot readings and the perceived negative or contradictory answers.

1. Timing and energy fluctuations: It's important to consider that tarot readings can be influenced by the energy and circumstances at the time of the reading. The energy surrounding a situation can fluctuate throughout the day, and this may be reflected in your readings. Additionally, your own energy and mindset can also impact the interpretation of the cards. It's possible that asking the same question at different times could yield different responses due to these energy variations.

2. Framing and phrasing of questions: The way you frame your questions can influence the answers you receive. It's important to ensure your questions are clear, specific, and open-ended to allow for a comprehensive response from the cards. If your questions are too broad or lack clarity, it can lead to ambiguous or contradictory answers. Take a moment to reflect on how you phrase your questions and consider if any adjustments or clarifications are needed.

3. Multiple questions in one reading: Asking too many questions in a single reading can lead to confusion and muddled responses. It's generally recommended to focus on one question or aspect at a time to maintain clarity and obtain more accurate insights. When you ask about your friend's karma, for example, it may be helpful to separate that question from other inquiries to maintain a clearer focus.

4. Interpreting the cards objectively: Tarot cards are a tool for guidance, but it's important to interpret them objectively and avoid personal biases. Each card carries multiple layers of meaning, and it's crucial to consider the context of the reading, the position of the card in the spread, and the overall message conveyed by the combination of cards. Avoid attaching fixed interpretations to specific cards and instead approach each reading with an open mind and a willingness to explore the different possibilities presented by the cards.

As a beginner, it's natural to encounter challenges and inconsistencies in your tarot practice. Patience, practice, and ongoing learning are key to developing your skills. Consider keeping a tarot journal to record your readings, observations, and personal insights. Over time, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the cards and develop your own intuitive connection to the messages they convey.

[catlover5201314]

On 5/5/2023 at 7:09 PM, Misterei said:

If you're a beginner ... PRACTICE on low stakes topics or even imaginary scenarios. There's a whole art to getting our own egos out of the way ... if we have ego attachment to the outcome ... garbage in garbage out.

 

Try reading on topics you don't care about to get out of your own way (if that makes sense). LEARN the cards first.

100% agree with them !! i practiced a lot with jokes ! ask ur deck to tell u a joke and the interpretation can be tricky but u sure will learn and get a laugh a few times !! 

[Chariot]

On 5/5/2023 at 9:01 PM, Deshy said:

I'm a beginner.

Sometimes I ask a question about a friend and the cards are very negative

Hours later I ask the same question, I get a positive answer. 

 

Also when I ask "What's their karma for treating me poorly?" and the first card I get is "queen of pentacles". It's like they are going to get financial abundance after doing bad things to me. I've noticed that I usually get such jinxed up answers when I use tarot at night.

 

Could someone please spread some light into what I might be doing wrong? Am I asking too many questions?

I wouldn't say you're asking too many questions ...at least going by what you said here.  I'd say you're asking the same question more than once, without giving the situation any time to actually change.

I agree with @gregory - that tarot doesn't like being ignored because the first answers it gives are 'negative', which you didn't want.  Be wary of asking the same question over and over again.  Obviously it's fine to ask the question again, say, 3 months down the line, if the situation has had time to change.  But what you're doing here seems to be fishing for a more acceptable answer, not dealing with the answer you actually got.  Tarot doesn't 'like' that.

Of course, if you don't understand the answer, it's fine to pursue clarification, by pulling another card to pinpoint the direction the original card wants you to consider.  (Example: Does the Hanged Man mean I'm in involuntary stasis and just need to patiently wait for the wheel, or does it mean I should be looking at the situation from a totally different perspective?  A clarification card can let you know which interpretation to accept. Warning: Do not go overboard and pull lots of 'clarification' cards, as you will achieve the opposite result!  Confusion rather than clarification.)

You can do another reading to find out more.  If you want to know WHY your friend is treating you poorly, ask that question and do another reading.  Or ask how you should handle the situation, etc.  That's not the same as asking the same question again. 

If NONE of the reading makes any sense ...especially the 'past and present' positions of any reading ...it's also fine to just abandon it as 'not working today.'  Or you can analyse what is wrong with your original question itself, and perhaps rephrase it so the answer you get is closer to reality.  Just keep in mind that the tarot isn't always going to give you the answer you want to hear. But if you open yourself up to 'unpleasant' truth, the tarot can certainly help you deal with it, or even change it.  Or recognise where things went wrong.  

Edited July 16, 2023 by Chariot

[startiger]

I also find astrological alignments affecting my readings.  For example, we have another mercury retrograde starting on the 23rd of August.  We've been in the pre-phase of the retrograde since August 3rd.  It's in Virgo to boot, which is my sun sign/earth and we will see many changes happening during this retrograde on the physical plane.  Regarding readings...I feel as though it messes with me and my interpretation of the cards.  Reading the cards just doesn't seem to be as clear for me, as when I'm out of a mercury retrograde...communication between myself and the cards can feel confusing.  🙂

[Eugenie]

I could not find a better topic, sorry, will ask here.

I asked a question about my dog's health and received an answer that doesn't seem to be relevant for health, but fits extremely well as an answer to a question about our relationships (which I wasn't asking). Can it be because I am really more worried about our relationships than his health (which is actually quite robust but he got a minor injury recently so I wanted to ask about that) and the cards responded to the question I didn't ask? Or maybe it is self-deception and I must find a way to decipher the answer so that it IS about health, rather than changing the question along the way in order to align it better? 

[DanielJUK]

For me, I think you have to strictly answer the question you asked. It has to apply to the question asked. I see on the forum that often people ask vague questions or ones with yes / no answers, so the answer in return is not clear. A good question and a good spread or layout to answer it, gives you the best answer to interpret. The joy and also the challenge of reading is to make difficult cards fit what was asked 🙂

[Eugenie]

12 minutes ago, DanielJUK said:

For me, I think you have to strictly answer the question you asked. It has to apply to the question asked. I see on the forum that often people ask vague questions or ones with yes / no answers, so the answer in return is not clear. A good question and a good spread or layout to answer it, gives you the best answer to interpret. The joy and also the challenge of reading is to make difficult cards fit what was asked 🙂

 

Daniel, thank you! It makes sense, otherwise why bother asking at all? In that case, I guess I will have to ask for help with the reading. I wonder if I need to make a new Help Me thread or use the first one? It's still a 3 card spread. 

[DanielJUK]

Please start a new thread for a new reading in that section and it's okay to ask about a dog but we couldn't allow asking for another person apart from yourself 🙂

[Eugenie]

1 minute ago, DanielJUK said:

Please start a new thread for a new reading in that section and it's okay to ask about a dog but we couldn't allow asking for another person apart from yourself 🙂

 
Yes, I know the rule about other people, but this is really my own Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Thank you so much! 

[cyberpunkkitty]

Maybe try to cleanse your energy and working area, the energies might be getting mixed up especially if you’re so emotionally invested 

[Eugenie]

On 12/18/2023 at 4:28 PM, DanielJUK said:

For me, I think you have to strictly answer the question you asked. It has to apply to the question asked. I see on the forum that often people ask vague questions or ones with yes / no answers, so the answer in return is not clear. A good question and a good spread or layout to answer it, gives you the best answer to interpret. The joy and also the challenge of reading is to make difficult cards fit what was asked 🙂

 
Daniel, thank you very much for motivating me to look for how to interpret the cards so that they make sense instead of bending the question. I do understand that adjusting the question is ridiculous and how would I do it if I am reading for someone?.... but I was so tempted to take the easy route. Now I am quite clear on those cards! 

[DanielJUK]

I really believe that the messages we get are correct but for various reasons we can interpret the wrong message. It's like decrypting Egyptian hieroglyphics. I think a real beginner mistake when they don't understand the cards and then take more and more to clarify but that makes it more confusing. You have to spend time to work out the existing cards. There is no shame in posting for a second opinion, we all have posted for reading help here at sometime or another. Also it's worth just sitting on a reading and just thinking about it, sometimes it comes to you 🙂 . Some cards come up in really difficult ways, tarot does like to keep us on our toes

[Nemia]

Asking Why questions is good, but for me, it's never enough. With a Why? question, you get answers about root problems, past mistakes, problems that you caused for yourself or circumstances that went wrong. But what do you do with it? 

 

I always feel it's better not to ask simply one question that will leave you with even more open questions. I'd try a more structured approach. 

 

So 1. what is the problem? 

 

2. how can I solve it?

 

3.  possible outcome

 

For me, the best approach is to prepare for the reading by thinking about what bothers me, and then to write down the questions I have. I also like to lay out the cards in a way that is connected to the question. Past to the left, future to the right, conscious or goals above, roots below etc. Just basic stuff. 

 

I try to milk every card for every nuance of meaning. 

 

Quote

 

Also when I ask "What's their karma for treating me poorly?" and the first card I get is "queen of pentacles". It's like they are going to get financial abundance after doing bad things to me. 

 

 

 

I'm sure this is only a small part of your interpretation, but let's take a look at that. 

 

First of all, you assume X are treating you poorly, and you assume that karma will somehow punish them for it. These are two assumptions. And they're both about other people. Why not make an empowering reading that focuses on your understanding, and gives you agency?

 

1. Why is X treating me poorly?

 

2. How can I change that?

 

3. What will be the outcome of the situation? 

 

Now that focuses the reading on yourself, not others. Other readings when the other didn't give their okay to be read for can be tricky. We all have defences, and if X treated you poorly, their defences against you are probably strong. If you contributed something to the bad direction the relationship with X went, the tarot will tell you so. 

 

And for me, it's really important to leave the reading with an option to act. 

 

So that's about reading technique, spread etc. If you want more information, use well-defined spread positions and questions, and then lay out the cards. Take a picture, think about the cards, play with them. Put the cards next to each other, above each other, look at the storyboard you get, at patterns, directions, flow of energy, colours etc. Really go after those cards and squeeze out every drop. 

 

Does the Queen of Pentacles only stand for material abundance? No, of course not. She can be a person in your life: mature, benign, a bit bossy, maybe a bit shallow, or very pragmatic. She can also stand for an aspect of your personality. 

 

In readings about two people, court cards, in my experience often characterize the "point of connection" - what you have in common, the character of the relationship. So that would mean, the relationship went pear-shaped because it had a Queen of Pentacles character. Suffocating, possessive, dominating if you want to see negative sides of that queen. Overly ambitious if you take the star sign (Capricorn) into account. But this queen also has a lot of good qualities, so something must have gone seriously wrong. 

 

What did you contribute to it? If you don't ask that question, don't ask the tarot for an answer. Because the question "why is everybody so mean?" leads nowhere. If people are mean, how should you react? Go away? Clear up the situation? Start to pay them back? Why do you get a mostly positive card with kind, nurturing and pragmatic energies as answer to your question? 

 

Did you expect to see some great karma card for evil people, Death or Nine of Swords or the Tower? Do you wish them bad things? So in that context, what does the Queen of Pentacles tell you? 

 

This was only an example how I work with tarot, everybody has their own style, and there is no tarot police. 

 

For me, tarot is like the Queen (oh now the King) of England. It has the prerogative to be consulted, to warn and to encourage. But its power and wisdom only extend to your own kingdom, i.e., your life. 

 

Over time, as you develop a living relationship to all the cards, everything will fall into place. It's great that you started. Just stay in dialogue with the cards, that's the main thing.