Cards as Questions
A few weeks ago, I was honored to be one of the speakers at the annual Tarosophy Tarot Conference in Keswick, England. Here is a photo of the speakers:
The third woman from the right, with the long blond hair, is Kim Huggens, author of Tarot 101 (a really fine book!). You can learn more about that HERE.
I really enjoyed her workshop, which focused on using the cards not to find answers but to create questions that lead the querent to the wisdom within their own heart.
It was fun and enlightening to use the cards in this way with other readers. When I thought about my clients, though, I couldn’t see them going for it. But I loved the concept, so how could I tweak it become a viable part of my practice with my clients?
Using all the cards in a reading to ask my clients questions (rather than giving them answers) would be overwhelming (for most of them). However, why not incorporate just a touch of the technique? I’ve decided to try using one card at the end of a reading to pose a question to send my client home with, to give her something to chew on, think about, perhaps even journal about.
Going to conferences is so exciting for me. It’s a great way to keep your practice fresh and alive. While not everything you learn will be incorporated exactly as taught, there is plenty of opportunity to tweak, adapt, or modify anything to suit your style.
What techniques or practices have you modified lately?
I wish I had been there for that. The idea of cards leading the querent to their own knowledge is how I’ve often approached things — especially during short readings at parties or the like when there’s no time to make a connection or get to know the person sitting in the other chair.
Welcome back, Barbara!
I often draw an extra card at the end of a reading, especially if the reading seemed difficult for the client for the client as the ‘nudge’ or ‘hidden knowledge’ card to represent some extra bit of information or possible alternate outcome they can affect (depending on the type of spread) the universe wants them to know that didn’t ‘fit’ in the confines of the spread. This often seems to give them a little more to chew on as a ‘clarifying card’ (as I’ve also heard it called).
I also permit the querrant or myself to re-arrange the cards to allow the querent to ‘solve’ a problem in relationship spreads to give them a sense of empowerment and see solutions where they may only have seen a replay of a pattern.
Turning card concepts into questions is one of my favourite helpful things to do with the cards!
Let’s say I drew the Hermit. Rather than being told, “You’re wise in ways that serve others”, it would be more powerful for me to hear, “Upon what wisdom ways do you draw in service to the Whole?” Such a question can take me to the realm of my inner teacher.