Using Tarot as a Tool for Life Guidance

You may be more familiar with tarot as a divination tool, but did you know you can also use it as a tool for guidance? Whether you have questions about your career, your relationships, or your own spiritual growth, tarot can help you to get clear about the right path for you. This usually works in two ways: first, a tarot reading can be used to reveal underlying issues you may not be consciously aware of, or issues you have been avoiding. This can include fears, self-limitations, and disempowering beliefs. Secondly, a tarot reading can give you ideas for ways to push through obstacles and see a situation in a new light.

How to Use Tarot as a Life Guidance Tool

With any situation, getting a good tarot reading is usually dependent upon asking the right questions. While you can do a general reading to get a good overview of your situation, it can be more helpful to ask specific questions that allow the tarot cards to provide deeper insights. Here are some good questions to ask in your tarot readings:

Yes or No Questions

Form your questions in a way that the tarot cards can give you a clear yes or no answer. "Am I on the right path in life?" is an okay question, but it's very general. Re-phrasing it to be more specific can be helpful, such as, "Am I on the right path with my career goals?" or "Will taking courses in alternative healing help me to reach my career goals more quickly?" With yes or no questions, be sure to get as specific as you can, and shuffle the tarot deck while you're asking the question. Then draw one card as your answer. If the card is of a "positive" nature, take it as a yes. If the card is more "negative," take it as a no. If the card is positive but reversed, it could indicate a yes, but with conditions. Perhaps there are blockages that will need to be worked through, or the answer to your question might be indefinite at this time.

What Do I Need to Know About This Situation?

This is a great question to ask when you just can't seem to figure out what's happening beneath the surface. If you're struggling with your goals or having trouble in a relationship but you're not sure why, this question can reveal underlying issues you may not be aware of, or provide insight on actions you can take to turn things around. Again, shuffle the tarot deck while you're asking the question and then draw one card as your answer. The meaning of the card will usually reveal a clear answer, but if not, ask for clarification while shuffling again, and then choose another card. If this one isn't clearer, look for a connection between the two cards, and that might provide some clues also.

What Should I Focus on Right Now?

This question can help you to understand if you need to adjust your thoughts or actions. Tarot cards drawn in response to this question will usually reveal fears, self-limitations, comfort zone issues, or self-sabotaging behaviors, and give suggestions for ways to turn them around.

What Else Do I Need to Be Aware Of?

You can focus on only one aspect of your life with this question, or do an overview for each area. I usually designate one spot each for career, relationships, health, financial, and spiritual. Then shuffle the cards while asking what else I need to know, and draw one card for each position. This helps me to see if any particular area needs more of my attention, or if everything is flowing smoothly in my life.

Most importantly, remember that tarot cards can only provide a glimpse of situations as they are right now. Because situations change over time, it's a good idea to do readings frequently, once every week or two. This allows you to see if you're on track, and to make adjustments as you progress.