Appropriate Questions and Limits

Overview

The quality of a tarot reading depends heavily on the quality of the question asked. Not all questions are suitable for tarot, and understanding the boundaries of what tarot can and cannot address is essential for both readers and querents. This article explores what makes a good tarot question, what types of questions to avoid, and the ethical limits of tarot practice.

What Makes a Good Tarot Question

The best tarot questions share several characteristics:

• Open-ended: They provide "space" to explore different options and possibilities
• Specific enough for focus: While open-ended, they still have direction and clarity
• Self-focused: They center on the querent rather than other people
• Action-oriented: They focus on what the querent can influence or change
• Empowering: They reinforce personal agency and free will

"The best questions are those that elicit information to empower you to make the best decisions for yourself or situation. They focus on what you can influence or change in a positive and constructive way."
— Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot, "What NOT To Ask The Tarot"
Source: https://biddytarot.com/blog/what-not-to-ask-the-tarot

"Good questions are often open-ended, providing 'space' to explore different options and possibilities. But they are also detailed and specific, allowing focus and direction. Good questions focus on yourself rather than others."
— Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot, "What NOT To Ask The Tarot"
Source: https://biddytarot.com/blog/what-not-to-ask-the-tarot

Useful Question Starters

The following templates help reframe questions into productive tarot inquiries:

• "What do I need to know about…?"
• "What do I need to do to achieve…?"
• "What is standing in the way and how can I best overcome this?"
• "How can I improve my ability to…?"
• "What role do I play in so-and-so's life/issue?"
• "What do I need to change in order to…?"
• "What is the potential for…?"

"What do I need to know about this situation? What's the best path I can take at this time? How can I improve my relationship with ___? What can I do to make ___ happen? What am I not seeing at this time?"
— Red Wheel Weiser, "10 Great Questions to Ask During a Tarot Reading"
Source: https://redwheelweiser.medium.com/10-great-questions-to-ask-during-a-tarot-reading-and-a-few-that-kinda-suck-156a457359cc

Questions to Avoid

1. Questions About Other People's Private Lives

Asking about someone else's decisions, feelings, or actions without their involvement raises privacy concerns and accuracy issues.

"This brings up issues around privacy and accuracy. Privacy because you are delving into someone else's private life using the Tarot cards without their permission. And accuracy because you will still be seeing the situation from your/the client's perspective and not necessarily the situation at hand."
— Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot, "What NOT To Ask The Tarot"
Source: https://biddytarot.com/blog/what-not-to-ask-the-tarot

Example to avoid: "Will my lover leave his wife?"
Better alternative: "What do I need to know about my role in this relationship?"

2. Questions of Pure Chance

Tarot is not designed to predict random outcomes like lottery numbers or gambling results.

"The lottery is a game of chance and there is very little that you can do to influence you winning. So, leave this up to chance rather than consulting the Tarot cards for this type of question."
— Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot, "What NOT To Ask The Tarot"
Source: https://biddytarot.com/blog/what-not-to-ask-the-tarot

3. Questions Rooted in Negative Emotion

Questions framed around blame, hatred, or victimhood tend to be disempowering and unproductive.

"'Hate' is such a strong word and it often implies that you are blaming someone else for taking out their negativity on you. And, if you got the answer, yes, your ex hates you, then what? What can you do about it? It becomes so disempowering."
— Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot, "What NOT To Ask The Tarot"
Source: https://biddytarot.com/blog/what-not-to-ask-the-tarot

Example to avoid: "Does my ex hate me?"
Better alternative: "What can I do to improve my relationships with others?"

4. Questions About Death or Lifespan

These questions are morbid, offer no guidance, and knowing the answer would not help the querent.

"Apart from being incredibly morbid, this is not an appropriate question for the Tarot because the Tarot is intended as a guide and there is really no 'guiding' with this type of question. Knowing the answer will not help."
— Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot, "What NOT To Ask The Tarot"
Source: https://biddytarot.com/blog/what-not-to-ask-the-tarot

5. Medical or Health Diagnosis Questions

Tarot is not a substitute for medical professionals. Health questions should be directed to doctors.

"The Tarot cards are not a proxy for a visit to the doctor. Yes, they can highlight if there is a possible issue or concern, but go and see your doctor to get it checked out. Leave any sort of diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment advice to the medical professionals."
— Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot, "What NOT To Ask The Tarot"
Source: https://biddytarot.com/blog/what-not-to-ask-the-tarot

Example to avoid: "Am I pregnant?" or "Will my wife's cancer go into remission?"
Better alternative: "What can I do to support my loved one through this difficult time?"

6. "Should I…?" Decision Questions

These questions transfer responsibility from the querent to the cards. Tarot should inform decisions, not make them.

"You need to take responsibility and accountability for your own life and your own decisions. It is better to ask the Tarot, 'What is the impact/pros and cons if I take this path?' or 'What can I expect if I do XYZ?'"
— Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot, "What NOT To Ask The Tarot"
Source: https://biddytarot.com/blog/what-not-to-ask-the-tarot

Example to avoid: "Should I take the job?"
Better alternative: "What can I expect if I take this path?" or "What do I need to know about this opportunity?"

7. Vague or Directionless Questions

Questions without focus produce readings without focus.

"If your question is vague and general, so too will be the answer. If your question is detailed and specific, then so too will be the answer."
— Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot, "What NOT To Ask The Tarot"
Source: https://biddytarot.com/blog/what-not-to-ask-the-tarot

8. Legal Outcome Questions

Tarot readers are not legal professionals and cannot provide legal advice.

"Tarot readers are typically not legal professionals and are therefore not in a position to provide legal advice. Stay on the safe side and invest your money in legal advice rather than a Tarot reading on the topic."
— Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot, "What NOT To Ask The Tarot"
Source: https://biddytarot.com/blog/what-not-to-ask-the-tarot

9. Questions That Remove Personal Power

Asking "What is my future?" places the querent in a passive position. Better to ask about possibilities and how to shape outcomes.

"We're painting ourselves into a position of having no power. So, let's not ask 'what's my future.' Let's ask 'what's possible for me and how can I make a future in which I can be happy and empowered.'"
— YouTube, "10 Tarot Questions You Should Never Ask"
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkWTIP5vzz4

Ethical Limits of Tarot Practice

Setting Clear Boundaries

Both readers and querents need to understand the limits of a session, including what can and cannot be asked.

"Clear boundaries are critical in Tarot reading. Both the reader and the client need to understand the limits of the session, including what can and cannot be asked. It's important to establish these boundaries at the outset of any reading."
— Healing Light, "Tarot Ethics: Guidelines for Ethical Tarot Reading and Consulting"
Source: https://www.healinglight.co.uk/tarot-ethics-guidelines-for-ethical-tarot-reading-and-consulting

Professional Boundaries for Readers

"Just because you have a gift or a skill doesn't mean it's helpful to use it anytime, anywhere on anyone. In the context of this work, it is important for us to protect our boundaries as well as the people we serve."
— Spiral Sea Tarot, "Tarot Ethics - 13 Prompts to Consider for Your Practice"
Source: https://www.spiralseatarot.com/blog/tarotethics

Not a Substitute for Professional Services

Tarot should never replace:

• Medical advice — see a doctor for health concerns
• Legal advice — consult a lawyer for legal matters
• Financial advice — work with a financial professional
• Mental health support — seek a therapist or counselor for psychological crises

"We are not obliged to give someone definitive forecasts for their life, especially when those insights don't come through organically. If a sincere intuitive insight comes through, it's totally okay to offer it. But we cannot demand them, and we can't make them up to satisfy someone in crisis."
— Persephone's Sister, "Are your tarot readings ethical?"
Source: https://persephonessister.com/2023/08/20/are-your-tarot-readings-ethical

Third-Party Readings

Reading on someone who has not consented raises ethical concerns about privacy and accuracy.

"I reserve the right to slightly reframe a question if necessary. The purpose of this would be to keep the focus on you, the seeker, and your own agency."
— Maenad Tarot, "Policies and Code of Ethics"
Source: https://maenadtarot.com/policies-and-code-of-ethics

Rephrasing Inappropriate Questions

In most cases, an inappropriate question can be reframed into a productive one:

"In most cases, an initially inappropriate question can be slightly tweaked or rephrased in order for it to be appropriate for the Tarot cards."
— Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot, "What NOT To Ask The Tarot"
Source: https://biddytarot.com/blog/what-not-to-ask-the-tarot

Timeframes in Questions

Including a timeframe can increase specificity, but there are practical limits:

• Recommended: Up to 1 year (e.g., "What do I need to know about my finances in the next 6 months?")
• Not recommended: Beyond 1 year, as circumstances change significantly

"You can also include a timeframe in your request to increase the specificity of the question and the answer. However, it is generally best not to set a timeframe that is beyond a year as a lot will have changed after this time."
— Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot, "What NOT To Ask The Tarot"
Source: https://biddytarot.com/blog/what-not-to-ask-the-tarot

The Importance of Question Framing

The way a question is framed directly impacts the quality and usefulness of the reading:

"Asking the right question is vital if you are looking for an insightful and powerful Tarot reading. When you start asking the right types of questions, you'll begin to see the true spirit of the Tarot coming through."
— Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot, "What NOT To Ask The Tarot"
Source: https://biddytarot.com/blog/what-not-to-ask-the-tarot

"You want to ask questions that don't engage your conscious mind to jump to an answer and instead engage your intuition to guide you. Yes or no questions can also be limiting. If you ask something too specific, you might limit the answers you receive."
— Sheryl Wagner Medium, "The Wisdom of Tarot: 50 Good Questions to Ask Tarot Cards"
Source: https://www.sherylwagnermedium.com/blog/questions-to-ask-tarot-cards

Debates and Different Perspectives

Are "Yes/No" Questions Ever Appropriate?

View 1: Yes/No questions are too limiting

"Yes or no questions can also be limiting. If you ask something too specific, you might limit the answers you receive."
— Sheryl Wagner Medium, "The Wisdom of Tarot: 50 Good Questions to Ask Tarot Cards"
Source: https://www.sherylwagnermedium.com/blog/questions-to-ask-tarot-cards

View 2: Yes/No questions can work with the right approach

Some readers use specific spreads designed for binary questions (e.g., a 3-card "yes/no/maybe" spread) and find them useful for quick guidance, though most agree that open-ended questions produce richer readings.

Should Readers Refuse Questions or Reframe Them?

View 1: Reframe rather than refuse

"I reserve the right to slightly reframe a question if necessary. The purpose of this would be to keep the focus on you, the seeker, and your own agency."
— Maenad Tarot, "Policies and Code of Ethics"
Source: https://maenadtarot.com/policies-and-code-of-ethics

View 2: Some questions should be refused entirely

Questions about death, medical diagnosis, or legal outcomes should be declined outright, with the querent directed to appropriate professionals.

"Avoid answering questions that fall outside your scope of practice or expertise."
— Healing Light, "Tarot Ethics: Guidelines for Ethical Tarot Reading and Consulting"
Source: https://www.healinglight.co.uk/tarot-ethics-guidelines-for-ethical-tarot-reading-and-consulting

Third-Party Readings: Privacy vs. Insight

View 1: Never read on someone without consent

Reading on a third party who hasn't agreed to the reading violates their privacy and produces unreliable information filtered through the querent's perspective.

View 2: Reading on relationships necessarily involves others

Some readers argue that relationship questions inherently involve another person, and that reading on the dynamic (rather than the individual) is acceptable. The key distinction is reading on the relationship versus reading on the other person's private thoughts or decisions.

"Do you have questions that you will not answer for people? Do you do third party readings?"
— Reddit r/tarot, "Ethics for professional readers"
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/tarot/comments/rn6kz6/ethics_for_professional_readers

Sources consulted: Biddy Tarot (biddytarot.com), Healing Light (healinglight.co.uk), Spiral Sea Tarot (spiralseatarot.com), Sheryl Wagner Medium (sherylwagnermedium.com), Red Wheel Weiser / Medium, Maenad Tarot (maenadtarot.com), Persephone's Sister (persephonessister.com), Reddit r/tarot, YouTube.