If you have ever had someone read your cards, you may or may not have been asked a question regarding what information you seek. Or, simply what you want to know about. Why is this so important?
As you may note from reading this blog, it can be rather difficult to identify what the situation is that you’re reading after you throw your cards. Cards are very often like words. Some words have a definite meaning, while others can have several depending on the context the word is being spoken in. If you are having a conversation with someone and miss part of what is said (only hearing a few words) it is easy to misunderstand, or worse misconstrue their message.
I am in no means suggesting that “it is impossible” to determine a situation in an open ended reading – I don’t believe that to be the case. But for some people (such as myself) it can be a dilemma. There are many people who are very comfortable with cards or whatever their oracle of choice may be. It could be experience or it could be confidence in their gifts. Or it could be something else entirely.
Does this mean one should not do an open ended reading? No. It is a wonderful opportunity to hone your skills. Or just to attempt to solve a mystery. You may make mistakes. Mistakes are part of life though and are opportunities to learn and grow. Even seasoned readers will admit that they are not correct 100% of the time (and if they claim to be unless in jest, I would be very wary).
I also think it is important that if there is enormous confusion, one should not be afraid to ask a question or two in order to better clarify what the message is. Some people will not read cards without a well formed question. This is a lot of the reason why. It’s much easier to quickly answer a question when you know what you’re looking at/for. Questions in no way diminish the quality of the reader or their oracle, and one is less likely to make a whopper of a mistake if they take the time to inquire about what they are seeing.
I thought I should post this mainly because I am often confused by what I am looking at – I tend to be very ambiguous in my questioning in addition to being a novice when it comes to reading these decks. I do enjoy doing these readings and posting them. Because as I make mistakes, I have every intention of learning from the experience and growing as a lover of oracle/fortune telling decks.
3 comments
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July 23, 2008 at 11:10 am
Sammie
Hi Contessa,
What an interesting post. I’ve debated the whole question/no question thing in my mind for years. As the years have gone by, I’ve leaned more and more to just drawing some cards and seeing what they say without an actual question. However, many times while I’m shuffling – I’m thinking on a certain area of my life that needs clarification. Which I guess is a form of general question.
Even if you are trying to keep your mind blank when you shuffle and draw the cards, there is usually something going on in your mind and I find my cards can almost always pick up on this. It is very uncanny but it is one of the reasons it’s fun and helpful to read the cards!
Sammie
July 23, 2008 at 12:11 pm
lacontessa
Hi Sammie!
I always enjoy reading your blog because you are so in tune with the cards and the message they’re giving you. I’ve given your comment a lot of thought and I think I might make a follow up post. It’s very interesting they way a pack of cards can illustrait what we are thinking/feeling. Especially when drawing cards *seems* to be such a random action.
Thank you so much for stopping by and giving me something to ponder!
Contessa
December 14, 2009 at 4:01 am
digiacom
“Questions in no way diminish the quality of the reader or their oracle”
Beautifully said. In fact, in my own readings I insist that feedback from the querent can only improve my readings, and I mercilessly ask questions or offer open ended guesses to improve the reading’s usefulness.
I’m glad the wordpress software has connected our blogs, I look forward to reading your more recent posts!