How to ask the tarot better questions to improve your readings

The question creates the tarot reading.

If you’re a tarot student, learning how to ask tarot questions is one of the most important skills you can develop. How you phrase your questions can make or break the reading. This guide will show you how to ask better questions, so your readings are deeper, clearer, and far more empowering.

Poor questions produce poor readings

If you’ve ever felt like your tarot readings were vague or unclear, chances are the issue wasn’t the cards—it was the question. The question shapes the conversation you’ll have with your Higher Self when reading for yourself, and it affects the guidance that comes through when reading for others.

Why tarot questions matter

Tarot is a mirror. It reflects not only the situation you’re in but the energy you bring to the table. When your question is open, curious, and focused on growth, the cards respond in kind. When your question is closed, passive, or fear-based, you might get a flat, confusing, or unhelpful answer.

Tarot isn’t just about prediction, it’s about perspective, empowerment, and insight to make better choices. Good tarot questions create answers that help you move forward and manifest your goals.

The problem with yes/no questions

Many tarot beginners struggle if they use yes/no tarot questions because they limit the insight a reading can provide. There is a place for yes/no questions in tarot, and I may cover that another time.

But tarot is primarily designed to offer a deeper understanding of issues. Yes/no questions often shut down the intuitive flow and can leave you feeling confused if the cards don’t give a clear "yes" or "no."

For example, instead of asking “Will I get the job?” Try asking “What can I do to improve my chances of being hired?”

See the difference? One expects a verdict. The other opens a doorway and helps you take action. Yes/no questions also assume the future is fixed, when in truth, it’s shaped by your choices.

Choosing your topic

So, what do you want guidance on? Questions about career, love, family, and money are the most common for tarot readers. As a tarot student, practicing with these areas will help you grow your skills and confidence.

The format of your question will also structure the answer. Some common questions take the form of predictions, advice, comparing options, and understanding yourself. Here’s some examples below.

Prediction or forecasting questions

• What would be the outcome if…?

• How will my plan work out?

Advice questions

• How can I get what I want?

• What can I do to achieve my goal?

Comparing options

• What’s the outcome if I do it? What’s the outcome if I don’t?

• How will I feel about choice A in the long term? How about choice B?

• What are the pluses of this decision? What are the minuses?

Self-development questions

Tarot is most empowering when it helps you understand yourself. Some useful examples:

• How can I strengthen my connection with Spirit?

• What lesson am I being invited to learn right now?

• What strengths can I bring to this? What weaknesses hold me back?

• How can I empower myself to succeed?

How to ask open tarot questions

Open-ended tarot questions invite insight, including what you may not have considered. Instead of asking “Will this happen?” or “Should I do this?”, try “What do I need to know about this?” or “How can I best approach this situation?”

This approach gives the tarot room to reveal background information, hidden influences, and guidance you might otherwise miss.

Taking responsibility for your readings

Avoid questions that hand your power away. For example, it’s often not helpful to ask, “Will my boyfriend come back?” That leaves you as passively waiting for him to decide.

Some better questions might be “How can I improve my relationships moving forward?” “How can I best move on after this breakup?”

The goal of tarot is empowerment. Ask questions that help you be the active creator of your destiny.

Keep it personal

It’s unethical to use tarot to pry into the lives of people who haven’t asked for a reading. Avoid asking: “What’s going on with my partner?” Instead try: “What do I need to understand about my role in this relationship?”

This keeps the focus on your path, your energy, and your choices.

Helping others ask better questions

When reading for others, I love guiding them toward more empowering questions. Often, I’ll suggest slight changes to their phrasing, so the reading offers deeper insight. Most clients are grateful for the clarification, and it makes their tarot experience far richer.

I don’t force it, but I also don’t do third-party readings. If someone insists on that, I explain why and gently suggest they find another reader (though no one has ever done so).

Questions to ask when you don’t have a question

Sometimes you don’t know what to ask, and that’s okay. Here are a few evergreen tarot questions:

• What do I need to know right now?

• What do I need to prioritise today?

These open the door to meaningful insight when you feel uncertain.

Final thoughts: better questions, better readings

When you ask the tarot bettert questions, you create space for real wisdom to emerge. The quality of your questions directly shapes the clarity of your answers. So next time you sit down with your cards, remember to ask questions that open doors, not ones that close them.

Want to go deeper with your tarot practice?

Join me for Master the tarot in ten weeks. This hands-on course will help you:

• Read with clarity and confidence

• Ask the right tarot questions (and trust the answers).

• Interpret tarot through your intuition, not just the book..

Frequently asked questions about tarot questions

Q: What are the best questions to ask in a tarot reading?

A: The best tarot questions are open-ended ones that start with what, how, or why. For example: “What do I need to know about this situation?” or “How can I best move forward?”

Q: Can I ask yes/no questions in tarot?

A: You can, but yes/no tarot questions often limit the insight you receive. Open questions give you more clarity and guidance for taking action.

Q: What questions should beginners avoid in tarot?

A: Beginners should avoid third-party questions about people who haven’t asked for a reading and disempowering ones like “Will they come back?”. Instead, focus on your own path and choices.

Q: How do I ask tarot questions for love and relationships?

A: Frame your love questions around your role and growth. For example: “What do I need to understand about my relationship?” or “How can I invite healthier relationships into my life?”

Q: What if I don’t have a tarot question in mind?

A: You can still get valuable guidance. Try general prompts like “What do I need to know right now?” or “What energy should I focus on today?”