Category: Tarot Tips & Philosophy | Reading Time: 4 Minutes
Yes or No questions are the biggest trap in Tarot. So, what should you ask instead?
It is 11:30 PM. You are wearing those sweatpants you swore you’d wash three days ago. The house is silent, but your brain is screaming like a cat trapped in a carrier.
You grab your deck (or open our app) and you ask the big, terrifying question:
“Will he come back?” “Will I get the promotion?” “Is this going to work out?”
You want a simple “Yes” or “No.” You want certainty. You want the Universe to reach down, pat you on the head, and tell you everything is going to be fine.
But here is the hard truth: Asking “Yes or No” questions is the fastest way to ruin your mental health.
Okay, maybe not your entire life. But it definitely ruins your evening.
The Problem with Binary Code
Here is the technical reason why this fails (and most Tarot blogs won’t tell you this): The Tarot is not a light switch.
A light switch has two positions: On or Off. Yes or No. A Tarot deck has 78 cards, each with hundreds of symbols, colors, and astrological associations.
When you ask a complex, emotional question and demand a binary answer, you are trying to read a novel using a light switch. You are stripping all the nuance out of the message.
If you ask, “Will I get the job?” and pull the Death card, you panic. You think it means “No.” In reality, the card might mean, “You need to kill your old career identity before you are ready for this new role.”
See the difference? One is a rejection. The other is a strategy.
The “Passenger” Trap
When you ask a binary question like, “Will I be rich?”, you are doing something dangerous. You are handing your power over to a piece of printed cardboard.
Think about it. If the cards say “No,” what are you going to do? Are you going to quit your job, curl up under the sofa, and wait for the end? Of course not.
You are going to be miserable, but you still have to pay rent.
A “Yes/No” reading treats you like a passenger in your own car. It assumes the future is a movie script that has already been written, and you are just waiting to see if your character survives the next scene.
Start Hunting (Cat Energy vs. Dog Energy)
Most dogs (we love them, but still) sit by the door and wait for someone to open it. They wait for the bowl to be filled. They wait for permission.
Cats don’t do that.
If a door is closed, we scream until it opens. If that doesn’t work, we find a window. If the window is locked, we knock a vase off the table to make a point.
My 12-year-old cat, Bane, never asks the universe for permission to hunt a moth. He doesn’t sit there meowing, “Will I catch it?”
No. He assesses the distance. He wiggles his butt to get traction. He calculates the jump. And then he launches himself into the air.
You need to bring that same Apex Predator Energy to your readings.
The “Power Move” Rephrase
Instead of asking weak questions that leave you trembling in anxiety, flip the script. Force the cards to give you a strategy, not a prediction.
- Don’t Ask: “Will I get the job?”
- Ask: “What skill do I need to highlight to make them hire me?”
- Don’t Ask: “Does he love me?”
- Ask: “What is the true dynamic of this relationship, and is it feeding my soul?”
- Don’t Ask: “Will I be rich?”
- Ask: “What habit is blocking my financial flow right now?”
The first set of questions makes you small. The second set hands you the keys to the kingdom.
Stop Being a Helpless Kitten
Stop using the Tarot like a Magic 8-Ball. It is disrespectful of the cards, and quite honestly, it is boring.
You are not a helpless kitten stuck in a tree. You just forget you have claws.
Next time you feel that tightness in your chest and you want to ask a “Yes or No” question, stop. Take a breath. Look at the cards and demand an action plan instead.
It is okay to dream of the summit, but the mountain won’t climb itself.
The future isn’t something that happens to you. It is something you hunt and fight for.
Disclaimer: TarotPaw content is for entertainment and spiritual support only. We are cats, not doctors, lawyer, or financial advisor. This content is not intended to replace professional (medical, legal, or financial) advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are in crisis, please contact a professional or call your local emergency services.
