I’ve been using a simple method for yes/no tarot readings that’s been working well for me. I assign upright cards as “yes” and reversed cards as “no” for quick answers.
Some readers pull three cards and go with the majority, so two uprights would lean toward yes. I also treat Aces as strong yes cards and Swords court cards as more cautious or no answers.
The key is deciding your system before you shuffle. Otherwise, you end up second-guessing what the cards mean. What methods do you all use for yes/no questions? I’m curious if anyone has different spreads that work for them.
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I came across a really handy three-card yes/no method that’s been pretty reliable for me.
When you have a pressing question, shuffle your deck while concentrating on it and then draw three cards. Each card is categorized as Yes, No, or Neutral. You might need a guide or just go with your gut to place them.
Here’s the gist:
If you get three ‘Yes’ cards, that’s a strong indication. Two ‘Yes’ cards mixed with a ‘No’ or ‘Neutral’ suggest things are likely moving in a good direction, though there might be some hiccups.
If you mostly pull ‘No’ cards, or a mix of ‘No’ and ‘Neutral’, it might be a sign to reconsider your path.
Been reading tarot for 20+ years and yeah, experience definitely changes how you approach yes/no readings.
When you’re starting out, you stick pretty close to the guidebooks and traditional meanings. That’s what I did anyway. Now I go more with my gut feeling. Sometimes the ‘official’ meaning doesn’t fit what I’m sensing from the cards. Your reading style will shift over time, mine sure did.
I do readings two different ways:
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First one is your standard three-card spread (from this thread), but the cards won’t sugarcoat things just because you want them to.
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Second is more intuitive (see this if you don’t know what I mean), I just let the cards fall where they want. Though sometimes they get dramatic and actually fall off the table Especially the Tower card.
Both work well. The cards definitely have their own personality and aren’t afraid to tell it like it is.
In my area, people often burn herbs during yes/no readings. Usually it’s rosemary, we light a sprig while shuffling and pulling cards. I started doing it because everyone else here does, but I like how the scent helps me focus.
Sometimes I use sage or lavender instead. Every region seems to have its own tarot quirks. Some of my online friends think the herb thing is weird, but it’s just normal here.
What if specific Major Arcana cards were wildcard answers in a yes/no reading? Imagine drawing The Fool as an invitation to embrace the unknown.
I’ve been trying this thing where I shuffle the deck and split it in two piles. then I just feel which pile is warmer - that’s my yes pile. sounds kinda weird but the temperature thing has been pretty accurate for me. thought you might wanna give it a shot
For yes/no tarot readings, keeping an open mind and staying unbiased is key.
Personal hopes can easily sway your interpretation, so practicing mindfulness and grounding techniques is helpful. This helps ensure the reading remains true and accurate.
If you pulled every possible combination of just 3 cards with reversals, you’d need more lifetimes than there are grains of sand on Earth to read them all. Even a single card draw gives you 144 possible messages when you include reversals.
That’s a lot of nuance when you’re looking for a simple yes or no.
The complexity multiplies fast with each additional card in your spread. For those seeking binary clarity, the tarot community has some workarounds. Many readers use a pendulum, while others have a special coin for divination. Some people use silver coins because they think it adds something extra.
The cards are good at telling stories, but sometimes you just need a straight answer. You might want to read this thread to understand what this really means a bit more.
Started using playing cards for yes/no questions instead of always pulling tarot. Red for yes, black for no. I was getting exhausted doing full tarot spreads for basic stuff. Sometimes you just need a straightforward answer without all the interpretation.
The upright/reversed thing works for some people, but I get better readings when I just feel out the cards’ energy. So upright is yes and reversed is no.
It’s pretty limited in terms of the Tarot, but then so is yes/no, really.
I pull three with my non-dominant hand and let whatever comes through guide the reading. A reversed Fool might still be pushing you forward, an upright Ten of Swords might be telling you to hold back.
I trust what I’m getting from the cards over following set rules.
Yes/no readings get a bad rap but I like them. They help you trust your gut more. I use the elemental approach where Fire/Air cards point toward yes and Water/Earth point toward no. Simple but it works.
Oscar Wilde said ‘The truth is rarely pure and never simple.’
I’ve been trying out different timing methods lately, instead of just asking if something will happen, I pull cards to see when the energy might shift from no to yes. Been using court cards as timing indicators too. Each one represents a different timeframe, like Knights for weeks, Queens for months.
Still figuring out what works best but it’s helped me give more specific answers.
With the waxing gibbous moon, it’s a good time to dive into yes/no readings. The imagery and symbolism of the cards can help uncover insights you might not have seen before. This phase is about growth and clarity, which could help you connect more with the cards. Give it a try and see what you find. You might notice something new in your readings. Sometimes just being open to the process can lead to a deeper understanding.
You could try a pendulum alongside your tarot deck for yes/no stuff. I do this sometimes when I want to confirm what I’m getting from the cards. Gives you another perspective.
Met someone at the metaphysical shop who showed me a different way to do yes/no spreads.
You pull three cards instead of one and they each get a vote.
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All positive cards = clear yes.
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Mix of positive and negative = yes with complications.
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Mostly negative = probably not happening.
Each card kind of explains its vote too, which helps understand why something might not work out right now. So you can go deeper into it if you want to, without having to do a whole new spread. It’s the perfect combination.
Takes a bit longer than one card, but you get more details about the situation.
At parties I do this thing with the four Aces - just shuffle til an Ace shows up naturally. If it’s in the first 13 cards, that’s a yes.
After that, no. People get into the suspense of counting cards together. Money questions with Pentacles always get the biggest reactions. Last weekend someone actually screamed when the Ace of Cups came up on card 7 for their relationship question.