confusing tarot readings

Today on CARD TALK, I’ll cover:
-what confusing tarot readings can look like
-strategies for preventing confusing readings from happening
-strategies for navigating readings that don't make sense
-the importance of time and space
-and! gratitude for folks who support CARD TALK

For more support on confusing tarot readings, check out my lecture series Next Level Tarot. And if you'd like a professional reading, my books are open.

For more on Meg, check out 3amtarot.com, and order your copy of Finding the Fool through Bookshop.org or your favorite local bookstore.

Find episode transcripts and more over on the CARD TALK website.

Love what you’re hearing? Support the pod with a one-time donation or recurring subscription, and get the chance to submit topics for future episodes! 

Chapters

• 0:12 Navigating Confusing Tarot Readings
• 12:37 Navigating Complicated Tarot Readings

Transcript

Meg: 0:12

My name is Meg Jones Wall and you're listening to Card Talk, a mini podcast for tarot basics and evergreen insights. I'm glad you're here. Before we jump into our topic for today, I just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who has donated to Card Talk. As of this recording, I've received a handful of generous one-time donations, as well as a number of subscription signups, and those donations, those financial contributions, are now literally covering the monthly cost of production. I'm not making any money off of this, but they're helping to offset the cash costs of production, for recording, for distribution, for creating these transcripts, making sure that the audio is as good as possible and all of the other things that go into creating a podcast. It was definitely a gamble to commit to ad-free, no paywall episodes for Card Talk, but ultimately it was really important to me that this resource be free, accessible and ongoing. I wanted something that I could point to to help people build up a tarot practice and expand their knowledge on tarot that had nothing to do with social media. As much as I love making Instagram reels and TikTok videos and YouTube videos, I really wanted something that felt as accessible as possible and wasn't dependent on another platform. So these donations and subscriptions literally empower me to do that. I want to give a special shout out to Emma Jamila, amanda Willow, margaret Katie and Melissa for supporting this work on a monthly basis. It truly means the world to me and it also means that everyone can benefit from this podcast. And, just as a quick reminder, if you love Card Talk, if you've benefited from my work, you can make a one-time donation or set up a recurring monthly donation anytime through the links in the show notes that are in every episode. Thank you so much for being here and for your support. Okay, let's get into the episode now.

Meg: 1:57

Today, we are going to be talking about something that happens to tarot readers of all levels, truly and that is confusing tarot readings. Now, by confusing tarot readings, what I specifically mean is basically anytime you pull tarot cards in response to a question and find yourself struggling to figure out what the cards are trying to say in response, what the cards are offering to, what the cards are providing, what the cards mean, what they're giving. Now, this happens to everyone, as I said, but it can happen for a number of different reasons and they're not all related to just knowledge. Right? There's a lot more that goes into tarot reading than just being able to recite or rattle off some keywords that each card means. As we've said in previous episodes and as I continue to, the tarot reading is a practice, a language and a relationship, and as you continue in your practice, as you continue learning to speak the tarot's language, there are bound to be some hiccups and some miscommunications. There's always going to be moments where the tarot says one thing and we have trouble understanding what's going on, especially early in a practice. This can happen a lot and it can be really discouraging, which is why I really wanted to create an episode devoted entirely to this. That came fairly early on in card tax existence. I want this to be something that is available for you as a support system. If you pull cards, I don't know what the fuck is going on. But even if you're not new to tarot, even if you have been reading for a little bit, confusing readings can happen anytime because as we continue to go deeper in our practice, as we ask more complicated questions or pull more cards at once or use new decks or whatever it is we're doing, every new level that we're reaching with the tarot brings new opportunities for discovery, but that also means that we're also parsing through more information, and so there's more potential for challenges.

Meg: 3:44

Now, getting confused in your tarot readings can look a number of different ways. Sometimes this just means that the card that comes up doesn't seem to make sense immediately as a response to the question that we asked. Like the answer that is being given, we can't quite figure out how it connects to our question. Sometimes and this happens especially early on in a practice the card itself that comes up is confusing to us. We might know some basic keywords, but not really understand what the card itself means, what's motivating it or how it can serve as support for us. Sometimes we're pulling multiple cards at a time and the cards might seem to contradict each other or deliver opposing messages, pointing us in different directions or giving us opposing advice, giving us answers that don't seem to make sense together. Sometimes the cards don't seem to make sense or line up within their spread positions. If you're using a tarot spread, you pull a card for a certain position and you can't quite find the connection between the position of the card and the card that showed up in that position and look. Sometimes a confusing tarot reading is as simple as just being annoyed or frustrated at the answer that we're receiving from the cards. Sometimes we're just hoping for something different or hoping for something more. Now, all of these responses are valid? Okay, tarot is a relationship, and sometimes relationships include friction or conflict or misunderstandings or confusion.

Meg: 5:07

Just because a tarot reading is confusing, or you go through a patch where multiple tarot readings are confusing, your back-to-back readings are confusing, or every reading you do around a certain topic is confusing, doesn't mean you're a bad tarot reader. It just might mean that there's something to dig into, something to pay more attention to, or something that needs to be adjusted within your practice. Every tarot reading is its own separate conversation, and some of those conversations are simply going to be more clear and more easy for you to understand than others. Now, in this episode, we're specifically going to talk about some strategies that you can use to build right into your practice that will hopefully help this happen less frequently or less often. But we're also going to talk about some things that you can do if you've already pulled the cards and you're confused, if you literally have cards in front of you and you can't figure out what to do with them. We're going to talk some strategies for that as well. Now, I know I've mentioned this in the last couple of episodes, but I just do want to say quickly that if this is a specific topic, that is something you deal with a lot, or if you're just expanding your practice and taking on some bigger readings and really looking to build more confidence into your practice, please check out my new lecture series called next level tarot, because the third lecture in the series is entirely devoted to confusing readings and how to navigate it. But I want to give you a couple of quick tips for strategies both for preventing confusing readings and also how to navigate a confusing reading right now in this episode.

Meg: 6:30

So first let's talk strategies for preventing confusing tarot readings from happening in the first place. Ideally, you've been taking time reflecting on your practice, paying attention to what works for you and understanding the techniques that really work best in your regular readings. The more you read, the more you're going to figure out what really works for you in terms of how you talk to your cards, what kind of readings feel good, if you like spreads or not, how many cards you want to use at a time, what sorts of questions feel the most supportive, et cetera. But let's talk specifically about how to ensure that you do everything you can to prevent a confusing reading before you even start pulling cards. First, remember that it's important to figure out what the reading is going to be about and how you're going to do it before you pull the cards, especially early on. It's really common to experiment with different techniques or different practices, but even if you've been reading for a long time, sometimes you want to spice it up and try something new. So, no matter where you are in your level of experience when it comes to the tarot, before you start pulling cards, think about your format, your question and your need for your format.

Meg: 7:36

Think about if you're doing a spread or an open style reading and how you're going to do that. Do you need to tweak the spread? Are you writing the spread? Are you using a pre-written spread? Is it a spread you've used before or is a new one to you? Do you understand all of the different positions and understand what's going on there? And if you're doing a more open style or freestyle reading, which is, just to say, a reading that does not use a spread, do you know how many cards you're going to pull? Do you know what you're asking? Do you know what you're looking for. Do you know how you're going to do that? Do you like to pull all of your cards at once or do you pull a few? Ask a question, pull a few more, just figuring out the format of your reading and how many cards you're going to pull and really what each card is going to do in terms of how it shows up and what it accomplishes in the reading.

Meg: 8:17

Next is the question what are you asking about? What are you actually looking for? What are you hoping to explore within the reading? What topic are you bringing up and what angle are you going for? And this sort of flows into need. What do you want to walk away from the reading with? Are you looking for advice? Are you looking for encouragement? Are you looking for help understanding an obstacle? Do you need support with making a decision? Could you just use a little bit of a pep talk? But you really want to identify what your question is, as well as what your need is, so that you understand not just what you're bringing to the reading, but what you want to leave the reading with.

Meg: 8:54

Additionally, thinking about your own preferences is especially supportive for preventing confusing readings, not just because it's what you like or because what it might be best suited to the topic, but because when you know what format is the easiest for you to process, when you understand what kind of reading is the easiest for you to navigate, you're going to be able to go deeper with that reading without getting confused. In the same way, being really honest with yourself about how many cards is actually comfortable for you to read at a time is a really important piece of knowledge to know about your practice. These things are going to evolve and change over time and the more practice that you have, the more likely it is that you can start to expand these things. But if you know how many cards you can comfortably read at once and you just stick to that number instead of pushing it or doubling it or going really big, it's going to help you avoid those more confusing readings. There's no shame in doing smaller readings with less cards. You can still have a really profound reading with just a handful of cards and it's just going to help set you up for success in not getting immediately confused or overwhelmed by your cards. Also, be real with yourself what techniques do you like?

Meg: 10:05

Some people really like reversals, but personally I don't use them because I find them confusing. For me, it's something that I just tend to get tripped up in, even if I know for myself how I want to read reversals. For me personally, as a reader, they don't add a whole lot, so I don't use them. But I have to remember that, especially if I'm doing a reading that feels really tender, because sometimes when you're feeling some kind of way and you flip a card over and it's reversed, if the reversal would change the meaning in a way that might be more appealing to you you've got to stick to your guns here and really listen to what the cards are saying.

Meg: 10:40

The last thing I want to say about this is, if you are really trying to prevent confusing readings, before you pull any cards, just take a beat to check in with your emotions and check out your current sense of vulnerability in this moment. Now, what I mean by that is that if you're feeling super activated or super stressed, if you're putting a lot of pressure on the reading or intensity into the reading, you know, if you're saying to yourself I just have to figure this out, I've been so confused, the cards are going to help, or if you're thinking something like I better get this answer or I better not get this card or I'm going to lose it that kind of pressure. It doesn't mean that you can't pull cards right I would never tell you, just don't pull tarot but it does mean that you might need to be aware that that kind of pressure exists in your body at the moment and that moving more slowly and being thoughtful is going to help the reading come together in a better way or in a clearer way. It's also worth thinking about if your last few readings have felt confusing or if you've read on the topic that you're about to pull cards on before. Just use some care as you approach that reading. I see it happen with folks a lot and I know it's happened to me too where if you feel like you get into a rough patch with your cards and every time you do a reading it feels confusing or you can't quite get a handle on it, it can really build up within you and leave you feeling really frustrated with your cards. And again, that's not to say that you just shouldn't read for a while, although sometimes a break can be good but it does mean that you should be aware of that as you approach your reading and think about ways that you can take care of yourself using techniques and practices that you know feel good for you, rather than branching out and trying something new that you don't understand, which might just increase the amount of confusion you feel. It's also important to really consider what you are open to hearing. Think about truly how you can take care of yourself as you pull cards and think, too, about what's going to empower you to feel safe and take care of yourself during the reading.

Meg: 12:37

If you know that you're reading for a really tender, emotional, sensitive topic, maybe don't find the harshest tarot spread, that you can or don't ask questions that you think the answers are going to set you off or make you feel really bad you can ask the cards to gently help you right. You can ask the cards for encouragement. You can ask the cards how you can take care of yourself. You can really frame your questions to ensure that you're not going to end up feeling really raw and exposed and just like devastated by the end of the reading. You can ensure that you're not setting yourself up for a really harsh, rude awakening or for a really difficult reading by being honest with the cards while you're shuffling and telling them. Hey, I'm in a really tender place and I could use some gentle support here, or whatever it is. But if you take the time to check in with your emotions before you pull those cards, it's going to make it easier to be honest with the cards about what you're looking for.

Meg: 13:32

Okay, the other side of this coin is strategies for dealing with a reading that is confusing, as in you pulled the cards and now you're stressed out. You can't figure out what they mean, you don't know how to move forward, you're feeling frustrated or overwhelmed or sad or scared or whatever. I got you. This is real, this happens and it can really suck. So my best advice, or at least my first advice, is slow down and try not to panic.

Meg: 13:59

Okay, I saw a Tumblr post the other day that was describing a teacher who consistently said to their students when talking them through problems and this was a math teacher, but I think this really applies to everything reminding people that generally, the first step to solving a problem is don't panic. And the reason for that is a simple one, but I think it's a really powerful one you know more than you think you do, even if you are a beginner, even if you don't have a million correspondences or card meanings memorized, it doesn't matter, because you are you and your personality, your experience of being a person in the world, your knowledge, your wisdom, your magic, your strengths, your talents, your gifts, your skills are already here in this reading. You know more than you think you do. It is okay if the reading doesn't immediately make sense to you. The second you flip those cards over Not panicking, slowing down and really giving yourself the time and space to sit with the cards and listen is going to help you figure it out.

Meg: 14:58

I also think it's helpful to remember that every card that comes forward, whether it's one card in a single card reading or a bunch of cards in a spread or a multi-card reading of any kind every card is there for a reason. Every tarot card has shown up in that reading with a purpose, but that doesn't necessarily mean that every card holds the same weight. Every card does have something to offer to your reading, but learning to sift through those meanings takes time, and I think one thing that I wish people had told me earlier on that I hope to pass on to you, is that as you pull your cards, if certain cards feel louder than others, if certain cards feel bigger or more important or more powerful than others. Pay attention to that feeling. That's you connecting with the cards and bringing your own intuition to the cards. So pay attention to the weight each card feels like it brings. It's not necessarily the same as an emotional response, right? Sometimes a card shows up and it feels heavy because it scares us. But really give yourself a chance to listen to the cards. If four of your five cards are all kind of in one zone, if they're all offering similar advice, and there's just one card that feels like it's kind of an outlier or it's moving in a different direction, spend time with that last card and recognize that it's offering something a little bit different, but it doesn't have to outweigh the other four cards in your reading.

Meg: 16:19

Next, look for the connections. Now, there's lots of ways to do this, and part of the reason that I wanted to shout out my lecture series is because I have a whole lecture that's just about looking for the connections. But the short version of this is think about where the cards talk to each other and how they're reinforcing similar messages. Look at what they have in common, like their correspondences, the numbers, the elements, the function that they serve in their story. Think about what, through lines, you can find that connect different cards together.

Meg: 16:48

Another thing to remember when you're dealing with a reading that's confusing is to lean into the friction. Don't be afraid of the things you don't understand. Instead, look at where the cards feel like they're contradicting each other, or where it feels like the card is not answering the question that you asked and spend extra time there. Don't be afraid of the friction. Don't write it off just because it's uncomfortable. Instead, sit with it and examine it. Consider what you're going to find there and what truth might be revealed if you let yourself sit with the strangeness.

Meg: 17:22

The last thing I'll say about strategies for dealing with a confusing reading is to walk away if you need to. Don't be afraid to give yourself space from your tarot reading, because here's the thing If you're anxious to find meaning and you're spending all this time with it and you're wrestling and you're Googling and you're looking at all your notes and you're praying and you're pacing and you're just getting really stressed out about it, it's not necessarily going to get easier to hear the cards. It might get a lot harder. So, as you're struggling through this reading, pay real attention to your emotions and your stress level and if things are really ratcheting up internally, if you're feeling activated or itchy or angry or frustrated, ratcheting up internally, if you're feeling activated or itchy or angry or frustrated, just do yourself a favor and walk away. You can just go get a snack, go to the bathroom, take a lap like, get a glass of water, sit on social media for a few minutes whatever it is you need to do but give yourself a couple of minutes just to reset. You can also leave the cards be and just revisit them when you're ready. You don't have to come back to the cards within five minutes. You can give them an hour or a couple of hours or even an overnight and revisit the cards when you're ready to come back to them. Sometimes that makes a huge difference.

Meg: 18:28

Now, I always like to end these episodes with a tip or a trick, and this kind of flows into what we were just talking about, but I want to get a little bit more granular with it here. I saw a post on social media the other day from someone who was really concerned about letting their tarot readings sit on their altar or their reading space. I wasn't super clear where it was, but they were concerned about letting their cards sit out for days or weeks at a time and their angle was mostly that they don't always have the energy to do a daily tarot practice. But I think this also is really helpful to think about, not just when you don't have the energy to do a card reading every day, but also when a card reading is confusing or feels really big or impactful. It is a fantastic practice to let your cards hang out for a few minutes or for a few hours or for a few days or even for a few weeks.

Meg: 19:17

Normalize not rushing to put your tarot cards away. Sometimes, really leaving that reading out, giving yourself space to process it and sit with it and talk to it and pray with it and meditate with it, or whatever it is you need to do, can help you find new truths within the reading. Time is not your enemy. I'm going to say that again because I think it's so important to remember with confusing tarot readings, time is not your enemy. Sometimes our most profound tarot readings are not going to make sense to us completely in the moment and they're going to continue to reveal new layers of meaning down the line.

Meg: 19:53

So, even if your reading is confusing document. It take notes, take a journal entry, let it sit out if it needs to and be patient with yourself because the reading will come together at some point. That's all I have for you today, but, as always, thank you so much for tuning into Card Talk. You can find information on subscriptions and donations in the show notes, and I will see you next time with a new episode. Card Talk is committed to staying ad-free for everyone, which is possible thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. To pledge your monthly support or make a one-time donation, click the link in the show notes. You can also find episode transcripts, more about me and additional tarot resources through my website, 3amtarotcom. See you next time.