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The Energy of Words: How Your Tarot Vocabulary Impacts Accuracy

When you sit down for a tarot reading—whether you’re the reader or the seeker—the words you pick matter. Not just what you say, but how you say it. Your vocabulary shapes how the message is delivered, how it’s received and how useful it becomes.

In the world of tarot, accuracy isn’t only about pulling the “right card.” It’s about finding the right words to describe what’s happening, what’s possible, and what the next step is. Choosing your vocabulary carefully improves clarity, avoids confusion, and makes your reading more aligned with the energy of the moment.

In this post we’ll explore why vocabulary matters, how the energy of your words influences accuracy, and practical ways to refine your language to level up your readings.

Why Words Matter in Tarot

You might pull a perfectly meaningful spread, but if your language is vague or mismatched, the message can get lost. Here are some ways words affect a reading:

Precision creates connection. When you use specific language that reflects what the querent is feeling or facing, the reading lands more strongly.
Energy follows your language. If you say “You might…” vs. “You are…” that subtle shift sends a different signal. Words carry energy.
Reader and querent co-create meaning. The reader interprets the cards and uses words to translate the symbolism; the querent hears those words and applies them to their reality. The vocabulary is the bridge.
Vague or abstract wording weakens impact. A statement like “Something may happen” feels optional; “A change is now beginning” invites attention and response.
Language shapes expectation. If the words you use imply uncertainty, delay or fear, that becomes part of the reading. If you use words of action, choice and momentum, you steer the energy differently.

One tarot teacher put it this way:

“When you interpret cards openly, you give people ways to connect the symbol to their own life instead of telling them what must happen.” practicalmagic.co

This reinforces the idea: vocabulary isn’t just semantics—it’s the mechanism through which insight becomes relevant and resonant.

The Energy Behind the Words You Choose

Let’s dig into how certain types of words carry different energies, and how you can choose vocabulary intentionally.

1. Words that empower vs. words that limit

Empowering: “You are ready to begin,” “You can move into,” “You have access to…”
Limiting: “You might want to try,” “You may be able to,” “Maybe consider…”

Empowering words open doors. Limiting words keep the door half-closed. In a reading, the difference matters.

2. Language of action vs. language of possibility

Action-oriented: “Start now,” “Sign the agreement,” “Commit to this path.”
Possibility-oriented: “There’s a possibility,” “Could be,” “Might show up.”

Action language communicates momentum and alignment; possibility language communicates waiting and doubt. When you’re aiming for clarity and movement, lean toward the action side—while staying truthful and realistic.

3. Present tense vs. distant tense

Present tense: “You are experiencing,” “You are shifting,” “You are aligning.”
Distant tense: “You will be,” “You may become,” “You might get to.”

Present-tense language roots the reading in now. It reminds the querent that the change is already in motion. Using distant tense can make the reading feel like “future maybe,” not “current actual.”

4. “For you” vs. “In your life”

A journalist and tarot teacher wrote:

“Remember the two most important words in a tarot reading: ‘for you’.” Joy Vernon Astrology * Tarot * Reiki

Why? Because it personalises the message: “This is for you” rather than “This is happening generally.” It connects the symbols and interpretation to the querent’s own world and experience.

How Your Vocabulary Affects Accuracy

Let’s talk about accuracy in tarot. Many think of accuracy as “did this prediction come true?” but that’s too narrow. Accuracy in readings is often about resonance, relevance, and actionability rather than precise forecasting. TEVADA Tarot

Here are ways your vocabulary influences how accurate a reading feels:

Clarity of intention. If you ask a clear question and then use precise language, the reader (and querent) will both know what we’re talking about.
Contextual relevance. Using language that connects to the querent’s situation helps the reading land. Generic wording reduces connection.
Prompting insight. Words that open possibility, reflection, and action give the querent a way to engage with the message—not just hear it and forget it.
Avoiding definitive predictions. Words like “will” or “must” can trap the reading into a fixed outcome. Using “can,” “may,” “are ready to” preserves the idea of free will and fluid energy.
Building trust. When your language accurately reflects what the querent knows deep down or feels, you build credibility. Then deeper insights flow.

For example: Instead of saying “You will be fired,” you might say, “Your role is shifting; something you value may come to light. Let’s explore how you can respond.” The latter gives space and choice while still reflecting movement.

Practical Vocabulary Tips for Tarot Readers

If you’re a tarot reader wanting to upgrade your vocabulary, here are some actionable tips:

Tip 1: Use verbs of movement and change

Instead of: “You may feel stuck.”
Try: “You are moving through a phase of transition.”
Words like moving, shifting, evolving, releasing, stepping into frame energy as dynamic.

Tip 2: Include the word “choice” or “option”

Instead of: “This will happen.”
Try: “You have the option to begin this.”
It honours free will and shows that the reading is about the querent’s agency.

Tip 3: Use “for you” and personal phrasing

Instead of: “There is fear around this.”
Try: “For you, the message is to look at where fear may be asking you to act.”
This links the reading to the individual rather than sounding vague.

Tip 4: Avoid absolutes unless justified

Words like always, never, must can feel heavy or final. Unless the cards strongly support it and the querent is aligned, lighter language often allows insight to grow rather than shut down.

Tip 5: Use present-tense when possible

Instead of: “You will begin to see…”
Try: “You are beginning to see…”
It places the meaning in the here and now.

Tip 6: Connect language to context

If you see a card like the Three of Swords, instead of “heartbreak,” you might say: “A truth you’ve avoided is ready to surface for you.” That gives room for interpretation and feels more accurate for many people.

How Vocabulary Affects Readings for Yourself

Reading for yourself isn’t the same as reading for others—you are both the reader and the querent. Using intentional vocabulary in self-readings helps you stay open, honest, and clear.

Journal your question: “What do I need to see for myself right now?”
Pull your cards.
Write down the first word that comes to you.
Then translate that word into an action-oriented phrase: “I am ready to…” or “I can begin…”
Speak to yourself in present tense, then follow up with a simple next-step: “I will send that email,” or “I will schedule that call.”

When you shift from passive (“I hope”) to active (“I choose”), the reading becomes part of your unfolding story.

Common Vocabulary Traps & How to Avoid Them

Here are a few language traps I see readers fall into—and how to navigate them:

Trap: “Maybe” and “If” overuse

Words like “maybe” or “if” dilute the message. They turn guidance into speculation.
Fix: Replace “maybe” with “you are ready to” or “you have the opportunity to.”

Trap: Too many “shoulds”

When we say “You should…” the reading sounds critical or judgmental.
Fix: Use “You might choose to…” or “One possible direction is…” This keeps guidance supportive.

Trap: Definite end-state predictions

If you say “You will move house next month,” and the querent doesn’t, trust may drop.
Fix: Use “You may feel called to shift your environment soon” or “You are preparing to move your focus.”

Trap: Too abstract

Saying “you are in energy of transformation” without context can feel vague.
Fix: Pair it with “for example” and a concrete action: “For you, the next step could be revising your contract or offering.”

Why This Matters for the Accuracy of Your Practice

When you refine your vocabulary, you aren’t changing what the cards say — you’re changing how you hear and deliver the message. That matters because:

Your client or yourself feels understood and empowered.
The reading becomes a tool for action instead of just insight.
You build trust and clarity, which leads to greater alignment and satisfaction.
Over time, you’ll notice fewer “generic” readings and more “pinpoint” resonance—because your language is tuned to the energy and context.

One writer put it simply:

“The cards don’t specifically say ‘learn a trade’; they say something like ‘work on your material skills’… the reader interpreted it to make sense.” Reddit
This highlights exactly how language transforms interpretation.

Putting It Into Practice: A Sample Vocabulary Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist you can keep handy when you prepare for a reading:

Use present-tense verbs (“are,” “moving,” “ready”)
Use action verbs (“begin,” “commit,” “launch”) when appropriate
Use “for you” or personal phrasing to connect the message
Offer options not absolutes (“you might,” “one path is,” “you could”)
Anchor abstract insight into one concrete step (“Your next step: revise your offer,” “Look at your support circle”)
Avoid “should,” “must,” “always,” “never” unless extremely backed by context
Return to awareness of words after the reading: Does it feel empowering? Does it prompt action?

Final Thoughts

The cards are guides. The words are how you walk the path.
Tarot readings don’t become more accurate just by pulling perfect cards—they become effective when you use words that reflect clarity, choice, alignment, and momentum.

If you’re a reader: pay attention to your vocabulary.
If you’re a querent: notice how you respond to different wording. Do you feel inspired to act or stuck in “maybe”?

Language matters. It shapes energy, intention, and movement.
When you align your words with what the cards are showing, you make the reading work for you.

Let your vocabulary be part of the magic—not just the deck.