Questioning the Divine

The future can seem rather uncertain, especially these days. It is constantly in flux depending on the decisions we make and the actions we take. Sometimes, to get a little clarification, we will consult some form of divination. There are many forms we can choose from, but the basics are much the same. Consider the situation we are concerned about, decide what we need/would like to know, form the question to receive the answer we are seeking, focus, and consult our chosen oracular system. Whether we choose to do the reading ourselves, or have someone else do the reading for us, the steps are pretty much the same.
 
If you are a beginner reader, or consulting a reader for the first time, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what we want to ask, or how to ask it.  Unless we are consulting a pendulum, we are often advised to refrain from asking yes or no questions. There are, of course, ways to use most any divination system to answer such simple questions, however we are going to focus other kinds of queries for this post. Generally speaking, the usual questions revolve around love, money, health, or career. More specifically, the questions usually cover things like when we will find or receive something, when something will end or heal (particularly when those areas of life are being negatively impacted), or what will the outcome of the situation be. These kinds of questions reflect the common perception that we are searching for a definitive answer to a current problem that concludes sometime in the future. We should be aware that whatever the cards (or any other divination tool) show us, it is only a possible outcome. It can reflect what will happen if we stay on our current path, or what will happen if we change that path (depending on what we are asking).   
 
However, to really utilize your divination tool, especially tarot or oracle cards, you can try a slightly different approach. Restructuring the question to reflect the energies of the situation, the possibilities rather than the outcomes, or your part in how it all plays out can change how the reading unfolds, and give us a clearer picture of what is going on. Doing this, however, can also call us out on some things, make us reflect on ourselves in way we may not want to, or open us to more than what we originally considered. So, be forewarned.  
 
For instance, if you are wanting to know the possible outcomes of a situation you could ask questions like:

• What happens if I stay on my current path?
• What do I have to change in order to change that path?
• What is the likely/possible outcome if I change “X” behaviour or decision. (Note: there are specific spreads that can show you/allow you to ask about two or more outcomes to a situation as well)

 
If you are looking to see how you are affecting the situation*, or how you can otherwise affect it you could ask:

• What am I not seeing about this situation?
• What patterns are influencing this situation?
• What learned/subconscious patterns are influencing my decisions?
• What truth(s) am I avoiding?

 
Or you can ask something like:

• What energies are surrounding this situation?
• What energies or outside forces are affecting this situation that I do not see?
• What needs to shift in order to change the situation?

 
These kinds of questions can be the main part of your reading, or asked as clarifying questions to enhance the reading you are already conducting. They are particularly good for divination systems like tarot and oracle cards, but could also be used with others like runes, playing cards, I-Ching, and others. If you are using cards, depending on the deck you use, you can get some pretty straight up (and sometimes harsh) answers. Decks like the Lantern Orace, the Dark Mirror, or Draconis Loqui can provide some harsh truths, but sometimes we need that kind of perspective to make real change. There are, of course, much gentler decks to choose from. You do what you feel is right to you in the situation.
 
So, my question is, how do you question the divine (or your higher self, however you see it)? Do you ask the same kinds of questions? Do you use ones like those provided above? Would you try them? What are your favourite questions to ask? I would love to hear about your experiences.
 
 
*You can change the words “this situation” to be more specific to your circumstances rather than just referring to it as “the situation”