Tarot Interpretation Methodology

This methodology governs YesOrNoAI tarot card-reference pages and the explanatory text connected to a draw. It does not claim that a randomized card knows hidden facts, predicts an outcome, or supplies a universally correct answer. Its purpose is to turn symbolism into a transparent reflection prompt that a reader can test against reality.

Tarot meanings vary across decks, traditions, and readers. A published card page must name or cite the interpretive framework it uses and keep verifiable card identity separate from editorial interpretation. The tool page must describe the deck and images that actually exist in the current product; we do not call an incomplete or unverified image set a complete Rider-Waite deck.

A human editor reviews the card's themes, imagery, narrative movement, and the practical question raised by those themes. The editor approves or adjusts the draft yes, no, or maybe leaning, its internal strength label, and the reason and conditions. The visible label is a compact entry point, not the entire interpretation.

Upright and reversed meanings are assessed independently. A reversal may suggest delay, blockage, internalization, imbalance, or excess; it is not automatically the opposite of the upright meaning. A page must explain why the two orientations differ and when a binary answer would hide important uncertainty.

The writer records the card identity, aliases, orientation-specific interpretation, sources, related cards, safety notes, and content version. Verifiable historical or deck claims are checked against the cited source. Interpretive prose is written as original editorial material rather than copied or synonymized from another tarot site.

AI may help create a first-pass mapping or draft, organize an outline, identify missing fields, flag contradictions, or detect repetitive language. It cannot approve a yes, no, or maybe leaning, invent evidence, create an author, or approve publication. A human editor must review and accept or change every visible interpretation.

Every long-form individual-card page also requires a real, named second human reviewer in its content record. Without that reviewer, the page remains a draft and is not published or indexed. We do not fabricate review signatures, qualifications, or personal reading experience.

Questions such as “What am I overlooking?”, “Which value is in tension?”, or “What would make this choice easier to reverse?” create more useful reflection than “Will this definitely happen?” Keep the question about your own choices and observations rather than another person's private thoughts.

Before drawing, write one sentence about the situation and one fact you already know. After the draw, note the first association, then identify one practical next step or one piece of evidence to gather. Do not keep drawing until a comforting card appears; disagreement with a result may reveal a preference more clearly than agreement.

Do not use a tarot result to diagnose illness, replace medical, legal, or financial advice, determine consent, or make a safety-critical choice. We do not frame cards as certainty about pregnancy, death, crime, another person's private thoughts, or another person's future behavior.

For consequential decisions, use qualified help, reliable evidence, and an accountable person. Tarot belongs in reflection and entertainment, where uncertainty is stated openly and the reader remains responsible for the decision.

One card has one canonical reference page. Upright, reversed, love, work, number spelling, and other query variations belong on that page as sections or aliases; they do not justify separate near-duplicate pages. For example, “6 of Swords” and “Six of Swords” identify the same card.

A card page is released only when it has distinct card-specific reasoning, orientation coverage, sources, review, image provenance, and a useful connection back to the tarot tool. A word-count target cannot substitute for those requirements.

Every displayed card image is tied to an asset provenance record containing its exact source or creation record, rights basis, allowed use, attribution, modifications, hash, and human rights review. Historic artwork, a modern scan, a recoloring, an edition, and a trademark can carry different rights and are checked separately.

Sources support factual context; they do not make a subjective tarot interpretation objectively true. When traditions disagree, the page describes the choice instead of hiding the disagreement.

This method and every published card page record a version and last substantive update. We change that date only when interpretation, evidence, safety guidance, sourcing, or another material element changes. Minor layout and spelling changes do not reset the date.

A correction can update a source, clarify an interpretation, remove an unsupported claim, or unpublish material whose review or image rights cannot be verified. Material changes create a new recorded version.