The Sceptic's Tarot

In my search for problem-solving methods using tarot cards, I often modify established methods from the creative problem-solving field. Today, I want to tell you about the 5W1H method.

The five Ws are who, what, where, when, and why. If an H (how) is added, it makes up the formula 5W1H.

The concept dates back to Aristotle, who outlined what he called the "elements of circumstance" in his Nicomachean Ethics. These included questions like who did it, what was done, where, when, why, and how, and with what means. They were used to analyse human actions.

Later, Thomas Aquinas expanded on Aristotle's framework in his theological writings.

Around 1560, Thomas Wilson outlined these questions as a communication tool in his book on rhetoric.

The Five Ws became a cornerstone of journalism in the early 20th century. Reporters were taught to answer all five in the lead paragraph of a new story to ensure clarity and completeness.

Today, the five Ws are used in 

• journalism (of course!),
• education, especially in writing and reading comprehension,
• business communication,
• police investigations and incident reporting,
• creative writing and screenwriting to flesh out the plot and characters, and
• data analysis and problem-solving.

What about the H?

The H was added later to round out the framework. While it was implied in Aristotle's original list, it became more explicitly included in modern times. Some credit Rudyard Kipling for popularising the full set in his poem:

I keep six honest serving-men

(They taught me all I knew);

Their names are What and Why and When

And How and Where and Who.

A variation is 5W2H, where the second H stands for “how much.”

And with tarot cards?

Easy! We create a spread to incorporate the questions. Like this:

You can use this spread on its own to explore a situation or incorporate it into the information-gathering phase of solving a problem.

If you want more problem-solving spreads, you can choose one from the The Sceptic's Tarot collection.

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