The intention sets the boundary of the whole session. When it is vague, almost any cell can be made to support an opinion you already hold. When it asks for another person’s thoughts or a guarantee, there is no realistic way to test the result. Formulating the question is therefore part of the work, not a ceremonial step before the game.
Working formula: “What do I need to notice about my role in ___ so that I can choose or do ___?”
Why the wording changes the session
Leela introduces a random theme and asks you to connect it with a real situation. That connection becomes useful only when the decision or recurring pattern is clear. The intention keeps the interpretation anchored: the cell is not read as a statement about your entire personality, but in relation to recorded facts.
It helps to separate a topic from an intention. “Work,” “relationships,” and “money” are topics. An intention adds a situation, a sphere of influence, and a reason for looking. Before writing yours, compare questions that work well for Leela with questions that require factual research, professional advice, or direct communication with another person.
A four-part formula
- Situation: what is happening now?
- My role: what depends on me, or how am I participating?
- Focus: what am I trying to understand—a barrier, choice, reaction, boundary, or next step?
- Check: what action or new fact would show that the conclusion was useful?
The result is a sentence such as: “What do I need to understand about my role in [situation] so that I can [decision or action]?” It does not need to sound elegant. It needs to be specific enough that you can explain every term and distinguish observation from assumption.
Weak questions and stronger alternatives
| Weak question | What makes it weak | More workable version |
|---|---|---|
| When will I meet love? | asks for a date and an external event | What prevents me from noticing mutual interest and stating my intentions clearly? |
| Will I get this job? | another party makes the decision | Which facts about the role and my priorities should I check before I answer the employer? |
| Why is my partner doing this to me? | asks the game to infer someone else’s motives | How am I responding to this situation, and which boundary do I need to state? |
| How can I make a lot of money? | no context, time frame, or test | Which of two available ways to increase income can I test realistically this month? |
If the question still contains several unrelated tasks, use the guide on narrowing a broad Leela intention. One session usually works better with one focus than with a list of goals.
Three examples with different goals
A work decision
Initial thought: “Should I quit?” Workable intention: “What am I underestimating about my current role, and which information do I need before deciding whether to leave?” The outcome is assessed through actual data—financial runway, alternatives, conditions, and a review date—not through the accuracy of a prediction.
A recurring conflict
Initial thought: “Why does nobody understand me?” Workable intention: “Which part of the way I communicate my needs reinforces this recurring conflict, and what can I try differently in the next conversation?” The cell is used to examine the player’s behaviour, not to appoint a guilty party.
Money and a new project
Initial thought: “Will the project succeed?” Workable intention: “Which launch risk am I avoiding, and what inexpensive test can I run before making a large commitment?” The next step might be five customer interviews, a cost calculation, or a limited pilot.
What to record before the first move
Create a short session card:
- the intention in one sentence;
- three observable facts;
- one current assumption;
- the decision that has not yet been made;
- the date when you will revisit the notes.
This record protects against hindsight editing. After a strong association, it is easy to decide that the question was “really” about something else. A fixed starting point shows whether the session genuinely added a new angle.
When the intention needs reframing
Pause before starting if the question contains “exactly,” “when,” “what do they think,” “who is to blame,” or several life areas joined by “and.” These concerns are not forbidden; they need to be translated into a form that can be examined.
A question also needs revision when the verdict is already embedded in it: “Why did I choose the wrong person again?” A neutral version is: “Which signals did I consider when choosing, and which did I overlook?” This lets the game investigate a process rather than confirm a sentence of judgement.
Start with a prepared question
Once the intention is written and the check is clear, open Leela in Reflecta. If you are playing without a facilitator, review the self-guided Leela protocol and do not replace the question after every uncomfortable move.
Final check before you begin
- The question is about my sphere of influence rather than another person’s hidden mind.
- It contains one situation and one central focus.
- It does not demand a precise prediction.
- It can lead to a small, reversible action.
- I can revisit the notes and compare them with new facts.
Related guides
- Questions that do not work well for Leela
- One or several intentions in a session
- How to prepare for a first Leela game
- How the AI guide uses the game history
Sources and editorial method
This material is intended for learning and self-reflection. It does not promise to predict the future and does not replace professional help.