How are Tarot readers esteemed?

What sort of a response do you get when other people find out that you read cards (aside of them asking for a reading)? Do you readily volunteer info about your Tarot skills to people (other than friends)? Do you feel as though some people consider you to be 'airy fairy' (or similar... i.e. hocus pocus not much focus, new age hippy etc) or at least very unscientific/not to be taken seriously? If this is the case, what kind of response (spoken or unspoken) do you have to their 'judgement' of you?

This question, or similar, may have been asked before but I'm not sure where to start looking for that. If it has, can someone point me to where the thread might be?

Thanks & Blessings
{(~_~)}

Wow, Hazlit, Great Question!

I'm really new to tarot and don't read for others yet (I did do a vital seven psycards spread for a friend, but that's been it). I primarily will only read for myself. I haven't really brought it up to others except here, because hasn't really come up. Will be interesting when it does, and I know no matter how I put it, some in my family will hear the word tarot and cross themselves or hang garlic or put in for a supply of silver, ok not that bad. I don't really care though, as at 59, this Crone does what she wants. That doesn't mean I will purposely try to freak out my 82 year old aunt though.

I can't wait to read the answers from all the professional readers out there or those who have been at this a long time!

GD

Yes GD I'm really looking forward to the responses too. I've been reading for a long time, for myself, for friends and professionally (private & market venues) and I've learnt to be somewhat circumspect about volunteering info about my tarot skills. I think first before saying anything about it, particularly at work. I've noticed that some people's behaviour and approach to me alters drastically once they find out I consult the cards/astrology etc. I've had quite a few different reactions - some everafter bring the subject up as much as possible - trying to explore my knowledge of it, some making sarcastic jokes about it, some try and engage in a debate about how unscientific it is and others openly discredit it either verbally or by treating me as though I'm basically a nitwit. There seem to be a wide range of reactions (probably plenty I've forgotten). I remember one person in particular (a childhood friend who located me via google - it had been 30 years since we'd been in contact) - as soon as I mentioned it (in this case, astrology) he began a sort of interrogation and ended up asking me for absolute, positive proof that it works. It was pretty annoying.

Thanks for your support, I really appreciate it

h {(~_~)}

Truthfully, there are lots of answers.

I have some friends who don't give a damn. I have friends who cannot see me without asking for a reading. I have people who admire it, people who don't believe in any of this but respect me (like my father) and people who believe it's all bulls**t and think I am an idiot.

Believe me, dealing with divination and fortune telling, or any spiritual business for that matter, can make people react at all sort of manners.

I have to say that most of my close friend don't seem to care much about it. They hardly ever ask for a reading. On the other hand, I have "friends/cousins/acquaintances of friends" who keep nagging me whenever they see me. Weird uh?

Hey, I'm CURIOUS, HAZLIT!

And I think a brilliant question. Being so new, I LOVE hearing about tarot. That's why I ask some of the questions I do like where the querent should sit, and what other things one combines with tarot, I'm FASCINATED and what a wealth of information there is here! I don't know what I did before I found this site. All the cool people hang out here ))), I'm just happy to be allowed to sit in!

GD

The response I recieved several times was "if you believe in that stuff." but many procede to talk about "that stuff" afterwards..

I get all sorts of responses..
I dont always reveal it is what i do..
But majority of the time is all good.. and they want to book there and then LOL!!
and others choose to ignore that is what you have just said LOL!!

All in all it is good responses.

I have found some like to avoid you like the plague later LOL!!

i find it quite amusing, all the different reactions.

In my meet and greet at my new job I came out of the tarot closet, thankfully I was given some interesting questions by the people I work with (they are a very open minded group) and got the chance to explain what I do. Some wanted readings, some wanted to learn more and others were happy to let us get on with it. My dads reaction was more along the lines of " well I think its c**p but I love you and you enjoy it so go ahead"

So mixed bag here, but all either neutral or good.

i think i get a mixture of responses, some love it and want to know more, soem dont care, some think your mad, some want to run away from you. I am fairly open and so people know i do cards, at work i might do them in my lunch hour etc.
I think the biggest issue for people who know me, is seeing the analytical and logical Nikki do something like tarot and mediumship etc. they often cant get their heads around it.
I have lost friends over it, i have gained friends through it. I am sure i have gone down in some peoples estimation, and up in others. Mostly i get alot of questions from people who dont understand it, they have an image in their head from the media, so its nice to put people straight about it.

hazlit said:

What sort of a response do you get when other people find out that you read cards (aside of them asking for a reading)?

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<shrug> It's never been much of an issue for me.

hazlit said:

Do you readily volunteer info about your Tarot skills to people (other than friends)?

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I don't see why I should have to. Does everyone I come into contact with other than my friends tell me the ins and outs of every interest or activity they're involved in?

It's like being gay. Once years ago I was working in a place for some time, and my boss found out I was gay. She came over and asked me why I hadn't told her. I showed my surprise, and asked her if she felt the need to tell me what gender preferences she had. I said my sexuality really wasn't an issue - if straight people didn't feel a need to tell everyone, why would I? And the same with Tarot - if people with other interests don't feel a need to tell me, why should I tell them?

hazlit said:

Do you feel as though some people consider you to be 'airy fairy' (or similar... i.e. hocus pocus not much focus, new age hippy etc) or at least very unscientific/not to be taken seriously?

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I dunno what goes on in other people's minds. I'm pretty earthy - most of the time I wear jeans and steel-capped workboots. I'm heavy, with a raucous sense of humour, and I have a loud laugh. I'm hardly airy-fairy, by anybody's standards.

If anyone (usually here, not in real life) tells me Tarot and science are in opposition, I remind them that one of the best readers in my circle of real-world friends is a physicist (a kind of specialist scientist), and two are atheists. Scientists like things that work. Tarot works. End of problem.

hazlit said:

If this is the case, what kind of response (spoken or unspoken) do you have to their 'judgement' of you?

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I think I just laugh at them. It only ever happens here, in any case <grin>.