A few questions! Knowing the question VS not knowing, and more!

[Chiriku]

I guess it's like you say---that the lack of a question makes it seem more fun and maybe more psychic on the part of the reader if they can hit on the right things without a specific question. That's perfectly fine if it works for the reader the best. But I like a question the best because it helps me to get to the point and give them the best information on their present concerns.

That about sums it up for me.

I don't claim to be psychic, and even point out ahead of time to my querents that I'm not and that I use tarot to get different sorts of answers, anyway.

This anecdote illustrates my thoughts on the matter:

I was the reader at a party not that long ago. A handful of the sitters were self-identified tarotists (although not necessarily Tarot Enthusiasts; see my recent thread on the subject). They convinced their non-tarotist friend, who'd never had a reading, to sit for one with me. He was trying to make a mundane but important decision about real estate, and I offered a choices-based spread.

"Tell me more about the different options you're considering," I said.

He looked taken aback. "Well, wouldn't that defeat the purpose of you doing a reading on the subject?" Then, being an apparently clever man, he seemed to think better of it, and said, almost to himself, "No, I suppose not, given what you said earlier about using readings to get useful options and insight. The more information I give you, the more detailed and useful answers you can give me."

Precisely.

 

[tarotbear]

"I don't want to know your question up front."

IMHO - my two cents here - I believe the Querent has the right to shuffle their own cards, although many readers only let the Querent cut them. Some readers don't even let the Querent touch the cards. In that case you would have to have the question up front or you won't get the correct reading. { I know one Reader that had the Querent write the question on a piece of paper they put under the unused pack of cards. When I asked why, he said 'that way they cannot try to change their question!'}

I believe I read best for an entirely 'cold' reading. I do not ask the Querent what their question is because I believe that tells me what kind of answer they are expecting. So in order to do this I have them shuffle the cards, cut them, and hand them back to me.

I do a 'cold' reading on their shuffle. I ask questions as I go, explain things as I go. I complete the reading, and then I ask: 'Did this reading have anything to do with your original question?' We discuss any parts that might not have, and I try to tie them all togther to show that the reading did, in fact, answer their question.

This is something that I can do with years of reading experience behind me. Your milage may vary.

 

[Grizabella]

The more information I give you, the more detailed and useful answers you can give me."

Precisely.

Yes, exactly. Usually people will have something (or things) they're concerned about and want guidance for. It seems wrong not to address those concerns, whatever they are. Especially if they're paying for it. To steer them in some other direction, whether it's reformatting their question to make it about them personally or telling them you prefer to just do the reading without a question, reading about what the cards show on their own instead, isn't serving the sitter in the way I believe you should. Never mind that the sitter has asked the same question over and over again---so what? Never mind that they're asking for information about someone else who isn't there---so what? It's not up to me to try to interfere by addressing things that serve my idea of what a Tarot reading is and isn't supposed to be or how often they can wonder enough about a situation or a person's doings to ask the question of the Tarot cards. It's not up to me to dictate or manipulate how they live their lives or think about various topics. Let the cards tell them what they will, honestly and without judgment on the reader's part.

But back to this topic specifically---for whatever the reason, even though I'll be happy to read without a question if someone just wants a general reading---but having a question is the kind I find most helpful if they do come with a question in mind. No matter what the question is, pretty much. The ones I don't like to read on and usually wiggle around are:

Is my spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend cheating on me? In view of the fact that any Tarot reader can be wrong sometimes, I can't see risking being wrong and saying they are or probably are when it could be that they're not. I think if they're mistrusting their spouse or partner, they'll probably continue to mistrust even if I see in the cards they're not, but if there's cheating going on, they didn't hear it from me.

Is this person gay? None of anyone else's business if they aren't already open about it. If the sitter isn't close enough to be a sexual confidante, then tough luck. To be perfectly honest, I feel annoyed by the question. Just because a certain person, whether male or female, isn't all over you doesn't mean they're gay. Just get over yourself, for Pete's sake.

 

[VGimlet]

Knowing vs. not knowing.

It's up to the client. I lean toward not knowing the question, but I will ask if they want to read about something specific, or just have a general reading. I feel my readings are...cleaner, for lack of a better word, without a general question.


Shufflling - I also don't care. I will let them shuffle if they like, or I'll shuffle for them if they prefer. Some people are not good shufflers. LOL. Of course, if I'm doing a reading for someone I can't see I'll shuffle flor them.

 

[gregory]

I believe I read best for an entirely 'cold' reading.

Thank you for using the term, cold reading in the way that I do

Just remarking

 

[nisaba]

Thank you for using the term, cold reading in the way that I do

Just remarking

And I, and everyone in my community.

"Cold reading" is honourable reading, reading when you haven't sourced information about a client beforehand, or you aren't just spouting tripe that is appropriate for 99% of people. In my community, reading like that, which I despise, is "hot" or "warm" reading, because you are previously "warmed up" for it.

 

[VGimlet]

And I, and everyone in my community.

"Cold reading" is honourable reading, reading when you haven't sourced information about a client beforehand, or you aren't just spouting tripe that is appropriate for 99% of people. In my community, reading like that, which I despise, is "hot" or "warm" reading, because you are previously "warmed up" for it.

Yep, I prefer that too, cold used for that meaning. When I was explaining tarot reading today I told someone that it's actually easier for me to read for people I don't know at all, because when I know someone I have to be careful to let the cards tell me the story, and not let my reading be influenced by anything I know about them.

 

[magpie9]

I'd rather have a nice tight specific question then not. What I really dislike is when they've got so many different things on their minds it tends to come out like a jumble in the reading. To avoid that I usually ask "do you know what you want to know?" and then, "Do you want to talk about it?" That way it can be pre-sorted into clear areas, at least. (And if not, that's OK too. Maybe it works better for them that way)I sometimes suspect that the whole thing of not being told what they want to know originated in an ego-desire to look really Psychic, and prove how good you are to skeptics. I'd rather just give an honest to the point reading.
I don't mind other people handling my cards and usually have the client pick the deck and shuffle or draw cards.

 

[Carla]

I like to have a specific question, but I've found that lots of sitters don't like to provide one, so you just have to do the best you can. Either way is acceptable, really.

 

[Grizabella]

"Cold" reading is how I used to phrase it when I was reading referring to reading without any question and without knowing anything about the sitter but when I used that term here once, I was "exuberantly corrected", shall we say (?) by one of the members who is no longer here who was of the opinion that "cold" reading is what charlatans do. I guess it just means whatever the individual considers it to mean. I just guess I won't use the term anymore and then I can't go wrong.