Reading somebody else's situation...?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Jenny-Li	12 Apr 2002
Hi all! I've been wondering, is it possible to do a reading about somebody else, that is - not for another person, who'd be present when the reading is done and able to give input and maybe most of all put energy into the reading, but _about_ a person that I am concerned about. It might be a person that I worry about for one matter or another, and would like to know more about what situation they're in. After my question about getting out of the "tarot-closet" I have decided that I really don't feel ready for that, not yet anyway... So I don't want to offer a reading, but I'd like to know about somebody elses situation to find out if there's anything I can do, any advice I can give (without necessarily telling the person where I got the idea...!) - anything. But don't you need that persons energy present in the reading? Or how do you do this? I mean I can always ask a questions and see what I get, but I'm wondering about this also in the theoretical aspect - any input makes the basis I have to stand on both wider and more solid! Love and light! Jenny :)

Original Destiny	12 Apr 2002
Hi, You sure can ..I do readings to see how absent friends are getting on...A strong image of that person is needed...If you are really concerned about someone in particular, then you will already be focusing on them..Just think of them as present but say, in the next room...Give it a go...:TFOOL

zorya	12 Apr 2002
i read for others who are not present if they have given their o.k. or if they have consented in the past. as for people who would not approve or consent, i only read about them, as they concern me, in my own readings.

MeeWah	12 Apr 2002
There have been similar discussions in the past of this regarding the appropriateness of reading for someone without their permission or knowledge. I imagine it is done to some extent, even inadvertently. I would hesitate to do a reading specifically on someone else without their consent or knowledge. If it comes up in the course of my own reading or someone else's, then it is part of that reading. In the case of an emergency, it might be something to consider. This would seem to fall under a judgement call, as not everyone will agree.

Diana	12 Apr 2002
edited

Jenny-Li	12 Apr 2002
Hi! Thanks for your anwers, all of you! I must confess I didn't even consider the ethical issue when I posted it, but I can see where that comes from, doing readings just to peek a curious nose where it doesn't belong, is not a very ethical thing to do, and it would definitely not be my "thíng". This is the circumstance I could figure out for myself, are there other principal cases? Here's a practical example, actually the main thing (of several) I was thinking of when I wrote the post: I'm worried about a close relative's company, it's just not making him enough money, and I know he's thinking of calling the whole thing off, even though I know he loves what he does. So of course I don't want it to come to that, and would like to be able to get an overview of the situation, to see: is there potential there that we're just not seeing at this point? Is it time to call it a day? What can he do that would help stabilize the business, is there anything that would help out in this situation? That is what I'd like to find out in a reading - on which side of the ethics line would you think this question falls...? Jenny :)

MeeWah	12 Apr 2002
Jenny-Li: Are you able to approach him & offer him a reading for the reasons you cited? Y'all must be close enough that you are aware of the status quo with the company. That would be the most direct way to address your concern--going to the source. Even if he is at a distance, a reading can still be conducted as he does not need to be present.

Jenny-Li	13 Apr 2002
MeeWah: S'pose I could ask him, the only thing is that he's a sceptic and I'm more or less a newbie to Tarot, as I've written someplace else - I'm especially new to reading for others. I'm just not sure my "nerves" wouldn't get in the way... You know, ending up giving a reading that doesn't make sense or just isn't "right"... And have him going "yeah, yeah, yeah..."! Oh boy, this is really self confidence speaking here...! :( Hm, I'll probably do a reading for myself to see if there seems to be anything I can do to help out, with that perspective I don't have to bother so much with what is ethical and not, right? Thanks! Jenny :)

Diana	13 Apr 2002
edited

starangel	13 Apr 2002
Hi, when I read this post one question came to my mind: Leaving out the ethical question about being allowed or not to do a reading about an absent person, how ACCURATE can this reading be? I mean, would it be good to meditate to find a connection to this specific person and his/her situation or what would you guys do? And how much do my own thoughts and assumptions reflect on the quality of the reading? Starangel

zorya	13 Apr 2002
to answer starangels question, if i understood it correctly, i believe that my spirit quides are communicating with me through the cards. they can easily know what is going on with someone else. :) i do meditate or focus on the other person, to assist that connection.

emily2otters	13 Apr 2002
if it were me, i would go ahead and do the reading. i would use it as a chance to learn what sorts of questions to ask my loved one about his possible directions... "have you thoght about..." or "is there any problem with..." or similar. i would not rely on the reading for giving hard advice, as in "bob, i think you should...". that way, i would circumvent both questions of accuracy and ethics. best of luck to you and your relative...

The Reading somebody else's situation...? thread was originally posted on 12 Apr 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.