Help - I'm a "dark" reader

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 Aug 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Sullanciri2002	27 Aug 2002
It seems to be my fate/curse to see the "darkness" better than the light: over the years, I've noticed that I (both in my job as a psychologist and in working with the tarot) am almost unerringly correct whenever I pinpoint problems or shortcomings. I've been able to check this over a long period of time, by different means. - in my job, I screen hi-level applicants for specific jobs, but I advise my colleagues ... who then have to decide if they will advise their client to recruit the person: this means that negative advise I've given, is only followed in about 50 % of the cases ... providing me with a lot of opportunity to check afterwards if I had been right all along - in my circle of friends and colleagues, people often ask advice on their private life (more often as a psy than as a tarotist) ... but usually "hope & pray" I'll advise them to do what they themselves planned to do already (you know how people are, they need someone to tell them they're right) In 99 % of the cases where I've given negative advice (i.e. "don"t do this or that", "watch out for this" etc ...), the people concerned have had to admit I was right. BUT ... why doesn't it work with good advice - my experience as a psy and tarotists helps (I'm averaging about 75 % succes-ratio in that regard), but I'm never as accurate when giving positive advice as when I give "warnings". Does this sound familiar to anyone ? (and yes, this explains why I don't offer readings here ... among other reasons)

Keslynn	27 Aug 2002
I have the same problem a lot though slightly different. Nobody believes me when I'm right. I feel like Cassandra sometimes. ;) Okay, so maybe I'm being a little melodramatic here, but it seems like it happens a lot. Still, I guess I should get satisfaction from saying "I told you so." Just kidding. It's never fun to say that when something bad befalls a friend. At any rate, I do feel that there is a necessary place for people who are critics. Some are just born critics and it's not in a bad way at all. Things need to be revised and made better all the time. Without these sorts of people, that would never happen. So just realize that you're fulfilling a valuable social role. As long as you don't start making a lot of non-constructive criticism, then you're probably fine. :) Kes

lunalafey	27 Aug 2002
someone has to play devil's advocate. Most people give advise that is not so 'true' they don't want to hurt feelings or sound negitive. I always tell what I feel, good or bad. I often find myself saying 'I told you so'...your not alone. Not always right but most of the time I am. It's easier to see a situation standing outside of it (as you know). If it's a bad situation, then advise is going to sound 'negitive' to some, but it really is not when you look at the big picture. as I say, someone has to have the guts to give a wake-up call. It's for the better and that is a good thing...

Mojo	27 Aug 2002
Sullan I am also a "dark" reader. But I revel in it (which should be no surprise to anyone who follows my postings in these forums). To me, that's what consulting the cards is all about. If I wanted to pretend that the world was all flowers and puppy dogs, I could watch network television. But I want to know what lurks behind the obvious, and Tarot gives that to me. My challenge is to always look at the dark side and turn it into a message. I do this in all of my readings. I think most people on these forums agree that Tarot is a roadmap of the future, showing where you are likely to end up if you keep following the path you're on. I take it one step further. A roadmap usually shows several ways to get to a destination, so why shouldn't the cards? When an outcome looks bad, I turn it into a challenge. What can you change about your current actions to alter the predicted outcome? Which cards can you make an effort to turn over which would change the direction? It takes a dark reading and makes it useful instead of frightening. I think most readers, especially new ones, WANT to see good things in the cards. That's a whole lot easier than seeing the bad things. It's so nice to do a reading for someone and tell them all sorts of happy news. But I really don't think that is why people want to consult the Tarot - at least that's been my experience. Most people want to see the pitfalls that lie ahead so they can avoid them (or at the very least, prepare for them). Of course, this still causes them some discomfort when they see Death or the Devil pop up in their reading, but I think on some level it provides some validation for their own dark feelings or expectations. After all, an optimist is just a pessimist without enough life experience.

AmounrA	27 Aug 2002
I would say that as most peoples lives are dominated by 'darkness', it is no suprise that most peoples readings are negative. I would also suggest that people who get there Tarot read from 'profesionals' would often have problems to begin with. I would say about 80% of spiritual people I have met are hiding behind spirituality to keep them 'safe' from the truth......i.e they are powerless minows in a corrupt world, they have had emotional truma, they think they are 'special' yet no one seems to notice, there often in denial, there shadow is out of control .... etc.... etc... I think Reich was spot on with his theories about an 'emotional plague', which is crippling humanity. Just tell the truth, if its negative, so be it, people [esp spiritual people] don't get any where if they don't look honestly in the mirror. :-)

WolfSpirit	27 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Mojo A roadmap usually shows several ways to get to a destination, so why shouldn't the cards? When an outcome looks bad, I turn it into a challenge. What can you change about your current actions to alter the predicted outcome? Which cards can you make an effort to turn over which would change the direction? It takes a dark reading and makes it useful instead of frightening. I think that's really well put. This is exactly what I try to do too.

Starfish	27 Aug 2002
This is a great thread, you guys. I find that I am 50-50; it really depends on the cards and the the vibes I'm picking up off of them. :TJUST Starfish

Helruna	27 Aug 2002
Hi! I cannot pinpoint that I am a "dark" reader. If I see a certain problem, yes I will let the querent now about this - depending on what feeling or vibes I receive I will be more straightforward or more diplomatic at times. But I agree with what was already said: I think not that you are the "Devil's Advocat" :D but regard yourself as someone who can help people from making some more or less grave mistakes in their lifes! Imagine we all would only try to read the cards in the most positive way - this would be of no help to the querent if all readers would paint their readings in nice soft colours. Life is not always made of roses (and even roses have thorns) and nice things. A lot of times we have to face problems and difficulties - some are self-made, others come from outside. To me, if I know about a certain problem or obstacle to come, even though I admit I would be a bit sceptic first hand (natural sceptic here) I would still be open enough to really look for the signs. Therefore, I think you should not worry about your skill - but if people listen to you after all. ;) It's a talent you should be proud of as it can be an invaluable help to others. BB, Helruna

Sullanciri2002	28 Aug 2002
I'm not alone out there, it seems. Some very interesting and seriously "heavy" points have been made. One thing to add though ... it's not so much that I only see or read negative things: when I talk to people, select or evaluate applicants, try to advise them or help them, or read the cards for them ... I give positive advice about as often as I give "negative" advice/warnings. It's not that I am a pessimist who only sees the darkness ... but just that, when I do see the darkness, it's always spot-on (which, sadly isn't the case when I see better thinsg happening). As to shying away from bad news - never: I'd rather refuse to do a reading when I know that the querent just isn't equipped to handle what the reading will reveal, than to "bend" the message the cards are giving me.

MeeWah	28 Aug 2002
Sullanciri2002: 'Tis *not* being "dark" or negative when one is able to recognize the dark, the negative or the shadowy aspects, but a distinctive asset! In terms of reading in general, whether for self or another, one cannot address a query, problem or condition without keen recognition of same. The first order is identification. As for not being as able to see "better things happening"--that is up to the querent, who has free will to determine the course of action & how it may develop.

ming	28 Aug 2002
sullanciri----i agree with mojo, all the way. Plus, I'm the same kind of reader; I think its just the kind of person you are comes through into your cards. These are your cards, your personality is in them.But whgichever slant you give it, you are still telling the truth.The person getting the reading will adapt it in their head to their own slant.(Is this understandable in any way)?! By the way--do you ever know when somebody goin to die?

Sullanciri2002	28 Aug 2002
and I'm very gratefull that I've never in my tarot experience have had to give somebody that sort of news. What I do, when I read the tarot, is work towards an insight in the sitaution and the influences that are steering it, from where a likely outcome can be given ... and leading to advice to, if needed, change the odds on that outcome. I've never considered the result of a reading as "The Future" set-in-stone or unescapable: if I thought the tarot was telling me unavoidable outcomes, I'd never touch the cards again.

DarkElectric	28 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by ming By the way--do you ever know when somebody goin to die? [/b] Unfortunately, that HAS happened to me. And the man did die, one week to the day later. I think it's a good thing, not bad, to be so perceptive as to recognise potential danger, or the presence of less evolved human motives. (I won't equate the term "Dark" with evil, for obvious reasons!) There is a preoccupation with denial in our society. If people don't look at the truth, then, they won't have to feel guilty, or responsible for ignoring it. They can just carry on, unconcerned, never attempting to effect change for the better. How many times have you heard people say 'It's not my problem" when confronted by something morally reprehensible? They don't give a hoot until it intrudes into their own little world, then the very thing they dismissed is the most gut wrenching, gruesome tragedy. And they get mad that no one else seems to care... Denial insulates the individual, but it isn't healthy isolation. People need to be aware of all facets of life, not just the sugar coated ones. I feel weird, sometimes, when the cards give some concise directions on the roadmap Mojo mentioned. Not because of what I see, but the dilemma of how to tell the person I'm reading for that there may be a bit of sticky business coming up, and they have to pay attention to important details. Many people don't want to hear the truth, either from a reading, or any other source. They sometimes ask for a reading to reinforce their denial about a situation, and when it doesn't happen, they blame ME! Oh well. I am not history's only murdered messenger. But I think the important thing is, to keep having faith in yourself, and your abilities. Wasn't Cassandra correct too? The curse was, that she be right, but that no one would listen to her, wasn't that it? Whether people like it or not, I tell them what I see, and try to do it in a way that doesn't cause panic or despair. Forewarned is forearmed, and if a situation is coming up, advance warning can really make the difference between an experience which sucks, but can be succesfully negotiated, and an absolute "unexpected" disaster which devastates the people involved. Even though it doesn't feel like it, by telling what you see, you're doing people a favour.

Original Destiny	28 Aug 2002
:TFOOL I have been following this thread with much interest and would like to contribute a little...for me I do not evaluate the negative or positive aspect of my interpretations...i just go with what comes, even if it means saying things that Iam uncomfortable with. It would be unfare of me to use my criteria on other peoples stuff...as for the dark side...i regard it as the shadow side...that side that we build up in relationships and put aside because we feel that it would adversley affect a relationship...all the stuff we wont say or think or do...all the stuff we keep hidden...thoughts we are ashamed of etc This shadow side is not only concerned with relationships but with everything we do, believe in ...we keep things back, hidden...and this hidden side is a vital side of us and we ignore its presence...so maybe its not surprising that it is revieled in the cards....

Umbrae	28 Aug 2002
We inhale, we exhale. The sun comes up and it is light, the sun goes down and it is dark. The flower blooms to die. You read 'Dark'. It is your gift. Enjoy it. Expand it. Live it.

DarkElectric	28 Aug 2002
I guess you could say that all of my readings are...Dark readings...heh,heh!

ming	30 Aug 2002
Well, I'm sorry, I feel bad about this, but....I quite a few times have known that somebody was going to die. And I lie...because I MIGHT BE WRONG .- this is not always through the cards, though.Sometimes dreams, sometimes just a feeling. Once when I was passing a cup of tea to a visitor...

DarkElectric	31 Aug 2002
You have the "sight" ming, it's also a gift. We can't help being able to do the things that come to us naturally. My great Grandmother had the "Sight" as well. My dad told me about her being able to tell if someone in her village was sick, whether or not they'd get well, or die. Naturally, she didn't discuss this too much outside of the family, for obvious reasons. But she was right more often than she was wrong about that, and other things. And she considered herself to be a good Christian, not a witch, or occultist. But that's the Druidic side of the family. Come to think of it, both sides have that in there. And she never lost the gift even when she immigrated to America. It stayed with her.

MeeWah	31 Aug 2002
I have seen death, illness, accidents--but part of the time this occurs without the use of cards. It is a spontaneous knowing; has involved friends, family, strangers. There was one instance of seeing an accident that involved me & the people I was with. I was able to avert it. None of this is a comfortable knowledge, but is part of the package.

The Help - I'm a "dark" reader thread was originally posted on 27 Aug 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.