Me, whining

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Nov 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

little	16 Nov 2002
So I don't feel able to come out of the closet, since I'm a teacher and some of the parents wouldn't appreciate it. But I am fascinated by the tarot, and I have been eager to do some face-to-face readings for people other than myself. So last night I was in the next city (seeing Harry Potter), and set up in the busy Starbucks in the university Barnes and Noble, laid out some cards and tried to look generally welcoming. But no one showed any interest at all. Of course, it never occurred to me for a minute that it might not have been sufficiently obvious that I was offering readings for them and not just messing around for myself, or that they might have been interested in their own affairs, or any other reasonable explanation. No, the obvious answer was that I am intensely unattractive, physically and emotionally, and apparently I smell badly as well. Anyway, no luck.

allibee	16 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by little No, the obvious answer was that I am intensely unattractive, physically and emotionally, and apparently I smell badly as well. Yes you do, just as well you're on the internet :D :D :D rofl Seriously though, I feel for you as closets can be very stifling spiritually and emotionally. Perhaps people there were not used to seeing someone with Tarot cards, maybe if you were there regularly, word may get around. There is always the possibility of doing live reads on a chat forum such as on I've mentioned elsewhere on the site : www.psychics.co.uk They have a free oracle reading room - room 2 - on their Delphi area of the site. All you have to do is register for free and just have a look, I can honestly GUARANTEE you will never be short of sitters. Best wishes - and wash those socks, lol allibee

fairyhedgehog	16 Nov 2002
I just want to say I admire your courage in setting up a tarot table at all! I'm not sure how far I'd have to be from friends, family and work colleagues to do that. I'm sure that with that much drive and determination you will find the right place for offering tarot readings and start to read for strangers. Meanwhile, there is the reading exchange here (or maybe you use that already?) I hope some other people who do public readings will have more ideas for you, like allibee's. Good luck :)

allibee	16 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by fairyhedgehog Meanwhile, there is the reading exchange here (or maybe you use that already?) I'm not sure how strictly its applied, but I think you have to have 25 posts to qualify to go on the reading exchange board as a reader or sitter. allibee

truthsayer	16 Nov 2002
doing readings in coffee shops or other public places has come up here before. some ppl have had bad experiences like being asked to leave. another thing to look at is fortune telling laws in the area you are from. i know here you could be arrested. we can do it if we can show a license saying we are a spiritual counselor and that tarot is just an assistive device. i think this mostly comes up if you are charging. you should read recent news about miss cleo's psychic network. (if you want to know where you can get this license let me know). i think some of us have made arrangements at bars to set up shop for a percentage if you decide to charge. another possibility is to offer to read at a halloween party or some other social get together. after what happened with the sniper leaving the death card and the miss cleo trail thing, i'm staying in the closet for right now. i feel like ppl aren't feeling too open minded to tarot cards right now. i'm not saying this to frighten you but sometimes it's better to err on the side of caution.

Dark Inquisitor	16 Nov 2002
I know how you feel, little. In the course of daily events, I have offered free readings to acquaintances I have spoken a little bit with . Their eyes get real big, they look at me in horror & back away!! The answer is always no! From now on, I am only going to offer readings to people who are under 25 and look odd in some way. I was only doing it to gain practice with face to face readings, so I am now trying to think of a place to read for free on occasion that would be more likely to already have people who were open to the unusual. Maybe the local tattoo parlor?? Or the leather/biker store? I don't know- this is going to require more thought. Tarotphelia

allibee	16 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by truthsayer (if you want to know where you can get this license let me know). Is that the UCL ordination certificate, if not, which one are you referring to please. Thanking you allibee

truthsayer	16 Nov 2002
yes, it's the one with the universal life church. i got my license from them free but i haven't taken any other courses. while they say the license is authentic(and i believe it is) I still think the leader of the church is some kind of crackpot. at least he believes in freedom of religion which i think is wonderful.

DeLani	16 Nov 2002
This might sound a little too obvious, but did you put up a sign telling people that you were offering readings? Most people aren't just going to walk up to a stranger in a coffeeshop unless s/he has a sign stating exactly what they are doing/offering. But be sure and ask permission from the manager first. Good luck!

little	16 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by DeLani This might sound a little too obvious, but did you put up a sign telling people that you were offering readings? No, I didn't, and yes, I do realize that that is a more likely reason for my lack of success that personal unappealingness. If I try it again, I'll clear it with management first, and bring a little sign. I'm not too terribly disheartened. Really.

Demonesse	16 Nov 2002
DeLani is right. If I had been in that coffeeshop and was interested in having a reading, I would've been apprehensive as to whether or not you were actually offering a reading, or just fiddling around with some cards, or perhaps just be to shy to walk up to an unknown person to ask for such an 'odd' thing, because I might have received a stare or rude reply or some such thing, knowing what some people can be like. And like the others, make sure the premise you're doing readings at is okay with your presence there - if you're charging, many would not appreciate you doing business, so to speak, for free on their premises.

ihcoyc	16 Nov 2002
You might want to see if there are any other coffee shops or similar venues besides Starbucks. Starbucks in college town bookstores tend to fill up with students who go there to drink coffee, study, and be left alone. This may not be the most receptive or sociable crowd. You might even have better luck in a quiet tavern. Of course, being a Starbucks, you'll also get a fair number of yuppies who go there thinking that because the overcooked coffee has a taste simultaneously strong and unpleasant, it must be very high-class and European and worth a premium price, as opposed to simply being burnt. :eek:

Demonesse	16 Nov 2002
Of course, being a Starbucks, you'll also get a fair number of yuppies who go there thinking that because the overcooked coffee has a taste simultaneously strong and unpleasant, it must be very high-class and European and worth a premium price, as opposed to simply being burnt. *snickers* The power of snob appeal. Little, why do you feel you're so 'physically unappealing', to use your own words?

little	16 Nov 2002
Oh, just because I've got issues. I'm not that bad looking. A little overweight, not inclined to think about what my clothes look like, pretty thick glasses, but I've got good skin and great eyes. I was just angsting. I have a bad habit of doing that when things don't go exactly the way I hope- blow it out of proportion and assume it's my own fault for being me and not some better person. Funny how you can be aware of your shortcomings and still not fix them. No, wait, I think I'm doing it again. Oh, brother.

Demonesse	16 Nov 2002
Ah. Don't you think your take on your 'issues' may - unconsciously - affect the way you read cards? If you sunscibe to the theory of vibrations, a negative feeling about yourself tends to keep people away from you - perhaps that could be another factor. Plus, from a more practical viewpoint, discontent and unhappiness sometimes shows in your facial expressions and movements. As for dressing, you might want to check my thread on "What's important for a tarot reader" further down.

TheFoolofChaos	17 Nov 2002
In the beginning, many centuries ago, this fool found laundry mats the best place to give free readings and gain experiences. No advertising, just do your laundry and study/play with your cards. People are bored doing their laundry and the curious will always start a conversation if you just smile! In Chaos The Fool

Pollux	17 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by allibee I'm not sure how strictly its applied, but I think you have to have 25 posts to qualify to go on the reading exchange board as a reader or sitter. Well, it simply is applied! ;) *LOL* But I am sure it won't take much to our little to get to 25. Just a couple of days maybe. :) Feel free to come to the section for practice and learning! I am saving an empty seat for you by now! ;) Quote: Originally posted by TheFoolofChaos In the beginning, many centuries ago, this fool found laundry mats the best place to give free readings and gain experiences. No advertising, just do your laundry and study/play with your cards. People are bored doing their laundry and the curious will always start a conversation if you just smile! Oh gosh! This never really occurred to me. You are just right, The Fool. Unluckily there are no laundry mats here in Italy, or at least not in my area. But i can surely see how this could work, and how easy it would be to pratice... (kindly pokes Liliana... *LOL*)

allibee	17 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Pollux But I am sure it won't take much to our little to get to 25. Just a couple of days maybe. :) Little, Pollux is dead right, I've been here just on a week, and made over 100 posts, lol, whilst you may not be as much as an addict as me, it really won't take long to get to 25 Best wishes allibee

Ravenswing	18 Nov 2002
little-- i've done a bit of the street minstraling; not quite tarot, but a similar idea. problem is invisibility-- people don't always notice you. sitting at a cafe is a great idea. but if you want to give people the idea that you're up for doing reading, stick a hat on your table with a couple of bills in it. suddenly you'll be noticed. and most people have the notion that free is never really good. happy monday raven

Laurel	18 Nov 2002
Little, welcome to the forum. Trust me, 25 won't take long at all. I think you were very brave for making the effort to do public readings for strangers. That's hard, especially for someone who is self-conscious. (I'm more than a little overweight and can get dang self-conscious if I let myself). Here's my suggestions on what to do: make some flyers and bussiness cards. Talk to a book store or coffee shop manager and get their permission to do public readings and post the sign. You still may not get any business. I've known people reading tarot in occult book shops and still only get 1-2 people a day even though its obvious what they are doing, and the clientelle is more specific than say at Starbucks. Don't give up. Laurel

Umbrae	19 Nov 2002
Here is what you should do. Go to the coffee shop. Have a friend come in, sit down for a reading and leave. Sometimes ya gotta prime the pump.

anjocoxo	19 Nov 2002
At least you had the guts to do it (which I don't know if I'll ever have)... I agree with everybody; put a sign, ask a firend to go with you and do readings for her/him, whatever, just don't give up. We are all here to support you. Anjo

The Me, whining thread was originally posted on 16 Nov 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.