A Particularly Memorable Reading?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Demonesse	02 Dec 2002
Can any of you remember a particularly memorable tarot reading (whether you're the reader or the sitter), and why did you consider it special? Because it was earthshakingly accurate, or because it was so bad you wanted your money back? So far, I've had a few really interesting ones, particularly from Aeclectians!

zorya	02 Dec 2002
many years ago, in the mid 80's, i did a reading in a bar for a stranger. he didn't want to tell me his question, all he would say is that he had a decision to make. i found myself telling him that his father was in the hospital, and that a decision would have to be made very soon. the decision would be one that would decide whether his father would live or not. another male stood in the way of the decision. the now astonished man, told me that i was correct, his father was in the hospital and he and his brother were told to decide whether or not surgery would be performed on their father. the two brothers could not agree. either choice was a big risk. i never saw him again to find out how it went. i put my cards away for a few years after that reading.

Kazz	02 Dec 2002
WOW, Zorya, that was an incrediible story, thanks for sharing...were you surprised how accurate you were?? My girlfriend did a reading for my mum years ago now, and it was in regards to her husband (my stepfather) who was in remission from lung cancer. She, of course, wanted to know if the cancer would come back. now at the time my stepfather was back at work and all signs of it at that stage were gone. My girlfriend proceeded to tipee-toe around in telling her what she REALLY saw, only saying that yes it looks like it may come back after a while, but not in the near future anyhow. After the reading, my girlfriend took me aside and told me that the cancer is back, either now or very shortly, and back with a vengence! and this would result in his passing in less than a year. I, of course, didn't tell my mum of this, and the next week, my stepfather came down very sick....the cancer had come back, and it was worse...9 months later he passed away, mum and I were by his side. I guess in a way, (for me at least) the reading gave me some time to prepare myself, but for my mum, once we knew he didn't have much time, she was preparing herself anyway. so sometimes, I think I would rather not know. For my friend, she says this was one of the readings that really JUMPED out and spoke to her. Cheers Kazz :TQC

Talisman	02 Dec 2002
'Lo all, Demonesse, thank you for launching such a terrific thread. zorya and Kazz, compelling stories. Talisman

Trogon	02 Dec 2002
Demonesse, I'm not certain if you meant a reading where I would have been the reader, or where I was the sitter. Anyway... my most memorable reading was one I gave to an on-line acquaintance a few months ago. It was the first time I'd done a reading for someone over the internet, but it ended up being quite powerful. She was concerned about several things going on in her life and so I thought a Celtic Cross spread might give some insight. There were several things that showed up as insights into her current situation. Such as the fact that her husband had left her to move in with a woman with whom he was having an affair and that her step mother was having a very negative influence on her. There were several other things which actually helped her through a bit of a tough time. The thing that makes this reading stand out the most for me, is that it was the first time that a reading, using the Celtic Cross, had fully come together for me. This spread still can stump me somtimes, but that reading just really worked... it really jumped out at me.

Diana	02 Dec 2002
The most memorable readings (for me) that I have done relate to world events. When the cards go against what everyone is predicting, politicians, journalists, and all. And then something completely unexpected occurs that turns the situation up-side-down and my reading turns out to be correct. Sometimes I have said to my husband "such and such a thing will be happening in the next six months", and he has laughed out loud saying, that's impossible. But he doesn't laugh so often anymore!! Well, yes he does, 'cos he has a great sense of humour, but he doesn't laugh at my predictions so much. The reading that threw me a bit was some time back when the reader (we had never met before), after having glanced at my cards for about 10 seconds, said "if you're not a therapist yet, then it's about time you became one". I had just started my training in Bach Flower therapy, and her having said this was highly encouraging.

Teranar	02 Dec 2002
My most memorable reading was when I read a girl who said two guys were interested in her, and wanted to know which one to go with. I did a reading (my 4 path, aka swastika spread, which was ironic becuase she was jewish) and told her that one guy was a bit timid, but best for her, the other guy was not good and from the reading I didn't like him. The next day she tells me the guy I didn't like from the reading called her and asked her out, the other didn't call at all. It turns out the guy I didn't like was moving and just wanted to do her before she moved, and she didn't want to, and he immedately became cold and mean to her. The other guy called after her date and was sweet, but didn't call becuase he was shy. She came to school pointing at me screaming how I was right all along. Either that one or when I told another girl her boyfriend was going to be moving, which he was, without her telling me, then I proceeded to call Cleo's hotline from a payphone, whereupon she said I was a 32 year old man, I was getting a promotion, and my wife was cheating on me. :P

renard	02 Dec 2002
Great thread! Okay, last fall about this time, when the US forces were in the Tora Bora mountains in Afghanistan, bombing and strafing and hunting like crazy for Osama bin Laden, I did a CC sitting on the floor in front of the TV asking, "Where is bin Laden?" I threw away my notebook with the exact spread, but I posted it here, someplace, because it was so striking. Every dark, black, scary card in the R-W deck was there, plus a couple of cards -- as I recall -- like the Hierophant -- that pointed to intellectual or spiritual leadership of some kind. Death, the Devil, the Tower, swords galore -- it was this amazing map of death, violence and disaster in an enclosed place. Death, as I recall, was the Outcome card. So, my conclusion was that bin Laden was dead, at that point, or near death, probably in a cave or tunnel in those mountains. As you know, there's still been no confirmation, but when that recent tape was released, I told my husband, Naahh, that's not him. He died in the Tora Bora mountains. DH looks at me like I've lost it, but I don't care. I've never seen a darker bunch of cards. Ever. Namaste, renard PS I like "looking into things" with the cards -- for myself, for friends whose permission I have -- recording the spread, and then going back to see what I got or sailed right past. A leftover from an empirical education, I guess.

Kiama	03 Dec 2002
My most memorable reading, for more reasons than one, was two Spring Equinoxes ago... It was a stormy, windy, night. The rain was lashing at the windows, howling like the Banshee, and I huddled into my big baggy jumper to keep myself warm... In front of me, sat a steaming cup of tea, a spread with my Robin Wood deck, and a man with black nail varnish and a very bemused look... The reading for this man was talking about his future, and I can still remember which cards were there... Lovers 2 of Cups 3 of Cups Fool King of Swords Queen of Wands. The fact that this man was exactly like the King of Swords, and I exactly like the Queen of Wands, took me a while to explain to him, as I was sure he woul dthink I was making it all up! I think the other cards are fairly self explanatory... A week later, we became a couple. Everything happened very quickly. And now, nearly 2 years later, we are still together. We celebrate the Spring Equinox as our anniversary, and both remember that readng like it was yesterday. Kiama

Mojo	03 Dec 2002
I've had lots of pretty amazing readings, but one that particularly comes to mind was at a party I did for a friend. One couple came up and wanted to know about the prospects for having a family. I remember that the 10 of Pentacles came up in the underlying basis position reversed, so I told them that one of them had hesitations about starting a family because they didn't feel that they were financially ready for it. The wife disagreed, but then the husband admitted that it was him, which surprised the wife since he hadn't ever admitted that to her. Then a little bit later, I got to the "immediate future" card and it was the reversed moon... as I was going to go into my usual description of the moon, a thought suddenly struck me and I turned to the wife and said, "you're late with your period, aren't you?" She blushed and nodded yes and her husband nearly fainted. I told them that it was a false alarm this time. But, the outcome was the Page of Wands and so I told them that they would be sharing good news soon. Sure enough, it had been a false alarm, but two months later, she was pregnant. Definitely a memorable reading!

Alissa	03 Dec 2002
My most memorable reading as a readee was with my younger sister, who I will always consider the better reader in the family. That night, I was visiting them out of state. My sister read for me in her bedroom and she kept shaking her head and saying she didn't understand what the cards were saying. She went into descriptions that started a flood of tears for me. She was verbalizing what I was hiding from everything, everyone, myself. She kept saying "I know this isnt true but..." and the truth would pop out, although because she thought (as my sister) she knew everything about me, she couldn't accept it. Seeing me weeping, she finished the reading. I had faced what I couldn't and felt better, lighter now because of it. And used many tissues, many many, in the process. That was approximately 1992. I remember certain Cards from it to this day.

Kiama	04 Dec 2002
Mojo: What a cool reading that must have been! I remember anothe reading, but this time with Runes AND Tarot which I did when I was 14/15, for my best friend... I was doing a general reading for her future with her famiy, and I had a spread cloth to throw the Runes on, and to place the cards on, divided into 8 houses, one representing each part of her family... Berkana, Ingwaz, and Jera fell into the 'Mother House' and the Empress was dealt into that house aswell. I Nearly choked to death on my lemonade, because the possibility of her mother being preggers was virtually impossible to our imagination... Her Mum was over 40, with no desire to have anymore kids. I told my friend what I saw, and we both laughed. The next day in class registration, she ran in, grabbed me by the arms and danced around for a while. Her Mother had told her when she got home from my house that she was expecting a baby. :D For a 14/15 year old who didn't believe in her ability to read Tarot that well, I was pretty pleased. Kiama

Shadow Wolf	17 Dec 2002
I did a reading with my Mythic Tarot. I did it at work, for myself. I did a 3-card spread--Past, present and future for my teaching career. I don't remember the first card. The Present card was the 2 of wands, this heralds the formulation of a new idea, aim or creative project. It's sufficient to lure the individual out to her current confines. But for this to come about depends on the courage of the ind. to act on this. The Future card was the Eight of Pentacles. This card suggests a talent or hobby that can now be moved to a professional level. It also suggests being a trainee at a time when one should be already settled in a job or career. Both of these cards tell exactly what my current situation is. I'm in a job where I feel stifled and ineffective. I'm either too tired or to frustrated to even think about doing anything creative. I'm creative by nature and I get very grouchy if I don't get to work on my poetry or my country crafts. I've been thinking a lot about this lately. I want to start pursuing my creative projects, if for no other reason to maintain my sanity, and eventually I would like to open a craft/quilt shop. This is part of the reason I became interested in Tarot. When you connect with a deck the reading can so accurate as to be almost scary !!!!!!! This reading has helped me to put things into perspective and to start working on my crafts again!!!!

zander770	17 Dec 2002
on 8 july 02 a female aquaintence (met her just days before) knew i was "into" tarot and asked: "do mine!" i wasn't particularily "in the mood," but, she persisted, so, i did this simple spread (i don't know where i learned it; i may have made it up!) that i call "the hebrew spread." she was/is jewish so i used my "tree of life" deck (which i rarely use, either). i used only the major arcana. i explained it all to her, what i was about to do and what the four "positions" meant to the "situation." i asked her to think of a question--but NOT to tell me (i do that, sometimes). she closed her eyes. she smiled! she said: "i'm ready!" here's what appeared (REMEMBER! deal from right--to--left; The Present Near Future Distant Future The Past key 2 key 3 key 4 key 5 HIGH PRIESTESS THE EMPRESS THE EMPEROR HIEROPHANT not only were all the keys in sequencial order, they were All Well-Dignified...Something Was Up, right? i even got a piece of paper to write on (this is all written upon the cards, mostly): gimel daleth heh vav camel door window nail then, i'll thought of the planetary and astrological aspects of the specific keys (their elemental assignments are written on the cards): moon venus aries taurus silver cooper fire earth finally, i'll begin just thinging about "whatever comes into my head" that i might remember about the specific cards: "now, then: this is weird," i said, i began by stating the obvious (she was "quite pleased" to hear that this was a "special type of occurrence," that the cards just don't ordinarily appear "in order," one after another, and all Straight-Up). this was going to be a pretty "easy" and "obvious" Tarot Story, for me to tell! "see the 'movement', here?" i asked. she nodded. "from nail, to window, then door, to camel?" she nodded. her hands began to quiver. "it's almost as is you're 'un-building' the House and taking it on the road!" she looked confused; sad. i think she shivered! "see? it's as if you've been taking out all the Nails in the Windows, the Doors...taking your House apart and putting it all atop your Camel to trek across the desert!" she began to cry! this HAS happened to me, too, before, people "crying/tearing up" at readings, but not often...i really didn't know exactly what to do (as mentioned; i don't know her very well) except to say: "i'm sorry!" she leapt and brought her hands to her face, then covered her eyes! she turned away and ran into the other room! "i'm sorry!" i yelled, and ran to my front door (i live in a small apartment) and flung it open! i didn't know exactly what to do! "no, no, that's okay..." she said, reappearing. "that's exACTly what i've been doing! what else does it say?" we retuned to our seats facing one another: now, i DID know that she was having financial trouble because of a resently lost job and break-up of a life-in boyfriend, but not very much more. i remembered that the High Priestess is a card of Movement; a sign of a "seeker." a woman of myster and wisdom. "you're going through a lot of Changes in your life, right now, aren't you?" i asked. a pretty "safe" question, usually! she was. she spoke of her exboyfriend, being behind in bills, in the rent, thinking of moving back to california where her family lived, where her father lived alone since her mother died last year, being forced to get a roommate, how her father refused to loan her any money--i took that to mean that she had borrowed from him, before, because he DID "help her" in other ways. again, i talked about the cards in their assigned situations/positions. "The Empress is a powerfull 'earth mother' card," and i wished i hadn't mentioned that because of her mother being dead. "on most decks she's visabily pregnant. she's..." she looked like she was going to cry, again! "i had a miscarrage just last week," she said, and told me other sad details. "i'm sorry about that," i told her. "i know you've learned a lot of hard lessons, in the past, and, now, it seems as if you're learn ing more, i'm afraid." she stood up and began to pace. i really thought she was going to "break down," or something; she looked very frightened, but not ready to cry, yet. i tried to comfort her, saying things like: "your Future and Distant Future appear to be going in a much more positive direction...you just have to get through these Changes, fist..." i stood, too, and got a little Tarot Key Sheet that i use, sometimes, and on it i found two VERY curious Themes that hadn't occured to me; 1) that the High Priestess is ALSO a "t.o.r.a.=Law" card (as is the Hierophant, and that these two cards oppossed one another on oposite ends of the spread, and that; 2) The Empress and The Emperor are "really" two-halves of the same female archetype, and that these two cards opposed one another in the Middle of the spread! well! i tied these two things together, mentioned them to her, tried to make her feel better and end the reading in a possitive light. it wasn't until later that i realized what a Special Reading it had been! i tell a "starnge one," from last week, later... slainte'! ~Z~770 :T2P

Alex	17 Dec 2002
for a man I was romantically involved with. Star spread. The "self" position was the King of Pentacles. Great. My prince! So cute! Below my prince, the Queen of Wands. Next card, the Queen of Cups. Next, the Queen of Pentacles. Then, The Star (yeah, the naked woman)... and... The Queen of Swords... Oh well, well. Alex.

Trogon	18 Dec 2002
Here's another one which was kind of a special reading for me. It wasn't particularly powerful for the friend for whom I was reading. It was accurate, but not earth-shattering... ;) It was special for me though. While I've been reading, and more or less accurately, for a couple of years now, I have always referred, at least, to my "cheat sheet" or sometimes a book... or two. However during this reading - I never felt like I needed to refer to my references! For the first time, I didn't have to look up any of the cards! :D Not only did she (my friend) say that I was "right on" with the reading, I did it without the books! Felt pretty good. ;)

tarotbear	18 Dec 2002
I always remember a particular reading I did in absentia for a friend who was dying of cancer of the lymph nodes. We all knew the inevitable would happen. I did this reading and got some cards and combinations that all said 'things will get better.' He died ten days later, never knowing I had done this reading. Post-burial I went back to take another look at this reading...after all, it promised things would get better. Now, with 200% hindsight, I see that the cards did not decieve me; the condition was such that there was only one way to relieve him of his pain - and that was that he had to die. In dying he was delivered from further suffering. That reading still bothers me sometimes. I use it as 'homework' in my classes (How's that for being a sadistic teacher?). Only one student of the many has ever had the courage (or insight) to say that she thought he was about to die. ********* Note: whenever I get a Page card, I usually throw another card as a clarifier. I read #3, #6, and #10 as conclusion cards He is a 56 year old school teacher at the top of his pay scale. He has been married almost 25 years; no children. Interested in theatre and directs for local theatre groups. Is facing a struggle: a) How 'major' (long or short term) is this struggle? b) How do you interpret the last four cards? c) Does the struggle resolve itself? Why? How? d) How would you have felt if this was a 'live' reading? 1) Magician 2) Two Cups 3) Page Pentacles (clarified w/ Five Swords) 4) The Moon 5) Four Pentacles 6) the Fool 7) Four Wands 8) The Tower 9) Ten swords 10) Page Wands (clarified w/ Ace Swords)

zander770	18 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Alissa She went into descriptions that started a flood of tears for me. She was verbalizing what I was hiding from everything, everyone, myself. She kept saying "I know this isnt true but..." and the truth would pop out, although because she thought (as my sister) she knew everything about me, she couldn't accept it. Seeing me weeping, she finished the reading. I had faced what I couldn't and felt better, lighter now because of it. And used many tissues, many many, in the process. That was approximately 1992. I remember certain Cards from it to this day. w.o.w. ... pretty powerful, ain't it? i still cannot get used to people "reacting" in front of me to the things that i say over cards! i mean, you can "see it coming"; begins somewhere above the eyes; the eyebrows and forehead, then, moves down! weird... ~Z~770 :smoker:

Alissa	18 Dec 2002
zander, I have to admit that I get uncomfortable when I'm the reader and have someone break down on me, like you did in your own Tarot tale. It's rare with me too, but it does happen. And it's hard, because you don't want to hurt people's feelings when you read. Mostly, the readees would describe them as "good tears" though. I think, for me as the readee, it was just so powerful to have this huge thing that I was hiding from everyone suddenly so openly discussed. It was cathartic to hear it and face it, and cry about it openly. That's what made it so worthwhile, and so unforgettable, I guess. I think you handled your readee graciously though. What more can we do but to give the message we see, however we see it? I bet she never forgot, or will forget, that reading herself. You gave her something to remember that was positive and helpful in the long run, and that's what I'm betting she takes from the experience.

allibee	18 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by tarotbear He is a 56 year old school teacher at the top of his pay scale. He has been married almost 25 years; no children. Interested in theatre and directs for local theatre groups. Is facing a struggle: a) How 'major' (long or short term) is this struggle? b) How do you interpret the last four cards? c) Does the struggle resolve itself? Why? How? d) How would you have felt if this was a 'live' reading? 1) Magician 2) Two Cups 3) Page Pentacles (clarified w/ Five Swords) 4) The Moon 5) Four Pentacles 6) the Fool 7) Four Wands 8) The Tower 9) Ten swords 10) Page Wands (clarified w/ Ace Swords) Me, being me LOL, read this post from the bottom upwards and only had this bit in my screen initially and I thought, hmmm, maybe he retires, sadly because he loved his job, and went on to learn something new. I've never seen death in the cards - and I don't want to either, I'm too sensative - but I guess my first reaction was right and I'm sure he has learned some wonderful truths A/Swords. Thank you for sharing this as at least I know what to recognise now. The cards that jumped out at me were: #2, #5, #9 and #10 Alissa: Good tears are not to be feared, you are not hurting their feelings - you are helping to release them :) allibee

Demonesse	18 Dec 2002
Wow; I find all your responses very interesting and enlightening; they make me feel a little envious though; nothing preternaturally significant like that has happened for me as a reader. Sigh.

Kazz	19 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Alissa I have to admit that I get uncomfortable when I'm the reader and have someone break down on me, but it does happen. And it's hard, because you don't want to hurt people's feelings when you read. Mostly, the readees would describe them as "good tears" though. Yep...that is how I feel also, and I try very hard not to feel aweful, but when they say that I have been a great help to them, and like you said, they are "good tears", that just makes the whole thing worth while...IMO:) Cheers Kazz :TQC

zander770	20 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Alissa I bet she never forgot, or will forget, that reading herself. You gave her something to remember that was positive and helpful in the long run, and that's what I'm betting she takes from the experience. :* Z~770

Shadow Wolf	21 Dec 2002
Thanks so much for starting this thread. When we share our amazing readings, we are reaffirming the power of Tarot in our lives. It helps us to get the spiritual nourishment we need to keep on reading and perfecting our readings. All of these posts are amazing !!! Thanks for sharing !!!

The A Particularly Memorable Reading? thread was originally posted on 02 Dec 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.