what is a reader?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 21 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

cuddles	21 Jan 2003
you may find this a strange question, but what do you mean when you call someone a reader? does that mean anyone who reads tarot cards or just someone who reads professionally? cudds

wavebreaker	21 Jan 2003
When I use the term reader, I mean everyone who reads tarot cards, whether it's just for themselves, just for family and friends, or professionally.

RedWood	21 Jan 2003
I agree with Tarotlady..that is how i term a reader also.

Centaur	21 Jan 2003
A reader is someone who interprets the cards - whether that be professionally or just for fun :o)

Khatruman	21 Jan 2003
I use it in the context of an actual tarot reading being done, to distinguish between the querent, who is the person asking the question or posing the problem, and the reader, who is the person who looks at the cards and interprets what they say. So if you are doing a reading for yourself, you are both the reader and the querent. I avoid the question of who is proficient enough to be called a Reader.. (with the capital "R") because, as others have said here, a reader can be anyone who wishes to understand something from the cards. It is like me calling myself a golfer. I will call myself one because I have a set of clubs, will go out to a course with golfballs and swing and hit the ball into the various holes, but I would not in anyway put myself in league with Tiger Woods, or Jack Nicklaus, etc. etc. (actually, when someone asks if I am a golfer, I usually reply that I play golf rather than I am a golfer because I really have poor skills. Should I say, then, that I read tarot cards rather than I am a reader? :D)

tarotbear	21 Jan 2003
AHA! I call myself a 'reader' because I do not want in any way possible to have anyone lay the term 'psychic' on me! I run from that term!

Laurel	21 Jan 2003
Likewise, I use it to refer to anyone who reads cards at any level, to distinquish from querent, and to avoid slapping the 'psychic' label on anyone. :P ~LAS

Khatruman	21 Jan 2003
That's funny, the term "psychic" never even entered my mind, but I would whole-heartedly agree that the true tarotist are those who term themselves readers rather than psychics who want to swindle some money. Good point of distinction! I guess even thinking in terms of being psychic doesn't even enter in my understanding of tarot. Peace!

The what is a reader? thread was originally posted on 21 Jan 2003 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.