Promise not to laugh
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Feb 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| theredhead |
04 Feb 2003 |
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Okay you guys gotta promise not to laugh too hard when I ask what may seem like a silly question, but one I honestly want to know. Somebody please give me a general picture of how you do a reading for someone else. I have been reading for myself off and on for over two years, seriously for the past couple of months, but only for me. Sometimes my significant other and I will do readings together, but that's different since he got me started with tarot when I found his deck. I don't really worry about the specifics when I'm with him I just do what seems right at the time. Sometimes we use my deck, we take turns shuffling, or I'll do the reading and interpret. That's not too hard, but I told my Mom about reading cards, and she says I have to do one for her, and I think my sister is going to ask me too.
Just some simple stuff like what spreads? Who shuffles, Do they tell you the question, or do you guess from the spread (haha guess, that could be good) Do you ask for feedback as your doing the reading, since the cards have so many different layers of meaning. Also I think I need a short spread or we could be there all day, since it takes me a LONG time to pull together any sort of story from the cards. HELP, I know there are no hard and fast rules to these things I'm just looking for a feel for what works for others, I can't say no to my mother, and I know she'll go easy on me if I'm dead wrong.
Any input would be appreciated.
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| Athara |
04 Feb 2003 |
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I'm sure noone will laugh... It's a normal question! I'm curious as well... My friend wants me to do a reading for her...
As you understand, I can't help you with this. I'm sure the people of this forum will know what to do, and you can search the Net for you answers...
Good luck!
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| theredhead |
04 Feb 2003 |
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I wasn't really serious about the not laughing part, you can laugh if you want to. But the discussions here get so above my head at times, about places and ideas I have never even considered, that this question seems mundane. Still I really want to know. So I asked.
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| Eowyn |
04 Feb 2003 |
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If you have been reading for that long, if you are relaxed enough when you do your first reading "in society" all your knowdeledge and your special way to read will flow, probably slow at the beginning, and then you both will start to discover together what the tarot has to say. Who shuffles, doesnt really matter and it will be your personal decision. For example, I like to shuffle the cards my self, while Im listening to the querent situation and I usualy help the querent to make the question in a proper way. Then, the querent pick up the cards. You may like to be alone with your querent, because you have been reading in your privacy, which is fine, and you can play some of your favourite music as well. I think when you start to read for someone else you start to develope a method, which you will accommodate with time, practice and patience. You should prepare some diferent layouts, shorts and longs, so when you listen to the question you can be prepared to use the better layout you know. Just be yourself and let is flow ;)
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| theredhead |
04 Feb 2003 |
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thanks for the thought, I don't have nearly the confidence in me that you seem to. I dabbled in tarot for the last 2 years or so, same with my Sweetie, he only pulls them out when something big happens that he really wants to know. Somewhere around October this year I needed some guidance on something that was really putting me through the emotional ringer, I started really searching. I pulled out his tarot deck. The answers and guidance were accurate, and even though I doubted the positive outcome the cards seemed to foretell, the situation did resolve itself positively, in spite of the apparent doom and gloom in front of us.
I was totally bloom away by the ability to see into situations, and the insight into myself, and I have been hooked ever since. So I guess I said that to say that really I haven't been reading all that long. But I guess I don't have to worry about doing my mother harm, she's forgiving and rather strong. I have never been to a card reader so I'm not even really sure of the process.
I appreciate the vote of confidence
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| MeeWah |
04 Feb 2003 |
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theredhead: Your question is a good one, & Eowyn offers excellent advice & suggestions.
Each reader develops a procedure over time, with practice & experience. Since public readings will be a new experience, let your prospective querents know that you are practicing. I recommend using small spreads first, such as a 3-card so as to not overwhelm the senses & to gradually ease into developing the story-telling skills. Small spreads are capable of providing plenty of material. Look at each card in turn & the throw in its entirety. See what catches the eye first, what is next, so on. What relates, what connects. Whilst 'tis true that cards contain layers of meaning, sometimes the meaning is not that intricate; can be very matter-of-fact or mundane.
3-card spread suggestions: Past- Present,-Future/Outcome; Body-Mind-Spirit or reverse order; What is known-What is not known-Solution/Action. Or make up your own.
I always ground & center first, usually before the client arrives. Establishing personal equilibrium is important for the optimum results. It also aids in relaxing the self & prepares the self for receptivity & signals the unconscious of the intent. I prefer to face East, & have the querent sit opposite me. I also prefer "cold" readings; that is, to not know the question or concern so as to not be influenced in what I see & ask that any questions or comments be reserved until the end of the reading because I find them too distracting. I provide paper & pen for the client to take notes if desired. As I shuffle the cards, I ask the querent to focus on the question or concern. When the cards feel "tight", I lay them down in the center of the table & ask the querent to cut them 3 ways, then put the cards together & hand them to me. I then proceed to lay a spread.
I recommend reading Umbrae's "The Process" threads, for which JMD graciously compiled links into one thread:
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=10772
I am sure that others will also offer good suggestions for your consideration.
Remember 'tis ok to be a wee nervous, to experience stage fright.
With practice, one grows to feel more comfortable & confident. Above all, have fun! This is an adventure, & likely ye will see that reading for others will immeasureably enhance one's insight & knowledge.
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| RingTheory |
05 Feb 2003 |
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Really good advice form Eowyn and MeeWah there.
If you can read accurately for yourself, I'm sure you can read for anybody. Even with a close friend or relative, you'll have more objectivity.
Your mom sounds really nice-I think you'll gain more confidence the more people you read for. Ground and center yourself beforehand as MeeWah suggested, to relax your mind and open up your intuition.
I face east too, and have the querent sit opposite myself. This is supposed to help, by the polarity here.
It does seem to be smoother if I don't have the question, at least at first. I let the client shuffle and cut, three times too, using the left hand from right to left, handing me back the deck with the left hand with my left hand.
And then deal...any input, insight or whatever the querent has to offer, I welcome.
Just take your time, and it'll get easier and easier.
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| Mimers |
05 Feb 2003 |
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I just had an 'aha' moment. I have only been around a short time and it will take me a while to get to know everyone.
RedHead
I think this article is fantastic. I read it 2X and that was before I joined this group. Perfect for me in that "I am reading for myself and family but not sure about reading for others" stage. Definitely read the story. I am going to read it again.
Mimers
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| theredhead |
06 Feb 2003 |
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Wow, where was this little gem hiding? Like peeking into someone's head when their doing a reading. Most books never approach it from the "inner perspective", they use more like a cookbook recipe. A wealth of knowledge here, was this written by someone at the forum?
A big thanks to everyone who was willing to reach out and share, I'm actually kind of excited to try some readings for someone else.
trh
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| MeeWah |
06 Feb 2003 |
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theredhead: The "gem" was written by Umbrae, moderator of the Runes Forum & co-moderator of Talking Tarot.
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| Eowyn |
07 Feb 2003 |
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Originally posted by RingTheory
I face east too, and have the querent sit opposite myself. This is supposed to help, by the polarity here.
...I let the client shuffle and cut, three times too, using the left hand from right to left, handing me back the deck with the left hand with my left hand.
I was wondering about How we develop a ritual to do a reading. You face east, I light a candle and place it on the left, in front of me, other play spacial music, etc. This has a lot to do in the creation and developing of your method or way of reading tarot.
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| lawguy51 |
07 Feb 2003 |
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Something Umbrae said once, it may be in that attached thread above, has always stuck with me. It is this, that when you lay the cards out, that's your time. Don't rush it. Try not to feel the pressure to come up with the 'right' answer. And remember that you can workshop the reading with the sitter, so that, by the end of a reading, a card that earlier on you said meant one thing, may have been transformed by working through the other cards with the querent. There is nothing wrong with revising your interpretation as you go along and gather more imput from the querent and the rest of the spread.
Lawguy51
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| Minos |
07 Feb 2003 |
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"Just some simple stuff like what spreads?"
Whichever you feel most comfortable with.
"Who shuffles,"
Generally I shuffle and have the querent cut the deck. That's mostly a matter of personal preference though.
"Do they tell you the question, or do you guess from the spread (haha guess, that could be good) Do you ask for feedback as your doing the reading, since the cards have so many different layers of meaning."
I generally don't ask what the question is - typically I just go ahead into it and often the sitter is amazed at how on-target the reading is. That's not necessarily cuz I'm a super reader; people are usually eager to see your reading as on-target.
The only time this backfired on me was when I was reading for this a-hole friend of mine. I was giving him lots of spiritual/relationship-type advice, but his question was: "will I get a new dog?"
As for asking for feedback, you'll probably find that you don't need to; people often volunteer feedback.
"Also I think I need a short spread or we could be there all day, since it takes me a LONG time to pull together any sort of story from the cards."
Me too. One of the most important things to remember is that it's okay to pore over the cards for a while. It lets the querent know that you're devoting time and though to the reading, which is nothing but good.
"Any input would be appreciated."
Hope this helped. :)
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| theredhead |
08 Feb 2003 |
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Minos and everyone,
Yes it did help, there is so much information here, it will take me a while to absorb it. This thread drew a better response than I had ever hoped and I am sorta reluctant to write this because I'm hoping others will keep adding to the input.
I have learned so much here in the last couple of weeks, its like having a mentor or teacher for tarot to help me find my way, only my teacher has the knowledge of 100's and the accumulated experiences of many, many people. Kind of like the Borg Queen on Star Trek the Next Generation, with her ability to draw on the "collective" to learn and find solutions to problems. Not so much the Borg Queen part (she was kinda nasty) but the idea of a collective to draw from, most definitely.
Thanks is such an ineffectual word for what I feel, but please anyone with something to add, please feel free, I have learned so much from this.
trh
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The Promise not to laugh thread was originally posted on 04 Feb 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.
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