To know or not to know?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 11 Feb 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

sagitarian	11 Feb 2003
When you do a tarot reading for some one, do you ask him/her what the question/subject is that they are asking about, or do you let them keep their question to their self? In the past, I've told my querents/clients not to tell me their questions. I did that because that's the way that I was taught...that their question didn't matter, what mattered was the cards. That if the cards where trying to answer another question, if I knew the question they asked, then it would influence the reading, and they wouldn't get the "true" message the cards wanted to convey. I'm thinking about changing that when I start reading for the general public again in coffee houses and what not.

Silverlotus	11 Feb 2003
I ask to know the question. That way I feel I can give a more meaningful reading. If the reading gives me cards that can be read to deal with a relationship or a job, I want to know which way will help the person most. Telling them their job sucks when they really want to know about their relationship isn't helpful IMHO. So, if I know the question, I know what the cards are trying to tell me. I don't have any "psychic" powers. The flashes I get only help me and generally have nothing to do with anyone else, so they don't guide my readings. I don't want to play a guessing game, a la Crossing Over, I want to know where to focus my energies. :)

scheherazade	11 Feb 2003
I've read that reading Tarot for another person needs to involve that person in the reading - so that it's good to keep conversation going during a reading. It might even help with the understanding of the cards. But, if conversation bothers you while you're trying to read, it's a different story.

Trogon	12 Feb 2003
I've tried both methods and both seem to work. However, for the most part, I find that having an idea of at least what area of their life the person might be inquiring on, works out the best. I find that the readings go more smoothly than when I do one without that original input. In fact, I've had a couple of people, when they've gotten thier very first (ever!) readings from me, they thought to "test" me by giving as little input as possible. In both instances, after the reading, they both said I was very accurate and that they did get a lot out of the reading. Also, both people have been back for readings since then. The point being that if I have the input initially, I feel that the reading goes much smoother. However, this isn't totally necessary and I am able to do a very good reading without that initial input.

The To know or not to know? thread was originally posted on 11 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.