help? reading for other ppl

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Burnt Kisses	04 Apr 2003
First off, hi!…. im new here, so if I do anything wrong plz tell me. so I have a question, I have been reading tarot for a half a year now for my self and I want to start doing readings for others but, I don’t know if I should let the ppl Im doing the reading for touch the card and if so how much???? I have been told by different ppl: -never ever let anyone touch you cards -tell them to focus on the cards -get them to place there left hand on the top of the deck -let them split the deck -let them shuffle I don’t what to do, im so confused…???? plz help me if you can thnx so much

Mimers	04 Apr 2003
Hi Burnt Kisses, Welcome to Aeclectic! I think you will get a lot of different responces here to that question. I think the best approach to anything in Tarot is to do what feels right to you. When it feels comfortable go ahead and do it. If it doesn't feel comfortable, don't. This goes for everything. I personally don't mind other people handling my decks. Doesn't seem to affect any readings I do either. But like I said, do what feels right to you. Take care, Mimi

HudsonGray	04 Apr 2003
Just do what makes sense to you--if you don't want damaged or bent cards, don't let others shuffle them. Don't put cards on a sticky or food covered table, and don't let children handle them if they aren't going to be careful. Everything else is up to you.

Kundalika	05 Apr 2003
One way to go about this is to try out all possible combinations. Let others shuffle and pick cards, let others pick cards only, or dont let others touch any of the cards. Then use the method which feels right to you. Hope this helped.

Marion	05 Apr 2003
Hi burnt kisses, First of all, welcome to the Forums! Aeclectic is organized into different Forums for different topics. This forum, Your Readings, is designed to allow people to post readings that puzzle them, or on which they want the opinion of other readers. A question like yours, a general discussion of issues around reading would go into Talking Tarot, which is where I am going to move it. If you want to talk about specific cards, you would post in Using Tarot Cards. Again, welcome! Marion, co-moderator of Your Readings

azuremariposa	05 Apr 2003
very good suggestions and advice above...i would have to agree w/all of it, really... the only new thing i can offer, Burnt Kisses, is that you may find yourself comfortable w/one way and change your mind at a later date...change often indicates growth and evolution...which is always a good thing (for instance, i used to let people shuffle, now i don't...it's what i feel comfortable with...both methods worked, but i feel better if i shuffle...:) heh)... anyway, just my two cents... many blessings to all!

Umbrae	05 Apr 2003
I think you will find the answers you are looking for here: http://www.aeclectic.net/articles/process_introduction.html

wolfen045	05 Apr 2003
Wecome to the forum and Blessings of God/dess upon you, Burnt Kisses ! When I read for other people I go with their comfort factor. Some don't seem to want to touch the cards at all. Others seem to ejoy shuffling and cutting them. Others are fascinated by a particular card that comes up in their reading and want to study it more closely, so I let pick it up to study it. As you'll hear alot on this forum, do what is right for you. The tarot should be flexible, not carved in stome. Hope I was helpful, wolfen

Diana	06 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Burnt Kisses -let them split the deck When I read this the first time, I thought you had written "let them spit on the deck." :laugh: That would have been the first time I'd heard that one! Well, you've received the best advice above, as far as I can see. Do what feels good for you! And azuremariposa brings up an excellent point. Don't get stuck in habits, or superstitions. Be open. The Tarot speaks true. Always. Whatever method you choose at one particular time.

Kiama	06 Apr 2003
Usually, I do the shuffling and let the querent cut the cards. This is not down to any superstition however, it's purely practical: When I am shuffling, I am getting myself into the mind-frame where I can focus on the reading, and where I know what spread I am doing, etc. The querent cuttng the cards just makes them feel more involved. However, sometimes I don't always do this, and it is based on the querent... I have had experiences where I've offered soebody the deck to cut, and they've literally rn a mile! 'No! I mustn't touch somebody elses cards!' Whilst its not my personal belief, I respect theirs and don't make them cut. I've also had querents wit htheir hands all over the deck, looking through it, shuffling, etc... That's fine too, as long as they give the dck back to me at some point! So whilst I have my practices, they are flexible to fit with the querent. Kiama

Trogon	06 Apr 2003
Howdy Burnt Kisses, I guess I'll go along with the majority on this one. Do what feels right for you. I do have a couple of close friends for whom I do readings and I let them shuffle the cards. This is mostly because I know them very well and I know they'll be carefull with my decks. Most people, I do the shuffling and have them cut the deck. But the fact that they don't shuffle the cards is more a practical decision - I don't know if they'll handle my expensive Tarot decks carefully or not.

Marion	06 Apr 2003
*smiles* I got the person who wanted me to read for her the most often her own deck. She loves it and studies the cards herself but still wants me to read. At least they are *her* cards. Worth buying her a deck imo.

Astraea	06 Apr 2003
That post about buying two decks is timely! If you discover that you like to read regularly with a particular deck, and if you find that you prefer having the querent shuffle but you are concerned about damage to the cards, consider buying two decks -- one for yourself, and one for use in readings. Personally, I like to shuffle and have the querent cut -- but whatever seems right to you, IS right for you! :)

The help? reading for other ppl thread was originally posted on 04 Apr 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.