Reading for others or reading for oneself?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Jan 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Circe	04 Jan 2004
This doubt surged me when I was reading a book about Tarot that was given to me this Christmas. It said that when we use a deck, it becomes more and more personal, eventually only answering question about ourselves. This was quite a new idea to me because I was "taught" that one should never read to his/herself because one could interprete them the way he/she wants and not the way things are in fact. I sometimes read for myself, but most of the times (and I have to admit, what I enjoy the most) i read for others who ask me to do it. As I kinda feel that the purpose of my "talent" for tarot is helping others, the idea that some time later my deck will only reply correctly to my questions is not very pleasing. What do you think?

allibee	04 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Circe It said that when we use a deck, it becomes more and more personal, eventually only answering question about ourselves. Oh Sounds like one to file in the WPB (Waste Paper Basket) LOL It may become more and more personal, and lets hope it does, but then the statement leaps into the bounds of rubbish IMHO

Agathe	04 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by allibee It may become more and more personal, and lets hope it does, but then the statement leaps into the bounds of rubbish IMHO Yeah, I think so, too. It's good when it's personal because you can feel it and understand better what it says, but the rest doesn't seem to be the truth. Blessings, Agathe

lunalafey	04 Jan 2004
Taort is diverse in it's uses. It is true that a deck can become 'personal' in the respect that individual cards take on a personal reflection of it's meaning by way of some life event of the owner. For example, when I see the Knight of Swords, I think of my ex, his personality is reflected in the card. When the card comes up in a reading, then I know that some-one or thing with this same 'nature' is about. We learn a deck in a way that we can relate to it. This does not mean that you cannot read with a 'personal' deck for another person.

Centaur	04 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Circe This doubt surged me when I was reading a book about Tarot that was given to me this Christmas. It said that when we use a deck, it becomes more and more personal, eventually only answering question about ourselves Many books on tarot which I have read have focussed upon the writers own particular approach and belief system with respect to tarot. Sometimes that writer tries to in some way 'force' their own beliefs with regards to the tarot down the readers throat. This type of force-feeding is rather off-putting, and I suggest finding some writers who gel with your own personal approach to tarot. For instance, I have read some books which go to great lengths to warn people from handing on an old tarot deck to someone else. In my opinion, I consider this to be rubbish. Although I do believe in negative energies and their potential to become attached to specific decks, I believe that this can be solved through the cleansing of the deck in question. However, I am sure that there are many others who would argue against this due to the fact that they pertain to a different belief-system. My point? Take what you read with a pinch of salt. Go with what you feel. C

Vynara	05 Jan 2004
Circe I read the same thing, about how the deck may answer questions only for you and not others. I agree with Centaur though... Just take it with a pinch of salt. I plan to simply reserve my first deck for my "personal" use and use other decks for reading for others. But Centaur, regarding your opinion about old decks... I've seen some really pretty "2nd hand" tarot decks around my country but I am always warned about getting a deck with unknown origins. Have you handled an old deck before? If so, could you teach me how to cleanse a deck? Thanks.

Majecot	05 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by allibee Oh Sounds like one to file in the WPB (Waste Paper Basket) LOL It may become more and more personal, and lets hope it does, but then the statement leaps into the bounds of rubbish IMHO oh allibee... you kill me...rotflmao! I agree... there is a great deal of trading that goes on amost people here, and I think that if there was something wrong with using someone else's previously owned deck... trading would never happen. I kinda ride the fence about the whole negative energy thing in cards... while on one hand I do believe that energies can be placed into inanimate objects.. I don't believe that they can stay in a deck ... there are cleansing rituals that can be used if that is a concern, I personally have not yet felt the need for one.. other than a lot of shuffling. I like the look feel and smell of a new deck (compulsive shopper) but I would not hesitate to buy a used deck if I liked it. I don't think that a deck can become so personal that no one else can use it.

Indigo Rose	05 Jan 2004
I am with the WPB idea from Allibee, regarding that book. Reading for SELF is very therapeutic and can give one great insight into their journey through life. Decks are personal, and that is the beauty of it. This however, only helps us relate to them more. I can see NO rational explanation as to why TAROT would "turn" on us for seeking self-enlightenment. The truth is that as we come to understand ourselves more, we can be more effective in helping others. Kind of like the airplane analogy: If the OXYGEN masks are needed, put yours on first...then help your neighbor. WHAT good will you be in helping others if you lose consciousness? Blessings. Indigo Rose

Circe	05 Jan 2004
Thkz everybody 4 giving me such good advice :)

miss_apples	06 Jan 2004
Honestly, I think readings are versitile (sp?) You can take any cards that you have laid down for someone else and I think easily read those same cards for yourself and find some truth in them for yourself. I mainly think this because its not the cards doing the work, its the reader...and your intuition will adjust to the same cards to fit another question/situation. I dont belive that you shouldnt read for yourself. I have found that its a great way to teach yourself how to be honest w/yourself.

Diana	06 Jan 2004
Circe: Reading for oneself can sometimes be difficult, because we are not objective enough. That is why, I think, many people say one "should" not read for oneself. But in time and with practice, one manages to do it better and better. However, there are some problems one refuses to face because they are too hard, too complicated, or so deeply ingrained that we don't even think they are problems, and then I think it is far better to get someone else to do the reading from someone. It is easy to miss out on something when one is reading for oneself. As to the cards eventually only answering questions about oneself, that is, in my opinion, absolute rubbish, as allibee so elegantly put it.

Aerten	08 Jan 2004
Heh... WPB... gotta remember that expression. I've been perusing a lot of tarot books lately and it seems to me that much of what authors write sometimes looks like either filler, or an attempt to make their book different from others. As for reading for yourself, that's the only kind of tarot consulting I do! I wouldn't be able to read for someone else, because no matter how hard I tried not to let them, I know my personal interpretations of images would slip in there. I think going by this gut instinct based on your own personal experiences is half of what tarot is, anyway, so I would recommend sticking with reading for yourself as well as others! But of course to each their own... Ahem, the purpose of this post is: go with what you find most helpful to yourself. If it's fulfilling for you and others to read for others, then keep at it, I'm sure you'll help a lot of people :)

allibee	08 Jan 2004
There is nothing wrong with reading just for yourself, nor for other people, however I think the statement raised in the book, was that the cards would *only* answer questions about ourselves and is total .... Balderdash :) Codswallop :) Tripe :) Pants :) IMHO ... LOL

The Reading for others or reading for oneself? thread was originally posted on 04 Jan 2004 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.