Drained after reading for others

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

Darla	04 Feb 2004
When I read for myself I don't have any problems but when I'm doing readings for others I'm usually finding myself to be pretty much drained afterwards. Does this happen to someone else too? Why is there a difference?

sagitarian	04 Feb 2004
When I do readings using just tarot alone (vs. oracle decks) then i get drained, whether it is just for myself or others. When I use oracle decks, I do not experience the drainage (at all!). My explanation for this is, when I use tarot, I'm using only myself, my own energy, and it's very exhausting. It's much like using straight clairovoyance, it's very draining very quickly when using your energies and gifts alone. When I use my oracle decks, I feel as though I'm connecting with the essence of the deck (My FAerie Froud deck is the one I mainly use), I'm connecting with the fae and their world. It seems more like, the message comes through me vs. from me alone. Sometimes I can almost hear the fae whispering in my ear the messages I am to give to my querents.

TemperanceAngel	04 Feb 2004
Maybe your not protecting yourself? I find the opposite, unless someone is really hard work. How about smudging in between readings? Do you burn incense, have a candle lit? Sorry I have not been much help.... The energy should be an 'exchange', not all of yours :) XTAX

Original Destiny	04 Feb 2004
There is no easy answer to this... because you put so much of yourself into a reading it will drain you... time will make a difference... your mind/body will ajust to these new demands... its like taking up a sport for the first time.... you ache all over till you ajust... till you become used to it.... persevere... dont push the river...it flows by its self

Umbrae	04 Feb 2004
Warning: This is based on personal experience, what worked for me – results may vary – this package is packed by weight and not by volume, some settling may occur… Two things keep me from getting drained. I used to get drained, but now I flood when I’m doing lots of readings for others. That means massive quantities of water. The other, is before and after each reading, I mentally go over my body, and relax it (that quiet time you take before the reading – and after). I don’t protect or shield (they are not part of my practice), I take in, assimilate, that which is around me. Works for me…

ros	04 Feb 2004
I watch what I eat before & drink water before, during & after.

TemperanceAngel	04 Feb 2004
As Umbrea mentioned (how could I forget?) Water, litres of it, it really does help :D XTAX

ol_crazy_Legs	05 Feb 2004
I have realised slowly over time that i too feel drained after a reading for someone else. I always thought it was because I am still in the begining stages of developing my physic intuition. So in thought maybe because my inner-self isnt used to "peaking out" and looking into another persons... life if you will. Perhaps this is why i dont feel so drained when reading only for myself.

katrananda	05 Feb 2004
I agree with others. Lots of water. Sometimes I put Rescue Remedy in the water, sometimes tissue salts. Every now and then, if I know I'm going to be doing a lot of readings, I add lemonade to the water. I'm told that 2/3 lemonade, 1/3 water is the easiest way to stay hydrated. If I'm doing a party where I know I'll be doing up to 12 readings, I schedule breaks, where I get up, walk around, and have something to eat. I'm told meat is very grounding, but as I'm vego, I go for light food like celery, carrots, dip. Asking for protection before readings helps. Occasionally I've used the flower essence Fringed Violet to make sure I'm not picking up anyone else's junk while I'm reading. I dab it on my third eye and the back of my neck.

ol_crazy_Legs	05 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by katrananda Asking for protection before readings helps. How do you go about asking for protection?

Umbrae	05 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by ol_crazy_Legs How do you go about asking for protection? Western man, seeing dragons – had to kill them. Asians revered them. Western man has this thing, if we don’t understand it, we kill it, if we cannot kill it – build a fence around ourselves, to keep it out. Protection in the spirit world is the same. Open up your dog-eared copy of Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom to page 33. Go down to the second paragraph…read on down the page, pay particular attention to the discussion of shamans and we end with this statement…”It says something about our culture that our wizards stand inside magic circles to make sure the demons cannot touch them.” We learned in the prior paragraphs and sentences that the shaman does not protect himself (or herself), instead they channel and direct the energies available to them. Just food for thought…. But hey, IMHO – Don’t kill the dragon…or fence them out…she may be trying to tell you something…and you may have to get close to listen…brave the fire lass…

SongDeva	05 Feb 2004
Perhaps similar to Umbrae: It all goes back to your spiritual beliefs/understandings. Have a good set of them to rely on, even if they are ever evolving. I personally channel in healing or reading, so I focus on accepting energy from spirit to use in the reading. Also, in terms of protection, I attended a great seminar on a particular deck, that also shared a great meditation for those who are concerned with protection but don't want to build walls due to what you might lose out on. The goal of the meditation is to enhance your own vibration, make it as big as possible. Done thusly, anything that comes in contact with you will either try to rise to match you, or will be repelled and will leave you. I guess this is true until you come in contact with an even bigger one, at which point you get to do the rising or increasing. :) It's worked FABULOUSLY well for me. Perhaps because protection is based on fear....and this is based on claiming your power. Which again goes back to spiritual beliefs. I believe nothing in the universe has dominion over me, such that it must leave me if I tell it to. I like this: Go with God, by by God's grace GO! :)

mac22	05 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae Western man, seeing dragons – had to kill them. Asians revered them. Western man has this thing, if we don’t understand it, we kill it, if we cannot kill it – build a fence around ourselves, to keep it out. Protection in the spirit world is the same. Open up your dog-eared copy of Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom to page 33. Go down to the second paragraph…read on down the page, pay particular attention to the discussion of shamans and we end with this statement…”It says something about our culture that our wizards stand inside magic circles to make sure the demons cannot touch them.” We learned in the prior paragraphs and sentences that the shaman does not protect himself (or herself), instead they channel and direct the energies available to them. Just food for thought…. But hey, IMHO – Don’t kill the dragon…or fence them out…she may be trying to tell you something…and you may have to get close to listen…brave the fire lass… This is great advice. It's better to learn to live in harmony, then destroy the dragons imho

katrananda	06 Feb 2004
Asking for protection: I hold my tarot cards in my hands and ask that the highest good of all concerned be served. I ask that universal energy be used during the reading instead of my own(helps to be a reiki channel I think). For general help, I would ask that whatever deity/help I believe in come present for the duration of the reading for guidance and protection. When I feel the energy has settled, I do the reading.

Darla	06 Feb 2004
Thank you all so much for your answers. You have given me a lot of stuff to think about and to try.

The Drained after reading for others thread was originally posted on 04 Feb 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.