Reading places?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 13 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Shalott	13 May 2004
Hey, Do you guys notice that you have better luck reading in certain places? I seem to have an enormous problem reading at home...not consistently...but it seems like I've had the worst, most nonsensical readings at home, but at work (I have an unusual job where there's often literally nothing to do and nobody around) I can get these really wonderful, insightful readings...I'm kind of trying to narrow it down as to why I've had a rash of bad readings lately, they've all been at home. I've looked through my journal and thought "OK, that was wrong, that was wrong..." it's either my decks or the place, or something is blocking my psyche...strange. Any insights are MOST welcome...

kerri28	13 May 2004
Sorry, no great insights here.lol Um, no I haven't felt that the location had a bearing on the accuracy of the readings. But, I will only read in a place that feels right energy wise and where I can have abit of quiet to tap into the cards.

Alissa	13 May 2004
I've had places I refused to read, because they weren't right. I won't read while sitting next to the DJ, beneath the speakers, for example ;). SCREAMING a reading isn't my style. ("THIS CARD IS THE PAGE OF CUPS... IT SHOWS TIMES OF NEW EMOTIONAL BEGINNINGS...." "WHAT??" "NEW EMOTIONAL BEGINNINGS!!!") But I usually like to read wherever and whenver I can. At other peoples homes, at my home. I had a terrible experience in a Starbucks once. But I would still read in public again.

sagitarian	13 May 2004
I do not experience this with tarot, however, I do experience this with writing. For some reason, I can't write at home. I have to have the coffee/diner type of place in order to write. Something along the lines of Denny's. I've tried and tried to write at home, and I just "can't". For me, writing was always a way to "escape" and purge my thoughts, feelings, and events of the day. In order for me to write and really feel like I'm purging, I need to be out of the house. I felt that maybe this might help you in some way. When you started reading, where did you commonly read at? What type of environment, why do you read? What are you trying to accomplish by reading? Is this in some way counter productive by staying at home to do your readings? If so, is there a way you can do both? The only other thing I would suggest is perhaps its time to cleanse? Get some good ole sage and smudge? Or whatever method you feel works best for you. Good luck on better readings.

hyatt	13 May 2004
Hmmmm.......I feel most comfortable at home and SUPER weird reading at work. Have you thought about maybe you have issues being comfortable at home? Perhaps you have noisy neighboors that break your concentration? Do you have another person where you live that does not approve of Tarot? I would spend time thinking about what is blocking the energy in your home.

ros	13 May 2004
I have a room at home where I like to read. When I read at other places, if I'm not comfortable I find I have to focus more on the reading. I also find sometime it is not the place where I read it is the person whom I'm reading for. What ever the cause for uneasiness I just focus on the reading, & leave the situation quickly & in a positive note.

Emily	13 May 2004
I always used to do my readings on the dining room table, very formal, keeping things nice and neat but for some reason one day I decided to read outside in the garden on the bench, it was an eye opening experience. I love to read in different places now, I read mostly on the living room carpet or lay the cards out on the sofa, I've read in hotel rooms and on the beach, I use a spread cloth when I read outside but not indoors. I can't wait for this summer when I can take to reading outdoors again under the Sun or a warm evening under the Moon. :)

punchinella	13 May 2004
I used to read at the kitchen table, with candles, soft music, etc., & then suddenly I lost all interest in this sort of thing & my readings (& deck collection) moved upstairs to the bedroom. Now I read on the bedroom floor, laying cards right out on the carpet. It's the only place that feels right. It's more personal I guess (being where I sleep) . . . even when I read for others I prefer to do it on the bedroom floor :| Shalott, it definitely sounds to me as though you must be more relaxed, for whatever reason, at work than at home . . . I wonder could this be because when you set out to read at home it becomes formal & the pressure starts to build, whereas at work you just throw cards out without a lot of ceremony? (I think doing away with expectation & ceremony is a large part of why the bedroom floor works best for me now!) --Just a thought-- Punch

Shalott	14 May 2004
Well there is definitely someone in my house who disapproves of Tarot...it might make a difference if I could read in my room but there isn't one single surface that's big enough to hold more than a 3 card spread and I generally don't like 3-card spreads. Plus there's kitties who demand a lot of attention at home, and at work there's no distractions. It is very possible that I feel more comfortable at work - partially because when I work the overnight shift I can do things like play with my cards! I have yet to be able to read when I have a casual attitude, I have to make a very conscious effort to concentrate. Funnily, I also have trouble writing at home, and I wonmder if there's not a feng-shui thing that's messed up with my room right now. I USED to be able to write at home, on my 'puter, when I had dial-up, because the phone hook up was against one wall. Now that I've had cable internet, the cable hook up in on the opposite wall and it's like my creative juices just can't flow there now. I keep trying to come up with a way to move my puter to it's old wall, but I'd have to move too many things now so I have yet to come up with a way. I wonder if, if I could come up with a way, if it would solve my reading at home probs, too. I have smudged! I thought that might help but I'm not sure if it has, I also tried lighting a sage incense stick on the dining room table while I read. AND I sit in my dad's spot due to the fact that he's OK with Tarot, even interested himself. I'll experiment. Thanks for all the input!

punchinella	15 May 2004
Well if it's a Feng Shui issue have you thought about mirrors? --Is your back to the doorway now (in which case mirrors might help)? Or possibly an "arrow-chi" issue is to blame (remedied with plants, chimes &/ crystals???)

Shalott	15 May 2004
Crikey! Punchinella, I don't know a whole lot about feng shui, except that I'm probably breaking a ton of the guidelines in my room - I have a whole apartment full of stuff stuffed into a small bedroom. Windows on the east, door to west, desk (main creative nerve center :) )to north, bed to south. The desk used to be next to the bed, on the south wall. I dunno what if anything all this means! I know they say you shouldn't have your desk in your bedroom, but there's no real choice now. I think I need to sit down with a schematic and figure out: how to get all the cords over there, and where to put the stuff that's currently where the desk used to be! SHEESH!!! OOO OOO OOO I think I have an idea...I'll have to enlist my dad's help with all the cables! Thanks for getting my brain going!

Kiama	15 May 2004
I'll read anywhere... I learned to read for strangers and people who I don't know in pubs, so I always feel comforted by the smell of pubs when doing readings. Coffee houses too. I find though, that it doesn't matter where I do the reading, but what time I do it. In the morning, as soon as I wake up, I give great readings. Catch me in the Post-Lunch-Dip around 3pm and I'm tired, so I won't be able to find the right words to use for the reading. Catch me later at night and I'll do a great reading too, especially if you buy me a drink... ;) I do enjoy reading outside though... As long as the wind isn't too strong. Blessings, Kiama

Nycelle	15 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by sagitarian I do not experience this with tarot, however, I do experience this with writing. For some reason, I can't write at home. I have to have the coffee/diner type of place in order to write. Something along the lines of Denny's. I've tried and tried to write at home, and I just "can't". For me, writing was always a way to "escape" and purge my thoughts, feelings, and events of the day. In order for me to write and really feel like I'm purging, I need to be out of the house. Natalie Goldberg finds something similar- in Writing Down the Bones, she says that she can't write if there is a sink full of dishes, because she'll wash them to avoid writing. But by going to the cafe, she implies a commitment. At the moment, I still don't feel comfortable pursuing Tarot at all outside my home. Or inside, depending on the time of day . . . :)

Shalott	15 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Nycelle Natalie Goldberg finds something similar- in Writing Down the Bones, she says that she can't write if there is a sink full of dishes, because she'll wash them to avoid writing. But by going to the cafe, she implies a commitment. AH-hah! I totally get that! I usually dwell on the dishes, to remind myself to do them, to the point where it becomes a distraction!

The Reading places? thread was originally posted on 13 May 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.