So MANY different interpetations of a reading?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

mj07	05 May 2004
I was just reading through some posts under "Your Readings" and noticing how on a few of them there are several different interpretations for what the throw means. Say you're asking for advice, you can't understand the cards, one person tells you "do this!" another "do the opposite of that!" and a third "do something half way between those options!" How are you supposed to figure it out? (same does for "it means this!" or "it means the opposite!" or "it means something altogether different!")

miss_apples	05 May 2004
Actually different inturpretations help a lot. It helps to see all the different options that you may have not seen yourself.

mj07	05 May 2004
true, but what if you're trying to make some sort of decision?

eastarot	05 May 2004
Varied interpretations lend flavour and depth to a reading:) But none of the readings can actually make our decision up for us. ultimately we are responsible for ourselves. If you have to make a decision and have many options, base your decision on what feels most in tune with you. blessings eastarot

raeanne	06 May 2004
Hi mj07, Your life and your decisions are totally your own. Tarot doesn’t give you the answer. Neither do friends or family. They can give opinions and suggestions, but the final decision is up to you and it always has been. Tarot is a box of 78 friends giving you ideas. You have to look over the different ideas and choose the one that best fits for you.

mj07	06 May 2004
hmmm... maybe I should phrase this differently. I asked b/c someone had posted a thread something like whether their friend should leave their current job/situation and do something else or stay. Interpretations of the spread ran from he should leave to he's happy where he is. Yes, obviously we all have free will and the cards aren't going to control his fate. My question is, when readers can have so many different interpretations of the same spread, how do you choose which interpretation to give the querent?

dadsnook2000	06 May 2004
mj07, your question is simple . . . but the responses, like the card readings, are varied. Perhaps we can look at this from another perspective. At one end of the knowledge-skill-experience (KSE) scale we have the Rachael Polacks and Mary Greers. At the other end of the scale we have someone who just bought their first deck and book. In between these two end points we have several parallel paths leading from the "I know very little about this" level to the "I know a lot about this and have helped many" level. Each tarot reader is on one or more of those paths and brings their own maturity, knowledge, experience and number of readings, interest, etc. to an individual reading. THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT EACH READING GIVEN IS PROBABLY SOMEWHAT "RIGHT" in terms of being helpful and applicable. Thats the beauty of Tarot -- we can all be "right" even though the depth, sophistication, accuracy and helpfulness of the reading given may vary. This is the mystery of Tarot -- its a heart-to-heart thing, a helping and caring process. Its the connection and insight that one can give to another that is important. Dave

Alissa	06 May 2004
mj, I remember when I started "book studying" Tarot I hit this same spot you're in. "There's a zillion freakin-A meanings, how am I ever supposed to know what's right for my querent, when I can't even remember all the variations on just ONE card?" Or, as I remember firemaiden bewailing, once upon a long long ago time, "Any cards can mean anything!!!" I felt like I was going cross eyed, "marble eyed" as my friend Joanne used to say - eyes glazed over in confusion. How can truth be found if that's the case? To get through this, I just keep reading. And then... there comes a point, as your reading, which is more like what dadsnook was elegantly illustrating above - things begin to shift. You begin to see that the Queen of Swords may be a widower, like the Little White Book says, but she may also be someone who has cut themselves off from their emotions in order to make sound decisions in the current time. Or both. The sheer number of repetitions... how many times you read, for different folks, with different questions... is what teaches you what the card "ReallY" means. Your meaning for the Queen of Swords may be different than the books, and than mine... and that's okay... :) And remember too, each card takes on a "flavor" in the reading as it sits to the other cards next to it. They begin to compliment or repel one another, shading meaning and providing context as well.

mj07	06 May 2004
thanks, Dave, I'll try and keep that in mind! Quote: Originally posted by Alissa mj, I remember when I started "book studying" Tarot I hit this same spot you're in. "There's a zillion freakin-A meanings, how am I ever supposed to know what's right for my querent, when I can't even remember all the variations on just ONE card?" Or, as I remember firemaiden bewailing, once upon a long long ago time, "Any cards can mean anything!!!" I felt like I was going cross eyed, "marble eyed" as my friend Joanne used to say - eyes glazed over in confusion. How can truth be found if that's the case? To get through this, I just keep reading. And then... there comes a point, as your reading, which is more like what dadsnook was elegantly illustrating above - things begin to shift. You begin to see that the Queen of Swords may be a widower, like the Little White Book says, but she may also be someone who has cut themselves off from their emotions in order to make sound decisions in the current time. Or both. The sheer number of repetitions... how many times you read, for different folks, with different questions... is what teaches you what the card "ReallY" means. Your meaning for the Queen of Swords may be different than the books, and than mine... and that's okay... :) And remember too, each card takes on a "flavor" in the reading as it sits to the other cards next to it. They begin to compliment or repel one another, shading meaning and providing context as well. thank you, alissa, I think you've hit the nail on the head, which also pinpoints the reason why I'm reluctant to do readings for people right now. How do you decide what the card means? but maybe some of this is going off topic?

Alissa	06 May 2004
Each person's process of finding out what Tarot means to them is highly personal, so what advice follows next is... necessarily... universal. The best way to find out what your cards mean is to JOURNAL. :D Keep journals of your readings. Make a tarot journal of your own with a page devoted to each of the 78 cards, if you like, as many do. You can go back to it and add insights that you don't want to forget, as you continue learning and reading. Go back and reread old readings, and you will surprise yourself at new insights from idea you wrote ages ago. Patterns begin to emerge for individual cards that become more universal, but you have to have a lotta input to see it all, is the trick. And journalling is the best way to keep track of it. You can't see the "meta-pattern" until you have a lot of input, a lot of readings, and a lot of studying if you wish, but don't put books over reading, I'd say! Read the books if you must, but don't forget to listen inside. For firemaiden, when she and I were talking of this similar experience of the A-Ha~! moment in Tarot reading, she said it happened for her when she realized, "A rubber chicken in a card reading is a rubber chicken. And a telephone pole is a telephone pole." What she meant was, if what she seemed to be seeing in the yellow bird on the card was "rubber chicken" she had to just start SAYING it. No matter how silly things seemed, and they will seem silly if you first start reading this way. Sometimes "rubber chicken" means something significant to the querent. As crazy as it sounds to us, as the reader. That's a kinda far out example, I hope you get my drift. :) Believe in what the card is saying to you AT THE TIME YOUR READING IT, and not what the book said about it last week. It may be totally different than the book, and it may be totally right. And you won't know until you open your mouth and TRY, which is hard I know. :D Somone else once gave this very good advice too. Learn to let the reading go. Don't make it about you, and what you think the cards mean. Let it be about them, the querent. This can help you begin to second guess yourself less often. You won't be thinking, "how many times should I shuffle, and how do I know if this court card means a person or a situation..." as often. Hope some of these ideas are helpful.... :D

dadsnook2000	06 May 2004
In addition to our experience and viewpoints, I consider two other elements in a Tarot reading to be highly important: the Question and the Spread. The cards have to be read in terms of the question (or what you intuitively know is behind the question) and in terms of the spread. The spread provides a framework for interpretation and each position, each card relative to the other cards, points to emphasizing some general meanings and minimizing other general meanings. This is where the "story" or whole overall meaning starts to take shape. Following that is where you can both fill in details that you see and bring in the querent to help clarify the message of the cards. Dave.

mj07	07 May 2004
so, Dave (and others) do you believe there are cases where it's hard to answer a question, or read the cards, because the spread isn't appropriate?

dadsnook2000	08 May 2004
mj07, I believe that the spread and question have to be closely linked. Lets look at the question, first. QUESTION: For example; "Should I consider taking a new job offer?" What might be the components or elements that would drive someone to ask this question? Do I like my present job? Will my present job provide interest and advancement for me? Why might I like the offered job? Will that job provide long term growth, interest and advancement? Will that job have detriments or demands that will be difficult for me? How will that job fit in with my overall life's goals? Discussing or clarifying the question and sub-questions with the querent (briefly) will either determine that the question is valid or should be changed, and may suggest the important issues that need to be covered. SPREAD: I consider two issues as far as which category of spread to use. 1) Do I have a general or all purpose spread that I'm comfortable with that can be used to address the question. This grouping may (for me) include the Celtic Cross spread, the Astrological House spread, or the Triangle spread (suggested by Juliet Sharman Burke (Mythic Tarot co-creator). 2) Or do I need to use either a specialized spread (from a book or from here at AT) or make up a spread which has one card for each of the questions and issues that I noted above? In my opinion, the question the spread and the INTENT to match the cards, spread position and question is what drives the magic within us to bring forth a card set that reflects the issues and answers important to the querent. As an example of "create a spread to match the question" you can look at the various readings threads. Our Tarot Circle developed a past life spread that has been used here on AT several times in the last two weeks by contrascape. Each card looked at situations, challenges and outcomes for the most recent past life and for this life as well as looking at death/transition, what we did between lives, and what our intent was prior to this life. That is an example of what I mean by "specific" to the question. If you have any questions about the horoscope house spread or the triangle spread, post a followup message. Dave.

contrascarpe	08 May 2004
I cannot add much more than what Alissa and Dave have said. I would like to say though that I try to shy away from answering a question directly such as the one you used as an example. If someone were to come to me and say "Should I stay at this job or take the other one offered", I certainly would not answer that head on. I would probably make up a quick spread with one side showing the present job and the other side the new one. I would have a card in each showing the advantages, and one showing the disadvantages. Probably another showing what we know and one showing what is hidden. There would probably be some sort of advice card, but the reading's intent would be to open up the querent's mind to all possibilities. It is very dangerous to answer an absolute question, and anyone who makes life-changing decisions based on a single reading has bigger problems than their job, lol. Dan

mj07	08 May 2004
I'm with you on not answering absolute questions like that, Dan. In fact, when doing spreads for myself, or friends, I'm careful to word and re-word questions so they're more open. Even if it's something simple I'm wondering like, should I go out tonight, I'll try and throw several cards and word it something like "what are the benefits of going out? what are the benefits of staying home?" stuff like that. Thanks for the suggestions, Dave. I've heard of the horoscope spread, I think, but not the triangle one. Is in under Tarot Spreads some place, by any chance?

dadsnook2000	08 May 2004
The Triangel Spread can be similar to a three-card spread but it does have several advantages. Lets look at the spread layout first. The bottom (horizontal base) of the triangle has (left to right) two cards, #1 and #2. The right hand side, going upward, has two cards, #3 and #4. The left hand side, going down, has two cards, #5 and #6. A seventh card is placed in the middle. If using the spread to answer a question like "What is life bringing to me and how do I deal with it?" we can use the base side as the Present, the RH side as the Near Term, the LH side as the future. The middle card influences the whole spread. #1 would suggest what your present situation is and #2 would indicate what tools you have for dealing successfully with it. #3 would suggest where your life is heading, and #4 how you can best manage that evolving situation. #5 will suggest what the future can hold for you and #6 what you may need to develop or prepare for in order to deal with it. #7 will modify each of the three phases according to its nature. As an example of this spread, I just did a layout for myself. You'll have to pardon the brevity because I don't want to get too deep into a situation on-line, but this reading is quite appropriate. #1 = 2/cups Rx, #2 = King/cups Rx. Currently there are tensions in the relationship which can be managed only with a change of temperment or perspective. #3 = Justice, #4 = 4/swords. The situation can be stablized with continued meditation and by pulling back from criticism. #5 = Queen/pentacles Rx, #6 = 7/wands. Long term satisfaction will be difficult to achieve for both parties as both will stick to an aggressive manner and be reluctant to change. *7 = 8/wands Rx. This is a reasonably good center card to have as a reversal. It softens much of the contention indicated in the spread and suggest there is opportunity to shift directions. You can also use the Triangle spread as if it were a "double" three card spread, using two-card combinations to provide a richer meaning over a single card. And finally, the Horoscope/House spread has far more richness and specific information to impart than many give it credit for. Dave.

firemaiden	08 May 2004
I loved hearing about the telephone pole and the rubber chicken :D Sometimes what you see is important for that moment right there, and only that moment. If you enjoy reading intuitively, that is. Early this morning, I was in live chat, reading for a friend, and drew X - the Wheel of Fortune from the Medieval Scapini. For just a few seconds, I saw what appeared to be a steel trap. The kind of steel trap that poor little furry animals leave their paws in. It told me about a situation that had been a trap, which was correct. Afterwards, I realized it was not a steel trap at all, but a crown. If the card is a "living being", (as Crowley wrote) then it is a different card, every moment, depending on who is looking at it, when, and why. It is like a living mirror, or it is like the rain puddle, giving a different image every second, depending on which rain drops fall in it, and the angle of the light, and who is walking past. On the other hand, you could read using the method that meanings are fixed in stone, and never need to worry about interpretations again.

firemaiden	08 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by mj07 so, Dave (and others) do you believe there are cases where it's hard to answer a question, or read the cards, because the spread isn't appropriate? Yes. I cannot get anywhere at all, unless the questions in the spread are carefully defined to match the querants question, and what is underneath the question, and what they are really asking.

Macavity	08 May 2004
I do experience quite some difficulty when a card traditionally associated with negative meaning comes up in a position which is designed to be (broadly) "What helps me" (from the querent perspective). My main problem is then "staying on (the position) topic". Maybe e.g. the "Bad Money" of the Seven of Pentacles would expose a hitherto unnoticed hole in one's pockets? Every cloud... :laugh: But then my brain is somewhat spinning from recent (course) concepts of... Wording questions, open readings... other readings... imaginary situations. But c.f. indeed Ms. Bunnings generally laudable book! :) I just see these as different methods of the "selection process". Of simply narrowing down possibilities and Zooming in on a particular "meaning"? But (of course!) the alternative approach would be to use NO SPREAD and (with the usual plug!) employ dignities, card counting, pairing etc. to do all this work. Voila - Complete flexibility! But I think one is, as ever, concious of the lack of HUGE general interest in such things... A shame perhaps? :P Macavity

Never_Mind	08 May 2004
I think the question is valid and I will try to say what I REALLY think. When the question pertains "what to do" in relation to a situation presented, you have to read the anwser on the questioner, not the cards. You will nail the problem down to the extent that you can read that person. When the reading is a fortune-telling type of reading, you may be able to read the person as well, but oftentimes you will not. Then you have to read the cards, but your accuracy will depend on the way the question was frased. Let's look at some possibilities: "Am I going to get that job"?. Don't dispair. You have 50% chance to answer that one right. "Will he ever come back to me?" (he who had left her to pursue an affair). The answer is "he better not". "My cancer is widespread and I have been told by my doctor that I have 6 months of life, is this true?". Answer: hope is the last one to die. "Is this the right path for me?" Answer: only you can answer, but once you make up your mind, stick to it. And so on.

skytwig	09 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden If the card is a "living being", (as Crowley wrote) then it is a different card, every moment, depending on who is looking at it, when, and why. It is like a living mirror, or it is like the rain puddle, giving a different image every second, depending on which rain drops fall in it, and the angle of the light, and who is walking past. Mmmmm, I like this, Firemaiden..... Like a crystal held to the light and everyone sees a different 'rainbow', depending on their perspective..... This is a lovely thread, with much thoughtful consideration. Thank you for asking the question, mj07. And thank you for answering, Dadsnook, Alissa, eastarot, raeanne, miss_apples, contrascarpe96, firemaiden, Macavity, & Never_Mind ..... :)

mj07	09 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Macavity I do experience quite some difficulty when a card traditionally associated with negative meaning comes up in a position which is designed to be (broadly) "What helps me" (from the querent perspective). My main problem is then "staying on (the position) topic". Maybe e.g. the "Bad Money" of the Seven of Pentacles would expose a hitherto unnoticed hole in one's pockets? Every cloud... :laugh: ya, that's a situation that's always confused me, when the card position is "what will help" and you get something like, say, The Devil, or Temperence Rx, something like that! I sit there and go "huh?" and thanks, Never_Mind! those are good observations, though "reading" a person who you're reading for online makes observation a bit difficult. But you're right, sometimes you can tell alot about a person simply by the question and how they phrase it!

The So MANY different interpetations of a reading? thread was originally posted on 05 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.