Do you ever make people wait before you will read for them?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Aug 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Ace	30 Aug 2004
One questions for all you readers of others: Do you ever make people WAIT before you will read them? I do do readings on the spot, especially for a quick question. But for an in-deph reading where they are paying for my time, I make them wait a week (and pay in advance, but that is another thing). I feel that waiting makes them stop and think about what they need to know. Many querents really don't need a full reading, just a simple answer or even a little reassurance, and the full reading would be a waste of money. But if, after a week, they still need a reading, they can see the problem in prospective and a full reading really helps. What do you guys think?

dadsnook2000	30 Aug 2004
Yes, this last week I made an elderly lady wait four days before I would read for her. She had been to Provincetown on Cape Cod (here in New England) and had gone to a Palm Reader. This was not a good experience for her -- the lady couldn't read, didn't get any "hits" and just took her money. When she returned to the cottage community we were both at (she was the mother of our summer neighbor) she complained bitterly about being cheated out of her twenty dollars. She asked me to do a tarot reading for her so she would have something for her money. I didn't read for her. Several days later after she had calmed down I did read for her. She wouldn't ask a question -- just wanted a reading. Her spread was very unusual. I did a Celtic Cross -- the cross and cards to the side were all Majors. She had four court cards; the Queen of Swords above the cross and the Page of Swords, Knight of Swords Rx and Knight of Cups in the the 8, 9, 10 positions. Two pentacle cards were at the bottom of the cross and staff. The reading was dead on. I don't think she has stopped talking about it yet. Dave.

ladymermaid	30 Aug 2004
no i don't make the person wait. i give them a reading right away.

ros	30 Aug 2004
When I'm asked I usually give readings BUT some people if they start talking about reading and want one, if I feel they are just asking for fun, I'll change the subject or get busy to advoid them or wait til next time. Most people I'll read for but some I get busy, money or not. So making them wait is a question of how the situation was when they asked.

Kit	31 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by ros if they start talking about reading and want one, if I feel they are just asking for fun, I'll change the subject or get busy to advoid them or wait til next time. This I agree with. If anyone doesn't have a good, sincere desire for me to read for them, I will avoid doing a reading for them "just for fun". That's one time I will make a person wait (or I may not read for them at all, EVER). Those sort of readings backfire and I feel it trivialises the tarot. Raeven

Bosorka	31 Aug 2004
I do read sometimes for people who just wonder what tarot is. Though they donīt take it for anything more than just a game, itīs always a good experience and few of them started to believe in tarot more than I like, as readings was accurate. But I found out that when question is really serious, my readings are much better. And I donīt let people wait for readings. But always I let them time to think about question and I make them to formulate it as most concrete as they can. When I tell people that the cards answer EXACTLY what will be asked, they stop for the moment and usually rephrase the question.

Kiama	31 Aug 2004
It depends where I am, and what the question is. A lot of the time I'll be in a pub or somewhere in public, and the question is easily answered with a few cards. If, however, the question is focusing on something deadly serious, we can't afford the distractions of a public place so I'll set a time and date for the reading. Kiama

Trogon	31 Aug 2004
The only time I would make someone wait for a reading is if, as Kiama said, the place is inappropriate (too many distractions or too public for a very personal type of reading). Or, if I was unable to do a reading at that time (such as not having enough time). Otherwise, most people get their readings when they ask for them. By the way, I give a lot of readings in my work place... probably gonna get in trouble for it one of these days. ;) But, as long as there isn't anything going on at the time and someone wants a reading... they get it then and there. Several of my coworkers have asked for readings on subjects as varying as their love life, their careers, and... even a fishing tournament once (that one was surprisingly accurate... :D ). And... I don't mind doing a Tarot reading for "fun" ... I think we all need some fun in our lives every now and then. One of my clients who has come back for about 4 readings now, started out with a reading "just for curiosity"... to see what a Tarot reading was like. I think he was pretty satisfied.

Shalott	31 Aug 2004
Except in unusual cases, I never would have even considered making ppl wait, other than waiting until I have time to sit down and do one. The only person I refused was one of the few opportunities I've had to read face-to-face: a friend of mine who is very high energy and very very talkative, and I didn't think he'd be able to be quietly long enough for me to concentrate. So I asked if he had a specific issue and kind of dropped it when he couldn't come up with anything. I didn't volunteer a "free form."

Jeanette	31 Aug 2004
Well, I guess you'll all be horrified, because I read primarily for family at parties and get-togethers without pay and mostly just for fun! I'm not professional at all, I guess. But my readings are usually accurate, and even though they may start out just for fun, they usually end up pretty serious when I start telling them about situations I know nothing about. The only time I didn't read for somebody right when they asked was when we were getting ready to leave the party, it was quite late and we had a very long drive ahead of us. I had been reading for about 2 hours, and was starting to lose my voice! I still haven't read for this person, but I want to eventually. I think life should be fun whenever possible, and you can have fun at something without trivializing it. I know how powerful tarot readings can be, and that's all that matters. I wouldn't want to read for somebody who was just being disrespectful towards me (interrupting, obnoxious, doubting or challenging me, etc.). Fortunately, I haven't had to deal with anything like that and hope I never do. Most of the people I read for are very curious, and have all sorts of tarot-related questions which I'll gladly answer as best as I can.

Ace	31 Aug 2004
thanks everyone for your imput! I get calls (from Strangers that found me in the phone book) that start telling you their story before you can get to setting up a reading. Those are the ones I DON'T want to read for, they want to hear that their (usually rotten) boyfriend will come back to them. Even if it is true, I don't want to be bothered dealing with it. And they always want it NOW. As for you Jeanette, never apologize: I think that doing Tarot is the most fun you can have with your clothes on! (in fact, I think I might change my signature line....) BUt do think about the amount of energy you are putting out for free. Do you get anything back for working so much you are losing your voice?

Mystica	02 Sep 2004
We are talking about in-person readings here, not internet, right? For my local readings, especially with those not all that familiar with Tarot, a bit of "preparation" does enhance the experience for the querent. I suggest that my clients give some thought to their question(s) ahead of time. People are often nervous about a first time reading. When I schedule an appointment (anywhere from 2 to 5 days in advance) I take a few minutes to talk to the client. Give them a general idea of what to expect from a Tarot reading, and often, some advice about forming questions in order to make the most of our time together. There are so many misconceptions, such a lack of understanding about Tarot, yet people are still curious. Some conversation, answering some basic questions beforehand goes a long way. There is so much knowledge and understanding of the Tarot on this board. It's all too easy to forget that most of the querents we will encounter have a totally different mindset. Isn't it a part of our mission as readers to help clarifiy some of the misconceptions, as best we can?

Shalott	03 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Ace thanks everyone for your imput! I get calls (from Strangers that found me in the phone book) that start telling you their story before you can get to setting up a reading. Those are the ones I DON'T want to read for, they want to hear that their (usually rotten) boyfriend will come back to them. Even if it is true, I don't want to be bothered dealing with it. And they always want it NOW. THAT I can understand! :) (It's really sad that this is so common...)

Ho Kok Hong	18 Sep 2004
No.People ask me for fortune telling usually come to me.So,I read in front of them. There was once a querant ask me if I could help his friend for fortune telling(his friend is in the other states and she ask me by using handphone)I agree and the result come out quite well. I don'r agree that fortune telling can be delayed because the querant luck will change.So,better give the answer in that day.

The Do you ever make people wait before you will read for them? thread was originally posted on 30 Aug 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.