Reading for other tarot readers VS. non-readers

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 25 Sep 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Pook	25 Sep 2004
Earlier this week, I offered readings in the exchange forum, and ever since have been having problems. (This is also part of the problem for a couple of people here who I owe your readings to...Please be patient with me. I am working on them, just a little slower than I originally iontended.) It starts because since I know that most people here have at least a cursory knowledge of tarot, I keep thinking that I am leaving things out because they should already know that about a certain card, or they would be able to tell how it ties in with another card in their life better than I would, and I feel like I am going to insult their intelligence or something. But when reading for a non-tarot reading person, I feel like I am getting all lengthy and boring trying to get then to see how things tie in together and what traditional meanings are for each card as well as what I see it to mean for that reading. There must be a way for me to balance without getting too lengthy or cutting the reading short of information.

wildchilde	26 Sep 2004
Hi MoonDreameR! Just a thought, but perhaps you are trying to "move too fast"...as in taking on more reading subjects than you are prepared to handle right now. You seem to be putting way too much stress on yourself, and possibly need to slow down and/or even "take a break" for awhile. As to your question...I would think that all serious readers have this feeling of insecurity pop up from time to time. Personally I feel that there are two things that are important here: 1) that the subject gets to actually SEE the cards laid out in the spread...either in person or through a picture or sometype of print or web media. Afterall, the cards are speaking to the querrent! As readers we are only here to try to interpret as best we can what the images mean in relation to the question. And if the subject can visually take in the cards and the spread, they have the opportunity to allow these images to permeate their conscious and subconscious mind so that the cards may speak directly to them as needed. 2) I don't believe that it is MY job as a reader to cover everything the card may mean or have to say. It is simply my job to start the subject down the path the inner revelation. Some are ready for the journey and some are not. Those that are need little information to get where they are going, and those that aren't can be "talked at" till you are blue in the face and still not get it at this time. Maybe a good idea for the "length" issues in your readings that you mentioned would be to concentrate wholly on the question the subject asks before and during the reading and focus your comments about the meaning of the cards and the story they tell in that moment in direct relation to the question rather than worrying about what you might be leaving out. Each card has a myriad of meanings and they do not all apply to the question that has been posed. Also, if you are not doing this, consider creating a "ritual" with the cards that is right for you when you do a reading. Mine is thus...I turn all cards upright before shuffling, then I clear myself and the cards, then I shuffle in a specific way (everytime regardless of deck), I keep the question in my mind at all times and after shuffling I pose the question aloud and/or through "prayer". If reading for someone they cut the deck, or if alone I cut the deck in a specific way. These are the things that came natural to me, "your mileage may differ". However, it does help I think to have a ritual that is specific to you as it helps connect you to the cards and clear your mind from feelings of inadequacy or worry. Hope this long statement will be of some use to you. Meanwhile, just try taking good care of yourself. Be good to yourself and let the cards do what they need to do. :)

Imagemaker	26 Sep 2004
Quote: when reading for a non-tarot reading person, I feel like I am getting all lengthy and boring trying to get then to see how things tie in together and what traditional meanings are for each card as well as what I see it to mean for that reading. This sounds like you're mixing teaching with reading. I think of a spread as a message that I'm to pass on to the querent. I'm not the source, I'm the channel. I'm not there to "fix" things for the querent or to take responsibility for how they receive the information (beyond phrasing the message with compassion and generous intent). We're all in different stages of learning and doing. It's important to just be where you are, not judge yourself for what you feel is lacking. If your intent and grounding are good, aim to just let things unfold as they will.

Pook	29 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by wildchilde Just a thought, but perhaps you are trying to "move too fast"...as in taking on more reading subjects than you are prepared to handle right now. You seem to be putting way too much stress on yourself, and possibly need to slow down and/or even "take a break" for awhile. :) You are sort of right. Not that I am taking on more than I can handle, more like I took on too many at a bad time. My life took a very unexpected turn this past week, and I haven't had a lot of time for readings, but want to do them anyway. I am probably going to be taking a break, though, due to circumstances. Maybe it will help. Quote: originally posted by wildchilde I don't believe that it is MY job as a reader to cover everything the card may mean or have to say. It is simply my job to start the subject down the path the inner revelation. On the other hand, I feel like if I dont give them as much information as I can, they might miss the turn off to the path. Oh, and Imagemaker, you are a little bit right about mixing some teaching in. Sometimes I just want people to feel about tarot the way that I do. How great and insightful it is and how it can be such a fantastic tool for self-enlightenment, and I will admit that I have gotten carried away. :| Thanks for pointing that out. I will try to be more aware of it in future readings.

Umbrae	30 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by MoonDreameR But when reading for a non-tarot reading person, I feel like I am getting all lengthy and boring trying to get then to see how things tie in together and what traditional meanings are for each card as well as what I see it to mean for that reading. Perhaps it’s a fear of ‘being wrong’. Trying to ‘cover all the bases’. “No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797) Ya know…being wrong is part of the learning. Sorting out your meaning against traditional meanings. Just read – it matters not what somebody else thinks or your interpretation of such and such a card. What matters is the core and context of what comes out of your mouth – how does it fit with their life and life issues…and intellectualizing the process may cloud it (if I get the proper take on your reading style).

The 78th Fool	30 Sep 2004
A friend of mine who is an experienced tarot reader and gifted intuitive has recently agreed to exchange readings with me. It's the most richly rewarding experience I've had with the Tarot and it's very different from reading for someone with no knowledge of the cards. Neither of us have ever felt we were stating the obvious or teaching each other things we already knew. Rather, our styles of reading are so radically different from each other that we've much to learn. It must be working because it's something neither of us have had to stop and think about. Chris. xx

mercenary30	30 Sep 2004
When I read, no matter who for, I stay focused on the question and what the cards are saying. If it is a live reading than the interfacing with the querent can certainly expand and direct a reading. For an online, email reading obviously that will not work. But if you distract yourself with demands of tarot perfection, you will find the reading hard to do....... but like my signature says.... Quote: "Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't try to do things. You simply must do things." -- Ray Bradbury

Pook	30 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by mercenary30 but like my signature says.... "Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't try to do things. You simply must do things." -- Ray Bradbury Or....in the words of Yoda " Try not. Do or do not. There is no try." sorry, i just had to put that in there. I'm a big yoda fan and thats what your sig reminded me of. :D

Semiramis	30 Sep 2004
Hi MoonDreameR - as far as reading for us fellow readers, the important thing is that you can give us different insights and points of view on the cards that you draw, and it's very helpful to compare. And you're not insulting our intelligence! For non-readers, I often find that if I start talking about the general meanings of the card, the querent will often pinpoint a specific meaning that is relevant to them. That's why I like to get lots of feedback from the querent as I'm reading the cards, a complete story emerges that way.

Ace	30 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by MoonDreameR On the other hand, I feel like if I dont give them as much information as I can, they might miss the turn off to the path. that is NOT your problem, MoonDreamR. You give them the information the cards have to give, if they don't get it, or want more, let them ask questions at the end. But start by relaxing and NOT trying so hard. You are doing fine for readers and non-readers alike by just babbling at them. (or babble typing at them!) Most non-readers really don't care about how it works, they want answers they can hear. The just the Facts, ma'am! So slow down, give them the answer to the question asked, and don't confuse them with more facts than they need. You don't have to justify what you said, your a psychic, you are supposed to trust your feelings! (and anyone who wants to fight the statement that all people and all tarot readers aren't psychic, can meet me at the OK thread correl!)

DesertHowler	01 Oct 2004
I'm not looking for a long and elaborate explanation. I am looking for what they see in the cards. I'm looking for a different slant, possibly, than my own. When I read for someone, a fellow reader or not, I try to provide my insights into the cards and the reading and not what convention is. I try to present my results as briefly as possible, being very careful in the choice of words. I always include pictures of the cards and a picture of the layout for each reading when I work over the internet. If there is something special in the picture or in card relationships, I try to point it out. I don't spend a lot of time because I am afraid that my brain will become involved and screw up everything. DesertHowler All things are sacred; nothing is sacred

The Reading for other tarot readers VS. non-readers thread was originally posted on 25 Sep 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.