Prayer before starting to read the cards

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 03 Oct 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Nec	03 Oct 2004
Hi, I'd like to know if any of you recite a prayer before starting to read the cards and if it will be fine with you to share your prayer. I wanted to start my reading with some prayer but can't figure out what to include. Thanks in advance for any help.

Fulgour	03 Oct 2004
I know a reader who created a brief incantation to sort of clear the air when using the cards. She keeps a copy of this by her reading table:

loveinspirit	04 Oct 2004
that is a lovely pray

Imagemaker	04 Oct 2004
I envision being surrounded by white light, focus within on my heartbeat or my breath and say: Love surrounds me. Faith supports me. Wisdom guides me. It just takes a few seconds of focusing and setting a high intent.

Sillanza	04 Oct 2004
I take a few deep breaths, and simply say: Please let me be an instrument of truth and insight to honor the divine spirit that lives in all of us.

Apollonia	04 Oct 2004
I say, "May I read these cards with the highest accuracy, the best of intentions, and for the greatest good of all."

Xarokys	05 Oct 2004
I usually spend a few moments to ground and center myself, and then just say a short little prayer, something like... Grant me wisdom, Give me luck, So this reading Doesn't suck. Works for me. :D

Thindelock	05 Oct 2004
For me, an oft-repeated prayer becomes empty before too long. It gets to a point where when I've said certain words so many times, I begin reciting them without thinking or feeling anything in the recitation. So, I've started to steer clear of saying the same prayer or incantation repeatedly, both in tarot and other spiritual practices. I do begin most such endeavors with a prayer, it's just never the same one twice: I ground myself, focus my mind, and say what comes to me. I know not everyone has this problem, and I know a great many people who get a good deal out of repeated, scripted prayer and ritual. It just isn't for me. Every prayer for me is a spontaneous act, and for me that makes it more personal and heartfelt. As always, just one man's opinion.

Jeanette	05 Oct 2004
Xarokys, I love that prayer! May I use it & share it? And Thindelock, I understand what you mean. However, I pray the rosary every day (lots of repetition there) and after a while, the repetition sort of moves you up to a different level. Sort of like a mantra. So that now when I pray the rosary, I immediately become peaceful and focused. If that makes sense. While my brain is repeating the prayer, my soul is praying.

Diana	06 Oct 2004
I say: "Hey! Tarot gods!!!! Wake up you guys! We've got some work to do. Hey!!!!!!!, I said "WAKE UP!!!!!!". Darn... they must have a hangover or something. Okay, I'll do the job without you then. All by myself, like a big grown-up girl. Tsssstt!!!!"

TemperanceAngel	06 Oct 2004
LOL, Diana, your a very funny lady :D:D:D:D Especially the part about the Tarot Gods having a hangover.... From personal experience, it can make a days reading harder than usual :confused:

smokey	06 Oct 2004
After clearing my space and grounding myself, I simply pray for personal spirit guidance, and wisdom to understand & clearly interpret that which I've been shown. Surrounding of the white light, (as mentioned before) certainly helps me a lot also.

Sinta	06 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Diana I say: "Hey! Tarot gods!!!! Wake up you guys! We've got some work to do. Hey!!!!!!!, I said "WAKE UP!!!!!!". Darn... they must have a hangover or something. Okay, I'll do the job without you then. All by myself, like a big grown-up girl. Tsssstt!!!!" LOL! I think I'll remember that and use it as my next reading. What's the chances of getting struck down by lightning? :D

Diana	06 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by TemperanceAngel LOL, Diana, your a very funny lady :D:D:D:D Especially the part about the Tarot Gods having a hangover.... TemperanceAngel: If ONLY it were a joke. But it's for real. That is my daily prayer. Would I dare to make a joke out of such a serious subject? Heavens forbid! :eek:

Thindelock	06 Oct 2004
Jeanette, good way to put it. I completely understand what you mean about the soul praying while the brain recites the prayer, and the similarities to mantra. I suppose it's just personal preference and my inability to stay focused... I know from experience that if I start in on a memorized prayer, about halfway through it my mouth may still be uttering the prayer on autopilot, but my brain is wondering what else I need to put on my shopping list. I guess I just lack the focus, so I have to keep my prayers (both for tarot and other things) a bit more dynamic and spontaneous. Common themes persist from one time to the next (for tarot readings, I pray for true insight without the influence of my own personal biases), but the wording of the prayer changes each time.

Diana	06 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Sinta What's the chances of getting struck down by lightning? :D Nope. No lightning in the Tarot of Marseilles. Just a bolt of enlightenment! That is the WONDER of the Tarot of Marseilles! No badly built tower without a lightning rod to protect it! Only Houses of God where one gains one's freedom!

Majecot	06 Oct 2004
Xarokys and Diana!! You guys crack me up!!! I do not say a prayer, but I do try to inwardly draw on the universal energies for focus.

Xarokys	07 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Jeanette Xarokys, I love that prayer! May I use it & share it? And Thindelock, I understand what you mean. However, I pray the rosary every day (lots of repetition there) and after a while, the repetition sort of moves you up to a different level. Sort of like a mantra. So that now when I pray the rosary, I immediately become peaceful and focused. If that makes sense. While my brain is repeating the prayer, my soul is praying. Hi Jeanette, Of course you can use it and share it if you'd like. I think the tarot has a sense of humor. I like what you said about praying the rosary and how it helps you become peaceful and focused. It makes perfect sense, keeping your brain busy while your soul is doing the important stuff.

HOLMES	07 Oct 2004
is ground bring the light down from the heavens ,, and surround me and my chakras i then see myself connected with the universal mind,, whcih i see as a big huge gigantic yellow head without eyes , then i call upon the powers that be, sometimes i say help me source,, sometimes i say help me guides sometimes i say help me angels soemtimes i say help me soul sometimes i say all of the above,, dependings on what i remember, as they say there is no formula for prayer although in conversations of the god i just read they say it is bet ter to say thank you instead of asking for it is more powerful as i understand it ,,

diane drizzy	08 Oct 2004
No, I don't do a prayer before readings. For me, Tarot is an experience unto itself. I do wash my hands though. I guess that gives me a clearing of sorts. :)

Bean Feasa	08 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Diana I say: "Hey! Tarot gods!!!! Wake up you guys! We've got some work to do. Hey!!!!!!!, I said "WAKE UP!!!!!!". Darn... they must have a hangover or something. Okay, I'll do the job without you then. All by myself, like a big grown-up girl. Tsssstt!!!!" ROFLMAO Diana, that irreverent attitude of yours is why the Tarot gods adore you! They're only lettin' on they have a hangover - in fact they're standing right there at your shoulder, squinting away at those coloured pieces of paper.

celeste	09 Oct 2004
Sometimes I pray before a reading with a querent or just for myself-but I always smudge them and me-that way no one is embarrased(if they arn't a spiritally oriented person) and I know we are both protected. Kind of like having safe sex in a way.

dawns_eve	11 Oct 2004
I just talk to the cards as if talking to a friend whom I am asking support from. Sort of like..."ok, just tell me the truth...do I look fat in these jeans?" LOL

The Prayer before starting to read the cards thread was originally posted on 03 Oct 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.