Remote Readings

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Oct 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

katie_here	02 Oct 2004
Being fairly new to reading, I'm becoming a bit anxious about remote readings. Although I don't mind doing them, and find the experience invaluable, one question keeps cropping up. How do you know for sure, when picking the cards for someone else, your own concerns and worries are not creeping in there too? Can you be certain that the cards you pick represent someone elses concerns and not your own? any insight would help me greatly! thanks

purple_scorp	02 Oct 2004
Hi Katie, I guess feedback is going to be the only way that you are going to know for certain how accurate you are. Then again, some people that you read for won't want to acknowledge that you've hit the mark. So, then it gets back to having the confidence in yourself. This will come with practice and experience. There's also another way to look at it too. Underneath it all, we are all basically the same. We all have the same wants, needs, and desires, and go through the same pain, hurt and issues. Who's to say that issues relevant to you don't apply to other people too? You may even be consciously projecting this and drawing people with similar issues to you. It's just a theory (and possibly a very bad one). Not saying this is happening to you. purple_scorp

Astraea	02 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by purple_scorp Underneath it all, we are all basically the same. We all have the same wants, needs, and desires, and go through the same pain, hurt and issues. Who's to say that issues relevant to you don't apply to other people too? I think that this insight is key to all types of divination. When clients come to us with particular issues, we can be certain that there is some affinity between us regarding those concerns. Sometimes we hold opposite views about the same matters, and need a balancing breath of air; at other times, we are clearly in the exact same boat and need to listen to our own advice to the client. Sometimes, we have been through something similar to what the client is experiencing, and can help him or her based on our intimate understanding of the situation. It seems to me that whatever resonates between ourselves and our clients, mediated by any method of divination, does so because it has struck a resonating chord within us, based on the archetypal nature of our shared humanity. As the humanist says: "Nothing human is alien to me."

SongDeva	02 Oct 2004
My readings for others, 80% of the time, deal with major issues I'm experiencing too. They are also usually pretty accurate. You should not place your focus around this worry, but rather around centering and balancing yourself prior to reading, so that you are reading from a "good place," one where you can trust what comes to you. Then, practice, practice, practice.

purple_scorp	02 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Astraea I think that this insight is key to all types of divination. When clients come to us with particular issues, we can be certain that there is some affinity between us regarding those concerns. Sometimes we hold opposite views about the same matters, and need a balancing breath of air; at other times, we are clearly in the exact same boat and need to listen to our own advice to the client. Sometimes, we have been through something similar to what the client is experiencing, and can help him or her based on our intimate understanding of the situation. It seems to me that whatever resonates between ourselves and our clients, mediated by any method of divination, does so because it has struck a resonating chord within us, based on the archetypal nature of our shared humanity. As the humanist says: "Nothing human is alien to me." Hi Astraea, that was very well articulated. Thanks for expanding my post. purple_scorp

dadsnook2000	02 Oct 2004
For katie_here: There are several good suggestion made so far. I have also observed the "wounded healer" effect -- that what one has suffered through or is still facing is also the problem that is presented from the outside world. This goes back to a basic tenant: What we feel and believe is what we project out into the world. So, in addition to the good suggestions made so far, I'd like to add another. A lot of tarot readers depend upon intuitive tools as part of their readings. It is not something that I would NOT reccommend to relatively new readers! Instead, I suggest that basing a reading on solid, established tarot lore is the best way to start out. Only after one can use the cards, the spreads and the combination of cards to tell a tarot story to the querent should "intuition" come into the readings. In this way you will not have to worry about seeing the wrong things or your own issues in the reading for another. Dave.

Nevada	02 Oct 2004
Great thread and answers so far! I don't have much to add, except that this has concerned me too. But you know, it's a concern in face to face readings as well, and I find the closer I am to the person I'm reading for, the more difficult it is to separate our needs. (Especially family!) When reading over the Internet, I'm careful to settle my mind as far as possible from me and my concerns, and focus on the person I'm reading for. I think it was Umbrae who once suggested imagining holding the other person's hand. I find that a great way to focus on them. I center, meditate a little, and begin with as quiet and soft a mind as possible. The trouble with reading online is you don't always get the feedback. But the good thing about it is you can come to the reading with a completely open mind, because you don't have any preconceived notions about the person you're reading for. There are definitely pros and cons to reading both ways. Nevada

katie_here	03 Oct 2004
everything I have read so far makes a lot of sense. (This is my feedback so you know, I've asked the question and I'm listening to the answers!!). I think what has happened here, where purple-scorp mentioned I might be drawing people to me with similar problems. The first reading I did was of a romantic nature, someone wanted to know the future and outcome of a current romance, so I did a reading and she was thrilled. So someone else read that, and thought, oh! I have the same problem, I wonder if she will read for me? and on and on and so mostly people are concerned about romance. We all have our strong views on romance and I worry I might project some of mine onto someone else. I did a reading for someone using the Love Pack (purple_scorps excellent recommendation) and one of the cards that cropped up was Risk which showed a man traversing a ravine by means of a tightrope to the woman on the other side. My querent said she didn't feel as though any men were reaching out to her, so I suggested perhaps she needed to do the reaching out!. Well she's decided to do just that, only we are in England and this guy is in Australia and she is going there to see if there is anything left. Its not up to me what she does, and I certainly didn't suggest she left her husband and go there, but a certain part of me is hoping that I haven't projected anything of myself into this reading. I expect this is a worry of most people when they start out, what you read and how it is interpreted. I understand its not our responsibility on how someone interprets what we say, but it shows how seriously we have to bear in mind what we do say. anyway, I thought I would give you some background into why this question cropped up in the first place.

Fulgour	03 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by dadsnook2000 Only after one can use the cards, the spreads and the combination of cards to tell a tarot story to the querent should "intuition" come into the readings. In this way you will not have to worry about seeing the wrong things or your own issues in the reading for another. Dave, aren't you doing here exactly what you're cautioning against? Readers discover more within themselves than any book can ever provide. Trusting yourself is natural. Worry about projected feelings is just second-guessing the profound intuition that the cards have stimulated in the first place. We begin with the freedom to believe! What other people have written may be interesting, even helpful, but through sincere and respectful trust in oneself there is never any reason to worry about "the wrong things or your own issues."

purple_scorp	03 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by katie_here I did a reading for someone using the Love Pack (purple_scorps excellent recommendation) and one of the cards that cropped up was Risk which showed a man traversing a ravine by means of a tightrope to the woman on the other side. My querent said she didn't feel as though any men were reaching out to her, so I suggested perhaps she needed to do the reaching out!. Well she's decided to do just that, only we are in England and this guy is in Australia and she is going there to see if there is anything left. Um hello, did someone mention a guy....in Australia....what's his number? LOL. Katie, I always read that card as though it is the querent that needs to be taking the risk. So I would say that your advice was sound. World travel hey, that sure is one heck of a risk! p_s

dadsnook2000	03 Oct 2004
Fulgour, there is no contradiction. I see many relatively new-to-tarot readers go fully with their intuition and cheat themselves and those they read for when parts of the reading are totally off the wall. It is my belief that, while some truly are intuitive, most people who are starting out should exercise the self-discipline to learn about the cards (their deck and other decks) and spreads and the whole integrated tarot process. By first recognizing the basic sense of the cards in the spread, and relating that to the question, they have a dependable basis for their intuition to fully engage and contribute. If there is a conflict between the conventional card/spread meaning and what they intuitively see they at least have a basis for careful investigation and thought before opening their mouths. Remember, many who ask to have their cards read have their own critical issues to deal with. When we read we always have to keep in mind that we might have a fragile situation in front of us. So, I see no contradiction. I urge a conventional first step and some professionalism (as it applies to new-to-tarot people) before going to the intuitive next step. Dave.

Fulgour	03 Oct 2004
"Tarot Reflections" Interview: Fulgour Prentice

Nevada	04 Oct 2004
At first I wanted to disagree with you, Dadsnook. But you make a valid point. I started with a deck and the book that came with it, and you better believe I studied that book, almost had it memorized. While I have trusted my intuition much more with subsequent decks, I always like to have a basic understanding of where the deck's imagery is coming from, what the creator had in mind. Then I can let my intuition take wing. That security blanket of learning is a good thing. Don't we, after all, start most learning endeavors with one, including life itself? Nevada

dadsnook2000	04 Oct 2004
Nevada, thank you for your comments. Anyone who has ever been to a seminar or workshop and seen both a new-to-tarot or somewhat average tarot reader read a spread and then had the same spread read by someone in the Mary Greer or Rachel Polack category knows that basic skills and deep skills both make the difference in supporting "intuitive" capabilities. If one of them is good, two is astounding. Dave.

katie_here	04 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Nevada I started with a deck and the book that came with it, and you better believe I studied that book, almost had it memorized. While I have trusted my intuition much more with subsequent decks, I always like to have a basic understanding of where the deck's imagery is coming from, what the creator had in mind. Then I can let my intuition take wing. Nevada I did this when I first started. I only had the enchanted tarot book by Zerner and Farber and understanding the meanings behind the little Dreams and Awakenings (sections the meanings are divided into) was hard. I would look at a card like the Ace of Cups (or hearts in this case) and always would believe it meant Love (between two people), I didn't think there could be any other meaning, and the same for other cards too, like the three of swords (infidelity, 3 in a relationship, stabbed in the heart by a lover) that sort of thing, I then found this website and learnt the cards from here, with more scope for intepretation and then other websites, progressing to another deck and now I just get a feeling from the card when I look at it. Say the Wheel of Fortune, straight away the first thing that pops into my mind is "round and round she goes, where she stops nobody knows" and "what goes up must come down" and other little sayings. Then I work out what the card means in relation to the reading. I still don't know every card and all the meanings yet, that will come with time, but I do understanding this difference between reading the cards "cold" and reading with your "intuition".

The Remote Readings thread was originally posted on 02 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.