How do you sit ?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Nov 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Michelle	22 Nov 2004
I hope I can post this here - if it gets moved or removed - I understand. When reading for myself or just practicing spreads, my favorite place to sit is on my bed. I seem to always sit Indian -style. Does this cut off the flow of energy while reading ? Thank you !

cutiecutie	22 Nov 2004
I don't think so. I read anywhere... Mostly on the floor because desks and tables around the house are always messy. I sit indian-style also which doesn't seem to hinder my readings in any way..

Pook	22 Nov 2004
Personally, I dont think it matters how you sit to do a reading. It might make a difference if you are concentrating more on how you are sitting than on the reading though. =)

Imagemaker	22 Nov 2004
Sitting position is not a prerequisite to reading, but just to say that in meditation, the key position is to anchor the body and have a straight, relaxed spine so that energy can flow from the root chakra (base of the spine) to the crown chakra (top of the head). It's the spine/head alignment that's important, not the legs. If your energy flow is good during a reading, it might help.

damfino	22 Nov 2004
Well, I usually do my readings sitting on my bed or the couch in lotus position... no special reason, I just find it comfortable and helps me for relaxing and focusing on things :)

Pocono Platypus	22 Nov 2004
I did my last two readings at the kitchen table. I do everything there. Maybe I could try sitting on the floor. I am trying to find the Oracle of the Dreamtime thread. These threads are confusing. Okay to myself, okay, Platypus. Be confused -- for a bit.

Woof	22 Nov 2004
Cross legged on the floor. It gives me more distance from the cards so I can better see the whole spread as a unit. Woof

Michelle	23 Nov 2004
Thank you all for your help. I didn't think it would hurt to sit with my legs crossed - but I wanted to check with you guys to make sure.

Woof	24 Nov 2004
Well, sitting crosslegged will hurt after a while. But it won't effect the readings. ;)

Moonbow*	24 Nov 2004
I sit cross-legged on the floor or bed too, it's comfortable to me because I am used to meditating. I've said this before, but I like my beanbag too :) I rarely sit in a chair to read my cards. Most importantly you have to be comfortable I think.

Alissa	24 Nov 2004
On the floor, on the couch, at the desk, cross-legged, in a chair, on my bed, on someone else's bed, at restaurant tables... I think intent is more important than anything. It's good to want to open yourself energetically, but for myself, I believe your willful intent and concentration is most important. There are types of meditation that originate from a standing position, in order to generate the prana through the legs and up from the ground, as well. So you're not alone in thinking it may be good to try standing!

VGimlet	24 Nov 2004
I sit anywhere. I used to do a lot of readings on the bed, or the floor, but when I do there always ends up being a fracus, with me rescuing my threatened deck from the dogs, or the cats. So, mostly I use the dining room table. I keep all my decks and notebooks in the china hutch there, so everything is close. In the summer, I like to go outside sometimes and sit in the grass.

Fulgour	24 Nov 2004
When I was a young man, living "at home" and reading the cards in "my room" I used to sit cross-legged on the floor, because that was the best place, lots of space and very comfortable. Nowadays I use my little Tarot table.

WhiteRaven	24 Nov 2004
I sit on the bed...I guess I have one leg over the other. Does't really matter. I'm looking for the most space I can find and be comfy at the same time. I live in a small apartment (2 1/2) so space is a problem and I don't have much options. If I had a kitchen table, I'd probably use that. Sometimes I sit at my desk here and do a small spread, but for the most part, it's on the bed.

ros	24 Nov 2004
I like sitting at the kitchen or diningroom table. Also I like to have my back to a wall.

Michelle	26 Nov 2004
I loved reading where/how others sit and read . Thank you to everyone who replied. My question of sitting indian-style was definitely answered . While reading for myself and doing daily draws - I will continue to sit in my favorite spot. I suppose that once I start reading for others I will have to graduate to sitting at the kitchen table. Might be a bit awkward to ask strangers to "step into my room" for their reading :).

osami2717	27 Nov 2004
I'm not too picky about where or how I sit when I do a spread, simply because I don't have much of a choice. Like many I live in a small apartment. We have a very small kitchen table, sits 2 barely, and that's just not enough space to do a very big spread plus your books, papers, etc. I've tried the coffee table, the floor, my bed [as long as i shut the door to keep the cats off-for some reason they think they own it] I however MUST sit at a table or desk when doing the paperwork for a spread. I haven't gotten proficient enough where I can just look at the cards and say "This is the story..." I write down the spread, and then pour through my books, writing down snippets here and there. I can spend days taking notes on various aspects of the spread. What can I say I was a fileclerk for 10 years. Paperwork soothes me.

Umbrae	27 Nov 2004
Depends…I prefer to read at a table. Dining room, desk, bar…I don’t care. But I also read a lot standing up (when I do a reading for the exchange – all of those readings are done in my ‘space’, where I stand. Then the readings are written longhand and transferred onto the computer for posting). I don’t sit ‘Indian style’, I’m too old. I remember seeing a reading in Taos summer before last, at a crafts fair. Most folks were older…and the reader sat and sat and sat and did not read…had she gotten a small camping table and camping folding chairs for older folks (the ones with the money) to sit down at…she’d have been reading.

Adjustment	27 Nov 2004
It doesn't matter to me, i do a lot readings on my kitchen standing and laying the cards in my counter while waiting for something to cook, ican read in the floor and in my bathroom.

CloeCat	12 Dec 2004
First it depends on the surfest that I'm put the cards on: if on the bed, low table or foor cross legged, if at a regular table on chair(s). Perfer to be as close to the Earth as possible, great energy flow and feel more grounded. Many purrrs, CloeCat

RedMaple	12 Dec 2004
Umbrae wrote: I don’t sit ‘Indian style’, I’m too old. I remember seeing a reading in Taos summer before last, at a crafts fair. Most folks were older…and the reader sat and sat and sat and did not read…had she gotten a small camping table and camping folding chairs for older folks (the ones with the money) to sit down at…she’d have been reading. Good point, Umbrae. It is always wise to accomodate your readers, and often people forget that what's easy for them might not be for others. On the other hand, my grandmother sat 'Indian style' when she was 89 years old. I remember her sitting that way in her hospital bed. Just the way we're built, I guess, as I also find it very comfortable. My husband finds it impossible. I'm hoping I'll be sitting in half-lotus when I'm 90 and still reading the cards.

Shalott	12 Dec 2004
As long as I'm comfortable - but not so much so that I fal asleep...I'm most comfortable at a table, in an upright chair. I think I have a VERY formal approach to this whole thing, comparatively speaking.

The How do you sit ? thread was originally posted on 22 Nov 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.