Pre-Tarot Reading Rituals

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

gargoyle_guarded	30 Nov 2004
Does anyone have a particular ritual they perform before conducting a tarot reading for a client? For example, I always like to lay out an altar cloth for the spread, light white tealight candles, burn sandalwood incense, and play appropriate music such as Loreena McKennitt's "The Book of Secrets" or music by Enya. Recently, I've incorporated meditation with my client as part of my pre-reading ritual.

damfino	01 Dec 2004
Not really. I just clear my mind from all thoughts for a few moments (something I learned from Zen Buddhism), tap the deck 2 times, and I'm ready. Then I usually have the stereo playing "Tower of Song" by Leonard Cohen while reading... but these things are not a habit, let alone a ritual.

MarkMcElroy	01 Dec 2004
For some folks I know, elaborate rituals have become a creative bock. Convinced they must put on a green silk robe, burn twenty cones of incense, twirl clockwise four times, stroke a cat with a white pine comb, bow toward Minnesota three times, and execute a dozen perfect cartwheels before they can get good answers from the cards, they find themselves paralyzed by complexity ... or unable to work comfortably when silk robes, incense, cats, and cartwheels aren't close at hand. Don't get me wrong: If they spur your creativity or focus your attention, rituals of any kind are great! :) That said, no cloths or candles for me. I retrieve the cards, help the client compose an effective question, shuffle the deck, and deal the spread. The tactile and visual feedback automatically puts me in a creative and receptive frame of mind ... and we begin.

Imagemaker	01 Dec 2004
Quote: execute a dozen perfect cartwheels before they can get good answers from the cards This would certainly reduce the number of tarot readers in the world! I could never do ONE cartwheel at my most agile and daring. Fortunately, the cards don't know. But I set the mood of my reading with a chime, often a candle, and a centering. Just to step into a focused consciousness.

Gardener	01 Dec 2004
I love it, cartwheels in a silk robe! While holding the white cat, perhaps? I often don't make any effort before reading, and the results I get when reading vary enormously. Sometimes, as McMark mentioned, just the shuffling and the visual stimulus of the cards is enough to bring me in, and I get a wonderful connection. Other times, the restlessness I bring to the table prevents me from seeing anything but the most superficial ideas and correlations. I was thinking of this in Firemaiden's delightful and deep thread about the wonder of tarot: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=33143 The way to retain the wonder, and to connect most deeply with the spirit, seems most often to come from some sort of ritual, however long or brief, simple or complex, in which we shift our attention from the mundane and center our awareness in spirit. For me, I think it's mostly a matter of Paying Attention, if you know what I mean. (Edited to add: yes, Imagemaker has put it perfectly: "step into a focused consciousness." I like that. I'm stealing it!) Hm. Now that I think about it, I would say my own ritual is playing with the bag in which I store the cards. Each of my beloved decks has a lovely unique handmade bag that suits it well, and taking a little time to absorb those colors and textures is the path I take into tarot-land.

Michelle	01 Dec 2004
Now I know why I struggle with readings ~ I CAN'T do a cartwheel !! LOL :) Thanks for the laugh - I needed it. It's been one of 'those' weeks.

gypsy	01 Dec 2004
if you believe you can't hit a home run without your dirty lucky socks, then you can't. if you believe you can't read the cards without music and candles (and cats and cartwheels!) then you can't! it's all a matter of perception. i really don't think any sort of ritual is absolutely necessary. you have the ability to read the cards, it's in you, not in your special silk tablecloth. however, many of us need to do something to open our consciousness, to connect with the cards, to get in the mood, so to speak. personally... i do a short meditation and call on my spirit guide before i read. i just can't focus otherwise!!!

Keslynn	01 Dec 2004
*lol* Mark, that post was hilarious! So I guess I can't read right because my comb is plastic? Darn! ;) Most of the time, I don't have any rituals for tarot. I do use a spread cloth when I'm laying my cards out on the floor or certain tables, but that's more to protect my precious decks from getting dirty than for atmosphere. Sometimes, though, I use a tarot reading as part of a ritual (like for pagan Sabbats) and that's when I bring out all the incense and candles and prayers. I enjoy those times very much, but I don't think I could ever be bothered to do all that every time I read. Maybe I'm just lazy? :) Kes

gargoyle_guarded	02 Dec 2004
Perhaps I should have indicated in my original post that the "ritual" I perform is more a matter of setting the mood then a necessity. I've read cards on a picnic table in a park before and also had great results. But the clients I read for really seem to enjoy the whole atmosphere of the candles, incense and music. Just curious about what other readers do to perosonalise or signature a reading.

MeeWah	02 Dec 2004
Preparation from the simplistic to the elaborate ultimately serves as a means of directing the focus &/or raising the personal power. It can be likened to any practice intended to contribute to optimum results--from the athlete's warm-up exercises, to a car racer's revving up his car engine, to chanting during meditation. Presentation can contribute to the ambience for not only the client but for the reader, too, where the use of "props" add excitement & colour to the experience. Clients generally appreciate the attention given to their reading & also to their comfort. I do not always use candles &/or incense since some people are sensitive to those. & since I get thirsty during any reading session with or without the client, I keep a drink with me. After I seat the client at the table I offer water or herbal tea (chamomile has a calming & relaxing effect). I do not always use music during readings either as silence works well, too, but most appreciate the non-obtrusive. I also ask the client to join me in a moment of silence or prayer prior to the reading. I close each session with another moment of silence. For me, it serves to detach myself from the reading. I like using spread cloths for the contrast they provide for the cards but use paper towels for readings in the workplace breakroom because the table surface is questionable. Thrown cards on an ironing board, a chair or the floor because it happens to be handy. Most clients seem to not pay attention to the cards but to the actual reading.

gargoyle_guarded	02 Dec 2004
MeeWah wrote: Preparation from the simplistic to the elaborate ultimately serves as a means of directing the focus &/or raising the personal power. Meewah, I really like how you explained the way preparation can be used for raising personal power and directing the focus. This is the feeling I get when I use an elaborate setup such as the one I described earlier in the thread. MeeWah wrote: Presentation can contribute to the ambience for not only the client but for the reader, too, where the use of "props" add excitement & colour to the experience. Clients generally appreciate the attention given to their reading & also to their comfort. How true. It was a wonderful feeling hearing one client excitedly ask "You did all this for me?" MeeWah wrote: After I seat the client at the table I offer water or herbal tea (chamomile has a calming & relaxing effect). I also ask the client to join me in a moment of silence or prayer prior to the reading. I close each session with another moment of silence. For me, it serves to detach myself from the reading. Usually I offer water but I love your idea about the chamomile tea. What a perfect touch! Reading tarot cards is a satisfying past time for me but it also gives me great pleasure when the client leaves more relaxed than he/she was before the reading. And before reading your words, I hadn't considered closing the reading the way you suggested. Another great idea! Now I will work that into my sesssion as well. Thanks for your contribution MeeWah. :o)

MeeWah	02 Dec 2004
Gargoyle_Guarded: Thanks for the kind words. I view the venue of readings as a sacred endeavour; certainly that which is exchanged between reader & client is sacred. Some of us end prayers with "Amen" or "So mote it be", which both mean "So be it". As in any practice that may be viewed as sacred--prayer, meditation or other ritualistic works--& which tend to be prefaced by an opening prior to raising the energy for a specific purpose & subsequently closed in a like formal manner, it makes sense to me to do the same in readings. For me, it pays respect to a higher guidance & keeps me from losing perspective of where I stand in the scheme of things. I also do a physical separation or cleansing, such as washing my face & hands. & if circumstances permit it, wash my hands between successive readings.

Nevada	02 Dec 2004
Gardener wrote: Now that I think about it, I would say my own ritual is playing with the bag in which I store the cards. Each of my beloved decks has a lovely unique handmade bag that suits it well, and taking a little time to absorb those colors and textures is the path I take into tarot-land. I only keep some of my cards in bags right now (I'm knitting them as I'm inspired to, so it's taking a while.) With those I keep in bags, though, I've noticed that the act of removing them from their own special receptacle has a ceremonial feel to it that I like. Other than that I don't have any particular ritual, except maybe a simple little prayer or centering breaths just to get me focused. Sometimes I lay out the cards on an ottoman in my living room, close to my cat's blanket on the sofa. She's fascinated by the velvet spread cloth (wants one of her own). When I read there, I have to pet the cat first, so she'll settle down while I read. Otherwise I'd have paw prints all over my cards and gray fur all over the black cloth. ;)

contradiction	04 Dec 2004
since i only read for close friends now, they would now better if i tried to "set the mood", although if i ever do begain to read for the public, i will definately try some of the suggestions here. but for now the first two things i do are a complete wast of time (and money), i pour a cup of coffee, and light a cigeratte, then i take a moment to focus as the querent shuffles. the coffee goes cold, and the cigarette burns up without me touching either, but i can't read with out having both there. it's funny how little things can make a difference. contradiction

Clau	06 Dec 2004
What I do before a reading is to lit a couple of candles, burn a little "Palo Santo" (I don't know how to say it in english), and place a white cotton cloth over the table. I have to agree with you, Contradiction: a cigarette is a must for me. If the other person does not smoke, of course i don't do it, but if they do, I place the ash tray betwen us and have noticed this relaxes the other person a lot. The asking for help and thanking after to angels/deities is a very good idea i'll use from now on. Love, Claudia

Tarot Sparrow	06 Dec 2004
I'm weird. Lately I'll read anywhere, at any time, usually with no rituals whatsoever, just grabbing a deck, shuffling and laying it out. I think most of this has to do with lack of time, though. I like to meditate and light candles and I feel I'd have clearer intuition and readings if I took a bit more time but sometimes I feel like I just don't have it :) In fact most of my readings these days are one-card only.

gargoyle_guarded	06 Dec 2004
Clau wrote: What I do before a reading is to lit a couple of candles, burn a little "Palo Santo" (I don't know how to say it in english)...Claudia Hi Claudia. I believe "Palo Santo" is similar to or the same as sandalwood.

Clau	07 Dec 2004
But Palo Santo (also known as Holy Wood *grin* and Sacred Wood) (I've done my research :P) and sandalwood are not the same: different trees and totally different smell. Also, different scientific names: Palo Santo: Burserea Gravedens and Sandalwood: Santalum Album. So, I guess there is no *real* name for Palo Santo in english, just Palo santo. thanks,

divinerguy	07 Dec 2004
I think I'd like to see Tarot readers doing pre-reading cartwheels (female readers, anyway). I think a trip to the emergency room would be in order if I tried doing cartwheels. I think I'd probably change out of my kilt before I try the above.

gargoyle_guarded	07 Dec 2004
Clau wrote: But Palo Santo (also known as Holy Wood *grin* and Sacred Wood) (I've done my research :P) and sandalwood are not the same: different trees and totally different smell. Also, different scientific names: Palo Santo: Burserea Gravedens and Sandalwood: Santalum Album. So, I guess there is no *real* name for Palo Santo in english, just Palo santo. thanks, Hi there, yeah, it was just a crappy translation attempt. All I was really getting from Palo Santo was the "wood" part and took a guess at the rest. ;o) Oh well, end result is you did the research and taught me something new. Thanks Clau.

Clau	07 Dec 2004
Thank you dear for trying to help! Aren't we all such a sweet bunch? :P

Phaedra	07 Dec 2004
I think taking the time to set the mood is very important. As MeeWah said, it's a way to direct focus. Any ritual is a way of focusing, a way of shifting from one kind of consciousness, say, from "I'm chit-chatting with someone" to another, "I'm paying attention to what this person is telling me so I can do a reading". Some people are naturally adept at the state of consciousness shift, and don't understand what all the fuss accomplishes. For many others, state shifts take practice, and the ritual aspects help. What often happens is the ritual is more elaborate early on, then as focusing takes less and less effort, fewer props and external triggers are used. So, it is not the ritual that is important, it is the state change. If you can switch focus without it, fine. But ritual helps. I think it's also important to remember how setting the stage helps the client focus, too. For us, the cards are part of everyday life, but not so for most clients. Many people what their reading to be special and unusual. They want something exotic, something outside their daily experience. It doesn't take much to give that. One of my early teachers suggested giving the clients a little dress up, a little drama. It makes them feel special, and it helps them feel like they're getting what they paid for ;-)

sunflowr	20 Mar 2005
MarkMcElroy wrote: For some folks I know, elaborate rituals have become a creative bock. Convinced they must put on a green silk robe, burn twenty cones of incense, twirl clockwise four times, stroke a cat with a white pine comb, bow toward Minnesota three times, and execute a dozen perfect cartwheels before they can get good answers from the cards, Wow! How did you know that's what I do??! ;) Just kidding. I bow towards New York, 8 times! 8 is my lucky number. ;)

The Pre-Tarot Reading Rituals thread was originally posted on 30 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.