"Pretending" to do a reading

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

_N_	02 Nov 2004
OK, I did try the search function but didn't come up with anything that touched on this exactly, but if I simply missed such a post somehow, forgive me for starting a new one. Question is this - does anyone "pretend" to do readings for "imaginary" clients in order to learn a deck and/or get comfortable with a deck? I don't remember just which book I read it in, but I recall reading that the author used to do this when she was starting in the tarot to help her learn and gain comfort/confidence. I'm just curious if anyone does this and/or what your opinions on this are since I've been toying with the idea myself. You know how it is - so many decks, so few "real" readings (when you aren't a pro) - and though I have many decks mainly for their beauty, I'd like to get to know some of them and I thought this might be one creatively different way of doing it ;) N

HOLMES	02 Nov 2004
at first when i saw this thread,, i thought you meant did you ever pretend to do a reading in order to tell a freind what you thought and i was going to say ,, i can see how that can be done,, then i saw the thread itself eheh. one thing you may wish to do is wisdom readings upon the workings of the universe. (i didnt know i could do that until i read forest of souls ) . i believe there is a book on reading for fictional characters, and dead celebrities in order to pratice as well. it isnt' so far out there, in numerology key to the tarot, mr sandoor used numerology on sherlock holmes, john watson and holmes brother name in order to see who was better suited, sherlock or his brother to being a dective.. if sherlock did drugs *plus logical reasoning like why else would sherlock need a doctor if not to help him with his cocain addiction in those days. beats me though * anyhow back to pretending to do a reading. perhaps you can use these ideas. and you wouldn't be pretending you would be . elborating :)

Kit	02 Nov 2004
Quote: Originally posted by HOLMES at first when i saw this thread,, i thought you meant did you ever pretend to do a reading in order to tell a freind what you thought and i was going to say ,, i can see how that can be done,, then i saw the thread itself eheh. Same here, Holmes!:D I remember doing a lot of readings for my cat to practice. Is that pretending? I'm sure he wanted to be read for. It was all superficial things like changing to a different cat food brand or asking how a dispute with the horrible white cat from around the corner could best be resolved. :D I didn't feel silly because I could justify asking silly questions by saying I was "practicing". Perhaps, N, you could read for your/your friend's cat/dog/canary/hamster/carpet python. I'm sure the creature in question would enjoy the attention and you could practice. Or you could resort to asking exoteric questions about the meaning of life. Raeven

Diana	02 Nov 2004
Quote: Originally posted by _N_ [[/b] Question is this - does anyone "pretend" to do readings for "imaginary" clients in order to learn a deck and/or get comfortable with a deck [/b] Oh yes! I did this often. It helped especially to get confidence in talking aloud for live querents and not get my tongue tied in knots. You know what helped me an awful lot as well? It was doing a pretend spread for an imaginary client, but WITHOUT a question, and then imagining what the question could have been. I think pretend readings for imaginary clients can help one make great strides in one's reading skills.

lunalafey	02 Nov 2004
We once did a game where we would post a 3 card reading in full but leave the title of one card out and everyone guessed at what it might be. When it was my turn, I had a hard time. I set up a person with a goal and a history and still had a herd time connecting to the cards. I knew what they meant but now how it fit or how to put it together. I went through a few 'fake' readings before I actually got one I could read. SO- if you are like me and it does not seem to work- keep trying. Maybe develope your 'character' a little more.

Kissa	02 Nov 2004
makes me think of the book "Tarot Tales": imaginary clients (most of them from classic literature, tales or myths) asking real questions. The author did real readings: pulling cards and making the story... just like a real reading. very good idea, i like the playful yet educative way tarot can be learn by doing this. kissa

Teranar	02 Nov 2004
I sure have, when I first started reading I would pretend somoene I knew was in front of me and I'd do a reading for them as if they were there. It helped me work up the courage and confidence to actually read other people.

maria42airam	02 Nov 2004
I don't remember which book suggested this, but I read that picking newspaper articles and doing a reading on the motivation for the crime, or the whereabouts of the individuals was a good way to learn. Then you wait for the follow-up article, and so on. I did a few on general things, no problem. But then I chose an article where someone had been murdered and the police were searching for their body. That was not quite unpleasant. For weeks, I felt as if someone was just outside my field of vision trying to communicate with me. I am a spiritual person, but I never felt anything like this. Maybe some day I would feel comfortable with that, but not at this moment. I had no idea how to deal with it! So, the newspaper article reading is a good idea, but stay away from the recently deceased.

lark	02 Nov 2004
I like to do readings for celebrities. Then you get to see how your readings turn out because their lives are splashed all over the TV and magazines. Just Brittney Spears alone provided months of readings and the invention of the Brittney Wedding Spread. :D

Astraea	02 Nov 2004
Yes, my "tarot mentor" taught me to do pretend readings early-on, and I've been grateful ever since. I would set up a problem or situation, think about it without tension while shuffling and cutting the deck, then draw and read three cards. It's a revealing, open-ended and non-threatening way to learn how the cards tell a story, and a valuable introduction to personal approaches to mechanical procedures like shuffling, cutting, turning the cards over (i.e., top-to-bottom or side-to-side, all at once or one at a time, etc.). And by reading the cards aloud, as if a client were present, one develops confidence in speaking one's thoughts.

Kiama	02 Nov 2004
Tarot Tells the Tale by James Ricklef, explores this possibility in depth with three-card readings. It's a fascinating, informative, and entertaining read that I recommend to everybody. :D As for me, ye, I've done it a few times. I highly recommend Shakespeare as a source for your 'clients'- Lady Macbeth, Mercutio, Beatrice, Titania, Hamlet... :D Kiama

_N_	02 Nov 2004
Wow!! I am so relieved to see that so many of you have done this - takes the pressure off of thinking that maybe I was a little daft for considering it :D I LOVE the idea of reading for one's pets - I laughed so hard when I read your bit about the "horrible white cat from around the corner " Raeven! I actually have two cats, a 5 year old and a 1 year old. The older of the two is so "fancy" and loves anything to do with energy work that I'm sure if I "ask" him if he'd like a reading that he'll just roll his eyes and think, "well, it's about time she figured it out." :P Great ideas too about doing readings for stars and singers, historical and fictional characters, and even from the newspaper articles (and I agree about staying away from the recently passed on). That's what I love about this site - ask a question and you'll get so many great ideas and responses - it's like having a huge brain storming session :cool: Thanks everyone! N

Alissa	02 Nov 2004
Tarot improv! What a brilliant idea~! I thought the thread was about pretending for someone else too. And I like this subject better!!

Formicida	02 Nov 2004
I'll also put in a vote for Shakespeare as a source for querents...I got to tell Juliet that Romeo guy was bad news for her ;) But now I have another book or two on my wishlist.

yupkigirl	03 Nov 2004
It is great to see in this thread that I am not alone in "pretending" to do a reading. I was also so afraid I was kinda daft that way! I am still wet behind the ears, and this is one of the best ways for me to hone my skills. It is sometimes difficult to articulate what you see in the cards, and pretending to talk to someone, explaining the cards, kinda gives me the practice I need should I do an actual reading---mostly for friends and family only.

earthlady	03 Nov 2004
I've never tried this--or heard of it. I would be afraid that the cards would get "pissy" or that this was somehow disrespectful to them. But I will certainly give it a try. Everyone seems so positive about it. I will try reading for my cats as well. One of them likes to be so close to me he doesn't want to move out of the way for me to do a spread. Maybe he's telling me something! Thanks all, for such a great idea. E.

The "Pretending" to do a reading thread was originally posted on 02 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.