Querent handing you the cards

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

Michelle	02 Nov 2004
Hello, After the querent shuffles the cards and hands them back to you -what do you do if they hand them to you side ways ? Which way do you turn them ? I recently read at a birthday party - my first time reading in public . And I wasn't exactly sure what to do when this happened . If I turn them the wrong way , will it affect the reading ? Thank you ! Love,Light,Blessings, Michelle

tarotlova	02 Nov 2004
I just turn them the right way up by looking at the bottom card! Hope this helps you.

Gyda	02 Nov 2004
If the person is sitting across from me which they usually are, I get them to hand the cards to me the same way they shuffled them, so often times the cards are turned 180 degrees when they're handed back to me. This way the cards are facing the same way they were when shuffled. Gyda

Michelle	02 Nov 2004
Thank you for your help ! The particular problem I had was that I handed the querent the cards - the short ends facing us . He handed them back with the long sides facing us. I just turned them the way I 'felt' they should be.

Ace	02 Nov 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Michelle Thank you for your help ! The particular problem I had was that I handed the querent the cards - the short ends facing us . He handed them back with the long sides facing us. I just turned them the way I 'felt' they should be. If the querent hands me the cards back sideways (long side facing me) I make them turn them one way or the other. I read reversed, so I want to know which way to start with. If they put them sideways, they are vacilating, IMHO.

Michelle	06 Nov 2004
Thank you, Ace. I read with reversals also - and wondered if it was rude to ask the client to (re)hand the deck to me to make sure I was reading it the right direction. I have only read for others a few times - so I am still feeling my way around and trying to do everything right. Thank you ! Love ,Light,Blessings, Michelle

Ace	06 Nov 2004
Michelle wrote: Thank you, Ace. I read with reversals also - and wondered if it was rude to ask the client to (re)hand the deck to me to make sure I was reading it the right direction. I have only read for others a few times - so I am still feeling my way around and trying to do everything right. Thank you ! Love ,Light,Blessings, Michelle Nothing is rude if you are asking a reasonable request (as this is) and saying Please and thank you.

Phaedra	06 Nov 2004
There is nothing wrong with asking the client to do something in particular with the cards. If you are not comfortable with the way things are going, it will affect the focus you can bring to the reading. I have a little routine that I do with my clients, where they shuffle and then hand the deck back to me. I then hold the deck for a moment or two between the palms of my hands. I wait until I feel a buzz, a vibe, a tingle of energy, whatever you want to call it. If the buzz is stronger on the bottom of the deck than on the top, I ask them to cut the cards again, until the buzz is stronger on top of the deck. I judge which way is upright by the tingle, too. I literally go by how they "feel" :-) Now this is obviously a little idiosyncratic, but the point is, you should feel confident with the cards. That's your job as the reader.

full deck	07 Nov 2004
I started using a visualization for reading about two years ago where I use a table (not unlike the magician's table in a Marseilles deck) and visualize either myself or one of the majors or someone/something else that points to cards that I spread out in front of us. When they point, I also move my index finger to where they are pointing. It is at this point that I also visualize them either flipping the card around or not. This way each card is selected out of the deck and is reversed or not. Mind you, this requires much practice and work on focusing one's mind. For me, I have done so much visualization in the past that this technique comes much easier to me than others. You could try a variation of this idea that suits you. It's just an idea . . .

Michelle	07 Nov 2004
Thank you all so much for your input :). I am always grateful to hear from others who are wiser and have more Tarot experience than me. I'm hoping that as I begin to read more for others - things will become more natural and I will be less anxious. I'm not sure if I lack confidence - or if it's the fact I'm a perfectionist and really stress out when things are out of order. Again, I thank you all for taking the time to help me. Love,Light,Blessings, Michelle

Michelle	07 Nov 2004
Phaedra ~ I don't think you are being idiosyncratic at all !! If you don't mind - I might just try this and see if it works for me. Fulldeck ~ I am not great at visualization - but what you have suggested - I feel would help me in becoming better at it. So much to learn - so little time-hmmmm. Love,Light,Blessings, Michelle

The Querent handing you the cards 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.