Spot on?

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

Aoife	02 Dec 2004
Following on from recent discussions about querent feedback... I quite often hear people here saying that they did a reading that was ‘spot on’ or ‘way off beam’... or other similar terms. I’d be interested to know how people arrive at these judgements.... and what you actually mean when you say a reading was good or not-so-good. Querent feedback is unquestionably useful... but just how accurate is it? And does accuracy matter anyway? If the querent feels that the reading ‘spoke’ to them, does that then qualify as a good reading? But what if the reading raises issues that the querent finds challenging or uncomfortable to contemplate? What if the reading might by some objective measurement... [heaven help us if such a thing is ever devised... but i’m talking hypothetically here]... be considered ‘spot on’ but is said to be inaccurate by a querent who’s maybe too close to the issue and so is unable to see the wood for the trees, or is possibly in denial? And as we don’t have any objective measurements [or at least i don’t think we do??] ... what value do people place on their experience and intuition when gauging the accuracy of a reading... particularly when you feel the feedback is ‘off‘ or skewed? Returning to the question of whether accuracy matters.... Perhaps the definition of ‘spot on’ has little or nothing to do with accuracy? Perhaps its to do with an unquantifiable sense that our reading was a good one.... that it was in some way helpful or therapeutic. Or perhaps the reading itself became peripheral and it was the interaction between reader and querent that mattered most. Thoughts anyone?

Fulgour	02 Dec 2004
From the Delphic Oracle's cryptic and taut predictions, to a soothsayer's spot on, "Beware the Ides of March," warning Caesar ~ the language of divination is as veiled to most as the prophecies of Cassandra, but never silent. Questions are often phrased in a kind of "wish code," the unspoken aspects as weighty as the given words. Readers provide what helpful pronouncements they may, and feedback is appreciated, but Life goes on.

HearthCricket	02 Dec 2004
I will share a little story. Several years ago I decided to get back into Tarot, and bought the Medieval Scapini. I was just reading for myself, and certain cards kept coming up, in each reading, about a male figure, an authority figure, one with spiritual background, as well as some dark cards. Everything pointed to some male figure in my life who was some sort of authority figure and had sway over my life, but that darkness was about to be revealed. I could not, for the life of me, figure out who this person was, and got so frustrated that I actually tossed the deck out and said I was not going to bother with tarot anymore-that it was all a farce. About 2 months later the whole crisis in the Catholic Church came out. I live in MA, so the cards were pointing to Cardinal Law (if you have heard all this awful news about child molestations, you know what I am referring to) and I had actually had lunch with him, a decade before, when my friend and I were discerning the religious life. I can't begin to tell you how shocked and betrayed I was, and then I remembered the tarot readings and how everything had fell right into place, even when I completely rejected it. Well, I am back to tarot. When it is THAT spot on, and I can't see any of it beforehand, my faith in tarot shoots way up.

Moonbow*	02 Dec 2004
I'm so glad you brought this up Aoife, I don't see that a reading 'has' to be spot on, although that is maybe what the customer is wanting to happen, (and I suppose the reader to some extent), but a reader can only tell what they read in the imagery, and that may sound completely out of sync with what they 'know' about the person. I have had a reading myself from a very experienced reader, which at the time meant absolutely nothing to me, I racked my brains trying to make the reading fit, but very little of it did....... months later..... almost a year later. things started to trickle through. I also know this has happened to a friend of mine who had her reading on tape from when she was 20 - it told what her future husband would be like, the job he would be in and how they would meet and about the type of birth and difficulties she would have with her first born. At 26 these things started to happen and it was another couple of years when moving house that she remembered the tape. I try to use all the knowledge I have, and intuition, and imagination, to read, and I know sometimes I am sticking my neck out, but I have to say it all the same, and yes, it can be disappointing if the querant doesn't recognise what is being said (especially on an open forum like this) but no one can say what is down the road. I think we need 'not' to be embarassed or anxious about our readings and ..... just read. The feedback is not very important to me.

Ace	02 Dec 2004
Moonbow* wrote: I think we need 'not' to be embarassed or anxious about our readings and ..... just read. The feedback is not very important to me. That is "spot on" Moonbow*. A friend once said, the only way you will know if you are a good reader is if others start being recommended to you. I think that is very true.

Moongold	02 Dec 2004
Ace wrote: That is "spot on" Moonbow*. A friend once said, the only way you will know if you are a good reader is if others start being recommended to you. I think that is very true. Thanks Ace. A similar thought occurred to me last night after the Getting feedback - learning.... thread. I don't read face to face - I started here two and a half years ago and have only done a dozen face to face readings. The gauge of referrals isn't there. Maybe it means I should take the plunge and begin doing face to face readings. This thought occurred a few times in recent months and is partly why I'm now studying a couple of decks in depth. Learning all the symbology. Just feeling comfortable with the decks. When you are still learning, feedback is invaluable just in terms of confidence, particularly in the very early days. "Spot on" could mean accuracy in terms of specific fact or insight. I think it is helpful to know whether a reading has resonance for the querent in any way - either in terms of specific accuracy in fact or insight. or simply in affirmation. It is helpful to know this but I would never drag this information from anyone. When I was very new, it was important to know that what I said was clear and well written. Now I try to do that anyway and know what I write usually is that. Last night, after the most recent thread, I thought I would leave feedback to the powers that be. This might sound corny but I place each reading in the hands of my God/ess and trust that it will be a good reading, of benefit to the Querent. I thought last night that I must now simply let go of any outcomes, leave myself out of the reading altogether. Do the best I can and trust the outcome. Having feedback of some kind, however, is a reality check.

WhiteRaven	02 Dec 2004
Moongold wrote: When you are still learning, feedback is invaluable just in terms of confidence, particularly in the very early days. This is SO very true and especially if that is one big issue for the particular Reader in general. If you're lacking confidence in the outside world, it's definitely going to carry over into your reading abilities. It DOES help one's self esteem when they are given good feedback. Quote: I think it is helpful to know whether a reading has resonance for the querent in any way - either in terms of specific accuracy in fact or insight. or simply in affirmation. I also agree with this statement. It's a need to know if you're doing things right or wrong. It's a need to know if you are really understanding what the cards are projecting and if you are translating the messages correctly to the Querant. If one is not a professional and hasn't done many face to face readings, they can not gauge on the referrals etc...so feedback from the ones that they give reading to is very important, especially when you are starting out and have a lack of self-confidence. Feedback is enormously important and significant. Even the smallest thing as the way you present what you see to the Querant can be addressed in Feedback. I just had a feedback from one of my spreads and a word that the reader used just shot out at me and I went Ugh! I told them what I felt about it and with that I also gave them a suggestion as to rephrase it so maybe someone else might be able to digest it better...smooth it over...giving the same message but using a more subtle word. Things like that is quite helpful to ones' that don't have a lot of experience dealing with Querants..etc...I don't have to go further on my opinion about Feedback... and that's all she wrote........ ;)

Moongold	02 Dec 2004
I realised I did not address some of the points you made, Aoife. Quote: And as we don’t have any objective measurements [or at least i don’t think we do??] ... what value do people place on their experience and intuition when gauging the accuracy of a reading... particularly when you feel the feedback is ‘off‘ or skewed? . In one sense we only have the Querent' s response in terms of accuracy. Once I saw in a reading that someone was having a relationship outside his marriage. It was SO clear but I alluded to it sensitively in the reading. The Querent didn't respond to the reading and when I queried him, he said that nothing I had said was relevant. At the time of the reading I "felt" it was accurate so his reaction was difficult. A year later I found out that I was in fact correct. I guess people have different reactions. His feedback was denial. I usually have a strong sense of when a reading is accurate and this, with a couple of other experiences like this, has taught me to trust my own judgment in such instances, but then to let go of the matter. Once someone, an excellent reader, gave me feedback on a reading I had tabled here. Her feedback was so accurate it hurt. I got defensive and a little angry. It took me a few weeks to understand exactly what had occurred, so powerful were my defenses. LOL. Quote: Returning to the question of whether accuracy matters.... Perhaps the definition of ‘spot on’ has little or nothing to do with accuracy? Perhaps its to do with an unquantifiable sense that our reading was a good one.... that it was in some way helpful or therapeutic. Or perhaps the reading itself became peripheral and it was the interaction between reader and querent that mattered most. This is a really significant consideration. However, it usually does not stand alone in my experience. It usually goes with a "hit" in some shape or form, perhaps in factual or emotional accuracy. I think those readers who convey respect and care are way up there in terms of impact on the Querent. If you can offer insight and some factual or predictive accuracy, it's a potent mix.

The Spot on? thread was originally posted on 02 Dec 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.