Centering before doing a reading
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| Adjustment |
23 Mar 2005 |
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what kind of rituals you guys do for centering before starting a reading. I have a friend that do some stretching excersice and meditate for 3 minutes I was wondering is centering necessary?
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| Elektra |
23 Mar 2005 |
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I probably shouldn't be answering this thread, as I'm pretty new to tarot, but I don't do any sort of grounding or centering before reading, and my readings seem to be quite effective without it.
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| Ahria |
24 Mar 2005 |
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Thank you soo much for that I am defenatly going to try it doing a reading exhusts me.
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| psychic sue |
24 Mar 2005 |
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I light a candle, maybe a joss stick, relax, and ask my guides to draw near to me and help me.
Sometimes I cast a circle around me and the querant - I do this on instinct, sometimes I feel I need protection - can't really explain it.
I have red bulbs in my tarot room, as these are supposed to attract good spirits.
I set out my cloth, candles on the table etc.
Then I just try and clear my mind before I begin.
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| Grizabella |
24 Mar 2005 |
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I don't do any centering. I always forget that it's something some people do because I'm so intent on reading, so I've never tried it. But my readings seem to be very accurate and satisfactory anyway.
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| peridot |
24 Mar 2005 |
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Hello, I don’t do anything too special either. What I do to relax before a reading is just shuffle the cards. I throw my thoughts out there and ask that I do well with interpretations and I ask for guidance. Then I read. I don’t do too many readings for others right now because I’m still learning as I go. But when I do (for a friend and usually for my brother – he’s my practice buddy) I set up a table nice with a bowl of polished stones, a special table cloth and maybe a candle. This makes it feel a bit professional even though I’m practicing. This all may change as I become more familiar. :)
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| satinangel |
24 Mar 2005 |
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I set up a table nice with a bowl of polished stones, a special table cloth and maybe a candle. This makes it feel a bit professional even though I’m practicing. This all may change as I become more familiar. :)
Peridot,
I love this! Kind of puts you in the right frame of mind! I also love that your brother is your "practice buddy!" It would be nice to have someone to sit down with on a regular basis like that!
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| Dylan |
24 Mar 2005 |
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I havent tried any techniques yet, mainly because of in experience and not really knowing what should be done.
Im willing to try though!
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| daveyboy |
24 Mar 2005 |
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:) I thought i'd chip in my 2pence worth.
I normally give myself 10-15 mins to prepare by just meditating and relaxing. I ask my guides for some help thats normally when I "notice" if there is someone different there which a message will come from.
I have to pinch myself sometimes :) because it never ceases to amaze me :).
But lighting a candle and mebe an insence stick. "Go with the flow" is the best way to describe it :)
Dave
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| peridot |
25 Mar 2005 |
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Peridot,
I also love that your brother is your "practice buddy!" It would be nice to have someone to sit down with on a regular basis like that!
Well Satinangel we could go check out the Reading Exchange forum. I was thinking of checking that out…even though I have no clue how it would work. Think I'll read some of the rules and threads and maybe see you there! :)
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| satinangel |
25 Mar 2005 |
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Peridot,
I did check out the Reading Exchange and it looks GREAT! Just concerned that I am not quite "ready" especially after reading the posts there...my readings are still quite simplistic, compared to what I am reading there!
Day by Day though!!!!
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| peridot |
25 Mar 2005 |
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Satinangel, I sent you a pm
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| shadowdancer |
25 Mar 2005 |
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this is an interesting question, and no doubt there are many different methods used by members, or not as the case may be.
I tend to say a mantra I use often which is called the Great Invocation, and then call upon my Higher Self to link in with my consciousness.
If doing a reading for someone else I ask my guides and helpers to come forth to help me. I ask for Archangel Michael to protect us with his energy thus allowing only positive and harmonious energies to work with me. I then invite the energy of the guides and helpers of the person I am doing my reading for, to add their energies that I be linked to all involved.
From there I go ahead, dowsing for the spread they may benefit from at this moment in time, and the cards best suited.
I find it works quite well, and by using this 'ritual' for want of a better word, I do find I am focussed and intent on the task ahead.
Davina
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| Dylan |
25 Mar 2005 |
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Peridot,
I did check out the Reading Exchange and it looks GREAT! Just concerned that I am not quite "ready" especially after reading the posts there...my readings are still quite simplistic, compared to what I am reading there!
Day by Day though!!!!
Go take a look at my readings, simple is my speciality :)
Im never going to be one for long explanations and padding things out.
Im very new to all this, yet joined The Circle of Stones after a reccomendation from another member. Its the best thing ive done upto now. One week later and i have gained so much more confidence.
Go try it out, i guarantee you will be glad you did.
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| tarotbear |
25 Mar 2005 |
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When I had a tarot room it was so much easier - close the door, forget there was an outside world, turn on some soothing music ...
Although I don't have any lengthy ritual, I find it is best to stop and close my eyes for a few moments to 'black out' the world around me and then - take my eyeglasses off! I relax my shoulders and stretch my neck up before I shuffle.
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| Sulis |
25 Mar 2005 |
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Before I do a reading I always take a few deep breaths then imagine myself connected from my base chakra down to the Earth and from my Crown chakra up to the Universe. I see the energy from the Earth and from the Universe flowing thrpugh me.
After a reading I always ground any excess energy by putting my hands on the floor and visualising the energy returning to it's source.
Love
Sulis xx
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| satinangel |
25 Mar 2005 |
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Dylan,
Going to check out your posts! Thank you!
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| Dave's Angel |
27 Mar 2005 |
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I do have a little bit of ritual / "quiet time" before I do my readings. As regards the room, I'll dim the lights (from main light to table-lamp, or table-lamp to just a candle close by), and as I sit cross-legged on the floor to do the reading I'll be wearing loose clothes.
As regards *me*, I'll begin by picking out the Significator, then I'll spend 3 or 4 minutes or so with my eyes closed partly just relaxing and trying to focus on the task in hand, and partly praying. I'll ask for a useful answer to my question. Often if the question is primarily concerning someone else's situation I'll ask to be told what *I* need to know about the situation, and that reminds me that some things simply aren't my business. I'll ask for a clear reading, and also that if I'm not meant to know the answer at this time and consequently the cards that come up are really confusing, that I'll have the good sense to accept that and not bend over backwards forcing my own interpretation. Sometimes I'll visualise another hand or pair of hands over my own as I'm holding or rearranging the cards, moving them for me in the order they're meant to go, sometimes I visualise (or even sense without trying) a kind of "glow" (it's hard to describe) around me and the area where I'm reading.
I wouldn't consider doing a reading without this little preliminary as I think it's good practice to clear your mind as far as possible - it's a way of stopping your own internal monologue from encroaching on the reading too far. That said, if there are people who have great readings without it, then fine. But I did one Thursday night in a hurry when I was particularly worried about a situation, and I've since found out that the answers I got from the reading were complete tripe.... oh well.
PS psychic sue - I'm glad I'm not the only one who uses red - I have a read casting cloth and I've read some books saying you should use a calm or neutral colour such as blue, white, or black, and that red is counterproductive. But I tried using a blue one and for some reason I just couldn't concentrate.... it felt like driving on the wrong side of the road.
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| Fudugazi |
28 Mar 2005 |
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Because I've done many readings in very odd places, where I could not light candles or joss sticks, or stretch, or anything like that (very agreable things they are too) - I have learnt to do the mediation-grounding-centering-connecting bit in a more relfective, inner way. I just try and quieten the chatter in my head, make sure I am breathing well, shuffle showly until I feel ready. If I can put my feet on the ground, all and good. I don't talk in my head while I am doing this, I seek a space inside that is silent until the querent and I fill it with the reading. I know when I'm ready. Then I hand the cards to the querent to shuffle (if they want) and choose (or choose myself if I am doing a self-reading).
I learnt a lot from watching muslims do their 5 prayers a day. They prepare by washing their hands - in water or clean sand - and sometimes their faces too. Then they stand with their eyes closed before their prayer mat, facing Mecca, concentrated but loose. And then the prayer proper starts. I have seen that in the few minutes it take them, they are in a space - almost visible - entirely separate from the workaday world. They end the prayer standing, too, and slowly disengage, leave prayer space. It doesn't matter how many of them are praying next to each other or if they are alone: each one of them radiate peace. Muslims pray anywhere, wherever they are when it's time for the prayer, they stop everything and get into it.
I also try and clean my hands before a reading. With water or whatever else is available (I've also had to use sand).
This also taught me we have to "close" the reading space at the end of a reading, or we can be spaced out!
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The Centering before doing a reading thread was originally posted on 23 Mar 2005 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.
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