Tarot readers poster?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Apr 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Elven	06 Apr 2005
Ive been reading a few experiences here at ATF about Group readings, reading at Shopping centres, parties, and the like, and it seems that clients have very different ideas on what we are 'supposed' to be. I wanted to put something beside my table or on the wall to let clients know that ultimately they are the ones in control of their lives - the choice is theirs but saying "Im not a !@#%&#! fortune teller!!!!! might put them off!!!(LOL) If you had to put a small sign on your table to say what you do or what you dont do .. what would you write ... how would you explain it? Elven x

HudsonGray	07 Apr 2005
How about a side by side list: What tarot can do/what tarot is What tarot can NOT do/what tarot is NOT That way you don't have to spell it out to every single person sitting down with weird expectations. Make it really readable with a simple font, maybe a border around the outside. Bright color to get people's attention, the whole shebang.

ncefafn	07 Apr 2005
How about: I AM NOT MISS CLEO. Kim

Antharias	07 Apr 2005
Perhaps you can put a sign with: ..."Please respect and respect will be given"... and you can add something like: "... or get the !"#$ outta here!"... Sorry it was a joke, but what is no joke is the fact that many people will insist sometimes (ignorance maybe)and you have to make it clear that what you do is serious.

muteswan	07 Apr 2005
I don't think there's anything wrong with thinking of yourself as a fortune-teller. Fortune, by definition, dosen't have absolutes. It can mean destiny, but it can also mean luck and chance. I think of fortune-telling as telling the querent "This is what's coming your way, you decide what to do with this knowledge."

Elven	07 Apr 2005
Hi!! HudsonGray, ncefafn, Antharias & muteswan, I could use all of these ideas actually!!! And on the same poster!!! A friend has come up with: "Your destiny is in your hands The cards are in mine" We're still out on a verdict (LOL)

closrapexa	07 Apr 2005
Hmmm... how about Do What Tou Wilt shall be the Whole of the Law?

similia	07 Apr 2005
Elven wrote: "Your destiny is in your hands The cards are in mine" I like this one a lot :)

Jeannette	07 Apr 2005
Elven wrote: "Your destiny is in your hands The cards are in mine" That's absolutely fabulous! But if I can make one small, picky suggestion: for the most impact, the empowering message should be the last thing the reader sees, so I'd posit that the clauses should be switched, like so: [indent]The cards are in my hands Your destiny is in yours[/indent] That makes it sound more like it's about the querent, and less about you. (Not that there's anything wrong with it being about you, but if your goal is to adjust the querent's thinking on what a reading is and is not, people usually relate better to messages they see as being about themselves.) Just a little "pop psychology," for what it's worth. -- Jeannette The Tarot Garden P.S. -- If I steal (um, cite) that quote sometime... so tempting!... what name would I credit for authorship?

Elven	07 Apr 2005
Jeanette, Bravo!!! That makes much more sense and the way you put it sounds so much nicer - After I thought about it, it also made me think I need to start reading reversed cards which I dont do but have decided to now try and learn!! (Seriously after 15 years of reading I've hardly ever had the need to read reversals!, something about the way you wrote that post!!!, that different perspective... much thanks!) PS - Can't we share with everyone? I was going to ask you (?). Im a Calligrapher of sorts. When I get one done I will send you a copy and you could put your name on it! Love and Blessings Elven x

Bluemanticore	07 Apr 2005
"The cards are in my hands Your destiny is in yours" To me, that says it all! So simple and precise, and so well said. Practically poetic. :)

Chronata	07 Apr 2005
"The cards are in my hands Your destiny is in yours" This is an absolutely fabulous phrase! I think I may have to use this one too! I like to be called a Fortune Teller...And I have been called (and called myself) many things from Psychic Reader to Expert Listener. On my card...it says Divination and Consultation.

Original Destiny	07 Apr 2005
I sometimes use "The cards do not compel, they impel"... its a phrase I read somewhere and i liked it enough to borrow it...also I like to say we reveal possibilities for you to make into probabilities

Gwynne	07 Apr 2005
I love that "The cards are in my hands...." It's so appropriate!! I certainly could have used it the other day! Perhaps just have a well-defined code of ethics printed and posted in a very prominent place near where you read. I'm working on printing one up with a nice, clear script and a delicate border, framing it and also printing copies to go on the back of a flyer that I have near my table.

Antharias	07 Apr 2005
Agree with that ("The cards are in my hands....") thats definetly a phrase that could help a lot.

tarotbear	08 Apr 2005
Original Destiny wrote: I sometimes use "The cards do not compel, they impel"... its a phrase I read somewhere and i liked it enough to borrow it... It used to say this at the top of the Horoscope listing in our daily paper when I was growing up. It said 'stars' instead of 'cards' of course.... {Not that I am necessarily grown up now. One can grow up but be immature forever! :smoker:}

tarotbear	08 Apr 2005
Chronata wrote: I like to be called a Fortune Teller...And I have been called (and called myself) many things from Psychic Reader to Expert Listener. On my card...it says Divination and Consultation. I prefer 'Tarot Card Divination' or 'Tarot Card Reader' myself. Since I never claim to be psychic, I never use that word in any publicity. I think that gives the querent false or ignorant expectations. Yes ~ I have run around in my 'Mr. Wizard' outfit, but only at the Mardi Gras because it fit the atmosphere (which was a circus at any stage of meanings!)

psychic sue	08 Apr 2005
I am not reading for others at the moment, as I am still a little bit unwell, but when I advertise I say on my poster: Tarot Readings - want to know how you can use the influences around you for the best outcomes in your life? Tarot readings can help you in the identify positives and negatives in your life, and use these influences to your advantage. Something along those lines. Sue x

Ahria	08 Apr 2005
[quote]"The cards are in my hands Your destiny is in yours"QUOTE] That is just brillant!! tarotbear - You smoke to much :smoker:

Gwynne	08 Apr 2005
tarotbear wrote: I prefer 'Tarot Card Divination' or 'Tarot Card Reader' myself. Since I never claim to be psychic, I never use that word in any publicity. I think that gives the querent false or ignorant expectations. Yes ~ I have run around in my 'Mr. Wizard' outfit, but only at the Mardi Gras because it fit the atmosphere (which was a circus at any stage of meanings!) I am psychic, empathic and clairsentient to be exact, BUT I still don't advertise myself as a psychic, but as a Tarot and Rune Reader because there are different expectations for psychics. While doing a reading I will know things about a person more than what a specific card traditionally means, that's where the psychic ability comes in. I even can do it without the cards, but the cards help focus my mind a bit. But when you advertise that you're psychic, people come in expecting you to read their life and their future without any help at all.... no cards, no Runes, no pendulum, no nothing..... it puts you on the spot and I HATE being put on the spot. I find that when I've got a dozen cards laid out in front of me, I can tell a person what is coming to me, and they are less likely to question it. Even if it's coming from somewhere outside of me, outside of the cards (sometimes I get in a zone and just start talking, don't know exactly what I'm saying or where it's coming from, but it always hits the person in a very impactful way... they remember it and they always come back...) they always think it's just me reading the cards and it takes the pressure off of me. I am reading the cards, it's the cards that opens that up in me (or the Runes or pendulum or whatever tool I'm using at the moment....) It's just a matter of client perception.

Elven	08 Apr 2005
I advertise as a Tarot Consultant and Numerologist - because thats what I think, on a professional level, are the skills I can deliver to the best of my ability if people are going to pay for them. I find this difficult when I read at fairs which the organisers have advertised as 'Psychic Fairs', as I dont believe that I would advertise my professional skills as being a Psychic. The closest I get to this would be songs that come into my head and give me certain words that I pass onto the client. Organisers have even told me that 'eveyones psychic' so do worry about it you'll be fine. (Arrrggghhh) I wouldn't sit there without my cards - nor do any of the others who are reading at the fairs either, mind you - I like reading the cards and interpreting them. I am a Tarot reader. I have experienced the knock backs from potential clients who want to see 'the psychic who does the Tarot readings' because they feel they are getting a bit more for their dollar - 'two skills for the price of one', and there are those that believe you HAVE to be psychic to read the tarot properly. Why then do I get to feel like a fraud when what is offered to them (the client) is not properly advertised. (Marketing, maybe?) Because not all clients are aware of the distinction between the different names and skills, it doesn't surprise me when Im at the fairs how confused people can become if they're not properly informed. I will endevour to put that small quotation on the back of my cards. Hopefully it will spark up some discussion, instead of them just chucking it in their bag and walking off. Anyone had a similar experience with this also. Just on keeping with the thread, Im sure I've seen a post around here saying one person calls themselve 'The professional Baggage Handler' thats so cute (LOL). Any more? Blessings Elven x

tarotbear	08 Apr 2005
Ahria wrote: tarotbear - You smoke to much :smoker: The funny thing is I don't smoke anything at all -- not even plain cigarettes! I just always liked the symbol even before technology added the undulating smoke. Amazingly - a long time ago someone (who-shall-remain-nameless) at AT gave me a big hassle about the use of this emoticon and even wanted Solandia to remove it from the boards. Can we all say 'Control Freak'? They also probably campaigned to have Tinky-Winky removed from Teletubbies for being gay.

Ahria	08 Apr 2005
tarotbear wrote: Ahria wrote: tarotbear - You smoke to much :smoker: The funny thing is I don't smoke anything at all -- not even plain cigarettes! I just always liked the symbol even before technology added the undulating smoke. Amazingly - a long time ago someone (who-shall-remain-nameless) at AT gave me a big hassle about the use of this emoticon and even wanted Solandia to remove it from the boards. Can we all say 'Control Freak'? They also probably campaigned to have Tinky-Wink removed from Teletubbies for being gay. LOL well i just always notice you use it so I was teasing :P

The Tarot readers poster? thread was originally posted on 06 Apr 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.