Accuracy when reading online

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 May 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

seanchai	02 May 2005
I'm in the same situation as many of us at Aeclectic, in that I don't have anyone (other than myself) for whom I can read in person. I'm circumnavigating that issue by reading for others online when I can, but when I broached the subject to a friend, the reply was, "You can read cards online?" That reaction got me thinking... all of us on these boards know it's *possible* to read for others online, but I'd like to ask those who do both in person and online readings, do you notice any difference in your ability to read with accuracy? Obviously online readings lend themselves to a querent/reader relationship slightly different than that of an in-person reading, and everyone's going to have their own take on whether that difference is negligible. I'm just fishing for opinions.

mike gorth	02 May 2005
Well, you forgot to put in there phone connections because that's talking but in different places sort of a mix. Um.. I've only done readings for other people online and I've gotten amazing results. I don't know about person to person but if it were any more accurate, I would be stunned by the results.

Phoenix Rising	02 May 2005
I actually prefer to do online. When I'm with someone physically, I tend to miss out little bits, as I think I have to say things quickly. When online, I have more time to study and look at it. I think online are more accurate for me. Not that they may be accurate 100% but I think are better online. Make sense?

seanchai	02 May 2005
mike gorth wrote: Well, you forgot to put in there phone connections because that's talking but in different places sort of a mix. Good point! I'm not much of a phone person so yeah, that escaped my mind. I'd be interested in input from people who do/have done phone readings as well. Thanks for that... and for replying, too. Good to hear from other people who do mostly or only online readings. :)

seanchai	02 May 2005
Phoenix Rising wrote: I actually prefer to do online. When I'm with someone physically, I tend to miss out little bits, as I think I have to say things quickly. When online, I have more time to study and look at it. I think online are more accurate for me. Not that they may be accurate 100% but I think are better online. Make sense? Makes perfect sense. I suspect the same is true for me... I can work both ways, but I seem to think best in print, so to speak.

similia	02 May 2005
I agree with the above. Online you get the luxury of time to think about the reading, and look at it in depth without the distraction of someone waiting to hear they will live happily ever after starting today :D . In person you get instant feedback and can have a conversation about the cards. The question can develop a bit more, and you can engage the querant better. I think both types of reading would develop your skills a little differently. It's probably good to do a bit of both. :)

seanchai	02 May 2005
similia wrote: I think both types of reading would develop your skills a little differently. It's probably good to do a bit of both. :) I like that notion - that both types are equally as deep, but in different senses. Hopefully I'll get more opportunities for in-person readings in the future. :)

tarotbear	02 May 2005
I have done many readings 'online' but not 'live.' I have had people contact me with their concerns and I send out a little 'Letter for the Querent' that tells them right off what tarot can and cannot do. I also ask for other info they feel with 'be of help.' for the reading. I ask for a picture, also! However, I do this reading offline at my convience, type it up when I can, and send it back to them, usually within 24 hours. I do not do 'instant readings' in IMs, which is why when I was on AOHELL I had IMs turned off. I am one of the staunchest believers that the querent should handle the cards; I explain this to an online querent, for I feel that my shuffling them will have a certain degree of prejudice built in.

seanchai	02 May 2005
tarotbear wrote: I have done many readings 'online' but not 'live.' I have had people contact me with their concerns and I send out a little 'Letter for the Querent' that tells them right off what tarot can and cannot do. I also ask for other info they feel with 'be of help.' for the reading. I ask for a picture, also! However, I do this reading offline at my convience, type it up when I can, and send it back to them, usually within 24 hours. I do not do 'instant readings' in IMs, which is why when I was on AOHELL I had IMs turned off. I am one of the staunchest believers that the querent should handle the cards; I explain this to an online querent, for I feel that my shuffling them will have a certain degree of prejudice built in. Thanks tarotbear, very helpful info, as always!

mullein	03 May 2005
i used to do readings by phone for a major company here in the uk for 3 years..the thing with phone readings is you have to be quick as some person the other end of the phone running their phone bill up..is waiting for what they want to hear..some of them wont speak to you except say hello as they want you to prove yourself..and some of them are really desperate which put added stress on you as a reader..so somehow you have to read the cards and figure out exactly what their problem is in the space of a minute or so..the reading will cut off after 20 minutes due to phone regulations as the cost can cause major problems especially if someone has very little money and they are phoning to see if they are getting extra money coming..obviously if they have no money then they cant afford to run bills up..its very difficult..and doing it like that on the phone makes you really tired..as you are usually doing a 4 hour shift..and the phone never stops ringing its one after another..fortunately i am also clairvoyant and a medium so i had that skill to use with my cards..and my cards talk to me in their own way..so i never had any complaints..even though i did over 5000 readings for the company..some of the calls you get are difficult one i had was someone going to have a sex change at the age of 40 it makes you wonder why they waited so long..and they wanted guideance..another was a man who had killed his father and was due in court the next day..a lot of abused people phone up and people so desperate and lonely..the cards really have to work hard..i prefer to do face to face readings as phone work seemed to deplete my energy..i havnt really tried to do it over the internet as i havnt had any opportunity to do so..i guess it wouldnt be as bad as phone work as at least you have more time..

Fairawen	03 May 2005
It is VERY accurate! It's the only type of readings that I've ever done, but I've had very good reactions here online. And it's a great way to practice, especially since the people you're doing readings for also know tarot and may help with some helpful insights on the cards you draw for them. I've had many good comments on here, my self-confidence has been boosted dramaticly. I'm considering doing face-to-face public readings soon, and it's all because of the awesome people here at AT, and on the Reading Exchange board. Tarot, for some reason unknown to man (though I have my theories...) is not limited by distance. The cards can read for someone, no matter how far away. Thankfully for us, or some of us would never get any practice! :) So, to answer your question simply: Yes. They are EXTREMELY accurate. ~Fairawen~

psychic sue	03 May 2005
Mmmmm - for me personally, sometimes on-line readings can be very accurate. I think I would prefer a one on one situation, because the feedback side of a reading is very important, but I think on-line readings are not to be completely dissed. Sue x

muteswan	03 May 2005
I've done online readings that went fine; but they lacked the energy of a live reading, face to face. That energy has given me great, very memorable experiences that online generally doesn't.

gilded goat	03 May 2005
on line readings are just fine,especially if you are new to tarot or lack confidence of a face to face chat,one mistake i sometimes make is to judge the book by its cover and that can colour the reading in an adverse way,had my fingers burnt a few times!

satinangel	03 May 2005
tarotbear wrote: I have done many readings 'online' but not 'live.' I have had people contact me with their concerns and I send out a little 'Letter for the Querent' that tells them right off what tarot can and cannot do. I also ask for other info they feel with 'be of help.' for the reading. I ask for a picture, also! Tarotbear ~ I would love to see the verbiage of the letter that you use. Would you mind sharing it with us?

Pipistrelle	03 May 2005
Very interesting question Seanchai...I've been wondering about this myself for a while. I've only recently begun doing readings online and they are the ONLY readings I've done for anyone other than myself. I have to admit, with the first couple I did, I had no way of knowing whether they were accurate or not. The people I read for both gave good, positive feedback but you never know, right? ;) The more readings I do, the more natural it seems. I always thought it was crazy - how can you do a reading for someone you know nothing about, have never met, and (often) don't even know what they're asking?! I don't know the answer to that question but it does seem to work. I just trust that the universe/powers that be know exactly who I'm talking about! I just ask them to help me understand the reading so I can pass the message on clearly in order to help the querent. In that way, it's not me trying to delve into the unknown...:) Pip

lunar_rabbit	03 May 2005
I think I am actually better at reading cards online than in person, because like the others mentioned it is easier to mull over them when you don't have the person sitting there impatiently. Sometimes if it doesn't make sense, I can go off and get a cup of coffee or sleep on it and all of a sudden it's clear as day! Also, I'm a lot more articulate in writing than I am in person. LOL.

Fairawen	03 May 2005
lunar_rabbit wrote: Also, I'm a lot more articulate in writing than I am in person. LOL. You have no idea. :P Ditto lunarrabbit, ditto to the fullest extent of the word... ~Fairawen~

Chronata	03 May 2005
Online readings for me can be like a shot in the dark. I have no immediate feedback, and so sometimes, I just have to go out on a limb...TRUST that my intuition is delivering an accurate statement, and put things into writing...that cannot be changed. I type slow...so online readings can take me forever sometimes to do. And they take a lot of energy...sitting in one place for so long. But while typing, I may get an intuitive reaction...and add things that I had not considered at the time I was staring at the pretty pictures on the cards. Online readings are a challenge to my ability to just trust in what I see. Face to face readings, on the other hand are a breeze in comparison. Because of my ability to read people's minute reactions and faces...and energy...I can know right away if something I am saying is on track. And if not, I can steer the reading in a more helpful direction. And because I can talk way faster than I can type (with less mispellings!), there is a bigger flow of information that just spouts from me as I communicate directly with a human being! And while I prefer doing the face to face readings...online has proven sometimes to actually be more accurate. (If only I can believe in what I am writing! :) )

Ilithiya	03 May 2005
I prefer online readings, for almost all of the previously mentioned reasons. I'm like a deer in headlights when I'm reading face-to-face. I can't do it. I blank out on everything and become pretty useless. The one advantage, though, of face-to-face is that people can't accuse you of using a program. :D Illy

Emeraldgirl	04 May 2005
I have never done an online reading so I am not really sure how they go as opposed to face to face. I have done one telephone reading which I didn't enjoy much (I missed the friend I was reading for anyway). I felt that it was not as personal as doing the reading face to face but nessicity is a great teacher. I think I may check out the reading exchange and see what it is all about,

The Accuracy when reading online thread was originally posted on 02 May 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.