which way is up?!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 13 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

magipixie	13 Jan 2003
I was doing a reading for a friend of mine that also reads cards and we found an interesting discrepancy in the way we read our spreads. I lay the cards out and read them from my perspective, such as if a card is upside down to me I read it as reversed. She on the other hand, lays her spread and reads from the querents perspective such as, if a card looks upside down to the querent then it's reversed. My idea was that because I'm the one doing the reading, they should be read the way I see them, and hers that since it's the querent's reading they should be read from hers (or his :)) Anyhow, I was just wondering how other people read their spreads since obviously there's not just one way!! Blessed Be, Pixie

Khatruman	13 Jan 2003
I can't remember where I posted an answer to something like this on correctness in readings, but I think it all boils down to what you and the querent decide is up or down before you do the reading. People often get too hung up on being correct and lose the spirit of the tarot. Questions like this imply that there is a single "correct" way to do it. As you will see with other aspects of meaning and so forth, it is more a matter of interpretation. Decide between yourself and the querent how they are to be read before you do the spread, then keep to that. You will find that the tarot gets it right regardless of whether "up" and "down" are from your perspective or the querent's, as long as both of you know what's up or down. Peace!

cjtarot	13 Jan 2003
Hi, what you are gonna find out is there is no "RIGHT" way. When I read, I read with the cards facing me. in fact right now I am using the Sacred Circle deck and don't read reversals. One of the things that I found that helps is to have the person you are reading for sit next to you so both of you can see the cards. Good reading and remember, do what feels right to you. Blessings. Cj

Fuzzmello	13 Jan 2003
You're doing the reading, not the client. Reverses are assigned from your position in relation to the cards. Fuzz

Umbrae	13 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Fuzzmello You're doing the reading, not the client. Fuzz For some, that is a correct statement. From my worldview, the reading is not about me, it is about and for the client, so I lay the cards out to be correct from the clients perspective (so I read upside down, and from right to left). The world of tarot is fraught with myth… Do what is right for you.

Khatruman	13 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Fuzzmello You're doing the reading, not the client. Reverses are assigned from your position in relation to the cards. Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae For some, that is a correct statement. From my worldview, the reading is not about me, it is about and for the client, so I lay the cards out to be correct from the clients perspective (so I read upside down, and from right to left). The world of tarot is fraught with myth… Do what is right for you. See, here is a good point, that there is not a real correct answer, in which case, it is your choice and perspective. I tend to agree with Umbrae here that "the reading is not about me (the reader)." I think it is beneficial to put it in the reader's perspective in that it sends an unconscious message that the querent is important, not the reader. A reader who does this for a while can easily adapt to seeing things upside down, but a querent most likely is not as experienced and will have trouble. Also, it will give the message to the querent that you care more about his/her concerns, rather than yourself. Peace!

Teal	13 Jan 2003
Well, here's another perspective altogether. If I were a querent who came to someone else to read for me, I'd expect the cards to be laid out so the reader had them upright------after all, if the querent knew what they were looking at in a reading, they probably wouldn't come to someone else to read for them. If I paid for a reading, I'd expect the cards to be in front of the reader in the right direction, not me.

Fuzzmello	13 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Teal Well, here's another perspective altogether. If I were a querent who came to someone else to read for me, I'd expect the cards to be laid out so the reader had them upright------after all, if the querent knew what they were looking at in a reading, they probably wouldn't come to someone else to read for them. If I paid for a reading, I'd expect the cards to be in front of the reader in the right direction, not me. Well-said, Teal. My position lies in the idea that the client above all wishes the reading to be true and valid. For my money, the reader has to put forth a little authority to satisfy this client concern. After all, if the client has the skill to read their own cards, wouldn't they just read for themselves? And if they did, would they insist on turning the cards around so they would be 'right'? Fuzz

Khatruman	13 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Fuzzmello My position lies in the idea that the client above all wishes the reading to be true and valid. For my money, the reader has to put forth a little authority to satisfy this client concern. After all, if the client has the skill to read their own cards, wouldn't they just read for themselves? And if they did, would they insist on turning the cards around so they would be 'right'? Sounds like your point is made well, so perhaps talking to a client before hand and asking whether he/she is more comfortable seeing the cards the "right" way or if they are more comfortable having "you" read the cards. In my experience, and not just tarot, a customer appreciates things laid out before him/her and explained, rather than the retailer simply taking command and saying how it is. I am with others that believe tarot to be interactive with the querent. Simply taking the stand that "Well, I know the cards and you don't" alienates the querent, who feels uncomfortable speaking up. But if the customer wants it your way, cool.. Isn't it just considerate to give the querent the option? Peace!

tarotbear	13 Jan 2003
HA HA all! When I lay out the cards I have the querent sitting NEXT to me, or I lay them out between us on their 'side' so that they see the cards from the same perspective that I do! It does not matter which way you want to orient the cards - however - always do it consistantly. If you decide that 'facing you' is 'right side up' than you should always read it that way.

Teal	13 Jan 2003
Giving the querent the option is probablya good idea, but having them sit next to you is a better idea, in my opinion, if you want them to see the cards "right side up" as you're seeing them.

Teal	13 Jan 2003
But really, I think each reader has their own style and that they're going to get repeat customers who like that style. If you ask a querent how they want the cards put out and they don't care for that approach, they'll either say so or not come back.

HudsonGray	14 Jan 2003
I agree with the right side up approach, you're the one reading them after all. As you get to each card you can turn it to the person so they can see it upright to their sitting position if they're across from you. I've never laid a spread out facing the one asking the question. But do what feels best for you, as they say, there are no rules.

Alex	14 Jan 2003
twist your neck too much in order to read the cards!

Major Tom	14 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by tarotbear When I lay out the cards I have the querent sitting NEXT to me, or I lay them out between us on their 'side' so that they see the cards from the same perspective that I do! I prefer to have the querent sitting next to me too. :) And, of course, it's already been said, lay out the cards whichever way feels 'right' to you. :laugh:

magipixie	14 Jan 2003
Hey all, Thanks for taking the time to say what you all think. Posting the thread made me think alot about it and I tried a couple readings sitting side by side with the querent and the readings were two of the best I've ever done. I got alot stronger feelings from the querents. Thanks alot, Blessed Be, Pixie

sagitarian	14 Jan 2003
I don't read reversed meanings, BUT I place the cards upright to me, so if I DID read reversed meanings, then if they were upside down in my persepective, then they would be reversed.

Trogon	15 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by magipixie Hey all, Thanks for taking the time to say what you all think. Posting the thread made me think alot about it and I tried a couple readings sitting side by side with the querent and the readings were two of the best I've ever done. I got alot stronger feelings from the querents. Thanks alot, Blessed Be, Pixie Well... as usual... I'm coming in late on this thread... ;) But, my way of doing it is also to have the querrent sitting next to me. At least that is my preferred seating arrangement. However, some people just don't want their personal space encroached upon, if that is the case, they are more than welcome to sit across the table from me... but I'm still going to deal the cards "facing" me as this is what I'm used to doing, and trying to go the other way would probably confuse me.

Laurel	15 Jan 2003
When its a deck I'm familar with (say my battered old Thoth), I turn the cards to face the querent. There's nothing I need to read off the cards, but they usually do. Its what I'm comfortable with and haven't had any complaints. I noticed when I'd do it the other way, querents were more inclined to pick up cards and read/study them which sometimes threw my rhythmn off. But I ascribe to the No Right Way school of thought, lol. ~LAS

The which way is up?! thread was originally posted on 13 Jan 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.