2 persons reading

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Ariana	23 Aug 2003
The other day I had to do a reading and the two friends showed up together. I don't have a space in my apartment where the other one could stay while I read for her friend. So the two stayed together while I read for each of them. I didn't like the idea from the very beginning, and in spite both readings were totally different, they did share some cards for example! It seemed they melted at a point. What are your experiences? Ariana

Thirteen	23 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Ariana I didn't like the idea from the very beginning, and in spite both readings were totally different, they did share some cards for example! It seemed they melted at a point. Yes, it's better if there's some alcove where you can read each person's card privately to them. It keeps you focused (that second person can distract) and allows for you to be more open with the querent (if you see something that's very private). However...and this is a big however, it's likely that it wasn't the presence of two friends in the same room which caused your "melting" problem. I'm guessing it was one of two other factors: The first is you and how you read. I've read at parties where I was seated at a little coffee table with seven people waiting their turn for a reading seated next to me, across from me, all around the table. I've read at coffee houses in a similar manner, at a table with other folk waiting their turn sitting right next to me. People who are friends and know each other, people who are strangers to each other. It worked out just fine. Why? Because I'm pretty good at getting into that zone where nothing exists but me, the cards and my querent. I can shut out the world when I'm reading--to the point where the house could burn down in flames around me and I wouldn't notice ;D So the first question is, are you like that? If, as it seems here, you're too aware of the other person while reading--you can't shut them out--then you might end up with that "melting" element. Not necessarily because your influence lead to similar cards (hey, that sort of thing happens, especially between good friends!), but because you viewed the card meanings similarly. If one friend had come to you one week and the other the next, you wouldn't even have noticed the similar cards. But as you'd just read one, and were uncomfortably aware of the other, it was hard for you to ignore similar cards, to feel that the two were "melting." So. If you can't shut out that other person--can't focus only on the cards and the querent no matter who else is in the room--then make a policy of only reading for people one-at-a-time in a private, quiet area. Second possible problem: Do you believe that the deck, after being shuffled by a person, gains some of their energy for the reading? If you do (and I do), then, yes, of course, melting *can* occur. It did with me on one memorable reading. Two different people, one after the other. The exact same cards came up in almost the same order. This indicated to me that I had not "cleansed" the deck well enough between readings. In this case, all that's required is that you, the Reader: 1) Clearly end the session with the first person (I like to rap upon the table--but do whatever works for you to signal that the reading is over--a phase: "This reading is ended!" or a gesture: wave a hand over the cards...whatever). Once you do that, pick up the cards quickly. No more going over them, looking at them, talking about them. 2) Shuffle the deck really well. 3) Envision the deck being enveloped by a blazing, white, cleansing light. Then pass it onto the second querent to shuffle. It should now be clear of any "residue" from the first querent.

Ariana	26 Aug 2003
Thanks a lot for your reply. I think I can shut myself as well, but although I was able to do this and concentrate in the cards, the reading and the querer; sometimes I remembered the other girl was there. And in spite they agreed to be present in each other's reading, I felt as the reading was not as private as I had liked. Anyway I take this as another experience and in the future I will rather avoid "share-readings". Ariana

The 2 persons reading thread was originally posted on 23 Aug 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.