Who do you read for? And how often?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Mar 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Jewel-ry	08 Mar 2004
Hi all, Just wondered ' Who do you read for?'. As a business, for friends, for family, for yourselves, for your animals and stuffed toys. Who? and 'How often?' I only really read for myself and family (my hubby and son really), although I have done a few readings on AT. I have started to make it known that I read the cards and am only a beginner and a few people have said I must read for them one day. I am taking it slow but feel I am missing out so much! If someone came in to my house and said ' right get your cards out, read for me' I would, but don't yet feel that I can push it. J :)

contrascarpe	08 Mar 2004
Presently I read mostly for people here at the forums. I feel as if my writing skills far outweigh my presentation skills at the moment so I find it more comforting. However, by doing these online readings I find my confidence growing. I have done readings for associates but until recently found it very difficult to read for people I know well, but I am trying to overcome that. I never read for myself. My goal is to read semi-professionally. I am hoping to deal with a local metaphysical shop for the opportunity to start. Dan

Centaur	08 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel-ry Hi all, Just wondered ' Who do you read for?'. As a business, for friends, for family, for yourselves, for your animals and stuffed toys. Who? and 'How often?' Hi Jewel-ry, I read mainly for friends at the moment. And myself also! I'm not sure how often though... depends on how busy I am! C

lionette	08 Mar 2004
Hi Jewel-ry. I read for me mostly. Occasionally a phone reading for my sister, and another good friend who also lives far away. But readings for me usually happen about 3 or 4 times per week.

Astraea	08 Mar 2004
I only read for family and a few friends, and almost every day do a one-to-three-card draw for myself in order to learn more about card meanings and decks.

miss_apples	08 Mar 2004
I usually only read for myself and people over the net...especially here on AT. When I go to my best friends house, which isnt that often, I usually exchange readings with her and then do readings for her mom and sister and whichever of her sisters friends who are there at the time. Sometimes I will put up a status message on my yahoo messenger that says I am in the mood to do readings and then people on my buddy list will ask me for one. And just once I went into a psychic chat room to ask in assistance helping a friend that I have been doing readings for, and once people found out I read cards asked me for readings and I did a few from there. I could never read for my significant other, Im too afraid of seeing me come up in his readings and getting all flustered...lol Jewel-ry, I remember getting a reading from you and it was phenominal, one of the most memoriable readings Ive had. So I personally think you shouldnt have any problems reading for others, youre great! You too Centaur! ;)

Star Spirit	08 Mar 2004
Well...I usually just read for myself, sometimes my boyfriend, and people online here at Aeclectic. I started an online tarot business but it hasn't picked up yet. I do plan to read professionally when I move this fall and start college ;) I think my family knows about my tarot interests but I don't feel comfortable sharing that around them...

Phoenyx*	08 Mar 2004
I read for myself and for my boyfriend, but that's it.

ol_crazy_Legs	08 Mar 2004
I usually read for myself and my freinds. Although I have dont reading on my family.

yve	08 Mar 2004
So far, only for myself, my significant other (he loves his daily readings!), my son and a couple of readings here at AT...

nina	08 Mar 2004
Hello, I mostly read for myself. If a friend who is open minded about these things is having a knotty problem I will do a throw about it in private and try to discuss some of my impressions with them. I don't feel confident enough to have the person sitting there with me. It's been so long since I've read for me or anyone else, and a few people have asked me to please start again, so I guess I don't completely suck. I find it hard to look at a spread and come up with an interpretation right that second. I need some time to look at it, think about it, write down some thoughts. I'm always amazed at readers who can see patterns and integrated meanings so quickly. -nina

Kath	08 Mar 2004
I read for friends and family. I haven’t read for myself in a while. I find that when things are going well (as they are) I don’t seek out my cards as often. But if I’m troubled then I’ll do readings to get clarity or confirmation. I used to do readings on yahoogroups quite regularly. I think reading for other tarot readers is a great way to learn the cards and get helpful feedback. I haven’t been reading as often as I like, I just find myself too busy these days, but I’d like to get back into it.

Phoenyx*	09 Mar 2004
Well, last night I took the plunge and lost my online reading virginity. :D Read for Jypsie, which you can read in the Reading Exchange forum. When I spread the cards it seemed to be so clear, and yet...I dunno, it seemed to be off as well.

Bean Feasa	09 Mar 2004
So far I've only read for myself, two close friends and my sister (hubby won't relent, though I'd love to try reading for him). I enjoy reading for myself, drawing a card or three daily, and doing 'bigger' readings occasionally. I haven't read on the reading exchange yet, but have contributed my tuppence worth a few times to throws people have posted in Your Readings - somehow I feel there's less pressure there. At the moment I only have access to the net at work, but I'm hoping to get connected at home quite soon - and hopefully then I'll have a more comfortable situation and will start to practise reading on some of you leetle pretties }) Mwuhahahahaha :) Kate

brandi124	09 Mar 2004
I've done readings for myself, close friends and my husband. I've done readings "about" my sisters, my father, my brother in law, and the democratic presidential candidate Kerry (I was curious).

crystal cove	10 Mar 2004
I've read for others, but my reason for learning to read was, and continues to be, for personal growth. I have no problem reading for those with an open mind, however, you'll never see me "hanging out my shingle", because I don't have the time nor the inclination to deal with the naysayers looking to "test" me. The frequency of readings vary...wildly, in fact. Some weeks I may do several readings, and some I may do none. I generally just do readings for what I would consider an important issue. Most of my time is spent on studying, being that my new years resolution was to get to know the decks I had accumulated in the past.

BlueLotus	10 Mar 2004
I read mostly for myself, but occasionally for my immediate family and/or some far-away family members.

Kiama	10 Mar 2004
Um.... Anyone who asks! Really, I read mostly for my friends (most of them are Pagan or have New Age tendencies) and housemates, but often I'll get asked for readings by strangers... in pubs usually. I also take appointments every now and then professionally, usually these people hear about me through word of mouth and are friends of my friends. I also read for fictional characters if I want to do a reading but have nobody to do one for, myself, and people online. It depends on what type of week I'm having as to how often: sometimes I can do between 5-15 readings a week, sometimes go a whole week doing no readings. Kiama

kwaw	10 Mar 2004
I had a go at an online reading here several weeks ago which is probably my first reading for several years. Never read professionally though up until a few years ago I did do a twice annual event when I did readings to raise money for charity. Just short readings of 15 minutes to half hour, usually averaging about 20 minutes. At the last one I did 35 readings in one day, which is not something I recommend BTW. Kwaw

TemperanceAngel	10 Mar 2004
I read for clients, 8 - 20 per week. That's in 2 days, busy stuff :) These readings are usuall half hour to one hour. My friends and family when ever they ask! XTAX Edited to add: my friends include AT members!

dolphingirl	11 Mar 2004
I usually don't read for myself much anymore maybe once a month or so. I have found that tarot has made me so in tune with myself that I just don't need to do the readings I once did. I also used to be in a reading group for quite a while but havn't done that in ages although in a nother group we have started doing weekly readings for each other in a round robin kind of way and I am just loving that. I had gotten to a point where I just wasn't pulling out my cards like I used to and this has really pushed me into reading again :) Samantha

VGimlet	11 Mar 2004
I have read for my close family, although I don't like to read for my husband (too close, I guess) and I have read for one of my co-workers. I have a lot of people who want me to read for them, but for some reason I'm not quite ready yet. I would like to expand my circle - and I've been saying that for awhile. Sometimes I've done 5 or 6 readings in a week, and other times none. Depends on how much time I have.

CreativeFire	11 Mar 2004
When I first started to read years ago, I read for my mother, practiced on some of my co-workers (my husband was one of them - but not then in our relationship) and read for myself, then did not read for quite a while - moved to a new town. Have been doing lots more reading the last year or so, having now come out of the "Tarot Closet" with my friends. :D So now usually read for my mother still :) (now 76), read for quite a few of my friends, family (in-laws) and have even started to do phone readings with a couple of my far away good friends. Still read for myself from time to time but mainly for others now unless I have something particularly troubling I need to sort out for myself. Have also had friends of friends ask me to do readings for them when I get a chance. Have still not done an online reading ... have started reading the Your Readings and Reading Exchange forums more and more, trying to get up the courage LOL. I am very comfortable reading face to face with someone but it just feels a bit distant for me reading for someone online, that is why I thought I would try phone readings to start off with and then work my way to online - it will be learning experience no doubt ;) CreativeFire

crystal cove	11 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by dolphingirl I have found that tarot has made me so in tune with myself that I just don't need to do the readings I once did. Samantha You know, I think that there is something to that! A few weeks ago, I was wondering why I wasn't doing so many readings anymore being that I think the ones that I do are better than ever. For some reason, I just don't feel the need. Along the same line, when I first started reading five years ago, I was all into making up my own spreads and such and the reality is, I don't even use spreads anymore. I just lay the cards in a line and read. Of course, the argument could be made that that IS a spread, however, I don't apply any particular meaning to each position. I just go with it.

Savoyali	11 Mar 2004
At present I'm being my own guineapig, so to speak. Doing daily 5 card spreads--enough to get a good variety of cards, yet not so many as to be overwhelming. Just starting out, I'm not comfortable with the idea of reading for others just yet, though one of my sisters and a friend have expressed an interest, I believe, albeit in the rather jocular tones of uncertainty in one's own seriousness. Well, I'll just stay tuned to see where it leads, I guess :) Professional readings won't ever enter into it, I don't think, seeing as I'm not really a people person :|

Jewel-ry	11 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by CreativeFire Have still not done an online reading ... have started reading the Your Readings and Reading Exchange forums more and more, trying to get up the courage LOL. I am very comfortable reading face to face with someone but it just feels a bit distant for me reading for someone online, that is why I thought I would try phone readings to start off with and then work my way to online - it will be learning experience no doubt ;) CreativeFire Hi CreativeFire, Going off topic a bit. I had some advice a while back which was to take a reading from the Your readings or Reading exchange and lay out the cards and do your own interpretation. You can then compare your interpretation with others. I know that no two people read the same but you will be surprised at how much this boosts your confidence and before you know it you will be replying to them on the forum. I still do this for practise. J :)

Simone	11 Mar 2004
Once upon a time, I used Tarot only for myself, for my own growth and solving of problems. If I had to read for others, I used an oracle I'm fairly familiar with (Belline). But I don't really like to do "live" readings, as I always feel under prressure to "be good"... My readings are not really what is called "fortune telling", and I am bound to disappoint those that only seek gaudy readings about how they will soon meet the love of their life and receive a heritage from a rich uncle abroad. My readings tend to be more psychological, and I love to do those. Thanks to Aeclectic, I have found a way to read for others without the pressure: I can take the time I need to do the reading and then post it. (and I realise that I need less time for it than if I did it "live" :D ) Thanks again to Aeclectic and this wonderful community, I have come to trust more and more my hunches and intuitions... (((((Hugs to all!)))) Love Simone

CreativeFire	11 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel-ry Going off topic a bit. I had some advice a while back which was to take a reading from the Your readings or Reading exchange and lay out the cards and do your own interpretation. You can then compare your interpretation with others. I know that no two people read the same but you will be surprised at how much this boosts your confidence and before you know it you will be replying to them on the forum. I still do this for practise. J :) Thanks Jewel-ry, this is an excellent idea and I am certainly going to try it and hopefully you should see me tentatively starting to participate in the Reading Exchanges in the near future :) CreativeFire

Kirranan	15 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by CreativeFire Thanks Jewel-ry, this is an excellent idea and I am certainly going to try it CreativeFire Yes I'll second that. Thanks Jewel-ry that IS a good idea and one I'll be using too from now on! Other than that I read at least once a week just to keep up my current skills. I am still a real beginner though and still have to keep my interpretations book beside me (for guidance only I never go exactly by the book). I just do readings for myself and 'about' other people close to me or anyone I know well that asks. I get quite flustered though with someone watching me. I prefer to just get the person to charge up the cards with some of their own energy, and then tell them I'll get back to them with the meaning of their layout, so I can do it in peace. I'd love to start practising here on AT but I will wait until Im a bit better at it first lol!! Kirranan :-)

lawguy51	15 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Kirranan I'd love to start practising here on AT but I will wait until Im a bit better at it first lol!! Kirranan :-) You don't have to be a 'bit better' to go on the Exchange. That's what it's for. I posted an offer to read as soon as I hit my 25th post because I couldn't wait to get started and frankly was to naive to be nervous. You'll get the experience over time, all you need is a little bit of nerve. I read for myself, although not so much, just as others have observed in this spread. I read for friends and family, have done many readings in the Exchange and I do a weekly one card reading on my record label website, using the Rock & Roll Tarot deck. I sometimes read for a couple of professional clarivoyant friends of mine and that's always fun. Lawguy51

Ariana	15 Mar 2004
I hardly read for relatives, friends or very close people. I am too attached to them as to be objective. Of course I do it, but they are not the best readings for me. I do free readings online for an international Tarot Readers Website. What I enjoy most is to read to strangers, people who I dont know anything at all. I just ask them their names and birth date. Once a month a travel to a city 300 kms from Buenos Aires (downtown) and I read for almost 10 people in a row... with a break of 2 hours. This is a great great experience! Finally I do one card daily reading for myself and I also try to get some advice for myself when I feel I need it and know Tarot would help.

Mystic Chris	16 Mar 2004
Hello Jewel-ry, When I started tarot, I did readings primarily for myself. But more and more I do them "for fun" at friendly gatherings or hanging out at the cafe. I am starting to believe that some of my best readings are when I can be totally objective or detached from the person or situation the reading is about. I guess I can do readings for myself, but I have questioned my objectivity lately, especially when I try to do a reading for a very emotional situation in my life. It's a learning process. :)

kerri28	08 Apr 2004
Most of my readings are absent readings. I do read for a friend as well as my SO. I also read for myself but like most of you only rarely these days. I just don't feel the need to read for myself. I've only just started to participate in the reading exchange and i'm finding it really informative and exciting getting to have a look at others' reading styles and the such. I'd love to one day go "pro" but I think that will be awhile yet. Plus, I haven't really come out of the closet with family so it could prove to be rather interesting!! Oh well, at least I'm living 600kms away from most of them so I shouldn't worry too much.lol

Dove	08 Apr 2004
I created a web site last year to do my readings on-line via e-mail. I almost didn't feel like I had a choice, it's like the Tarot is part of me, part of my "purpose," and Spirit strongly pushed me toward it despite my initial aversion to it (raised in a traditional church). I'm also pretty psychic, but didn't learn to what degree until 1998. I discovered it during an "intuition training" class. A life-changing day for me. This class was so cool, I'd never been to any type of metaphysical anything... 95% of the class was everyone just reading everyone, strangers...all we knew was the person's name. It was amazing to have this information coming out of my mouth and these total strangers were saying, "Yeah, that's right." The most memorable one was when I was reading this older guy and I saw a vision of a space shuttle blasting off. He then told me he had just retired from NASA :) I had never had any visions or what I would consider really potent psychic experiences before that day. Although I had always felt I was a little psychic. After discovering the Tarot, I discovered that my birthday numerologically calculates to the High Priestess. For 2 or 3 years now, Spirit has hounded me ;) to start writing, and I only recently made an effort to get an article published. Amazingly it was published at a very nice meta e-zine in December and the story was also published in a well-known "for real" metaphysical magazine in Feb. Way cool :) Anyway, that article and a couple of others that were subsequently published briefly spurred the sale of my readings, but it's still slow going in getting that endeavor off the ground. I'm still trying to learn how to get the word out. It's difficult with limited funds for advertising. Just in the few months that I've been really doing the readings, I have gotten several wonderful feedback letters and have used some of those to make a testimonials page at my web site. Those letters are really the best part of it all. My readings are unique in that I do a psychic reading first, then do a Tarot reading...cool to see how they overlap. I've never done a Tarot reading in person yet, I feel more comfortable with "ex-parte" or absent readings. I've learned there's no need for the person to be there...space and time are an illusion :) ...and I can concentrate better without the distraction of their presence. Besides, I spend a minimum of 4 hours on my readings. Yes, I'm kind of obsessive in general, but I just want my clients to get as much information as I can provide about their situation. And yeah, I read for myself, almost incessantly. So much so that the time frame will become smaller and smaller. Like the "Near Future" position will happen within hours or minutes. It's just so much fun playing with the Tarot! I just have this insatiable love for it. I gotz the Tarot bug big time, LOL ;) By the way, the article I mentioned above is a synchronous account of how I was divinely guided to using the Tarot, a very intriguing course of events. Sorry, this is so long, but perhaps this elaboration will be of some benefit to others. Blessings, Dove

kerri28	08 Apr 2004
Thanks for the great reply Dove. I'd be interested in checking out your article if that's ok?

Myrrha	08 Apr 2004
I do daily cards for myself, and readings for myself about once a month. I was reading on AOL for a while but am not on AOL anymore. Two of my friends like to have readings but most people I know don't believe in tarot. I did an ad for free tarot readings and read for a couple of strangers this way, which helped me not be so nervous about it. It takes me a long time to *look* at the cards and really see them. Sometimes when I read in person the querant is saying "What? what? Look at that card there, what's that about!?" While I'm still trying to just *look* at the cards and hear what they are trying to say. Reading on line is easier, although sometimes there might be more than one way it could go and it would be nice to ask little "nudge" questions. --Myrrha

OakDragon	08 Apr 2004
I've mainly just read for myself, though I have done readings for some family members on occasion. I don't read as often as I should. I need to keep in better practice.

Dove	08 Apr 2004
Hi Guys, Thanks, Kerrie. I didn't want to put too many specifics in there for fear of "spamming," but if you want to read the article, which is called "An Owl, a Crow, and a Nudge toward the Tarot," the unedited version is on my "Published Articles" page at my website, as well as info on two other articles of mine that were recently published at a really great meta e-zine. To get to my website, just click on the "Profile" link at the bottom of this post and my site link is listed there. Blessings, Dove

Dove	08 Apr 2004
Well, duh, I hadn't even noticed there's a "Website" link at the bottom too, LOL :| Feel free to use that as well, Kerrie ;) :TSTAR Dove

The Who do you read for? And how often? thread was originally posted on 08 Mar 2004 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.