Reading and ADD?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 07 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Shalott	07 May 2004
Hi, all, I wonder what your opinions might be on this. I'm not sure if my issue is actual ADD or just a symptom of sleep deprivation (life-long insomniac), but for me or in general, how would a person with concentration issues learn to concentrate well enough to really be successfull at reading? During shuffling, I so often just lose it! Here's the things I've tried with SOME success: --staring at a candle, not even lit, just a globule of wax --staring at smoke from incense --writing down my question and reading it over and over to myself, silently but in extreme conditions, aloud. Visualizing the people, place or thing involved has been the worst experiences in reading for me. Just the words of the question help. Any further ideas on how to make my brain calm down during a reading would be wonderful! Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Phoenix Rising	07 May 2004
Hi Shalott Instead of shuffling, why don't you just pick cards out randomly? ADD or insomnia is a over production of seratonin isn't it? Diet certainly plays a big part in your chemical reactions in your brain, but I'm sure you've had all the nutritional advice, so I won;'t bore you with it. try checking out the crystals and herbs section of the forum. Do you read the cards by the images or do you go off the traditional meanings to it? Have you read the book the "Indigo Children" by Lee Carroll. Alot of these "indigo children" are often labelled ADD or ADHD by medical profession, but there is actually alot more to them than meets the eye. You may find it very interesting, and if you are one of them, it will give you a sense of relief and freedom. Check it out.

miss_apples	07 May 2004
I have ADD and insomnia also. I sometimes have trouble concentrating and I just dont do readings during those times. However I have found that reading tarot has actually helped with my concentration issues. Id say just keep practicing and give readings and I think the more you do it, it will actually help you. Take a few deep breaths before hand and just focus as hard as you can on keeping your mind on the issue.

Shalott	08 May 2004
Miss_Apples, fellow Minnesotan! That's hopeful that Tarot has actually helped you with these issues. I usually don't read unless I'm feeling at least 90% awake and calm unfortunately that's translated into not readin nearly as much as I'd like to. I try to at least come here or do some studying. Is it the meditative quality that's maybe calmed your mind? I guess I can see it! PhoenixRising, I've heard of this Indigo Child phenomenon on Coast to Coast Am...very intersting. I've read something about them that didn't sound at all like me butnow herer this list sure as heck does! -They come into the world with a feeling of royalty (and often act like it) -They have a feeling of "deserving to be here," and are surprised when others don't share that. -Self-worth is not a big issue. They often tell the parents "who they are." -They have difficulty with absolute authority (authority without explanation or choice). -They simply will not do certain things; for example, waiting in line is difficult for them. -They get frustrated with systems that are ritually oriented and don't require creative thought. -They often see better ways of doing things, both at home and in school, which makes them seem like "system busters" (nonconforming to any system). -They seem antisocial unless they are with their own kind. If there are no others of like consciousness around them, they often turn inward, feeling like no other human understands them. School is often extremely difficult for them socially. -They will not respond to "guilt" discipline ("Wait till your father gets home and finds out what you did"). -They are not shy in letting you know what they need. I'm sure my parents would agree! Hmm...perhaps I shall investigate further...except, would someone who's almost 30 be in this generation? Hmm Thanks for all the info!

firemaiden	08 May 2004
Interesting, Shalott, the question for me is, why do you feel this affects your reading? Sounds like it would be good for it...let the mind wander, let associations come up. Are you trying to control your mind? Why not just let it go and see where it takes you?

Shalott	08 May 2004
Well, stuff pops into my mind that has NOTHING to do with the issue I'm asking about, usually stresses from the day and then my reading ends up nonsensical or reflect whatever popped into my head rather than the question. I'm surprised there aren't more ppl with these kinds of issues, just a couple so far! Maybe others have tried it and given up believing that there is just no way for them to achieve the necessary focus. I can understand that, this has played a large role in my not touching a deck for years and years at a time. But I'm too stubborn, I figure there's GOT to be a way!

Umbrae	08 May 2004
ADD and reading? You'll do just fine. Had it all my life, been reading for three decades. You and I are different in symtomology, so I won't tell you 'how to do it'. but I will tell you, you can be a very very good reader.

Imagemaker	08 May 2004
I've never heard of Indigo Children, but I think I know several (especially in the computer/math/engineering field), and . . . some small element of those qualities seem very familiar in . . . me? Ve-ery interesting!

jmd	08 May 2004
Irrespective of the label one may or may not want to attach (ADD, 'indigo' child, etc... <- no, that last one's not an intended label ;)), it may be worth checking to see what foods are consumed on any day one is going to read. For example, I know some people who respond quite strongly (with aggressive and 'ADD'-like symptoms) for a few hours after a cup of coffee. Others who likewise seem to be 'all over the place' after drinking especially artificially sweetened ('sugar-free') caffeine containing drinks (Coca/Pepsi-Colas and their 'clones'). Perhaps, just perhaps, it may be worth checking if any regularly consumed, but not essential, food or drink is what is leading to more difficulties in reading. Assuming that these have nothing to do with the situation presented, then there is also the trainable mode of allowing every-day 'normal' concerns, worries and reflections to be put to the side in order to focus on the tasks at hand. In this, it may be that going to a regular yoga class, or doing a daily brief meditation, may help. What would also undoubtedly help is if 5-10 minutes is spent each evening, before going to sleep, on actually taking the time to consciously reflect (go over in one's mind) the day's events - in reverse order (ie, starting from that time, and slowly just observing - not judging - what took placce before, then before that... until one gets to the morning as one awoke that day). Knowing there is a regular space allocated for reflections also frees up the rest of the time for better engagement in the activity at hand - whether it be reading, writing, or addressing an important problem. I wouldn't be surprised if there are many of us who are regurlarly on Aeclectic who would be (or have been had the label existed in the past) classified as above intelligent introverts with a presumed deficiency ('ADD')...

zoso	08 May 2004
Wow, such great advice so far! How can I follow that? Well, breathing exercises have always helped me. I learned them from yoga class which also taught to ground yourself and "grow roots" while counting breaths (inhale through your nose and exhale out your mouth). I try to imagine your roots growing deep into the earth, which also aligns with my pagan practice of earth connecting. If it helps, focus on your favorite rock or stone and the *still* qualities that it possesses.

Macavity	08 May 2004
Well this is the skeptic (unexciting?) viewpoint on Indigo Children: http://skepdic.com/indigo.html It just seems rather pivotal (at least to the originators of this notion) that part of the population be seen as extra-terrestrial in origin and destined to lead (some of us?) to... (someones concept of) utopia? ;) I cannot help but worry what might happen to a child who has a notion that queueing is "beneath them" reinforced. (So called) "normal" people seem to operate on such low thresholds of tolerance regarding transgression of even such minor issues. Little seems needed to provoke physical attacks these days? :( It would seem more beneficial to understand (and better tolerate) ADD than further "difference" any child? But haven't other authors abandoned "Indigo children" in favour of "crystal children" these days? Anticipate yet more books... Macavity

Shalott	09 May 2004
Howdy, Thanks for all the advice! Coffee has definitely been a godsend to me. I suppose I should start reading earlier in my day, often I find it's the final ting I do before calling it a night, so I've not really tried having coffee shortly before a reading...breathing excercises would probably be a really good thing too. My crazy schedule makes it difficult for me to commit to things like classes, (thank goodness for Joan Bunning and Kris Hadar putting their courses online!) but in the future those are things I'd like to do. I do drink a lot of diet sodas...just for the caffeine! But maybe it is doing more harm than good... I don't know how I feel about the idea of "Indigo Children" being genetically or spiritually "planned" or on a mission. Like a lot of ppl with ADD, I come from a childhood where I really truly ran the show. No discipline, never had to do chores or have any responsibilities...did I act like royalty? Of course, my parent's treated me like royalty. Not to "blame" my parents, but it shaped me, because I shaped myself, came up with my own ideas and hence, I still have huge problems with authority, and I'm really good at entertaining myself so I don't have a lot in common with my peers - I suspect a lot of us here have a history of being good at entertaining ourselves, Tarot is conducive to that! I'm not saying ADD doesn't exist, but I think a lot of the time it's a symptom of lack of discipline...I'm living proof! If I can't physically do what I want to do, my mind will wander and I never really developed the discipline to stop it from doing this. I'm so jealous of ppl who can sit there and focus on whatever they're "supposed" to focus on and always behave like they're "supposed" to, and I like to think that everybody struggles but I really don't believe that's true. I think it has a lot to do with upbringing...from the time you're TINY...and maybe other factors...and that brings us to nature vs nurture and that's more than I really wanted to get into with this post...not that it's not interesting but it's just too much! My dad's personality and mine are almost identical, but his parents were much stricter with him, and so he's ended up with fewer problems in his work and other aspects of life than me. So I guess that's just a case study!

sunflowr	09 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Shalott I'm sure my parents would agree! Hmm...perhaps I shall investigate further...except, would someone who's almost 30 be in this generation? Hmm Thanks for all the info! I'm in my 40's and I feel most definitely to be an "indigo child". That list sounds like me alot!

Shalott	09 May 2004
My dad, 68, would qualify too...

Macavity	09 May 2004
I think it's always interesting to hear directly what it like to BE the person themselves. One of the most fascinating programs I saw on TV was narrated by a high-level autistic boy (16?) who described exactly what it was LIKE to be him. Quite opposite from the usual perception of "lack of interest" in his surroundings (or rather. people) he simply found all around him to be so overpowering to the point of distraction... The program also related directly to his Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome and it's treatment. Basically folk who experience difficulties with READING (concentration?) were "cured" by dint of spcialist tinted lenses... Aside: One cannot help but wonder if some of the symptoms described are rather similar to "aura perception" etc. Yet it is commonly held that "syndromes" are on the increase. But IS this true? It is certainly perhaps true that such tendancies were... suppressed in earlier generations! The ubiquitous (vernacular and literal!) "clip round the ear" from parent or teacher probably "cured" many a wandering young mind? Yet e.g. clusters of "Asberger-like" kids are found near "silicon valley" enterprises and NASA establishments. I have seen the latter is referred to (slightly irreverantly) as the worlds largest "sheltered workshop". Being a (onetime) career scientist, one has to concede the author had a point! :laugh: Put simply, highly intelligent (dare I say a bit nerdy) folk are getting together (especially) via the internet or over the "cube wall" and (apologies for being non-PC!) ... breeding. In past generations such folk might just have remained single, found religious orders or a career in... e.g. Shamanism? Tarot even! ;) I think if one studied Taroists, one might see various mild obsessions (some of which I have myself) over numbers, symbols, "cataloging", "looking for obscure associations". I can spend many a happy hour with Crowley's Book 777. I think there are some hereditary tendancies. My dad used to irritate my Mother by spending hours "reading" ONE page of a street map... while she watched TV! But he rarely got LOST... :D Macavity P.S. OTOH perhaps many past "authority figures" *I* detested really WERE jerks! })

Shalott	09 May 2004
"Yet it is commonly held that "syndromes" are on the increase. But IS this true? It is certainly perhaps true that such tendancies were... suppressed in earlier generations! The ubiquitous (vernacular and literal!) "clip round the ear" from parent or teacher probably "cured" many a wandering young mind?" Yeah, this is exactly what I'm thinking...my dad remembers hearing his dad talk about the need to "break his spirit," so his tendencies to be like me were nipped in the bud. In a way, I'm envious. I'm always hearing from older ppl (50+) that all these syndromes weren't around when they were kids - heck even the peanut allergy. I'm 29 this year, went to a HUGE school, and don't recall ONE SINGLE KID having a peanut allergy. I don't know anyone in my age group having a peanut allergy. Nobody in my school was diagnosed with ADD. I've always had hayfever type allergies and I was one of but a handful. Why are all these things cropping up now? Or are they? Did ppl just hide their little issues better, due to more pressure to conform? Ppl with serious medical probs were probably just allowed to, well, die. So in that way it's better that ppl speak up ...I'm certainly not advocating conformity, not ME! But my inability to successfully conform (I can only fake it for short periods) has really caused me problems in life, and I really attribute it to not being made to when I was a kid. I wish we were a society that appreciated ppl for their differences but we are definitely not. Anyhoo thanks for so much to think about!

jmd	09 May 2004
Having seen the transformative effects of coloured lenses and differently coloured writing paper on a number of adolescents (check the Irlen site), both in terms of relative restfulness and relative ease of concentration, I would only recommend also testing for the possible need for these. In my personal experience, the Irlen institutes do not recommend their glasses to everyone, and do not hesitate to mention that there may not be a need for some. It is interesting too to note the blue/purple background of Aeclectic may, for some people, be off-putting precisely due to different effects background colours may have on one's reading ability... (so would any choice, by the way - so I am not in any way suggesting a change). ...just another interesting tid-bit, really, nothing more ;)

miss_apples	09 May 2004
Remember that there is a difference between ADD and ADHD. The aggressive behaviours usually come with ADHD and not with ADD. With ADD youre just simply not able to hold attention to anything, daydream a lot, get bored easily...and what not. With ADHD in addition to all the things I mentioned above, the person with ADHD often acts out violently in one way or another. I have ADD and my brother has ADHD. I always got in trouble for not paying attention in class and related issues, but I was over all well behaved and good tempered. My brother has been suspended countless times for violent behaviour and can turn violent at the drop of a hat at times. I agree with whoever it was that said labeling someone as an "Indigo Child" would make a child feel more awkward and different. However I still think that an interest in tarot would be very helpful for both. I think that picturesque decks have especially calming qualities in them and can appeal to the need for fantasy in the mind of an ADD/ADHD prone person.

Shalott	10 May 2004
Definitely, Miss_Apples. It seems like all we ever hear is "ADHD," I am CERTAINLY not hyperactive. Ha... They do get lumped together way too much. Funny, I'm finding Marseille is really grabbed my imagination, listening to Renaissance music, I feel transported in time! :D (Hey lookkee I'm a citizen! KEWL!)

Shalott	11 May 2004
I'm sorry jmd, I guess I wasn't really following you! Is this something you've dealt with, or it could be part of this "Indigo" phenomena? I tried the "plain" color option for a while just to be different...maybe that would help anyone who had problems with the default color scheme?

jmd	11 May 2004
... I probably wasn't as clear as I could have been. I was basically adding to Macavity's comment (two posts earlier than my previous one) about 'specialist tinted lenses', and their possible impact on individuals who may have reading or concentration difficulties. Personally, I do not think much of the current appellation of 'indigo children', and the reasons offered - but I know other people who think that this has provided a good ground-breaking work for realising that there are individuals who seem to be born with characteristics quite unlike what we have seen before.

Shalott	11 May 2004
AHHHHH (clouds lift) :D Colors probably do have some effect on the psyche... Yeha I think current parenting trends have a LOT to do with this generation of kids acting differently than kids did in the past...of course I'm making a gross generalization...and its based only on my own observations...

miss_apples	11 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Shalott AHHHHH (clouds lift) :D Colors probably do have some effect on the psyche... Yeha I think current parenting trends have a LOT to do with this generation of kids acting differently than kids did in the past...of course I'm making a gross generalization...and its based only on my own observations... I completly agree!

Shalott	15 May 2004
Here is a prime example. I am sitting here at work right now, which is normally much better for reading than home. Plenty of time in front of me, I'm about to ask about my cat's health. Well, one of the bosses is across the hall. So I start worrying about...am I checking their stuff over there often enough for her? If she doesn't think so will she rat me out? I mean...the issue and question aren't even in my brain anymore. I had to set the deck down because I'm going to get a reading about work, not about my cat. Or worse, something that makes zero sense. ARGH!!! This would be why I want to control my brain!!! I can't focus on something for five flamin minutes!!!?? Those of you with ADD-like symptoms - what do you do, what CAN you do when your mind has completely left the subject? I mean, jeez. This is so frustrating. Hve they perfected the lobotomy yet? ARGH Edit: OK, after walking away I did end up getting what i think was a pretty good reading. One of the best I've had in a while. Phew. That's a nice feeling.

The Reading and ADD? thread was originally posted on 07 May 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.