My problem

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Jun 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

BoPeep	23 Jun 2004
I was reading an introduction just now, and an interesting thread about "overanalyzing" a reading had started. I have to say that I think I have the opposite problem. My friend comes to me for answers to questions she has. I'll throw some cards and often I see the answer very clearly. Often I just look at the cards and search for the words ... my answers come across as curt and perhaps 'unenlightened'. Being a Sag I tend toward 'bluntness' anyway and I think that just compounds this problem. Any advice? I have read all the threads here on building the story and stuff, I have tried doing readings out loud...am I just being my Sag self and just not being patient? Not allowing myself to learn the art? I may have answered myself already... but I am open to any advice anone may have. BoPeep

Kahlie	23 Jun 2004
You might try describing what you see on the cards. Like: "I see a man burdened down by 10 wands" and then fill in how it fits the situation for the question.

ros	23 Jun 2004
I wish I was blunt, I think it's great! If you stay blunt just explain what you mean. People are confused with Tarot in the first place and they do not understand the art or creativity of it. Sometimes also I find if they are not confused they go into a light shock when they hear the truth and it rings a bell for them. Take Care, ros

rota	23 Jun 2004
It's important to consider peoples' feelings when giving a reading. 'Bluntness' can be a virtue, but it can also be hurtful if it's not tactfully delivered. Perhaps you could take some time to consider who it is you're talking to, and how they will understand what you say.

hedgecub	23 Jun 2004
Perhaps you could practice being gentler and more detailed in your readings by doing the actual reading in private, and getting the answers back to your friend after a day or two. That way, although the interpretation may come to you right away, you have a lot more time to find the right words to express yourself, and you also have time to look for details and nuances in the reading that you might not otherwise notice. Try to have a notepad and pen handy so you can scribble down ideas and impressions as they come to you, and you can, at your leisure, weave them into an overall reading. You can then look over the reading to make sure you're not overly blunt or curt before giving it to your friend. The 'Reading Exchange' board would be a good place to practice if your friends aren't patient enough to wait a couple days for a reading :)

BoPeep	24 Jun 2004
hedgecub, that is EXACTLY what I do. I write the whole thing down while I'm there, do a 'brief' reading with her, then email her a detailed one later. It seems to work out ok... but I get the feeling from her that she would like to know right away. Don't we all? Bo

tao51	30 Jun 2004
There are physicians who deliver a diagnosis in this manner. Some appreciate it and others don't. There are those paid readers online who are rated after their reading. So--if the querent does not like the reading or takes offense then they rate the reader with a low mark. Some of these readers learn quickly to buffer their blunt comments. I try to be kind but I am not a paid reader. I am just careful not to make someone feel helpless to the fates.--Tao

Shalott	02 Jul 2004
Do you think it would be better if you weren't confined to a "brief" reading? Most of the readings I do for others is communicated via email, and I mean, I know that sometimes you think of things MUCH later, but if she wants a thorough reading in person, maybe she should set aside a large chunk of time, a couple of hours depending on the size of the spread. Also, ppl turn to Tarot because the answers aren't clear to them. So, you're giving them new information, whether it should be or not, so you kind of have to ease them into it. It's like...telling somebody to go to their "Add/Delete Programs" interface on their computer...well, some ppl aren't going to know where that is, so generally techs will say "Go to Start - Control Panel - Add/Delete Programs." You just have to guide them, get them their, ya know?

BoPeep	05 Jul 2004
I am starting to think that it is more MY problem than hers. She told me this weekend that my cards are more accurate than I know. Apparently she has been having a lot of 'confirmations' lately. I think that what I think is her desire to get more infomation might actually just be her digesting what I am saying, and maybe coming to grips with what I am saying. If it takes me some time to review and mull over the reading, why on earth wouldn't she need time to digest it as well. PLUS, I hadn't asked for feedback from her, so she just took the info to heart and kept it there. Once we started a dialogue about it all I started to understand how really important this is to people. BoPeep

mercenary30	05 Jul 2004
I try to turn the tarot reading into a converstion and once that gets started it becomes much easier to communicate and discuss.....

etal	05 Jul 2004
I'm trying to do the same thing as mercenary30—my goal is to stop myself from yak, yak, yakking away and completely shutting out the person I'm reading for. In a way, I'm trying to avoid the same lack of communication that BoPeep was (needlessly) afraid of, but for precisely the opposite reason. So I'm pausing to ask questions: Do you have any gut reaction to this Major? Which character in this scene do you most identify with? Of these Court cards, which one would you like to invite into your heart for a visit (or go to a bar with)? Which card in this spread has the most meaning for you? And then I listen. Off and on I've been getting the most amazing, spot-on, insightful responses that seem to break new ground not only for my friend but for me too. At the very least, I hope I'm training myself to be a less annoying person at cocktail parties. :-) etal

The My problem thread was originally posted on 23 Jun 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.