The Tarot Banter

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Apr 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Rogan	23 Apr 2005
Hey Everyone... How long did you find it before you had a real "way with words" when it came to reading for others - As a beginner, you kind of sit there thinking before you say anything (because, lets face it, it takes a second to "think and interpret") And I get the feeling the Querent is sitting there thinking "Yes... And?.... Yes.... And?...." Obviously, practice is the key - But does anyone have any tips on "Tarot Banter" - Or on the other hand, does anyone like the silence?

Gwynne	24 Apr 2005
I've found that when doing phone readings (for pay) silence is deadly. They are paying by the minute, and often paying quite a bit, so they don't like silence. However, in live readings, silence isn't so bad. They can see you working out the cards and see that you aren't just stalling for more time. It took me a couple of years to really feel comfortable reading for others, to really feel like I had a hold of the cards and could meaningfully put the words together. But I tend to be a very articulate person anyway. Someone who isn't so good with words might have a bit more difficulty.

Elven	24 Apr 2005
Hi Rogan, My readings have been face to face usually and I like to talk to the client. After the cards are layed out I usually blurt out my very first impressions - the ones that come intuitively. Then I look over the spread. Theres usually a 'gap' between when I start, but off I go and just read. Sometimes I will focus on a Majors and this will bring up conversation and questions. I try to keep engaged with the client at all times - they are watching what I am doing and where I am looking. I try to get them involved with the reading as best as I can. I try to keep my readings to half an hour, this way I find I dont have many silent gaps. I find if the reading goes for too long - over an hour - I start to be a little more silent. By this stage its time to bring the reading to a close. Theres nothing more I can gleen from the reading to add any substance for the client. I then become repeditive!! - Thats no good to me - the client stops listening. Just my 2 pentacles worth Blessings Elven x

Arnnaria	24 Apr 2005
For me, the best way to do this is to read card by card and weave a story... but, that requires so much energy! I limit myself to five readings a night and will only read if I'm in a story-telling mood. Remember, if someone asks for a reading and you are in a poor mood (tired, hungry, cranky), acknowledge to them that you are in not in optimal condition. Would you ask an athlete to run a marathon in poor condition? Nope. Don't ask yourself to perform impossible feats. Of course, if they really want one. Balance body, breath, and mind. Have them take you out for dinner or something, then come back relaxed and begin the reading. Sometimes your psychic health is better than the words you use.

tarotbear	25 Apr 2005
My suggestion is that you do readings 'out loud,' and get used to hearing yourself talk. You can do this by getting yourself a large stuffed animal, sitting it across from you, and 'doing' a reading for it. Talk the whole time and talk through things with your stuffed querent. Meewah does this - and she calls her stuffed bear querent 'tarotbear' -- not sure if she started that before she met me or not! It takes a while to 'develop' banter. Sometimes it helps you see things more clearly to 'talk them out.' There is another thread somewhere about 'Do you put on a show?' where the poster talks about developing 'zingers' for each card; not sure if I'd want Henny Youngman, Groucho Marx, or Mel Brooks doing a reading for me! :smoker: But on the other hand - dead silence in a reading is the death of the reading.

Mesara	25 Apr 2005
Silence makes me really uncomfortable when Im reading for others, so I try to invite the querent to participate as much as they like- I encourage them to ask questions, to add comment to my interpretations, to converse with me as I go along, so it is more like two friends having a heart to heart rather than me being in the spotlight alone. I tend to clam up and get stage fright if I feel pressured to put on a show, or to do all the talking, so this is my way of dealing with the pressure *to perform* so to speak, making it a more interactive process to put myself and the querent more at ease.

mike gorth	25 Apr 2005
I once had a reading while on vacation in Hawaii. For those of you who have been to Honolulu, it's in the International Marketplace. It was okay. The reader was silent dealing out the cards and then would speak once they were dealt. A lot of the time she would repeat things. I wasn't that familiar with tarot and wasn't really concentrating on the cards since it wasn't my job. I don't think silence is bad to a point. If you sit there and wait till the cows come home then you really shouldn't think of reading for other people. On the other hand, if you were to deal the cards, look at them and formulate what you are trying to say and say it within a few seconds that's fine because I know I'd rather have someone who is trying to give a good reading and not rush it. I agree with what tarotbear said. You might not need to get a stuffed animal but everytime you do a reading just say it out loud even if it's for youself. You will begin to pick up on what the cards mean and soon you can take a quick glance and say what you saw. Mike Gorth

The The Tarot Banter thread was originally posted on 23 Apr 2005 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.