How to keep readings light (at a party)

nisaba

Amsonia said:
If you were giving readings at a party for entertainment (not professionally, just around the campfire at home while having a few drinks), how do you keep things light? Do you have a specific spread or general rules?

I find just the atmosphere around you keeps them light.

scholarlost

I have found this tricky. I rarely give readings for people other than myself because when I have, I often end up finding out things they wanted to keep hidden. I was using the Thoth deck a lot back then, and that may have had something to do with it - my experience of the Thoth is that it takes a certain relish in "surfacing" things that are buried. So I think being selective with the deck is probably another good peice of advice - maybe a more novelty themed deck? I've been thinking about picking up that Sherlock Holmes Deck - that would probably be a good one for a party context.

earthair

I have found it's impossible to keep readings light if the cards give a dark answer to a light question. But the Illuminati and Fergus Hall always go down well in social gatherings.

Grizabella

I did a fun exchange a few years ago here. I had recently gotten the Victorian Romantic and I used a spread about what kind of lover a person was or something to that effect. I think it was the first Reading Exchange thread I ever posted. It was easy to just keep it light and fun because that was the spirit I had entered into it with.

I think the key is to just set the question yourself rather than asking your sitters what questions they have. A sitter will sometimes just take it way too seriously if they aren't used to having readings and of course, they'll want the deepest, darkest questions answered now that they're presented with the opportunity to ask a reader.

Barleywine

Grizabella said:
I think the key is to just set the question yourself rather than asking your sitters what questions they have. A sitter will sometimes just take it way too seriously if they aren't used to having readings and of course, they'll want the deepest, darkest questions answered now that they're presented with the opportunity to ask a reader.

This may be the best advice here (and I believe someone else mentioned it earlier in the thread): give them a "one-size-fits-all" option of your own choosing, and keep it on track by deflecting attempts to weasel you out of it.

Amsonia

Barleywine said:
I think I would use smaller spreads with less of a chance to get too involved in messy details. Probably three-carders, or at most five. I would play to the nature of the middle card, with the side cards as modifiers rather than trying to read a "past/present/future" scenario which might lead to way too much discussion. I would probably focus on psychological aspects more than action/event stuff, which is basically the same way popular natal astrology works. Treat the reading as a "snapshot" of the sitter's current status rather than a possible progression over time. (If they ask, you can beg off by saying there isn't enough detail to talk about future developments, and suggest a private session at some future date.) Finally, I would most likely use one of my more "vanilla" decks instead of one that's chock-full of esoteric symbolism. I'm thinking something like the Connolly.

I might start with something like: "This is a picture of you at the moment, where you're centered or what you are - or perhaps should be - focused on (middle card) and what resources you have to work with (outside cards)." Elemental dignities work well for this, but I would keep the technical details to myself and just speak of the qualities they impart to the focus card.

I like the idea of begging off and saying that a more in depth reading should be done when we can spend some one on one time together...and also I like the three card spread you laid out...I'm going to write that one down, I think it would work pretty well for a light reading. Thanks

Padma said:
I would adopt a happy and light tone, and just do one carders for silly questions ("just for fun, let's see if...") and I would use a fun deck, like the Halloween tarot or the Housewives or something that looks less serious (though they give equally meaningful answers!) I wouldn't get too deep, and just read the card face-value, as a funny one-line answer. Keeping a bantering and jokey tone will set the stage for what you desire or intend, imo.

That has been my take at dinner parties, if asked to read for entertainment! I kept it short, and light, kept the answers funny, and kept it public - no "tete a tetes" over the cards, off in a corner somewhere.

I hope that helps

Yes, definitely think that keeping things out in the open is a MUST...very good point. Unfortunately, I'm not witty, or funny...this may be a personal problem, but it definitely is part of the reason my readings get to serious, but it's always something I can improve with some practice and awareness. Thanks

Le Fanu said:
The thing is, deep down, everyone has a serious question that they really want answers to. You can try and keep it light I suppose, but before long it's closed doors and more serious stuff as people want to seize their chance! LOL The perils of bringing your cards out...

Having said that, as mentioned above, I think the snapshot of "now", where you are now, is a good bet. Or maybe the week ahead... Or a spread based on "things to watch out for". It's pointers/heads up without being too predictive.

Yes, it's like they think I'm going to give them the big answer to THE biggest question they have in their life, like this is their one chance...I get it...yes, the perils of bringing out the cards...ha!

CrystalSeas said:
Sometimes when giving "entertainment" readings, I remove Death from the deck before I go.

I did think about this....I guess it depends on the deck...

delinfrey said:
I guess you've sometimes got to adopt a healthy attitude towards "serious" topics as well. I don't avoid "deeper" readings and I definitely don't remove any cards, but I always have a deck with me and more often than not, I get asked to do a reading. What I think helps:

- keep it public. You are not a tarot-mule or a therapist - if your querent is ready to ask in public, it is probably not a very dark issue

- keep it short. 1-3 cards, one simple question, no epic pattern looking.

- keep it limited. Don't offer readings if you're not up for it

Right, short and sweet...I did cut it off at a point because I was not having any fun...yes, in public, another vote for that technique!

Barleywine said:
This is why I might choose the Connolly: it renames Death as "Transition" and the Devil as "Materialism," allowing you to keep the essential meaning of each card in play while avoiding negative reactions.

Yes, I did think about looking at those 'scary' cards and using a deck that either re-names them or that have other pictures other than something completely morbid and frightening.

gregory said:
MAYBE - if it's just for fun at a party - YOU set the question for the whole lot. A fun one. Like what you will get for Christmas, or what your pet thinks about the cat next door....

I'm SURE someone here can come up with a better one that will avoid the heavies.

This is definitely what I'm leaning to from my own internal discussion...I've looked around for some light topics...like a quick past life spread (nothing for people to worry about, because that life is over and done with...I like this spread http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=264920&highlight=past+life+spread It would also challenge me as an improv excercise, which I am totally bad at. In fact, I found these are fun to do not as an actual Tarot reading, but just for fun, by myself, to work on card meanings and thinking on my feet. Besides, telling funny stories from a series of Tarot cards about people in the room is, from what I understand, how the Tarot card games started in old Italy...so it's fun in that regard as well.

Apollonia said:
If you really want to keep it light, you will have to control the questions, or as Le Fanu said, soon it will be, "Why did he leave me?" and "Will I ever find someone?"

When I read for children, I like to say, "Let's ask the cards, what are you strengths, your gifts, and your blessings, and what good surprises are in store for you?" I think something along that line would work for keeping it light.

Yes, controlling the question is probably the best way to approach this, Ive found several light spreads in my 365 Tarot Spreads book....Thanks for the insight on light readings for children too, I hadn't thought about that additional parameter...kids that is...

Darkmage said:
I only do quick three carders at parties. I also have a timer--each sitter gets 5 minutes TOPS. This includes the time it takes to shuffle the cards.

If they want a full reading, they can book me later.

But yeah, keep it light if you can. 3 cards provides a snapshot, as was said before. You *can't* go into a lot of depth that way. And if someone doesn't have a question but still wants their cards read, I like 'What's the most important thing I need to know right now?' Usually 3 cards can give a good overview of a situation.

As for friendly decks, I'd add the Aquarian. There's no nudity in it of any kind. People get offended by the weirdest stuff and it's wise to have something totally non-offensive.

I had 4 decks to choose from for people, but definitely the lighter decks are more fun and light...I particularly like the Victorian Fairy Tarot...and the Vanessa...

nisaba said:
I find just the atmosphere around you keeps them light.

That's one of my problems, I think I'm too serious...I need to work on that...

scholarlost said:
I have found this tricky. I rarely give readings for people other than myself because when I have, I often end up finding out things they wanted to keep hidden. I was using the Thoth deck a lot back then, and that may have had something to do with it - my experience of the Thoth is that it takes a certain relish in "surfacing" things that are buried. So I think being selective with the deck is probably another good peice of advice - maybe a more novelty themed deck? I've been thinking about picking up that Sherlock Holmes Deck - that would probably be a good one for a party context.

OMG, if only I was more literate on Sherlock, that would be a Terrific "mystery" deck...hmmm, I bet there are some fun spreads to use for that deck for things like finding a lost item, that would be a light reading and fun with that deck for sure!

earthair said:
I have found it's impossible to keep readings light if the cards give a dark answer to a light question. But the Illuminati and Fergus Hall always go down well in social gatherings.

I'll check those out, thanks

Grizabella said:
I did a fun exchange a few years ago here. I had recently gotten the Victorian Romantic and I used a spread about what kind of lover a person was or something to that effect. I think it was the first Reading Exchange thread I ever posted. It was easy to just keep it light and fun because that was the spirit I had entered into it with.

I think the key is to just set the question yourself rather than asking your sitters what questions they have. A sitter will sometimes just take it way too seriously if they aren't used to having readings and of course, they'll want the deepest, darkest questions answered now that they're presented with the opportunity to ask a reader.

I think that if I was witty that could make for a very funny party reading...I can imagine people laughing and cracking up about charming and hilarious things said during that reading...if someone more witty than myself was doing the readings that is...my husband is so witty, I wish he could give readings, he'd have everyone cracking up.

Speaking of that, I wonder if there are any youtube videos of people giving funny or humerous Tarot readings...like I mentioned, I could use some practice with humor...

Thank you everyone for taking the time to give advice on this matter, I really appreciate each and every post :livelong:

Darkmage

Ooh, the Vanessa deck looks interesting. I might have to look into that one further.

Just keep it light, keep it bright, keep it...?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gxg5HWTIAY

Amsonia

Darkmage said:
Ooh, the Vanessa deck looks interesting. I might have to look into that one further.

Just keep it light, keep it bright, keep it...? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gxg5HWTIAY

Lili Fleur De Lune

Hi,

Yesterday I did a spread for a collegue. The question was "Will I meet love this year?".

3 of swords was among the cards *gulp*

I knew I was capable to handle the situation IF we were alone. But we had 2 watchers who didn't mind their own business.

I am so angry at me,

I lost control of the situation. One of those even took my deck and try to improvise another spread.

Zevern

I don't know a way to keep it light while being truthful, honestly. If cards come up that suggest the person needs to address certain issues in life, then what are you to do? In a three card spread, what would you say if the devil, the tower, and death are pulled?

"Oh, I see there is a painful situation where you felt trapped, and it's now coming to an end and you're on to new beginnings!"

Sure, it could be interpreted that way, I suppose, but that's not what those cards are usually saying when read together. I guess it's fine for parties and such, but if that wombo combo came up, I'd likely take that person aside later and offer to give them a full reading in private if they wanted. I would also inform them that the interpretation I gave in front of their friends was just to keep the mood light.

How to keep readings light (at a party)

nisaba

scholarlost

earthair

Grizabella

Barleywine

Amsonia

Darkmage

Amsonia

Lili Fleur De Lune

Zevern