What are some ritualistic things you do while reading or to prepare for a reading or even after a reading that you feel you have to do?
Blessed Be!
I LOVE ritual! And I'm Wiccan with some chaos magick leanings - so ritual is THE THING.
When reading for someone else - I always do 2 things:
1) Set the reading space.
I put down a reading cloth. I have a selection - depends on the mood.
Presently I'm using the back of a favourite cushion cover - which is black. The front is a "Dia de los Muertos"/"Day of the Dead" skulls and roses design.
I place a brightly coloured felt disk next to it and sit my turquoise statuette of Hotei - patron of fortune tellers (see thread 'Hotei - Patron of fortune tellers') on it. It's an old favourite - I've had it for over 20 years.
And on the reading cloth I place a clear quartz disk faceted sort-of like a Merkabah (6 pointed star in 3D). This represents the querent. Clear quartz, because this is reputed to be the best channeller/amplifier in the crystal kingdom, and a hugely versatile stone.
It's an adaptogen in my mind - facilitating all sorts of uses.
2) Recite in my head, my Tarot Invokation. A short 7 line 'prayer' (longest line has 7 words) which for me encompasses: grounding, aligning, empowering, purifying, protecting and invoking appropriate other - all-in-one.
These things are done automatically and very quickly.
If I have a long leisurely day with nothing else to do - the rituals may be longer and more inclusive (Yay!).
I don't use candles because I don't like the smell of evaporated wax and my partner is paranoid about lit candles in our home (past experience of nearly burning his bedroom to the ground accidentally.
).
I mostly don't use ritual when reading for myself.
I do have specific decks that I keep aside for spellwork - so they are part of/are the ritual in this case.
After the reading - I shuffle the deck with a "clear and order" mindset, and pack it away, followed by the rest of the rigmarole.