A Few Thoughts
on Reading for Others
As with any skill, becoming a better tarot reader comes with experience. Try to do as many readings as you can when you are just beginning. Do consults for friends and family. Provide readings at holiday parties. Do them with people who are very different from you. Diversity will always take your readings to the next level. Don’t be afraid of mistakes! They are going to happen and will be your best teachers for how to craft your language in the future. If you feel nervous about doing readings for people, that is a sign that you need to do more readings! Over time, you will develop your own style and cadence. Your confidence will also improve once you see how positively you can impact the lives of others.
When providing readings for others, trust the symbolism in front of you! A big mistake many readers make is that they waffle. They look more at the client’s face, at their expressions of approval or disapproval, rather than at the answers on the table in front of them. They second-guess what they are about to say, fearing it will be “wrong.” They want the validation of their querent, and the reading is no longer about seeking wisdom, but rather protecting the reader’s ego.
My approach to reading tarot is simple: I set my ego aside and start talking. Allow your words to flow forth without overthinking them. If you feel stuck, describe the symbols on the cards. Talking about the symbolism will lead you out of any mess you find yourself in. If you describe the archetypal images on the card, your message will probably hit its mark. Your client will absorb the flow of information you are providing and will make their own mental connections. It may not always make sense to you, and that is totally fine. Just talk. The information that comes out in a reading is not your information. It is your client’s information. What they do with your message is up to them.
Another misconception many beginning readers have is that they need to be “all-knowing.” Let me admit something to you. I may be psychic, but I’m not a mind reader! When someone sits down at my table, I usually don’t know the first thing about them. I may have a first impression; however, when the reading begins, I need to set my assumptions aside. When beginning a spread interpretation, I simply start talking about the symbols that appear on the cards and how they might relate to the person’s life. As I weave through the reading, the client’s life comes into sharper focus. By the end of the reading, I usually have a good sense of the person I am reading. It isn’t instant. I need to disseminate the layers, card by card, to get a more focused perspective. It’s okay to not know everything. If you can’t answer a question, simply say that you don’t know. Pretending to be all-knowing is a form of hubris. It’s as if you are daring the Universe to smack you down a peg or two! Try to approach your readings with a modicum of humility. Even the best predictive readers can’t see everything. Some things are meant to remain unknown so that destiny can play out.
Try not to allow your client to constantly interrupt you while you are reading. It disrupts the flow of information. Tactfully tell them that you need to finish your thought or you will lose the message. Reassure them that they will be able to ask questions at the end of your spread interpretation. As you read the symbolism, trust what you are saying. Trust the imagery in front of you. A good reading is already built into the archetypes spread before you.
Maintaining healthy boundaries is important to retain your sanity. I am instantly repelled by desperation from obsessive clients. It usually reveals an underlying emotional issue that one tarot reading is probably not going to solve. If a person needs emotional help beyond your education and expertise, refer them to the appropriate professional. Unless you are a legitimate medical doctor or licensed therapist, you should not be providing a diagnosis for your client. Also, you don’t have to read everyone. Reserve the right to refuse service to people who are obsessive or just frankly give you the creeps. Trust your instincts and let your inner Emperor speak up. You can always say no. You get to choose the people you share your gift with.
Finally, be ethical. As a reader, you are going to be entrusted with people’s secrets and sensitive information. Be trustworthy and make good decisions. Never lie to your client to make you or them feel better. Be honest, but try to deliver your truth with compassion. Do not use readings to manipulate others or to suggest something that you know to be morally dubious. Keep your ego in check. Nobody likes pomposity. Try not to brag about how you delivered a shocking but sensitive truth to your client or made them cry with how “on point” you were. It just looks amateurish. Most importantly, do not purposefully frighten or scare your client. Fear-based readings drag the energy down to a lower vibration. Readings are about serving the higher good. Speak honestly about issues that arise, but never use your words as weapons to shock or harm the person who is trusting you with their hopes and sensitive heart.