It Ain’t Just about Feelin’ Good

When I did some tutoring on Tarot a few years ago, what amazed me most was the desire of students to “uplift” the querent by sugar-coating the reading. Sometimes they’d completely abandon the message in the imagery of the cards and/or the traditional meanings associated with them.

I know, you want to make the reading client feel good when they walk away. But think about it: You’re a Tarot reader. What did they come to you for? A peek into the potential future, more than likely. Wanting to create more awareness of what’s really going on, maybe, so they can respond in the best way possible.

When I interpret the cards, I believe in a combination of connecting with collective energies and empowerment of the individual. Like my favorite reader, Theresa Reed says, “Tarot tells a story, but you write the ending.” We have control over how we respond to our circumstances, and yes, to some degree, we create those circumstances. But it’s not all in our conscious power to control at any given moment. Remember I said “conscious.” There are other folks with their own desires and agendas that interact with ours (conscious or subconscious).

The Tarot reader’s job in my view is to give insight in general terms into what we may be facing now and what might still be hidden.

I have also noticed some very interesting synchronicities between what I see in the cards and what the client is asking to know about. I’ve also seen some correlations between card themes and aspects of the client’s question. Those are very validating when they occur, but not scientifically verified cause and effect relationships, of course.

I find it most useful to just I call ’em like I see ’em, even if the message is not so fluffy or positive. Because good advice is good, even if it’s not necessarily good news. Remember, the client has the real psychological power in any reading.

Let me know what you think and how you choose to read the cards. I’d love to know!