When someone asks you for a general reading, what do you usually do?

[itsylehere]

Hello everyone; I often had these requests while practicing with strangers and friends.

 

At first, when I was asked to do a general reading, I used a specific spread that explored the querent's current energy, obstacles, and guidance. However, as my practice evolved, I decided to do something more spontaneous and, therefore, less structured. I was thinking of beginning each general reading with a question like "What is something important in the querent life that currently needs some attention?" and then moving forward with the reading spontaneously.

 

How do you usually proceed in these situations?

[MuninnMissinHuginn]

5 hours ago, itsylehere said:

"What is something important in the querent life that currently needs some attention?"

I ask something similar “What should the questioner know?”  Which I realize is basically the same question…

[FindYourSovereignty]

There are so many techniques and suggestions around this. Some people refuse to do them at all. I have tried multiple techniques, like having them select a number between 1-21 and pulling the corresponding Major to lead out the reading. Or laying out a 9 Card spread for the reading, asking the querent to share which card jumps out at them or resonates the most. The 9 cards are a designated three down the center (past/present/future etc.), spiritual above center, hidden below center, and the four elements in each corner. Another idea is to calculate the card that resonates with their birthday. Pick their birth card and pull another Major to pair with it and see what direction to take the reading. I think general readings welcome the over arching energy of the Major Arcana because they are asking for overall energy so I like the ideas of including them pre-reading for a direction to focus on. And when the querent is invited to participate they may feel more welcome to receiving the reading. Just some things I’ve tried.

[DanielJUK]

I think you can ask the person you are reading for if they want a more structured general reading or freestyle to see "what comes up". Structured with some set positions is great for someone confused or wants to cover areas of their life in a formal way. I personally love reading just what comes up generally, it's my fave type of readings for others. I get to go full Agatha Christie-esque and work out the story or see what is there. I love the detective work of putting it all together and not knowing anything before.

 

Asking what is something important can give someone a new focus. I have had and given great readings with "a message from the universe". that's a good one if someone cannot think of something to ask. Also "whatdo I need to know right now". You can go totally general and see what comes up or structure it a little, even asking about something important slightly focuses it. It's always worth experimenting what works best for you 🙂

[Bluangel27]

I  usually don't like doing general readings, unless the person gives me a general topic such as love, career, travel etc.  It's hard for me to focus on what the cards are saying when I don't have a topic to focus on because the cards can mean different things on certain topics. I'm still a novice tarot reader. 

[Mister]

On 4/17/2023 at 8:08 PM, itsylehere said:

"What is something important in the querent life that currently needs some attention?" and then moving forward with the reading spontaneously.

 

How do you usually proceed in these situations?

 

I give in to my moodiness. Does that count as "spontaneous"?

 

Which results in one of the following: Either plasterworks with Lennies (=GT), or going with the situation-influences-outcome-trinity, with the intent on picking up not any but the situation at hand.

Usually, there is something.

[itsylehere]

On 4/18/2023 at 12:18 PM, DanielJUK said:

I think you can ask the person you are reading for if they want a more structured general reading or freestyle to see "what comes up". Structured with some set positions is great for someone confused or wants to cover areas of their life in a formal way. I personally love reading just what comes up generally, it's my fave type of readings for others. I get to go full Agatha Christie-esque and work out the story or see what is there. I love the detective work of putting it all together and not knowing anything before.

 

Asking what is something important can give someone a new focus. I have had and given great readings with "a message from the universe". that's a good one if someone cannot think of something to ask. Also "whatdo I need to know right now". You can go totally general and see what comes up or structure it a little, even asking about something important slightly focuses it. It's always worth experimenting what works best for you 🙂

 

This is a great idea! Thank you, I will definitely keep this in mind for any future general readings 😊

[Morwenna]

In the beginning I would just lay out a Celtic cross and see where it took us. Later I decided to use an astrological houses layout and since then I've stuck with it. If you know the meanings of the houses, the cards will give a pretty good picture of what's going on with the querent at the time. The same layout can be used as a guide to the coming year, each position being a month. The choice would be up to the querent. 

 

There are some specific spreads out there, many of which are useful for general readings. AT had some threads where people devised spreads for certain purposes, but also some general spreads that were themed to certain holidays and so on. I haven't checked to see if any of them have been reproduced here; I know some of them were reproduced on at least one other site. It would be worth checking. 

 

 

[Xavier]

If the reading is general, I take a series of cards without asking any questions first because in my experience they will then speak for themselves, also going to exactly clarify the points of the situation that the consultant ignores or towards which he remains confused.

These dynamics happened by chance, since they worked, I continued in the same way, but my opinion is that each of us, after studying, gaining experience and reflecting, finds his own personal method, that is to say the one that has the greatest impact.

 

 

Edited June 16, 2023 by Xavier

[catlover5201314]

hello! personally i ask these bc i do like having a bit of structure when i sit down with my cards and it has to do with other ppl!

1. whats something the querent needs to hear?

2. whats something they need to work on?

3. whats something they need to be careful of?

4. upcoming blessing 

5. advice

[Natural Mystic Guide]

"When someone asks you for a general reading, what do you do?"

 

This is one of my favorite types of readings.  For whatever reason, what wants to come through will not flourish under the constraints of set positions/prompts.  So I lay out the cards.  A three card reading is my favorite reading.  I will sometimes pull a clarifying 4th. card if another question emerges from the reading or if something is ambiguous. I let my intuition guide me.  Or a better way to put that is that I let 'Spirit' guide me.  I put tremendous effort into my spiritual preparation for all readings, so I am acting as a channel for Divine love and truth.  These 'general' readings always seem to work out.  I just remain open to whatever wants to come through.

[Chariot]

2 hours ago, Natural Mystic Guide said:

"When someone asks you for a general reading, what do you do?"

 

This is one of my favorite types of readings.  For whatever reason, what wants to come through will not flourish under the constraints of set positions/prompts.  So I lay out the cards.  A three card reading is my favorite reading.  I will sometimes pull a clarifying 4th. card if another question emerges from the reading or if something is ambiguous. I let my intuition guide me.  Or a better way to put that is that I let 'Spirit' guide me.  I put tremendous effort into my spiritual preparation for all readings, so I am acting as a channel for Divine love and truth.  These 'general' readings always seem to work out.  I just remain open to whatever wants to come through.

Do you just read the three cards as an interacting unit?  Or do you get a feeling about what each card represents alone, and go from there?  In other words, if there are three major things happening in the querent's life, would that separateness show up in the reading?  Or would you see all three cards as applying to one aspect of the querent's situation?

I like your approach, but am a bit curious how you would decide where to apply what you've learned from it.

Edited July 16, 2023 by Chariot

[Natural Mystic Guide]

3 hours ago, Chariot said:

Do you just read the three cards as an interacting unit?  Or do you get a feeling about what each card represents alone, and go from there?  In other words, if there are three major things happening in the querent's life, would that separateness show up in the reading?  Or would you see all three cards as applying to one aspect of the querent's situation?

Hi @Chariot, of course every reading is unique...  Generally the three cards tie together, just as generally three major things happening in the querent's life are related and tie together, too.  When a reading is interactive and face to face, things tend to surface.  I pray, I ask, and I receive answers.  If the querent is not physically present, then we often have a video conference later and more things may surface.

[Chariot]

Thanks, @Natural Mystic Guide.  It's a good approach, which I will try out myself.