Why are my tarot cards inconsistent?

[Guest]

My reading have been inconsistent. I am getting different results for the same questions. I will get the same results for several hours and than it will change. Does this mean someone changing the outcomes through black magic?

[Nemia]

How often do you read for the same question? Opinions may vary, but in my opinion, one should only do another reading about the same question when some time has passed or some substantial change has occurred. Otherwise, you muddy the waters for yourself and won't get consistent answers. 

 

I don't believe that anyone can change your reading using black magic but if you're worried, you may wish to use some protective ritual or spell before starting a reading. 

 

[DanielJUK]

I've moved this thread to the tarot discussion area 🙂

[DanielJUK]

One of the most important lessons I learnt in tarot is to be careful of repeatedly asking. It gives really messed up readings. As you get more experienced with tarot, you tend to just ask once and see how it turns out. It's about building a trust with the tarot, you do the reading, see how it turns out. You have to have some patience. If you keep asking the same question, I think the cards start to play you, in my case they give sarcastic answers! When we are emotional about an issue, we want to ask over and over again but the first reading is usually the most accurate of the outcome or answer. Personally I won't read on the same question within a month, unless something really changes since the last reading. I think it's repeatedly reading on the same thing rather than black magic.

 

There is a similar thread about this that began this week, note this thread is about professional readers refusing to repeatedly read for clients. Some of the posts have helpful advice that also fits here 🙂

 

[Mister]

1 hour ago, DantorPriestess said:

My reading have been inconsistent. I am getting different results for the same questions. I will get the same results for several hours and than it will change. Does this mean someone changing the outcomes through black magic?

 

If you do get the same result for several hours, it does imply 2 to 3 repeaters rotating through about 5 layouts.

That is plenty already.

After such a long period, it is indeed advisable to step back some, for something has to sink in; otherwise, you go yonder the golden middle (repeatedly ask, Yes - obsess over a matter, No), and that is no sane place to move towards to.

[Misterei]

@DantorPriestess how long have you been reading?

Tarots are like any other art or skill. It can take years to get good at it. I've been reading 44 years and my readings are solid 95% of the time.

But I didn't get solid readings for the first 10-20 years i was still learning.

I'm STILL learning 😉

Some of the things I learnt were only indirectly about cards.

I learnt to not ask the same question too many times. I learnt to not read when I was upset, emotional, or attached to the outcome.

I learnt to make myself neutral, objective, and empty before reading ... so something higher than my ego could come through.

These were my lessons ... you may have your own. It takes time to develop as a solid reader.

Edited September 24, 2023 by Misterei

[Nemia]

@Misterei I agree with you so much - it's absolutely true. I think the many, many books "Learn to Read the Tarot in Ten Hours" are SO misleading. You may be able to learn the basic card meanings by heart in ten hours but that's far, far, far from being able to make sense of what they're actually telling you. There is really only way: learn, learn, learn by reading the cards regularly, reading books, listening to others and journaling your own readings. And that takes time. I've been reading for ca. 30 years by now and still feel there is so much to learn. 

 

And learning how to pace yourself, how to avoid obsessive repetitive readings, this is part of the journey. 

Edited September 25, 2023 by Nemia

[Mister]

2 hours ago, Nemia said:

And learning how to pace yourself, how to avoid obsessive repetitive readings, this is part of the journey.

That is the case.

 

I do get the impression that some clarification is in order.

After one has the basics down pat (usually once you have started to feel right at home with your choice pack), one may safely venture into, indeed, attempting to do repetive readings.

However, this does not mean that there is a must to do it, and it does not mean that one should start to undermine the trust already build up with your pack.

It is an exercise, it is a play of curiosity, and it is an invaluable asset when things seem way out of the ordinary.

It does make you feel calm when reading face-to-face and the client states: "Nah, that can't be, do it again." (Happened.)

You feel secure shuffling again, for you know what to expect. 1-3 repeaters, depending on the size of the layout.

 

Amongst the basics, there is said 'proper state of mind', which varies from person to person, however, it will most likely include an element of calming oneself and becoming receptive.

When doing repeated readings, it is imperative (yes, imperative) to enter said state of mind repeatedly, and proper.

To become proficient therein is the value aimed for.

Which is why it is an exercise to read on the very same question again - without any modification, for example, an added "really" in the question focused on.

It does aid in realising which parts of your readings you yourself are doubtfull towards.

It hinges on watching one's own mind and the viciousness therein (creeping doubts, lingering fears, sudden insecurity) closely, to become aquainted with it, so that you recognize it and it becomes unable to disturb your readings when it is all eyes on you.

 

By now, I do think that @Raggydoll did indeed the right thing when pointing out that it ain't no buisness for someone just starting out with tarot or reading cards in general.

However, to shrink away from it entirely is not an approach I would vouch for.

 

There is this saying of 'flexing one's reading-muscle' (which is, obviously, an analogy, physical anatomics won't yield any usable result) - which is something which can indeed be done too much, thereby damaging the 'muscle' instead.

To obsess over a reading is damaging said 'muscle'!

As a rule of thumb, doing it twice should be doable, thrice be the limit, and once you do it a fourth time, be especially careful where you are venturing towards.

For my clients, I am open towards reading a second time on the very same question, however, that second layout is final.

When pestered, I'll put my pack away to make my point clear.

 

Lastly, when attempting repeated readings for oneself on the very same question, one has to be especially aware of when it is time to really stop doing so.

Which is the same with nearly anything fairly potent - there is a limit.

To up the limit, that is what we train/exercise for - thereas breaking the limit is what we are watchfull of.

In dealing with the unknown, there is a need for boundaries.

In order to stay open-minded, those boundaries need a degree of flexibility.

Which is why to carefully stretch your reading-muscle is the workable approach.

[Raggydoll]

50 minutes ago, Mister said:

 

 

By now, I do think that @Raggydoll did indeed the right thing when pointing out that it ain't no buisness for someone just starting out with tarot or reading cards in general.

However, to shrink away from it entirely is not an approach I would vouch for.

 

 

I agree with you, an intermediate or advanced reader can do all sorts of experimentation with tarot. It’s the whole “learn the rules so you can break them” thing. I break my own ‘rules’ too, but I’ve been reading for so many years (almost 30 now) that I have found I can handle it 😊 I would not have been able to do the same back when I was newer at tarot! 

[Mister]

7 minutes ago, Raggydoll said:

I break my own ‘rules’ too, but I’ve been reading for so many years (almost 30 now) that I have found I can handle it 😊 I would not have been able to do the same back when I was newer at tarot!

Hah!

I became a face-to-face reader able to go for several hours straight from a start of being floaded by information, impressions and emotions not my own (without the ability to make any sense of it, mind you) from one friggin' reading for a stranger in a week - that was the extend of 'what I could take' at the beginning!

Seems "to grow gradually" isn't as wide-spread of a concept as I thought it was, alas, I do still see it as a vital part of the basics.

For having internalised that concept (to grow gradually) does keep one away from over-eagerness fairly well, or so I feel.

[Misterei]

10 hours ago, Nemia said:

... I think the many, many books "Learn to Read the Tarot in Ten Hours" are SO misleading. ... And learning how to pace yourself, how to avoid obsessive repetitive readings, this is part of the journey. 

Yes. I also dislike all the clickbait lies that tarots can be learned in 3 hours, or 1 day, or 10 days or whatever nonsense they're peddling.

It took me 20+ years to get the "no using tarot for obsessions" thing.

I actually made-up rules for myself to follow. No clarifier unless the spread ends with a Page.

Wait 3-7 days before reading the same topic. These were my own rules that helped me where I was at.

8 hours ago, Mister said:

... After one has the basics down pat (usually once you have started to feel right at home with your choice pack), one may safely venture into ... attempting to do repetive readings.

... It does make you feel calm when reading face-to-face and the client states: "Nah, that can't be, do it again." (Happened.)

You feel secure shuffling again, for you know what to expect. 1-3 repeaters, depending on the size of the layout.

This made me laugh.

 

@Mister said

<<Amongst the basics ... 'proper state of mind', which varies from person to person, however, it will most likely include an element of calming oneself and becoming receptive.>>

And this is exactly what's missing when I fall into obsession ... if I feel agitated ... no good will come of the reading.

 

7 hours ago, Raggydoll said:

I agree with you, an intermediate or advanced reader can do all sorts of experimentation with tarot. It’s the whole “learn the rules so you can break them” thing. I break my own ‘rules’ too, but I’ve been reading for so many years (almost 30 now) that I have found I can handle it 😊 I would not have been able to do the same back when I was newer at tarot! 

Yes. That's why I needed my above-mentioned "rules" to break myself of bad habits. Now it's just organic. I can feel when its ok to read on the same topic and when not. But I find it usually *IS* 3-7 days. Often things come to me when I sleep on a spread or something happens the next day or whatnot.

[Guest]

On 9/24/2023 at 2:53 PM, Nemia said:

I don't believe that anyone can change your reading using black magic but if you're worried, you may wish to use some protective ritual or spell before starting a reading

They can change on outcome through black magic not the reading. 

 

I believe you are right. I have been reading on the subject a lot. 

[Guest]

@DanielJUK I was getting consistent answers at the begining and than they started to change. I believe my guides are upset with me. The cards flew out with the same answers at the begining and than they became inconsistent. 

There is a lot of black magic involved here. I just don't know if it is that person changing the outcome or just the repetitive meaning. I have been trying to find someone to work with me for the longest but a good worker is hard to find.

 

[Guest]

@Mister Do you think it is the guides that change the outcome or my emotions are interfering with the reading? 

[Guest]

On 9/24/2023 at 4:41 PM, Misterei said:

I learnt to make myself neutral, objective, and empty before reading ... so something higher than my ego could come through.

@Misterei Is there a ritual that you do to make this happen? How are you able to do that when you read for yourself? 

 

I have been reading for almost 5 years now. 

[Arania]

Seriously, your guides will definitely get impatient with you when you ask the same question over and over. Anyone would. Have you tried other questions?

[gregory]

8 hours ago, Arania said:

Seriously, your guides will definitely get impatient with you when you ask the same question over and over. Anyone would. Have you tried other questions?

 

This, SO much.

[Chariot]

On 9/24/2023 at 7:38 PM, DantorPriestess said:

My reading have been inconsistent. I am getting different results for the same questions. I will get the same results for several hours and than it will change. Does this mean someone changing the outcomes through black magic?

Just curious. Why do you want to ask the question more than once?  What makes you want to ask it again?  

[AlbaTross]

I'd recommend just asking a question once.  If you want to know more, ask a different question.  Patience is a virtue too, so I recommend holding onto the initial answer you got and waiting for events to play out.  Emotions can absolutely affect a reading, as can expectations.  Cards can also typically be interpreted in more ways than one, so having a nuanced understanding of each card, and not being afraid to look at them intuitively rather than purely via book meaning can also really help.  Context and position are important too.  What you asked the cards is important, because that can have a profound effect on the meaning of a card that comes up.  Asking for advice is different than divination, so if you asked for advice, don't read the cards as divination.  Position means that if a spread has certain parameters, such as past, present and future, where the card drawn for the past shouldn't be read as something current or in the future, as that too can have a profound impact on what a card means.

[Misterei]

12 hours ago, DantorPriestess said:

@Misterei Is there a ritual that you do to make this happen? How are you able to do that when you read for yourself?

I have been reading for almost 5 years now. 

@DantorPriestess Here are some things I've done / do now

1. Ganesha mantra 3x [om gam ganapataye namaha]
2. Deep breathing and count breaths or alternate nostril breathing for 3 minutes (use a timer)
3. Self observation. Honest check-in if I'm attached to an outcome and want it too much. Or afraid. Or angry. Or whatever.
4. Lesser Banishing Ritual of Pentagram (I got away from ceremonial magic so don't do this any more ... but it WORKS)

[joy]

Hello Everyone, just to let you know the starter of this thread will no longer answer or engange as they decided to leave the forum. However feel free to discuss this topic, we will leave this thread open.
Thank you 🙂