What time of day do you like to do your readings?

[River_Unknown]

Just starting to get into using tarot cards more often, and I have a question: have you noticed if there is a particular time of day that works best for you to do your readings? I've tried pulling cards in the morning to get insight for my day, and I've also tried doing spreads at night when I can light candles and really get in the mood. Sometimes I feel more focused in the mornings and can more easily schedule it into my day, but some of my best readings have come at night. What have you noticed? Is there a particular time of day that you like to do your readings? I'd especially like to hear if anyone has a routine at a different time of day than I've tried. Thanks!

[Arania]

Not anymore. Used to be mornings, but by now it takes ages to clean my eyes enough to be able to see and by then I'm too off to do anything, most of the time. I love nightly candle light readings, especially when doing magic, but also because I am not that likely to be disturbed at night.

[DanielJUK]

I'm a night owl person 🦉 and I find late at night is my perfect reading time. The house is quiet and I feel most calm and relaxed then. I am not a morning person at all! I can really think it all over then.

There is something atmospheric about reading at night. The only thing I have to watch though is if I am too sleepy, I just cannot concentrate then and think it over.

I take photos of the spreads because often they are reading for someone here and I will say it is much easier to take a photo of tarot cards in the daylight! There is always awkward angles and shine on cards at night, you have to get the lighting right 😆

 

If you do daily cards, at the beginning of the day is great for more predictive readings but the end of the day is great for a more reflective reading of what happened.

[stephanelli]

For me, it's always morning because my brain is less concerned about time pressures (my afternoons and evenings are often busy, whereas mornings I try to allow for myself) and my brain is in a better frame of mind for quiet than at other times of day.

[Laurelverse]

I do my self-based readings in the mornings.  I find it useful to be the first thing I focus on after morning hygiene and making coffee 🙂
This is also the quietest part of the day for me, when I'm alone.  I prefer that.  

When reading for others, any time of day is fine.  Its more about the location than specific time of day. 

[2dogs]

In the morning for me too, I’m more relaxed, quiet and alert.

[Chariot]

I prefer very early mornings when reading for myself or studying some aspect of the cards (preferably while it's still dark ...I AM a very early riser!)  I like using salt lamps and candles, which work better in the dark.  I nearly always get accurate and deep readings in the very early mornings, because I'm fresh from sleep and nothing else interferes with my train of thought.   Also, there is virtually NO chance I'll be interrupted by anybody, or distracted by neighbourhood noises ...a huge bonus.
 

I do often read in the evening, as well—when I'm lucky enough to have the house to myself.  These night readings do work for me, but I sometimes get sleepy partway through—probably because I got up so early in the morning! 🙂 I also find it harder to concentrate at night. Too much of what I've been dealing with during the day is still front and foremost in my brain, and my evening mind is harder to discipline.

It's been a long time since I've done an afternoon reading.  That would change back, if I still had people nearby to read for.   Reading for somebody else is a whole different dynamic from reading for myself.  My ability to concentrate and focus is easier because the other person is there, keeping me on track.  I interact constantly with them on their topic, and my mind doesn't wander off, the way it can do when I'm reading for myself. 

Edited October 15, 2023 by Chariot

[iris]

I find myself getting overstimulated & unable to sleep if I do my readings at night for some reason! Afternoons are the best time for me because my mornings are busy.

[Jasmine]

I like to do my readings after meditating. I seem to be more intuitive then and do my best readings. After my evening meditation I'm usually relaxed and have free time and quiet space.    

[River_Unknown]

Thanks to everyone for sharing your perspectives! If I had to summarize the responses, it seems that the time of day doesn't really matter, as long as you can get in a calm, focused frame of mind. If anyone disagrees with that summary or has any other perspectives, I would, of course, love to hear what you have to say. 

 

On 10/11/2023 at 11:39 PM, Laurelverse said:

I do my self-based readings in the mornings.  I find it useful to be the first thing I focus on after morning hygiene and making coffee 🙂
This is also the quietest part of the day for me, when I'm alone.  I prefer that.  

When reading for others, any time of day is fine.  Its more about the location than specific time of day. 

 

At the risk of sending this off-topic, @Laurelverse, could you explain more about the location being more important than the time of day when doing readings for other people?

[Saturn Celeste]

51 minutes ago, River_Unknown said:

Thanks to everyone for sharing your perspectives! If I had to summarize the responses, it seems that the time of day doesn't really matter, as long as you can get in a calm, focused frame of mind.

Very true!  I tend to do my readings in the early afternoon but I've also been known to read at night or early in the morning (predawn).  But usually it's in the afternoon.

[MichaelH]

I can't say I have a special time to do readings. I plan a daily card pull in the mornings for myself. Sometimes I will do longer readings in the morning too. There is something nice though about lighting candles in the evening. The main thing for me is that the house is quiet and I am in the right headspace for looking at the cards.

[AlbaTross]

I like to do my readings at night.  There are fewer distractions then.  Certain types of readings also benefit from being done late at night, such as doing a Samhain reading when the clock strikes midnight on Halloween.  

[Esclarmonde]

I read in the evening/at night. I'm not a morning person, and besides I have to go to work in the morning, so have no time. I don't do daily draws. I enjoy the night; I feel this is the best time for readings (speaking for myself of course).

 

[Misterei]

I most often read for clients ... which I prefer late morning or afternoon.

Afternoon is the vata time of day according to ayurveda ... which can be a good time for contemplative or meditative activities.

Of course if the client is in another time zone ... I end up reading a peculiar times!

 

For myself it's random.

Some mornings I wake up with something on my mind ... and I go immediately to Tarot for some insight.

Other times I like the evenings before bedtime. As others have mentioned ... the dark and quiet sets a mood.

[Guest]

I'm a morning person, and that is when my mind is at its clearest so I prefer to read then. 

 

I associate evenings with parties, the gym, dating, and other fun stuff so I'm mostly not in a highly spiritual frame of mind then lol. But some of the most powerful readings I've done were at night, so there's that.

[Misterei]

I think the concept of Prashna might apply, too. At least for me.

Prashana is a form of predictive astrology ... Westerners call it horary.

You answer a question by casting a chart for the exact moment the question is asked.

I occasionally combine this with a Tarot reading.

Sometimes I feel "moved" to do a spread no matter the time ... and I'm curious WHY this impulse came at the exact moment it did.

[katelunee]

i like to do mine during the evening, maybe night time. good excuse for lighting a candle too cause i love them