Curious about techniques for readings

[Chimene]

I've always wondered whether whether the person getting a Tarot reading asks their central query aloud or whether the Tarot reader has to intuit what the querent wants from the reading. I've read quite a few guides but this aspect has never been covered in detail. I'm obviously a beginner and would be fascinated to hear member's views 🙂 

[Raggydoll]

It will differ from person to person! Some clients want to share their question, other don’t. And some readers prefer to not know the question beforehand, so they’ll tell their clients not to speak it out loud. 
 

I personally think it can be helpful to know the question, because then I can tailor my reading and make sure the querent has the best possible chance of getting a relevant and detailed answer. I design spreads based on what the querent wants to know, but I can obviously also do a more general spread in case they don’t have a specific question or if they don’t want to share their question with me. 

[DanielJUK]

I've moved this thread to the tarot technique area which is the best place for this discussion 🙂 

[DanielJUK]

I think it really does depend on the reader's preferences. Personally I love working out the reading and what comes up, like a mystery. I am happy dealing with a question because it is more precise and gives you a focus but also I really like the detective work of putting together what has come up with no question. The problem with leaving it to the reader (or universe) about what comes up is that it could be anything! I have sometimes found a message from the universe randomly at times really important in that moment, other times I really have a question I want answered 🙂 .

 

Some readers really want a question I have noticed to read on.

[xStardustx]

I prefer to have a specific question from the person I am reading for. 

 

Context is key. Knowing the question beforehand helps me interpret the cards in the context that is needed. 

 

The Tower card in a love reading makes a lot more sense than just pulling The Tower without context. 

 

Granted, other cards are pulled for clarification but it can still leave a lot of things too open for my taste. 

 

Or maybe I am just scared of being wrong. Which I hadn't considered until just now. 

[Chariot]

I'm not bothered about whether there is a question to start with or not, but I want to read for a person who is sitting in front of me.  I open dialogue with them as soon as the cards are down.  I tell them what the general meaning of a particular card usually is, and ensure they know what part of the spread the card has appeared.  (Is it Past, Present, etc.)  I ask them if that card in that particular position has meaning for them ...and we go from there.  Because they participate in the reading, they are more apt to take on board what the cards are saying.  Note:  I don't do this professionally or charge them anything ...it's just for either fun or enlightenment.
 

It does help to talk to them beforehand, though, to get a handle on what they expect or want from the reading. This helps me to choose which spread to use.  If they can give me nothing at the start, I usually go with Past, Present and Future (drawing two cards for each position) OR the Celtic Cross.

Edited December 16, 2024 by Chariot

[Chimene]

It's so helpful to hear your responses In a sense, you've given varied and personal options on how to approach the reading.  I share the worry about the sheer number of possible domains a question or concern might apply to expressed so well by xStardustx . However, I can see that as you mature and grow in abilities as a reader - the methods adopted by Chariot and DanielJUK create a greater sense of channeling universal wisdom into the dynamics of the spread and its possible implications.

 

Hugely helpful - cheers people 

[Misterei]

8 hours ago, Chimene said:

,,, varied and personal options on how to approach the reading.  ...

For me it depends on time. If its a long reading I don't care to have a question. Plenty of time to work it out.

If it's a short reading, definitely need a question to get to the point.

[Chariot]

On 12/16/2024 at 8:45 PM, Chimene said:

It's so helpful to hear your responses In a sense, you've given varied and personal options on how to approach the reading.  I share the worry about the sheer number of possible domains a question or concern might apply to expressed so well by xStardustx . However, I can see that as you mature and grow in abilities as a reader - the methods adopted by Chariot and DanielJUK create a greater sense of channeling universal wisdom into the dynamics of the spread and its possible implications.

 

Hugely helpful - cheers people 

Some of us (me) don't consider ourselves to be particularly psychically gifted, so we don't necessarily get instant 'vibes' from a reading.  Instead, if we learn from the querent what the reading is about, we can work out what the cards are saying.

I know the only professional reading I ever got for myself used a technique of questioning me and developing the reading as we spoke.  She would ask a question, lay out a couple of cards, then ask another question, etc. And the reading was SPOT on ...including timing, numbers, people's current situation (which I knew nothing about at the time of the reading) and other pertinent details.  Everything the reader predicted for me did actually happen—even down to the precise timing of the upcoming event. Her predictions surprised me a lot, in that they weren't at all what I was expecting, but the situation actually did turn out as she predicted. It left me gobsmacked ...how did she KNOW?

However, rather than wasting her/our time in guessing at the start of the reading, I did volunteer enough information for her to get off on the right track right away.

I have kept that experience in my mind ever since.  

Edited December 18, 2024 by Chariot