Preparing to do a tarot reading (for someone else).

[MouthOfTheLion]

With the exception of a couple practice readings on my mother, I've only done readings for myself and I don't really do any preparation because I think of it as practice. The readings I did for my mother were a little draining, probably from performance anxiety, but I've seen several pro readers talk about how they have to prepare themselves before/between readings with clients. Do you do anything to prepare yourself energetically (or center yourself, regulate your nervous system, whatever phrasing makes sense to you)?

[Tanga]

Between clients, for me it's enough to straighten/tidy up the reading space, & perhaps spray a little of my current room spray (essential oil mix) in the air. Maybe open a window if it feels stuffy.

 

With the client sitting beside me (I prefer to read with the client next to me, so we are both looking at the cards the same way up), I make sure I'm comfortable with my feet planted on the ground (grounded), & shuffle the cards methodically to clear them of any energetic or other patterns. I will usually talk to the client whilst I shuffle... how can I help them?... have they had a reading before...etc.  general chat.

 

That's all that is needed for me these days. 

 

 

If I've agreed to read - and when the time is nigh, I'm not that much in the mood (or if I were a bit more of a newbie - & I was nervous)... then I may start doing things like asking my guides to help me before the client walks in. Or reciting in my head my personal circle casting chant. These sorts of rituals help one to let go of the present baggage and "step into the space to read" for someone else.

 

Energetically separating yourself from the client so that you are not drained, is something that may take a little practice. Grounding, clearing and protection rituals help. The essence of it, is that you learn to recognise where you end, and the client begins. Your life is yours, and theirs is their own to live and experience. Your job, is just to shine a light (in your own way if you can), to facilitate their journey - not to carry the burden of their expectations, or their trauma.

It's a sort of "switch" that happens in your head... or in the understanding of your body....

 

The more practice you do - the better you get at it.

Hopefully you have some friends that are happy to be guinea pigs to be practiced on?

And otherwise - practice on here will help ofcourse.

 

When I learned Tarot, in-house, at The College of Psychic studies (in London, UK), I was lucky. I had my classmages to practice with, with a live teacher assisting in situ. And we also had weekly guinea pigs from members of the public towards the end of the course. Our readings were recorded, and our teacher would listen to them and give us feedback.

 

[Grizabella]

I've been reading for quite awhile so I don't do a lot of preparing anymore.  The messages that come will come through me, not from me, if that makes sense.  Now, this doesn't mean I'm possessed or something and it doesn't mean I go into a trance or that I claim to have a hotline to God or some other Supreme Being.  It just means I get my self and my own prejudices and opinions out of the way so I can see the message the cards are showing me that are for the sitter. 

 

For instance, let's say the sitter is involved it an affair with a married man and I personally know those situations aren't usually positive for all considered so the cards that are drawn, in my own opinion, can be read in a negative way suited to my own beliefs.  On the other hand, if I get my own opinions out of the way, there's a positive message.  My place is to give the positive message from the cards, not to give the sitter my own opinions and personal ideas.

 

Other than that, I just make sure my surroundings are clean and pleasant and friendly and that's it.  I don't use candles or crystals or mood lighting or anything.