Do you read for teenagers?

[Saturn Celeste]

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=78538

by moderndayruth

I found this discussion really interesting and thought it might fit in nicely with our forum.

I have two cousins, 13 and 14 years old who are "enchanted" by Tarot, they've been watching me reading for their mother and her friends since they were babies; i never felt before it was ok to read for them... untill the last night. I let them drow one card each (thanks God, it was 2 of pent and 5 of cups ), but i was wandering... Goodness, what if the Devil came out? I mean, i would manage somehow, i would "adjust" the meaning to their age and situation, the kids love the cards, it's more about me actually... I'd love to hear other people expereinces, ie.:

Do you read for teenagers? If yes, which decks do you use? Which spreads do use?...

[sandrang123]

Good question. In all my reading life, however, I've never had this come up. But I mostly do face-to-face, so there is that. I'm trying more on-line work now and have a disclaimer. It is, I suppose, an ethical question, but anyone giving spiritual advice on certain issues might need to consider this.

[Sar]

No, I learned the teenager to read for herself (my god daughter).

[Wyrdkiss]

No, 18+ for me at events or in personal querent selection.

[chongjasmine]

I don't read for teenagers. I don't think they are mature enough to understand tarot.

[Decan]

It's an interesting question, but a bit theoretical on my side; with distance and thinking about this topic, I would say it's likely better to avoid to read for them. I don't think teenagers aren't mature enough to understand the Tarot, but too impressionable. Otherwise, I'm wondering if a reader would say something to a teenager that isn't to the taste of their parents if they will not have problems with them.

And adolescence is such a complicated age!
Just my 2 cents here though.

Edited December 4, 2021 by Decan

[gregory]

Some teenagers are quite brilliant readers. Some adults don't get it at all, and are in no way mature enough to understand tarot. I run on a case by case basis. Some adults I won't read for. One pre-schooler as she then was was a whiz with card meanings - unstudied, but she would get them"by the book" every time. I gave he a deck - her mother said it was OK.

 

If I were ever to read at an event, I'd stick t .o 18+ for legal safety, but otherwise, I don't discriminate. I don't think you can generalise like that.

[katrinka]

It's case by case for me, too.
I've never gotten in trouble, but I think a parent could make trouble if they wanted to: if the kid used their bank card, or if they vehemently opposed card reading. For commercial readings that are not face to face, a simple disclaimer should be enough: "Must be 18 or over". That way, if there's trouble, it should be on them. I don't think it's as strictly enforced as liquor laws are. Store clerks are often told they have to card everybody who purchases alcohol, and they take flak and sometimes abuse for that. (They get yelled at a lot. I saw a girl start crying once when an old man kept asking her "How old do I look?") But I've never heard of readers carding people. We don't have a cartomantic equivalent of this: https://www.tabc.texas.gov/

 

It's a bit of a gray area. And in a lot of ways it's moot, since teenagers generally don't spend that kind of money on readings. Face to face, I've only had to make that decision when my own kids were teenagers and their friends were hanging around the house. On rare occasions, I'd do quick freebie demo readings just to show how it works. But only if I knew their parents were OK.

 

As far as their maturity level goes, their questions were mostly concerned with romance and money so that was a nonissue. It didn't ever really get deep. And TBH, most adults ask about the same things.

[Decan]

Yeah, to see this situation case by case is likely the wiser option!

For me it's a little theoretical, it's the reason why I don't show much flexibility; real life experience brings that I think (flexibility I mean).

Otherwise concerning parents, it reminds me something we hear at times these days about teachers who can have a challenging communication with teenagers at school, and then the parents come to strike the teacher (there was as well a case when it was the whole family who came to ill-treat the teacher, but it must be rare).

The fortune-teller isn't in danger I guess, or not that way, I hope!

Edited December 5, 2021 by Decan

[Natural Mystic Guide]

Of course, the caveat being that it is with their parent's knowledge and approval.  I read for children, too.  I remember a reading a did for a young boy -- maybe about 8 years old.  His questions, and what came out in the reading was profound.  Some young people are old souls.

[Misterei]

On 5/17/2023 at 2:16 AM, Natural Mystic Guide said:

Of course, the caveat being that it is with their parent's knowledge and approval.  I read for children, too.  I remember a reading a did for a young boy -- maybe about 8 years old.  His questions, and what came out in the reading was profound.  Some young people are old souls.

Yes, I've found that parents have brought their kids or teens for a reading when the young person expressed interest. Sometimes the parent sits in. Other times gives privacy.

[Morwenna]

I've also read for teenagers occasionally at renfaires; in some cases there was a parent present, more often it was another friend. As for cost, at renfaires we never charged so much that modern kids couldn't afford it. Back when I was rather new at it, I read for free at a local event and one client was a child, with his parent. It went well, and the parent was quite amused. 

 

I remember one instance at a renfair when my husband (now late) was set up next to me, reading cast stones, and he had a young man as a client, couldn't have been more than 16. The boy kept asking questions, lots of what-ifs, and finally my husband told him to use his own judgment, "You're smarter than a bunch of rocks!" 

[xTheHermitx]

I would only read for a teenager if I had the parents permission. And I would never do it one-on-one in a closed in area or structure. 

 

Being a teacher of teenagers (middle and high school band), I am used to all of the laws and reasons about not being alone with teens/children in isolated enclosed places. If I was to readings in public, it would definitely be 18 and up. I think I might even type up a release form to sign for parents who gave permission for their kids to have a reading

[katrinka]

On 12/4/2021 at 3:48 AM, gregory said:

Some teenagers are quite brilliant readers.

This is an excellent point. And most of us, even if we weren't brilliant, tend to pick up the cards at 12 or 13. It didn't hurt us. So it's not Tarot per se that's the issue. The issue is the potential unequal power balance between an adult who is possibly manipulative, and a minor. But not all minors are gullible. I've known some who were out grubbing for themselves at 15 or 16. They were essentially adults. Others are infantilized well into their 20's. Mom & dad pay the rent, pay college tuition, etc. (I'm not saying that all college students are childish. But many are - you know the type.)

The main reasons not to read for teenagers come down to optics, how we're perceived: are we going to be viewed as evil criminals manipulating innocent children into the sex trade and worse? There's already a faction that views us as thieves, liars and con artists. Might as well add "pimp" to the list. And the other reason is the potential immaturity of teenagers. If an adult does something stupid because of something they heard (or quite possibly misunderstood) in a card reading, that's on them. But if a kid does something stupid and then points their finger at the reader, well...

@xTheHermitx has the right idea. It's mainly about protecting ourselves.

Edited March 28 by katrinka