Reading for yourself

[Sagittarius_Star]

Hi everyone  X/

I have a question that I'd love some insight and/or tips to.

Do you read tarot for your own personal questions?

I've tried to read them for myself, but I'm afraid to somehow influence the energy of the reading. So I was just wondering if it's a common use to do self-readings, and if so...any tips so that the reading can be as non "judgemental" as possible?

(Hope I'm making sense here LOL).

Thank you!

[joy]

Hi Sagittarius_Star[/member]

Yes you do make sense ;-) I am reading for myself and I am sure sometimes I do influence the reading. Especially if the cards show me something I do not want to see  :biggrin:

You can try to record the reading like you would read for an other person. Reading out loud instead of writing it down might help. And you can always share your readings with us here for 2nd opinions :-)

[DoNotDelete]

I'm reading for myself but when I do I talk and interpret the cards like it's for another person, I like to have my crystals there as well so that I will accept the reading and they clear my mind, calm my energy so that I will not impact the cards and have that little conversation with my Tarot and know that all this is for my benefit.

Crystals hold amazing energies especially along with Tarot readings :)

[Jewel]

I read for myself.  The key is remaining objective and being open to whatever message the cards give even if it is not something you want to hear.  I have to admit most of my readings are more general in nature, but when I do turn to it with a personal question I keep my objectivity in check to make sure I do not sugar coat things for myself.  I have found that certain decks are better for self readings than others.  The idea of treating the reading as if you were reading for someone else is a great one.  I have found journaling incredibly useful, it allows me to keep track of cards that seem to show up in various readings so I can look at them closely to see if there is a pattern, if the "needle" has moved, etc.  I also transcribe my written journal to my electronic journal here, and I always find that after "sleeping" on it I get more information and connections between the cards that flows in.  So my written journal is more like my first pass through the reading and the electronic journal becomes the full blown reading.  I find it very therapeutic.

[HermitWriter]

Hi Sagittarius_Star[/member]!

 

Reading for yourself can be incredibly rewarding. As others have said, keeping an open mind and trying to be objective are important. Obviously the pitfall of reading for yourself is getting stuck in the "good card / bad card" or "good reading  / bad reading" loop. Accepting that all cards have light and shadow sides helps avoid this. But it also takes time and experience with the cards.

 

You mentioned being worried that your energy would influence the reading. Well, the "bad" news is that of course it will. The "good" news is that your energy is going to influence any reading you do. It's part and parcel of giving a unique interpretation of the cards. It's okay to hope for an outcome. If You find yourself feeling stuck, or are worried that you're sugar-coating your own readings, then maybe consider reframing the question. Instead of asking "will I get X?" focus on "how can I best achieve X" or "what can I learn by trying Y?"

 

I hope this helps a bit! This is a good conversation to have :)

[Sagittarius_Star]

Hi everybody and thank you for the replies. Sorry I have been busy with work, so I haven't had much time...

Thanks for the advice, I'l try reading out loud...I never thought of that...maybe it will work for me.

What was said abou the cards absorbing "energy"...I guess you're right. If they didn't then the reading wouldn't be so truthful I guess.

[gregory]

I don't do it. I know I will find a way to cheat. Not deliberately, but if I get something I don't want to hear I can always find another aspect of my life it will fit to get me off the hook...

[Saturn Celeste]

Hi everyone  X/

I have a question that I'd love some insight and/or tips to.

Do you read tarot for your own personal questions?

I've tried to read them for myself, but I'm afraid to somehow influence the energy of the reading. So I was just wondering if it's a common use to do self-readings, and if so...any tips so that the reading can be as non "judgemental" as possible?

(Hope I'm making sense here LOL).

Thank you!

Hi Sagittarius_Star!  I don't read for myself either.  I just don't do it.  But if you want to do several readings let's say in a day or two, instead of always reading for yourself, do Universal readings.  Just say when you're shuffling your cards that this is a reading for the Universe and ask your question.  You'll get great examples of readings to interpret and this way you don't have any of your own thoughts interfering.  That's how I learned to read but I didn't want to read for myself when I started to study.  Try the Universal readings though, they might help!

[DanielJUK]

I do read for myself, both for the future and in a self help / development way. But some people seem never able to manage it, it's so hard to be impartial! One little trick is to pretend you are reading for someone else when you do it. Like you get the Tower, well what would you say to someone else instead of you? Often I would say something different to what I would say to myself with it.

 

I think there are some readings where it is impossible to be impartial, perhaps we are just too emotionally involved or upset about it. I would always ask a tarot friend to read for me on that.

 

Also you can read for yourself and then get a second opinion! Post it in our area for reading interpretation here and make sure you give your idea about it first and interpret each card (it's a rule of the area) and then other people will share their views! I sometimes need another opinion or other ideas.

 

Is it possible to read for yourself, it is more tricky than reading for others I think but you can get a second opinion if you need from other readers :)

[Grandma]

I read almost exclusively for myself, and often almost every day.  (I do have periods where I use the cards more for meditation, but that ends up being in a sense a different kind of reading for myself.)

 

But the key for me is to ask only one question - tell me something important and true.  And I only use a specific spread I designed for just this purpose, or a one or two card draw.

[unknownpleasures]

Firstly, "Hello" as I am new to the site. Secondly, I am new to tarot so have been doing a lot of studying and think that doing self-readings will be a good way to learn and interpret the cards before I even attempt to read for someone else.

[Thoughtful]

l read for myself all the time.  l always make sure any questions are clear then leave it to the cards to produce my reading.  Like others here l read the cards as though I am reading for someone else, that gives me the impartiality needed.  l have not had any problems with reading for myself.

 

unknownpleaseures  welcome to the forum  :)

You have the right idea in starting out reading for yourself.  It helps you to become acquainted with your deck, and allows you to interpret the cards in your own way and in your own time.  It will help you build your confidence.  You could start with pulling a card for the day, or, If you haven't already done so why not start with a deck interview. 

[Bookworm]

I read for myself almost exclusively, except for participating here in reading circles. Tarot is my therapist. I don't read predictively, which makes a big difference. I'm generally only asking for advice, and I find it very helpful! :D

[2curious]

I read for myself too.  It's easier since I know the details of *whatever*, I can zero in on what I feel the cards are really saying without getting lost in endless possible card meanings. Yes, I'm new at this.  Sometimes I read as an alternate "what if" way to look at *whatever*, or, just have a fun conversation and see what cards show up and what they have to say to me.  They are my friends, if that makes any sense...

[Raggydoll]

I read for myself too.  It's easier since I know the details of *whatever*, I can zero in on what I feel the cards are really saying without getting lost in endless possible card meanings. Yes, I'm new at this.  Sometimes I read as an alternate "what if" way to look at *whatever*, or, just have a fun conversation and see what cards show up and what they have to say to me.  They are my friends, if that makes any sense...

 

Makes perfect sense! I am a lot like you in this respect  :)

[Raggydoll]

Firstly, "Hello" as I am new to the site. Secondly, I am new to tarot so have been doing a lot of studying and think that doing self-readings will be a good way to learn and interpret the cards before I even attempt to read for someone else.

 

Hello and welcome! I think self readings are awesome!

[Louise]

I like to imagine that I'm in a car. The Tarot deck is the driver/conductor and I'm in the passenger seat. I try to empty my mind completely until I feel safe and confident that whatever the Tarot will show me is ultimately for my own good.

 

Then it's a bit like I'd comment what's going on during that 'journey' just like you would when someone shows you round a nice area. To empty my mind I usually use the box breathing technique. It's very efficient to ground yourself and get the right focus to stay as objective as possible.

[Bookworm]

I like to imagine that I'm in a car. The Tarot deck is the driver/conductor and I'm in the passenger seat. I try to empty my mind completely until I feel safe and confident that whatever the Tarot will show me it is ultinately for my own good.

 

Then it's a bit like I'd comment what's going on during that 'journey' just like you would when someone shows you round a nice area. To empty my mind I usually use the box breathing technique. It's very efficient to ground yourself and get the right focus to stay as objective as possible.

 

I like this idea! Thank you.

[Jewel]

Some of the tools I use for trying to maintain the objectivity is first to analyze the content of the spread and identify patterns.  For example, are there lots of court cards? are any numbers repeated?  elemental composition based on the suits.  Are there lots of Major Arcana?  What is not in the spread, what is missing.  This analysis helps me develop a framework within the reading that helps keep it objective for me as it influences all cards.

[DarkElectric]

I read for myself when  I  need clarity on a situation, and those times when I get the impression that  what I'm encountering in the great "out there" isn't quite what it seems to be.  I have the ability to be impartial, which helps a lot, and I'm intuitive, so messages come through for me they way they would for anybody else, and I interpret the information the same way.  Sometimes I'm too close to a situation, and seeing it laid out right in front of my face, in pictures, gets the point across.

[unknownpleasures]

Firstly, "Hello" as I am new to the site. Secondly, I am new to tarot so have been doing a lot of studying and think that doing self-readings will be a good way to learn and interpret the cards before I even attempt to read for someone else.

 

Hello and welcome! I think self readings are awesome!

 

Thanks Raggy!

[Grizabella]

I don't read for myself. But in just shuffling and laying out spreads just because it's a habit of mine I do make note of any cards that cycle around through the spreads. The Tower card would repeatedly come up and that one always meant I'd be moving even if I had no intention of moving.

[chongjasmine]

Hi, I read for myself, since I am a newbie and am not confident to read for others.

I try to be as objective as possible when reading.

[Wanderer]

I used to read for myself exclusively at the beginning, and still do when I feel a need to. This means, generally, that I'm conflicted about something, or feel stuck or uncertain; I don't generally read for myself when I already have a strong opinion or feel comfortable in the situation, because there's no need. And I don't read future 'fortune-telling' spreads, in general, because I'm deeply sceptical that they mean anything! 

 

I've heard that there are often difficulties being unbiased in one's self-readings, but I've never found it to be a problem. Partly this is because the answers, for me, aren't clear-cut: they tell us about facets of the situation (and ourselves), and force us to look at all aspects. Even if we have an inbuilt bias, this process doesn't allow us to fall artificially onto the side we want... at least, not without considering the alternatives!

 

In the end, though, it's a very personal thing. What works for you might not work for me. The key is to be open enough to recognise when you're letting your ego do the interpretation!  ;)

[zedekiel]

I like to imagine that I'm in a car. The Tarot deck is the driver/conductor and I'm in the passenger seat. I try to empty my mind completely until I feel safe and confident that whatever the Tarot will show me is ultimately for my own good.

 

Then it's a bit like I'd comment what's going on during that 'journey' just like you would when someone shows you round a nice area. To empty my mind I usually use the box breathing technique. It's very efficient to ground yourself and get the right focus to stay as objective as possible.

 

This is a really wonderful technique and relates to how I go about self readings as well. When working with tarot, I always view it as just that: working with tarot. The cards are my partner and we're doing this together so when doing a self reading I think of it like relinquishing some power in a group project. This keys into what others are saying, like imagining you're reading for someone else, but almost the reverse. I'm imagining someone else is doing the reading for me in a way, cuz I kinda feel that's how it is!