Focus During tarot

[Deviation]

Hello all!

 

I have ADHD (among other things) and I find that while I prefer to do Tarot at night, by the time I feel "ready" to do readings, my ADHD medicine has worn off and I have a very hard time focussing on the reading itself, which tends to put me all over the place. I'm not one for pomp and circumstance, but I do try to show respect to my craft and my patron, Kuan Yin. I end up feeling guilty every time I get distracted trying to do a reading, but it's honestly something I can't help very much.

 

So my general question is: does anyone have any tips for aiding in focus/staying on track? I've tried using incense as a "signifier" of sorts, but it ends up feeling more like a count-down...which ends up being distracting lol. Any advice would be appreciated!

[Thoughtful]

Have you tried putting soft music on quietly in the background.  l find that can be very calming and can put you in the mood for reading your cards. 

The music l mean are the type used for spiritual meditation or healing.  Sometimes l have used Gregorian chants.  There are many cd's to suit everyone and cover all moods, which l am sure you are aware of.

This may be worth a try Deviation.

[Raggydoll]

I don’t know if this will resonate with you at all but I will share anyway, just in case. What I usually do before a reading is that I have an intuitive session. That means that I light a candle and sit down with a pen and paper in my lap. Then I take a deep breath and let it all flow through me. I start writing down everything that pops up in my head, no matter if it feels unrelated or random. After a while I find that a calmness and a special intensity appears, like if I am in an altered state of mind. This is usually when I receive visions and channeled messages. After a while I will feel that I’m done and my brain has calmed down. Then I see things more clearly and am able to do a reading that builds on, or explores, the things that came up in my session. This works really well for me but I do want to highlight that I do not have adhd so it might not work the same for you. Hopefully someone who actually has adhd will chime in too with some constructive ideas. Lots of luck  :heartz:

[Eric13]

I am currently in a place/sitch in which there are some heavy distractions to my concentration and readings at a time I dont need any. I do not have add either but the distractions are serious in the form of someone else expecting everyone around them to be like them. This is not unusual given the issue. I wasnt expecting this either. I wont bother being more detailed. I'll just focus on how I deal with these distractions. I have discovered walking. There really is something about taking a long walk that really clears the mind for me and helps me be able to focus. I have meditated since my teens. It works, but sometimes the mental movies are too strong and dont force myself to meditate. Also about 2 years ago I discovered yoga. I cannot begin to say how good yoga is, even for a guy like me! But there is a really healthy mental aspect about. The best place to start with yogo in my opinion is a gym where it's free and the instructor is patient with beginners. With me it's about keeping the mind active and away from distractions which helps me focus when I need it.

[Rupicapra]

I find it takes me a lot of time to do a reading, and altho I've got a short attention span, it is not as severe as ADHD. When I do a reading it takes me usually a couple of days. On day one and draw the cards, take a photo and note down my first impression - that is as much as I manage to do. I keep doing back to the cards in my mind, probably I come back later with a pen to take more notes, but only the next day I can sit down properly and write it all up. Sometimes it takes two or three sittings to write it all down, depends on how easy it is to focus and how many cards.

 

Don't feel guilty, there is absolutely no need. There is a lot going on when doing a reading, first it is hard to quiet down the brain to listen to the intuition, then putting it into words and trying to make the brain work together with the intuition. Don't beat yourself up about it. Take your time.

 

(PS: if I ever happen to do live face-to-face readings, my querents would have to bring a lot of time and patience, following me round waiting for my moments and outbursts of enlightenments hahaha  X-D)

[DanielJUK]

adding to what Rupicapra[/member] said, don't be too hard on yourself, don't feel guilty! For a lot of people, focusing is really hard! I don't believe anyone sits there staring at the cards for an hour  :)) There was some research some years ago and most humans cannot focus on one thing for more than 14 mins! For people with ADHD and other conditions it is something you have to think about in working with tarot.

 

I read intuitively and it's worth looking at the cards first and seeing what comes to you first, what do you see? what do you feel? I write down the first thing I see (or these days more like type them in a digital journal). I take a lot of time with my longer readings and come back to them, think about it, look at it more, come back.

 

Part of becoming a great reader I think is working out your best method. It's a trial and error journey but work around it to work for you. I cannot focus in one go so I break it up (especially on readings with more work) but I write everything down as I go :)

[Deviation]

Thank you, everyone, for your feedback! There's a lot of good advice here, and I appreciate you all coming forward with your experiences! It's made me feel a lot better just knowing that other people either have issues with focusing or had them and found ways to counter them.

[Nordica De Spell]

Dear Deviation,

 

Can you work WITH that energy? It sounds like it really doesn’t want to sit there and focus, so how about getting a big roll of inexpensive drawing paper, tape a huge section of it up on the wall, or lay it on the floor. Pull tarot cards and do your tarot spreads, but work quickly with your eyes, then paint impressions and intuitions from them, perhaps preferably in a physical way with finger paint or brushes you can sweep all over the paper if you like. Vary between looking at the cards and adding to the painting, or reading the tarot book and do a new painting or mind mapping or whatever you like with it. You wouldn’t have to be any good at drawing or painting, it’s not about that. It’s not like you have to sell them at a gallery. It’s just another way of thinking and intuiting, and involving both brain halves in the process.

 

Or, if you can find another way of including and giving the energy an outlet, something that really works for you, instead of suppressing it?

 

Or, for a more traditional advice with adhd, find something that can keep the restless energy occupied while you think about the reading? A fidget spinner in your hand during, or crocheting or something such?

 

Or, if the prescriber thinks that you can distribute the medication differently during the day, like half in the morning, half in the afternoon?

 

Or, think about WHY you prefer doing tarot in the nighttime? Is it the lighting, then install some good shades in a room and you can re-create the evening atmosphere during daytime when you’re more focused, etc.

 

These are what I came to think of. They might not be for you, and maybe then, there is some other creative solution to what is essentially mainly a practical problem.

 

Good luck solving it!  :heartz:

[Nordica De Spell]

A few more thoughts along those lines:

 

If you pull The Fool, read up on it quickly and try to portray that card, like a play almost. How would The Fool walk, walk that way in the room. How would The Fool think in the situation you’re asking, think like that. Essentially, be a method actor. How do the cards in the spread interact? Be all of the roles, do all of the dialogues, arm gestures and all.

 

Or, a dance. You can dance the King of Cups dance, or the way that that card makes you feel.

 

Or, do physical activity like the gym right before coming home for the evening and sitting down?

 

:heartz: :heartz:

[Nordica De Spell]

Sorry for the spamming, I just wanted to say that there are no wrong ways. Whatever works for you in this, is what matters.