Being a card reader for others can be tricky, but reading for yourself can be even more of a challenge! It’s so difficult to be objective about ourselves and to know which nuance of meaning each card is ‘meant’ to portray.
But fear not, intrepid explorer of internal worlds! I have a few tricks up my sleeves to share with you…
Sleep on it
I speak from experience here: do not do a reading for yourself ten minutes after the problem arose. Tarot cards are a mirror of our internal world, so when we’re filled with stress and anxiety what do you think the mirror of the cards will reflect? Sadly, they won’t quietly and calmly show us how things really are, oh no! It will most likely go one of two ways:
- The cards will ‘tell’ you what you want to hear in that moment, which almost certainly won’t be what you truly desire. Did you have an argument with your partner? Do a reading when the tears are still wet on your cheeks and there’s a fair chance the cards will tell you to break up with your lover, because that’s what you want to hear right then. This can also work in the opposite direction, too – you can read into the cards that you should stay with a lover who is toxic for you when in your heart of hearts you know you should leave, but don’t believe you have the strength.
- The worst-case scenario. Can’t stop thinking about all those things that could go wrong? Sadly, neither can the cards and so they’ll echo those anxieties back to you in excruciating detail.
So instead of creating a feedback loop of fear between you and your deck, go get some rest instead. Have a cup of tea, go for a walk, whatever works for you. You – and therefore your cards – will be much clearer and more objective in the morning.
Stick with the programme
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, chances are you have a ritual you perform before and after your readings. Well, don’t sell yourself short – do the ritual for your own readings, too! An opera singer couldn’t perform to the best of their ability without warming up first: try to see your ritual as your own person set of scales and warm-up routine. You’ll get better results by calming and focusing your mind before reading the cards for anyone – yourself included!
Less is more
Don’t be tempted by daily Celtic Cross Spreads – that way madness lies! Too many cards will give you too much information if done too often. A Celtic Cross Spread done once a month is more than sufficient – try doing it on the first of the month to a get a feel for what’s lying ahead, or synchronise with moon phases for some extra ‘oomph.’
If you have a particular issue, try reducing the Celtic Cross Spread to six cards: the smaller number will condense their meanings, so you won’t become trapped by numerous card combinations.
However, if you want to be really gutsy, try picking just one card. You heard me! Be very specific with your question – the more specific the question, the more precise the answer.
A brief note on asking questions:
When wording any query (regardless of the size of the spread), take care to ‘own’ the question by taking responsibility for the situation. For example, asking – “why doesn’t s/he love me as much as I love her/him?” - is bad; but “what can I do to improve our relationship?” Is good. “Why won’t my boss promote me?” = bad; “How can I improve my performance at work?” = good. You’ll notice the ‘bad’ queries put all the power into someone else’s hands, and usually casts the querent as a victim; however, the ‘good’ query puts the querent firmly in control and gives them the power to change their life. Much better, don’t you think?
And finally, don’t be tempted to do a second reading for the same question until you’ve implemented the insights you gained the first time around.
If in doubt, always ask a friend or a professional to do a reading for you, or to help you interpret the cards you’ve picked for yourself. There’s no shame in getting a reading from someone else – even counsellors are required by law to undergo counselling! Perhaps you could set up a divination swap night with a group of friends and all do readings for each other. I can’t think of a more pleasant way to explore the cards than with a friend.
Was this post helpful for you?
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