Save the Reading: Seven Things to do when the Cards Don't Make Sense

It happens to every reader, from the beginner to the seasoned professional. You lay out the cards for your client, and nothing makes sense. Or, your client shares a story with you and asks for your opinion. You pull a few cards, and they just don't logically seem to fit.

Here are seven things to do when the cards are confusing.

1. Don't panic! The energy of confusion is often present in a tarot reading. Take a deep breath and know that you will be able to give this client a great reading.
2. Remember that the cards never lie. Each card is present for a reason - it's just that the reason is not always immediately obvious. Trust the cards to lead you where you need to go.
3. Don't be afraid to admit to your confusion. If the cards are confusing, this could indicate the situation is confusing, or the client is confused. By sharing your confusion with the client, you make the client your ally on the search for truth.
4. Go back to basics. Remember when you were a beginning student. What key words did you associate with these cards? What basic interpretations did you use? How could these fit in this situation?
5. Remember that the client could be wrong, or lying. Sometimes clients lie in readings, either to test us, or because of their own shame or denial. Sometimes clients misperceive their situation. A client may say "He's a great guy" and you look at your cards and see an a-hole. In many cases, you will have to gently ferret out the truth from both the cards and the client.
6. Take your time. Don't be afraid to pull more cards, dig deeply into the cards you have already pulled, or use other modalities.
7. Know that some answers just aren't available. While the cards never lie, they also don't always reveal everything. Sometimes life is meant to be a mystery. Don't be afraid to tell the client that you don't know something, or that now is not the time for this information to be revealed. When this is the case, use the cards to discover a plan of action, or a perspective from which the client can proceed.

Sometimes clients think that every answer is knowable, or that every future is set. Sometimes we believe that the answer to every question is easily available in the cards. The truth is this. Life is confusing, and tarot can mirror that confusion. But the cards will always give a path, an option, a perspective or a plan if you simply give them a chance.