Five Ways to Keep Your Tarot Readings Fresh

If you are a tarot reader, either hobbyist or professional, you surely know the exhilarating feeling of the reading that flows like a well-crafted story and cuts to the truth like a knife through butter. 

You also probably know the drudgery of slogging through a reading that feels as inspiring as white rice.

When we readers contemplate the factors that create those epic readings, versus the readings we yawn through, we often credit (or blame) the client, or the deck, for the energy of the reading.

It’s true that some clients are easier reads than others. It’s also true that each reader tends to connect with certain decks more than others. However, I think it is safe to say that the responsibility for the energy of a reading lies not with the client nor with the cards, but solely with the reader.

The questions are, how can we control the energy of each and every reading? What can we do to make sure that each reading is not only accurate, but also inspirational? How can we stay engaged and interested in each person’s story?

These questions are particularly important to professional readers who perform multiple readings a day, psychic entertainers who work the cattle call at corporate events, and tarot aficionados who want to make sure they can read for all of their friends at the kiki. The truth is, although each tarot reading is as individual as a snowflake, each tarot reading is drawn from the same seventy-eight cards. And, although each tarot client is a unique individual, the commonality of human experience and the predictability of human psychology can cause us to feel that we are giving the same tired reading over and over again.

Professional readers who work with groups often receive that terrible review. “She said the same things to all of us.” Or, “We all got the same reading!” Typically, when I hear this complaint about colleagues, I recognize that the group of complainers really do have a lot in common, and those commonalities would be the logical talking points in each reading.

Nonetheless, a great reader must be able to reveal the truly unique aspects of each person for whom they read, even if their clients are a family of identical triplets.

Have you given readings that felt a little stale? Here are five things you can do to make sure each reading you perform feels fresh.

1.    Use key words and memorized card meanings as a jumping-off point for your interpretations.

Key words and classic meanings can INFORM a reading, but cannot BE the reading. Use intuition and context to speak to the client’s individual situation rather than making a blanket statement based solely on what you have memorized about the cards that appear.

We all develop particular ways of understanding each card. We may have pet names for specific cards, or archetypes that resonate for us. It’s important to keep our personal relationships with the cards personal. Our internal understandings of the cards may be helpful fort teaching tarot students, and in our own contemplation. But, if we fall into the trap of always saying the same thing every time we see a particular card, we are no better than a tarot app, offering the same flat reading every time a card is revealed!

 

2.    Be aware of your energy, and consciously control the energy at the table.

A tarot reader must be an energy worker. Don’t just flip cards and interpret! Make sure you conduct your readings in sacred space, and that you are constantly aware of the flow of energy in the room. Use your breath and your focus to keep the energy moving. This will ensure that the reading is a spiritual and enlightening experience.

 

3.    Read books, watch movies and have conversations.

Tarot reading is a communication skill. The more you expose yourself to new vocabulary and new communication styles, the more you will naturally incorporate new words and phrases into your readings, avoiding the rut of saying the same things over and over.

 

4.    Don’t rely solely on questions from the client; ask questions of the cards that will take the reading as far as it can go.

Your client may not have questions that will lead to an interesting reading or may not know what questions will be most helpful to ask. Let the cards that appear create curiosity in you that leads you to ask expansive and meaningful questions. Be willing to rephrase your clients’ questions, or to break a single question into multiple questions.

 

5.    Use the right spread and/or reading technique for the right situation.

Tarot spreads and reading techniques are not one-size-fits-all. A past-present-future three-card spread may not give enough information to answer a complex problem, while a Celtic Cross may be too broad to give specifics.

Changing up your spreads and techniques will keep you on your toes and keep your style fresh, while giving you the best opportunity to give each client the most information, and the best experience possible.

A great tarot reading needs to be a lot of things. It needs to be accurate, entertaining, insightful and enlightening. It’s often a plus if there is some humor involved. Maybe most importantly, each reading needs to be tailored to the needs, truth and energy of each client. When we make this our priority, we are open to the authentic mystical divination process.  And, we are able to effectively communicate the information we receive in a way that this relatable, interesting, and not a bit boring!

Five Reasons Not To Be a Full-Time Tarot Professional

I’ve been a full-time tarot professional for more than twenty years. In fact, I literally wrote the book on professional tarot reading (Fortune Stellar is currently OOP, look for a second edition in 2017.)

One of my favorite job responsibilities is mentoring new and aspiring tarot professionals. Why, then, would I write about reasons a person wouldn’t want to make tarot their primary job?

There are a lot of business mentors available to coach you, inspire you, teach you and hold you accountable. Unfortunately, it is in their best financial interest to encourage everyone, regardless of temperament and talent.

I always cringe when I see business mentors online encouraging would-be pros to hang their shingles, when it is evident to me from the students’ posts that they are clearly not ready, or not suited, for the challenges of full-time reading.

I take a different approach. I don’t want to waste anyone’s time and money, and I don’t want to clutter the field with a bunch of disappointed and mediocre pro readers.

That said, I want to be clear that I do believe tarot is for everyone. We can all benefit from its wisdom and inspiration. Tarot informs our growth and helps us form special bonds with one another.

There is a difference, though, between being a tarot enthusiast, readings professionally part-time, and being a full-time tarot professional. I mentor all tarot lovers, but challenges are very different depending on the goals.

If you think you would like to make tarot your full-time job, or if you want to make sure pro reading is truly your path, please think long and hard on the following reasons you might decide to do something else.

1. Bias Against Tarot Readers is Real, and Legal.

It is perfectly legal for towns to charge you exorbitant fees that are higher than other businesses pay for the right to do business. It is also legal for merchant payment platforms to refuse to service you, or to charge extra fees.

Amongst family, friends and community, there will always be people who assume you are a huckster, a criminal, or simply delusional.

2. “Witch Wars” are Real, Too.

You haven’t lived until you’ve had a competitor spread vile untrue rumors about you, pretend to be you in order to steal your gigs, pirate your publications, or make public claims about doing magick against you.

The sad part is very often these pathetic haters used to be your friends.

3. Many of Your Hardest Hours Are Non-Billable.

Tarot readings aren’t cheap, so you might think we tarot readers make a bunch of easy money. Nothing could be further from the truth. For every paid hour, there are countless hours spent marketing, volunteering, writing, accounting, networking, traveling and creating.

4. Money and Recognition Sometimes Go to the Unscrupulous and Inexperienced.

Who’s making big money in tarot? It’s not your neighborhood tarot reader. Typically, big money goes to the neon storefront psychics who bilk their clients by using scare tactics to offer magical cures for imagined problems, and to the corporations that run pay-by-the-minute on-line and phone psychic services.

In the field of tarot publication, sometimes the best-selling  and most recognized books are written by the people who have time to write books – meaning that many tarot authors aren’t writing from a place of operational experience, because they themselves aren’t actually reading full-time.

 5. We Work When Others Play.

I’ve attended more fireworks displays than the average person, but I have actually seen fewer fireworks. That’s because I’m usually under my EZup doing reading during the show.

Likewise, I’ve often worked Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. My husband’s screen name is “Tarot Widower”. That pretty much says it all.

Are you scared yet?

If you love reading tarot but find these possible constraints a bit daunting, please remember that a career in tarot can be very flexible. Many of these problems can be avoided simply by choosing to read tarot as a part time job, or a side job, rather than as your only source of income.

It might be, too, that you are a tarot hobbyist rather that a tarot pro. Don’t let that discourage you – tarot is a field where hobbyists are skilled and respected. Sometimes hobbyists write blogs and books that truly contribute to the field.

On the other hand, if you, like me, feel a little jittery when you don’t have a deck in your hands, if you love reading for people more than you fear hard work and ridicule, and if you can’t imagine doing anything other than working with tarot, you might find that full-time tarot is your calling!

If you would like to deepen your tarot practice, consider a mentorship program with me. Email me for details!