How Do You Review Divination?

About once a year I get a professional divination consultation. Used to be local readers, but the past few years I’ve gotten them online or over the phone. The type of divination varies. Last year I was concerned about my ancestors and I went to Galina Krasskova for divination. It was interesting and helpful. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad experience with divination, but I certainly have had different levels of quality, knowledge, counseling skill and depth. I used to read professionally myself and tend to cut the reader a lot of slack because I know how exhausting and draining the work can be.

I couldn’t hack it as a professional reader, and I think my skill level is decent. I tend towards more informal reading style, and I’m by no means an expert. Still, I can generally read for myself for most things. Then sometimes I get a problem or a worry that I simply don’t trust myself with divining. For me, sometimes my energy can overwhelm that of my deck, and the deck tells me exactly what I want to hear. That is always suspect. So in those cases I go to an expert. It’s generally helpful, even if it only means I hear my problem being discussed by a voice other than my own.

Anyone who has read my blog for any length of time knows I’ve been going through a rough spot spiritually. Last week I was talking about the tarot with my roommate. Correction, I was talking about the tarot and he was feigning polite interest. I was talking about one of my favorite reference books for the tarot: The Chicken Qabalah. I’ve used the book for years and would recommend it to anyone. And as I’m babbling and my roommate nodding with his nose in a comic book, I realize two things:

1. It’s time for me to get a professional divination.
2. I’ve never gotten a reading from Lon Milo DuQuette, whose work regarding the tarot I admire.

So I check to see if he does readings online, and he does. Once I’m ready I schedule a reading. My appointment time rolls around. I get my reading. Then I realize two new things:

1. This is the best divination session I have ever received. I should tell people about this.
2. I don’t know how to write a divination review. I’ve never seen it done. I’m not even sure if it’s ethical.

The whole concept of writing a review of someone who practices the sacred art of divination just strikes me as skeevy. I’m not certain why. I know people review their doctors and their college professors. There is an informal tradition of reviewing teachers and covens via word of mouth and vouching. Maybe people do review diviners and I’m just not aware of it. At any rate, the concept feels weird to me, but that’s my problem. I can think of no logical reason why we shouldn’t do that, and I’m a big believer in celebrating awesome things.

DuQuette was very pleasant to talk to and I felt confident that my reading would be kept confidential. His level of knowledge of the tarot exceeded my expectations. He was thorough in examining each card’s implications for my query. He took initiative, led the reading and pushed for deeper understanding of the issue. I didn’t have to ask for more detail or ask to have a card or remark explained to me. I was given specific details to be aware of and specific date ranges to note on my calendar.

I have to say that the thing that impressed me most was that I learned to be a better seeker and questioner. I’m one of those annoying people who tell diviners “oh, just, you know, what the future holds in store… that sort of thing…” Well that level of vagueness was no dice in this reading. DuQuette helped me whittle my vague concern into the specific question that was at the heart of my worry without making me feel pushed or bullied. That’s a talent. My readers know how ornery I am. When cornered I can kick like a mule. It’s not very lady-like. So being able to coax me from my staunch stance of vague concern to actually stating the very personal, root concern at the heart of my query is no small feat.

It was a very pleasant, insightful and informative reading. I ended up with more notes than I have ever had from any divination session before. I feel that I learned more than I set out to originally find out, and in fact I stopped the session when it began to reference a part of my life I’d rather remain a mystery and surprise. I feel that the session was useful and gave me tools I need to move forward in my life. The reading felt true, including the parts regarding my own attitude, but of course time will tell if any of the prophecy comes to pass. And like with any reading, whether or not the prophecy comes to pass will partly rest on me.

I have never gone back to a reader twice. Like I said, I’ve never had a bad experience, but I’ve just never felt moved to return to the same diviner again. I was really impressed and pleased with my reading from DuQuette. I will seek him out when I need a professional reading again. If asked my opinion, I would refer anyone to him.

So I don’t know how you’re supposed to write a divination review, or even if it’s a kosher thing to do, but I felt moved to write this one. I hope it’s useful to someone.