Every single tarot reading is different. It’s like a mini-relationship between you, the tarot reader, and the cards. In order to get the best reading possible there are certainly some questions you can and should ask to make the process go more smoothly. Many of these issues I have covered in the Divination Space Stations segments on this blog, featuring interviews with notable Pagans such as Dorothy Morrison and Deborah Lipp. Here, however is a short list of thing you may or may not have thought to ask.

1. How long have you been reading tarot? Most professional readers agree that tarot is a lifelong study. Each reading presents new challenges and relationships, between the cards and the specific situation. Not that I wouldn’t get a reading from a beginner, but again similar to any other profession, someone who has just joined the ranks will have a different perspective than a seasoned veteran.
2. How much do you charge? This is more of a practical question, but it is always good to be prepared and the price of readings can range from free into the hundreds of dollars.
3. How did you get started reading? A person’s story is always important.

   

4. What deck or decks do you read with? Why? A recent online search returned 3,353 different tarot decks. That is a lot to choose from. When doing a reading I usually offer clients a choice of several different decks, not 3,000, but ones from different paths and traditions so they can pick the images and symbolism that they feel most comfortable with.
5. How long are your readings usually? This is another question where the answers can run the gamut. One of my godchildren offers simple quick readings with only a few cards, and I heard of one reader the other day that takes over 3 hours to complete a reading. All things are possible under the sun, the moon and the stars( or should i say the cups, the coins and the wands.)
6. Will you allow recording of my reading? Even if the reader won’t let you use audio or video recording, consider taking detailed notes so you can remember what is said. If time allows run the notes by your reader, I once had a client hear only what they wanted to hear, instead of what I had said.
7. How many questions can I ask? This is another practical question. Some of my clients come in with a long list of questions that they have been compiling for some time. If this is your situation it’s best to have a reader that will help you through each of these areas.
8. Do you do spellwork or ritual work if I need additional help? Tarot is a very useful psychic tool that can help people in many different ways. Most often I find it gives plenty of solutions to the problems at hand. That said, some people do need additional help. Some of the worst readings I have ever experienced were from people who laid out a difficulty, and then didn’t give guidance as to how to navigate it.
9. What’s the best way to contact you if I need another reading? Like most humans, psychics are busy people. Almost every reader I know will drop a client if they call repeatedly, or at ungoddessly hours.

Tarot readings can provide direction and insight into your life in all situations. In order to have the best experience you should come prepared. For those who would like to schedule a tarot reading with me, Lilith Dorsey, please email me at [email protected]

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Foretelling the future can be a tricky business. It’s hard to trust your own psychic abilities. They are skills one comes into by accident and design. There are lots of things that you can try. These can help to hone your skill if you’re a beginner or even a seasoned expert. I’ve been reading the cards and getting psychic readings for over three decades. Over the years I’ve consulted with thousands of professionals and clients about what it is you need to know, what you want to know, and how the different systems work.

• Keep a Record– It is good magickal practice to keep track of your readings, dreams, and the events that follow. You don’t need to get obsessively anal about it, but if you keep a journal you can begin to see patterns and signs that you may not have recognized otherwise.
• Observe your own Thoughts – Consider your own personal observations and associations as they relate to the archetypal symbols present in the Tarot. One of the most important things to remember while reading is “wherever you go, you take yourself with you.”
• Test and Re-Test– Psychic tests can start with something simple. As your cards a question like will it rain on me today? Or Will I get a call from X in the next 24 hours? Choose simple and verifiable questions to start with. Measure your results against the actual outcomes.
• Practice– How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Ok, I’m a New Yorker, I couldn’t pass that joke up. No matter what you are trying to achieve practice goes a long way. Many readers start by doing daily sessions with their cards, some still do.
• Make Sure You Have the Right Cards– There are thousands of tarot and oracle decks in existence today, will more being created every day. There are decks based on Pulp Fiction, Fairies, Dragons, and Goddesses. You can find your way with cards inspired by Victorians, Steampunks, Masons, and a whole host of others.
• Make Sure You Have the Right Spread– Tarot spreads can be very open or very rigid. There are three card spreads to represent the past, present, and future. There are spreads that incorporate the entire deck and are designed to tell the story of an individuals whole life.
• Scry or Die– All forms of divination, tarot included, involve opening one’s mind up to new ways of seeing. Most people are used to practicing the art of scrying with a mirror or a crystal ball. These same techniques used with these methods can be utilized with tarot cards. Obviously there is the image one sees on the card, but tarot challenges your mind to think beyond the four edges of the card.
• Sleep with your Deck– In many different spiritual tradition the psychic energy of places and things is very important. Sleeping with your tarot cards under your pillow allows you and the cards to access your subconscious power. That way there will be an energy exchange between you.
• Only You Know– Ultimately, you are the only person who can attempt to be objective about what you are seeing in the cards. Sometimes you may notice a tendency towards wishful thinking or paranoia. That may be when you need to take a break.

This list of recommendations is only just a beginning, Tarot provides a whole world of possibilities. More information about learning the tarot can be found in our Divination Space Station series. If you are interested in getting a Tarot reading email me at [email protected]

What are your recommendations for learning and trusting your own readings? Please post them in the comments below! If you enjoyed what you have read here please help me out and share, tweet, and pin this post!