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Originally posted by seaside sky
I've read cards since I was a teenager (and I'm quite good at it if I do say so myself ). Like you, I have considered doing it professionally, and I've asked myself those same questions.
I use a sort of modified Celtic Cross spread and a three card yes/no. I usually do a series of spreads in a single reading, as a sort of dialogue develops. As you know, sometimes you "get on a roll" and everything falls into place is a spooky way, and other times the magic just isn't there.
I always start with the cold spread- I don't want to know what they're asking about at first. I ask them to shuffle the cards quietly while thinking about the situation they're most interested in, and to try to focus their thoughts slightly into the future- up to six months- and sort of "look back." For example, project your thoughts ahead to this coming autumn, get the feel of that time of year, all the while imagining yourself thinking back to today and all that's happened in between. Then, when the cards are laid out, I (hopefully!) get a sense of what sort of question they're asking, and I'll give a general interpretation of that. Then they ask questions, and I do another spread to get more information. Very soon we'll be talking about the question directly. It's not uncommon for me to do a dozen spreads in less than an hour.
I'd suggest charging by the hour. I've been to psychics (one very good, most not, but still pleasant to chat with). The going rate seems to be about $100/hr, $50 for half hour.
Does payment spoil the aura? I don't know. My guess is that it depends on your feelings about money and the value of what you're doing. Even if the elusive magic fails you, your service is still valuable because you are helping someone gain some insight, even if it's just by offering some alternative views and symbols to consider. That's how I felt about some of the psychics I met who weren't able to "see" things very well- it at very least gave me a new perspective. By complaining to myself afterwards about all the things they were wrong about, I got myself a little closer to my own understanding of what was right. So I didn't resent paying them. And they were nice people- so I think if you're a nice person to chat with then you're worthwhile, even if the magic fails you now and then.
Why don't you read reverses? I'm assuming you're reading standard playing cards rather than the tarot decks, which of course is fine- some readers prefer standard decks. Over the years I've found my own way of interpreting things and made notes on a sort of crib sheet.
Originally posted by seaside sky
Oh- and a good reason for doing the first spread "cold" is that sometimes the question the cards want to answer is not the one they think the person thinks they're asking about ! So if you start off with a preconceived notion about the subject, you could end up struggling to force an interpretation to that, and getting it all wrong, when actually the right interpretation is for an entirely different subject.
Originally posted by Cuervo
reply to post by NorEaster
- Learn different spreads. If you have been doing Celtic Cross for 40 years then learning a few more will be cake for you. There are past life spreads, relationship spreads, and spreads for contacting the departed. There are, of course others, but those are the four that I always use and can't imagine too many customers needing more than that.
All in all, I'd say go for it. If you really have 40 years experience, you would be silly not to do it. Experience with Tarot is key and it seems to me that people seeking guidance would be lucky to have somebody of your caliber.
Good luck and keep us posted, man!
Originally posted by Shoonra
My question to professional tarot readers (and other professional fortunetellers):
What were you doing on September tenth??
Originally posted by Shoonra
My question to professional tarot readers (and other professional fortunetellers):
What were you doing on September tenth??
Originally posted by NorEaster
I know a pretty good relationship spread but it requires that I do a Chaldean Numberscope on both people so that I can use their Essence Numbers (the specific Tarot cards that represent those numbers) as Significators for each person. Takes some prep work.
I am very interested in that contacting the departed spread. That could be pretty cool. Can you post it or U2U it to me?
Originally posted by Cuervo
Originally posted by NorEaster
I know a pretty good relationship spread but it requires that I do a Chaldean Numberscope on both people so that I can use their Essence Numbers (the specific Tarot cards that represent those numbers) as Significators for each person. Takes some prep work.
I am very interested in that contacting the departed spread. That could be pretty cool. Can you post it or U2U it to me?
I feel like an ass for overlooking your reply. Anyway, as far as the spread for contacting the departed, I got mine from a workshop. I can't find a link for the exact same one but I can tell you that it was actually very similar to a relationship spread. It's not in my Tarot journal but if I come across it, I'll U2U it to you.
I'm sure if you think about it, you'll realize that there is very little difference between what a relationship spread does and what you would want from contacting folks who aren't around anymore. Relationships are relationships and some people like to stay in touch, you know?
I do remember the one I was using was meant for first contact in contrast to ongoing dialog. For example, the biggest resolution points were discovering what the deceased valued most and learned from as a result of your relationship with that person. It was more for closure which would be perfect for a one-time session since that's why most people want that sort of reading.