Each of us, whether offering mantic/insight services to others or doing it for self and friends, has a style. I have a way of looking at life and thinking about it. You have a perspective on what makes life tick. We’re both right. How we interact with the world and with the tarot is just as individual. Teachers and mentors can guide us, but ultimately, our tarot sessions (or astrology consultations, or rune readings, or therapy sessions, or dreamwork explorations) take on the flavour of our personalities. What works for one practitioner isn’t the next one’s cup of tea, and vice-versa. I’ve found that there are five basic sections to a consultation and that it helps to know what you do in each. Your readings will be cleaner and clearer and your readees/clients will appreciate the natural flow. Here are five things to reflect on, journal about, or have conversations about with colleagues:
- BEFORE THE CONSULTATION. How do you set up the space? How do you centre or otherwise prepare yourself? What needs to be in place before the readee comes into your room or calls you? Props? Plain? What do you wear?
- AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONSULTATION. What welcomes the readee? How do you begin? What ritual or practice, if any, delineates the start of a session? Once the person is in your space or on the ‘phone with you, what tells both of you and the universe at large that “it’s tarot time”?
- THE BODY OF THE CONSULTATION. Is this free-flowing? very structured? a combination of both? Do you lay out the cards one at a time and talk about each? Do you like the entire layout in front of you from the start? Whole picture or card by card? a combination of both? How much interaction occurs between you and the readee? How do you and/or the readee synthesise the story of the session?
- AT THE END OF THE CONSULTATION. How do you wrap up the consultation? What tells you, the readee, and the universe at large that “tarot time is done”? What ritual or practice, if any, delineates the completion of the reading?
- AFTER THE CONSULTATION. How do you unwind, ground, or centre yourself after the person leaves or hangs up? What happens to the space once the session is over the the readee is no longer with you? What reminds you to return to everyday life once the interaction is done?
Please share with us. We can all learn from one another. Thanks in advance!
Excellent topic, James! We could each write a book on our process. For me, preparation (Step 1) is key. I can’t do right by my client if I’m not prepared (on every level) to be there and to read. I have a short ritual of stretching and breathing, since it’s far too easy to go “out of body” when doing this type of work.
And I do believe in creating the right physical environment – good light (not too dark, not too bright), comfortable chairs, refreshing beverages, and fragrance. I generally use herbal sprays, since so many people have issues with smoke, that’s easier than incense.
Even if I’m not at my physical best, by taking a few minutes to focus my energy and manifest in creating the physical environment, I find I’m right back on track and ready to read.
I won’t list all my preferences but I must put on mascara as preparation…seriously, even if I’m doing a phone reading. I think it must go back to a past life of putting kohl on as a seer.
I must close the door to my work room while I read….under all circumstances.
I always tel my client to pick the last card which will help close the veils and send her/him back into thier life reenergized.
I find the mascara quite intriguing; I like it. It reminds me of ritual dressing before a ceremony. 🙂
“Mascara” makes me think of “mask”. A ritual donning of a divine persona in preparation for a profound conversation with Wisdom. Lovely.
My own process tends to look more or less like:
1. Make sure glasses or cups are ready for water or tea. Set out three to six decks for clients to choose from. Make sure recording device and pen and paper are on the table. If a ‘phone client, only tea or water for self, the deck of client’s choice (if they have one on their end) or deck of my choice (if they don’t have a deck). I invoke the sources of wisdom who assist me before the person calls or before they show up — it’s not right to impose my personal rituals on other people.
2. Greet with a warm handshake (or hug if a long-time client). Offer tea/water. Ask what they’d like to explore and turn on tape machine. Take notes. Design or choose layout.
3. Groundwork/Overview of layout — number of majors and minors, suit balance, how many upright and reversed, etc. Then card-by-card analysis done as a conversation or dialogue. Then a synopsis — could be in the form of a ‘once upon a time’ story or by asking client what s/he takes away from what s/he has heard and said. Usually do an abbreviated form of Mary Greers’ Breakthrough Process, using a single helpful card, its constructive qualities, and creating actions from those.
4. Turn off tape machine while saying, “That takes us through our time today.” or something like that. Gather up cards and put them back in the deck. Stand up and show client to door. Sometimes brief chit-chat to ground them.
5. After they leave or hang up, I offer a bow of gratitude to the person and to the sources of wisdom who helped us. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve and to earn money doing what I love to do.
This is a great idea to share how each of us does things.
As you might guess, I’m a bit spontaneous and carry at least one deck with me everywhere I go, so if I’m at a friend’s place, or a party, or wherever, I can do a reading. Have cards, will travel! I have them wrapped in a large, black silk cloth which serves to cover any corner or even floor where its quiet to do the reading.
If the reading is at a my home or the client’s, I bring a small singing bowl and ring it when we sit down to cleanse the atmosphere and announce the start of a sacred space. I have water or tea for me and my client and tissues handy for any tears during the reading. I also have a little recorder and send them an email later with a recording of the session. If this is a phone session, I will scan the cards from their reading and email that to them also. I don’t do any special ritual before a reading, but never over-eat or have any alcohol, even at a party. If someone wants a reading and I’ve had some wine, I’ll tell them I can’t do it, and invite them to make an appointment for the next day, if possible.
1. If this is a spontaneous reading, at a party, for instance, like the other night, I tell the person its not free, and the fee for the time. If they have no money, I will still do the reading, but request that they recommend me to at least 5 people. Then I spread the cloth in our little space and start to shuffle the cards. I usually carry the Waite-Smith deck. Oh, I also always carry a little notebook and pen and put it on the table, and while I shuffle, I ask them to write down their birth date and their question and then read it aloud to me. I am an astrologer and know the general transits of the day to their sun. This also gives me an idea of how they may respond to a reading and what sort of communication to use with the person.
2. After shuffling, I place the cards in front of them and ask them to place their hands over the cards and lightly hold their question in mind for as long as they need. While the person does this, I go inside myself, take a couple of deep breaths and clear my mind. I can concentrate very easily. Guess having a regular tarot gig at a heavy metal bar with slasher films in the background helped me hone my focus! Then I cut the cards and lay them all out face up in whatever layout is best. I like to get sort of a big picture “hit” from seeing all the cards at once.
3. I watch for the client’s reaction and ask what cards jump out at them. Then ask why and create a little dialogue, before starting to tell them what the cards are telling me. I always check in and ask for their responses during the reading.
4. At the end of the reading, I always ask – “Do you have any more questions?” Sometimes I feel they need a little something more to end, so will fan the remainder of the deck and tell them that they are to choose a card, and if there is only one thing they get from this reading, this is what they should remember. I then give a brief wrap up from that card, which always works! I also have an extra Waite-Smith deck, and sometimes will give them their last card to keep. Then, as I start to put the cards away, I ask, “Do you feel this reading helped you?” And get their (short) feedback, before stating the time and the amount they owe me.
5. If appropriate, I will hug the person after the reading, as I have stood up from the table (or wherever) to encourage them its over. Then I shuffle the deck and wrap it in its cloth, put it in the bag, and go back to the party…
I love your idea of gently turning off the tape player and clearly marking the end of the session.
I am looking for a digital microphone to record readings so that they can take an electronic copy home.
Before every reading is over, I have them pull 3 cards from either my Power Animal Oracle Cards, to summarize the energy of the reading of what they are bringing in, experiencing now, and pushing toward. I also love to pull some Grace cards or Self Care Cards (Cheryl Richardson) as advice on what they can do to heal their spirit. These cards tend to summarize the reading and tie it up in a neat bow.
Another thing I do at the end…I almost always bring small crystals with me, and I infuse Reiki into them ahead of time (you can Reiki the whole pile of stones at once). I give the person a specific crystal to take home with them that reflects the energy or message of the reading. For example: turquoise for friendship, rose quartz for unconditional love, howlite for forgiveness, aventuring for money issues, citrine for joy, hematite for grounding, an uncracked geode they can crack open at home to see the untapped potential they have inside, etc.
I LOVE your bow of gratitude. I am going to add that. Very respectful and dignified.
Great ideas here. Wonderful topic.
Nice ideas for a lovely, memorable, and helpful experience, Donnaleigh. To be frank, I’m getting tired of wondering about how a session will be recorded. The experience itself is the more memorable thing. I’m currently out of town and offered a tarot session today and there was no technology involved. Just the readee, the cards, my notebook, and me. I took a few spare notes which I’ll email to her, but otherwise the process itself will stay with her because I invited her to explore a couple of the cards through movement, then she chose a key card at the end to represent what she’d like to become. I asked her to come up with actions that most felt like that card, one for the next week, another for the next month. These actions will help the consultation come to life more than a recording.
Consultations are usually colored by the person/client and the oracle I am consulting. For some people, formality seems to help them meditate or concentrate on the task at hand while it can intimidate others or make them feel out of place. I try to get a feel for the person before I set up candles, light incense, clear the air, etc. If the readee seems ill at ease with outward rituals, then I tend to do some visualization for myself and generally extend an invitation for them to get the experience they need from the reading. Additionally, the oracle I am using may play a part in what happens. Some decks that I use have a more serious tone to them, and the shuffling and spreads are more rigid in the way the cards are to be treated. I generally abide by the authors recommendations if the deck is heavy and serious. Other decks have certain scarves that they are to be laid on while others tend to go with some charms well.
After the reading, I will ask them if they have additional questions or need clarity on anything. I will also ask them if they feel satisfied. If not, then I see if there is anything I can do about it. With oracles that are associated with certain numbers, I will add up all the numbers of the cards to get a general overview of the theme within the reading. It helps give the readee perspective on what “underlies” or “over-arcs” the question.
If I am sitting I tend to end with Hero or Lotus pose. However, given the readee and circumstances, I may give a head bow, a handshake, a hug or make a ritual gesture to my inhuman allies. Some decks dictate that I put all the cards back in order.