Last week, I shared a Tarot reading from Jennifer. She had done a Celtic Cross reading, asking the Tarot about a relationship that recently ended. Sadly, her partner just wanted to be friends, leaving her heartbroken and upset.
As I started to interpret her Tarot reading, I made the assumption that she wanted to know if she would get back with her ex.
But I made a fatal error!
I assumed I understood the question.
As it transpired, what Jennifer actually wanted to know was, “What will happen with the relationship?” and not “Will I get back with my ex?”
And so my interpretation of her Tarot reading was slightly off-target compared to what she really wanted to know.
I learned a valuable lesson last week. Always make sure you understand and answer your client’s question. And never assume.
Clarify the Question
For most Tarot readings, your client will come to you with a specific problem or an issue that is top of mind.
Some clients will know exactly what question they want answered. Some want general insight into the situation. And some ‘just want to see what comes up’.
Before you start the Tarot reading, you need to know what your client is asking. What is their burning question? What is the one thing they want to know when they walk away from this reading?
If your client doesn’t have a specific question, then delve deeper and ask them about the situation and what they really want to know.
If your client does have a specific question, make sure you know what it is. Repeat it back to the client and confirm your understanding.
If it is a question that you do not feel comfortable answering or that you do not fully understand, then consider rephrasing the question to something you can answer.
Answer the Question
There are two ways to ensure the client’s question is answered.
1. Design the Tarot spread to answer the question. Use different positions to look at the client’s situation and/or question from various angles. This is a helpful alternative to rephrasing the original question.
2. End your Tarot reading with a specific answer to the client’s original question. If the question is, “What will happen with the relationship?” then tell your client what will happen with the relationship.
Never Assume
Even though, as Tarot readers, we are highly intuitive, you should never assume you know what your client is asking.
That’s where I made my mistake with Jennifer’s reading. I assumed that because she was asking about a recently ended relationship, she would want to know if they were to reconcile. But I was wrong.
In hindsight, as soon as I realised I was making an assumption about her question, I should have clarified my understanding with Jennifer. That way, I could have avoided interpreting her cards from a different angle to what she was looking for.
Lesson Learned
The reason I share this with you is not to make myself look bad! I want to share it with you because it was a ‘schoolboy error’ that I made, even with 15 years’ experience, and I don’t want you to make the same mistake.
So, now you know. Clarify the question. Answer the question. And never assume.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree with your assessment of clarifying the question, but mistakes–other’s and our own– are how we learn and grow. I think it’s helpful to remember that such mistakes are not “fatal.” We acknowledge our error, learn from it and keep reading. Yes?
Thank-you Kay and Robert
I must admit, “fatal” error is a little dramatic. However, I do hate it when I make such obvious mistakes!
Robert, my thoughts and positive energy are with you and your friends in the Prayer Circle.
Good Day My Friend,
My heart sings. Oh how we feel when we think that perhaps answers to our clients aren’t clear enough or don’t adhere to the situation. I for one appreciate your honesty, and the fact that you are able to warn readers to avoid such pitfalls. Thanks. My Prayer Circle has two concerns today. We have a premature baby that lost oxygen on delivcery. As of this mail she is alive. The prognosis for damage to her brain is not good.
I have a God Child who has cancer behind one eye causing blindness. Their attempt at centering her wandering pupil will be preformed today. The cancer is fairly controlled at this point. Thank you for you energy and power of thought.
Namaste,
Robert
The questions asked by people are varied.I think as a Tarot reader one can always reframe the question and tell the client accordingly.This would broaden their perspective and help them look things in a differnet way.Also question arises wether we should be reframing the tarot layouts and the corresponding meaning of the cards,or desgin a new spread altogether to answer the needs of client ? Or just try to “fit in” the quesion in the spread ? These r subtle issues which need clarification.Look forward to your comments.
Thanks.
Thanks Aasheesh. It is the great debate, really – to rephrase or not to rephrase! Thyrsse of Tarot Moon wrote an excellent article on this topic – http://www.tarotmoon.com/articles/To_Rephrase_or_Not_To/to_rephrase_or_not_to.html. I rarely rephrase questions in my professional readings, mostly out of respect to the client. It’s really only when I have an ethical issue with the question being asked that I will suggest we rephrase the question.
Hi,
Saying with kindness and respect, you have been honest and stepped up to the plate, but, I do think you weren’t off base. The issue is with the way the question is phrased. It can be read as an implication that she was asking or hoping that a reader would see if there were any “ifs” or possibilities. Were it over in her mind, she would not be asking or using the word relationship as to what would happen to the relationship. A breakup usually means that – a relationship is over. If the asker wanted to know if the relationship as being over would develop into a friendship (as indicated as a possibility in the reading) that would be clearer for a reader.
The lesson is twofold – for anyone asking to give considerable thought as to what you really need to know and not so much as to opening a speculative discussion. For the reader, when you don’t have face-to-face, this situation can occur because often intuition senses more than the words spoken or written.
My Tarot Club, you do wonderful work – keep on keepin on!
As always, My Tarot Club, thank you for sharing. You are a wonderful teacher, and inspire us to strive to be our best. However, that is all we can do – beating ourselves up is self defeating. Let us learn and grow!