Originally Published in the Seeker's Journey
Volume 1 · Issue 2 · Oct 03

Reading for Self & Others

Reading for Self – My Practice

My daily card draws have evolved from a onecard draw from when I first began to study the tarot 6 year ago, to a current three card draw that I leave out on my bedroom dresser on a silk reading cloth. This is a location where I can easily see them, as I get ready to start my day and then also to reflect upon before retiring in the evening. The deck I use for this is “the Enchanted Tarot”. It was my very first tarot deck and is my favorite for personal readings as well as this three-card draw.

Sometimes the three cards all play out in the same day and all relate to one event or aspect of my life that day. They often appear to be an unfolding of one energy or theme. Other times, the cards might take a day or two to manifest their particular energies and the cards may each represent a different aspect or event. This is more apt to be the case when life is a bit hectic. Other times the first card drawn comes up as a challenge or problem card and the other two following it suggest a resolution and sometimes a probable outcome. I draw a new set of three cards when I feel that the energies of the cards have dissipated so the set might be left out for one to several days. There have been many times when card three in the sequence will return as card one in the very next three-card draw. This indicates to me that a particular energy is still hanging around and having some influence in my life and basically “it’ s not through with me yet!”

For more formal and topic specific readings I like to use the Morgan Greer, Robin Wood, or Osho Zen deck. A favorite place to do readings is at my kitchen table. The kitchen feels warm and often appears to be the heart of the house; a perfect place for the energies of a Tarot reading to be welcomed. Occasionally I will do a reading on my bed in the evening just before going to sleep because that is where I am at the moment and it feels comfortable and right. But I always put the cards on a reading cloth where ever I am.

Favorite Spreads:

The Problem Solver: When I have a particular small “now” problem that I’ d like insight into, I do a very simple three-card spread. Draw three cards at random and lay them out in a row left to right.

• Card 1 represents the problem or the energy that is fueling the problem.
• Card 2 represents the way through the problem.
• Card 3 represents the probable outcome.

There are several situations when this reading is appropriate. Some of them are:

1. When you feel like “something” is amiss in a situation, but you can’ t put your finger on it.
2. You think you know what the problem is but it is something else entirely.
3. It can confirm for you what the problem area is when you already had some idea to begin with.

The Choice Spread: I use this spread when I must make a decision between choices, options or paths. This reading reveals the negative effects or challenges, the positives, and the probable outcome. For each choice, option, or path, three cards are drawn.

• Card 1- The negative effects or challenges of this option.
• Card 2 - The positives of this option.
• Card 3 - The probable outcome.

My 10 Card Celtic Cross can be seen at this link. It is actually a work sheet that you can print out for your own use: (*Link is no longer valid*)

Open Reading: I lay out three cards in a row and then begin the reading based on those three cards. If the Querent (or myself as the Seeker) feels satisfied with what those cards reveal in regards to their question or concern and need for insight, the reading concludes. If the Querent needs more information, or something “deeper” I lay out another row of three cards. I will go yet another row of three if the Querent feels the need, which makes the spread a 3 x 3 card-spread totaling 9 cards. If the spread goes this far then the matter is something quite complex and significant and “runs deep” meaning the Querent is engaged in a life lesson important for the soul.

My Tarot Philosophy:

I view the tarot as one way among many, and when used properly, a very effective tool for self and other awareness. When tarot readings are incorporated with other forms of information and insight gathering, one can feel a healthy sense of completeness and peace with each reading given.

I don’t ask the Tarot yes or no questions as I feel that this limits what the Tarot has to offer and what I really need to know. I also stay away from asking time specifics of the Tarot. It is my belief that it is the ego that needs to know black and white, yes or no, and the exact moment in which something may occur. The secure and wise self knows that these things are not important and that there is much more to be aware of that resides between yes and no and time specifics.

I also do not view the cards upside down, commonly known as reversals. If one happens to turn up in a reading that way, I turn it upright. As an artist, I do not feel comfortable viewing a work of art upside down, and each Tarot card seems like a small masterpiece to me. (Seeing an upside down card makes me want to stand on my head!) My feeling is that there is an infinite variety of meaning in the cards in the upright positions and I have found that when a challenge or difficulty arises in a card, I am able to intuitively sense it and read the card as such.

For instance, the Sun known for its illuminating energies, can also cause sun burn, or one can “wear rose colored glasses” viewing a situation with out seeing its darker and harmful effects. In reading the cards I can sense the full spectrum of meaning in each, from its most negative and shadowy energies to its most positive and bright and in a reading, a point in that spectrum speaks out and is read.

I do feel it is important then to know the challenge in each tarot card, even those cards that appear positive. In cards that appear most negative, one must recognize the value in life challenges, which encourage growth, resilience, and strength. This would be the finding of a golden treasure in the dark and frightening places of experiences. Most people find that the facing of fears and overcoming of challenges to have much value in the end.

There are now many good books currently available that deal with tarot reversals, which any reader can learn something beneficial from whether or not they view some cards upside down (as in reversals) or not.

Reading for Others:

(Note: I refer to the person I am reading for using both terms Querent and Seeker interchangeably.) I am very flexible and relaxed when it comes to reading for others. I feel out the Querent to decide what deck and spread would be most appropriate and I briefly go over my code of ethics before I read for someone that I have not read for before. I also tell them that the Death card represents “transition” or “ending” and may not specifically represent the physical death of a person.

I also tell them that they don’ t have to tell me what their question or concern is and that they can keep it to themselves if they like. I find that many Querents do not feel completely comfortable open up at first and like this option of keeping a concern that is deep and sensitive to them selves. Other times they want a reading to focus on a certain aspect of their life such as work or family and will state the focus. My feeling is that the cards are going to reveal the deep things in some way in any event, so there is really no need for me to know all the details up front.

I invite the Querent to actively participate in the reading by speaking about any card that catches their attention I position myself and the cards so we can both easily view them. I am able to slip into “that quiet space” with out the extras of candles, incense, or music but I do like it quiet in the room with out TV or loud noises. The simple act of shuffling and touching the cards and then seeing the images quiets, clears, and centers me.

I shuffle the deck first to charge them for a new reading and then I give the deck to the Querent who then shuffles the deck and selects cards for the reading. I tell them they may fan the cards face down in front of them to select them that way or just draw them off the top of the stack, which ever they feel like.

When reading for others I have noted that I feel lightly tingly, energized and focused. It feels like starting out a small adventure, a guided walking with the seeker. I begin each reading knowing that what the cards present will not be sugar coated and that the Querent will absorb only what they can know at the time.

I lay all the cards out in spread positions face up so we can see them all at once. (This procedure applies to readings other than the open reading, which is described previously in this article.) There is usually several minutes of quiet while we look the cards over and then I begin the reading. Sometime during or at the end of the reading the Querent will often comment on a particular card or two that catches and holds their attention through out the reading. This is very telling and lets me know where the real importance for them lies that may even be different than the stated focus of the reading.

With difficult and challenging cards I have learned to use language that invites the Querent to make their own value judgments in terms of positive or negative, about a situation, aspect, or energy. For instance, the Three of Swords, which traditionally represents betrayal, I would say, “There is some emotionally difficulty here, manifesting as feelings of deep hurt.” I do this with out initially pointing out who or what is the cause of this emotional pain or what the nature of the pain is, because the Querent will often voice it first if I allow the space for them to do so. This keeps the Querent from being put on the defensive and therefore blocking off what the tarot has to say to them.

When all the cards have been reviewed I go over the big picture of the reading, noting suit presence and picking out card pairs and patterns. We briefly review the strong points of the reading and the problem areas that need tweaking and work. I end each reading by reinforcing the positive guidance the reading offers. When the reading concludes I collect the cards and make sure all of them are upright and I shuffle the deck myself to clear them of the reading energies.

I get the most satisfaction from Tarot when I am teaching others to read for themselves. When I do a reading for someone and they show a keen interest and natural intuitive ability with the cards, I will follow this through and encourage them to learn to read for themselves.

The Tarot for me feels like “a waking dream”. Working with these symbols makes one pay attention to the colorful details, events, and arrangements of life and to realize that even we, as we are, each and every one of us, is a symbol in the dream of the universe.

Kiara Duquette
© 2003

About the Author:
Kiara Duquette is a Tarot enthusiast and instructor currently teaching a Tarot for Beginners course at the Netscape Learning Center. She is a life long learner with a love for exploring through mindful and loving participation, observance, art, and the written word. She is self-taught with special interests in psychology, symbolism, and spirituality. Kiara happily resides in Vermont with her husband where she enjoys gardening, guitar playing, skiing, yoga, art, reading, writing, and web design, and is employed as an administrative assistant in special education.