The Question
Whether you are visiting a psychic intuitive reader or pulling out a deck to do a reading for yourself, it does help to spend a few moments considering your question - not your shopping list of questions. What is the most important thing you need to know right now? What do you need to know to navigate your way through this day? How can you avoid going in the wrong direction or putting your foot in your mouth? Or how can you impress your clients today?
It's important to remember that the cards are a medium to convey messages from Spirit. What does that mean exactly? It means they are a concrete tool to help you listen, see and understand. They are a way to connect to universal consciousness, your subconscious and all the energy we are generally unaware of. The cards themselves have no power or consciousness; they are simply a medium. As you shuffle thinking of your question or clarifying it aloud, you are being heard.
Sometimes a card will fly out of the deck. If it does, lay it to the side. Continue shuffling and choose a card. The first card always contains the bulk of the message. You may choose to draw a clarifying card or lay a full spread but regardless, that first card is what you need to focus on. You can look at the "jumper card" and see how it modifies or confirms that first card.
Moving Beyond Yes | No Questions
Personally, I believe yes|no questions are lazy. You likely are tired or frustrated if you are asking yes|no questions. I encourage you to move beyond the type of question that takes away your power. The cards can help you take action, see what you've been missing or avoiding or sometimes just kick you in the pants. If you are able to reword your question, the cards become a form of empowerment. Let's look at an example:
You: Is my relationship with Johnny going to go anywhere?
As a reader, this question says to me that if you don't know the answer to this question, you probably shouldn't be in the relationship but my job is to help you navigate this situation so my first question to you is:
Me: Do you want this relationship to go anywhere?
You: Yes, I think so.
Me: Okay, let's reword your question so it's actually helpful. If you are asking this question, there is probably something that needs working out in the relationship. How about "What do I need to know about Johnny or Johnny's intentions towards me or the relationship?" or "What do I need to do to know about this relationship for my highest good?" or "What do I need to do to move beyond this point?"
You: Oh, I just kinda thought you were going to tell me what to do.
Me: Ha. That's not how this works. What do you really want to know?
You: Okay, "Help me to understand what is going wrong in this relationship?"
Me: Great question! Okay, now give the cards a shuffle while you are asking this question.
Layout :
Card 1: Place this card in the centre of the table. This is the situation, the main point and the card you need to focus on.
Card 2: Place this card to the left or below the main card. This is likely the root or the thing you you've been avoiding.
Card 3: Place this card to the right of the main card. This is what you need to do or the thing you need to know to move forward.
You can vary how you interpret each of these cards but it is really quite simple. Card 1 is the main point. Card 2 gives you a bit more information. Card 3 moves you forward.
Oracle Cards or Tarot Cards?
For a quick reading, either will work. If you are only pulling one card, I would suggest an oracle deck. However, there are some tarot decks that function very well as oracle decks. Usually they have less traditional images, are more about the art or there are keywords in addition to the card titles. This really is a personal preference. If you are working with a new deck, keep the reading to two or three cards until you feel more comfortable working with it.
Quick Demo Reading #1 (See the image at top | The Earthbound Oracle)
"How can I best serve the client (and his family) who I am about to do a distance reiki session for?"
(Distance reiki can be done for a client anywhere in the world as long as s/he is resting and I have a bit of information about her. It is done much like an in-person reiki session and requires the same amount of focus on my part.)
Card #1 Illuminate: Trust the messages that you are receiving and allow them to flow. Card #2 Voice: The session is for a fellow reiki master's husband who is in hospital with multiple chronic issues. As she is overwhelmed as a concerned wife, mother of two children and her own clients to reschedule and treat, it is my job to help her regain focus and to see what she may not be seeing at this time. The ability to articulate what needs to be said with both compassion and honesty is a gift. I need to trust that the messages I receive are in the clients' highest interest and that sharing will be best received by a phone call. My voice may contain more than just the words.
Card #3 Release: Do your work, hand it over to Spirit and trust that all is as it should be.
Quick Demo Reading #2 (Image above | Anna K Tarot)
"What do I (Sadhana) need to know about making my upcoming oracle card workshop more meaningful to beginners?"
Card #1 II High Priestess: Trust your inner wisdom and know that the students who attend your workshop are there because they have something to learn from you, from your experience as a lightworker, medium and intuitive. Sadhana, you are the High Priestess and she is you.
Card #2 V High Priest: Your experience as a teacher makes this workshop accessible. Trust that you have this.
It is so interesting that I pulled both these cards. For those of you who don't know me well, I have always been a teacher of one kind or another: public school teacher, Sunday school teacher, volleyball coach, business coach, yoga instructor, overseas ESL teacher and most recently teacher of metaphysical subjects.
Card #3 King of Pentacles: This father figure is warm, kind and connected. Take care of your students as you would your own family. Your students see you as an authority figure so be careful not to overstep this. Note that you pulled the King, not the Queen. Make sure that your presentation is in balance. The other aspect of this card relates to the success of your workshops, that attendance will be excellent and you will benefit financially.
These two demo readings give you a brief sample of my quick question readings. Even in doing a reading for myself, the message comes through in the second person. Whether I am doing your reading in person, email or FaceTime, the words generally flow through me not from me.
For more details about this reading or your own personal reading, please use my contact form or leave a comment below.
As a sidenote, I have found that many clients come to readings during challenging times and would benefit immensely from some pre-reading reflection. In going through the "readings menu" on my Etsy Shop @SadhanasHealingRoom, I hope that you will be able to refine your question or concern so that you will get the best reading possible. Please also know that the menu is meant to inspire and help create a spread just for you and your unique situation if necessary. Sometimes the art on a particular deck resonates more than another, so let me know about that as well.
Namaste and stay well, Sadhana
Integrative Healing with Sadhana offers instruction and guidance as a full healing package or you can choose individual practices such as Yoga, Meditation, Reiki, Space Clearing or Intuitive Readings in Gibsons BC. Either way, you will be met exactly where you are at and together, we will adapt practices to fit your individual needs improving your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being.