Animal Decks and the Professional

Obsydian

If you are seeking a reader for yourself and see that they use primarily animal and cat decks, does that turn you off of them? Do you take them seriously?

These decks are my bread and butter, but I wonder if I'm chasing off potential clients.

Any other professional readers here swear by animal decks?
 

Zephyros

I'm not a professional reader, but I do see your point. If you read for other Tarot readers then they know better than to judge a person on their decks because, well, we know better. However, the public at large is a different story, and I think someone who charges money has to make a few compromises along the way. Maybe, one day, when you're a famous reader and charge thousands of dollars an hour, then you can use any decks you want.

But here the real question is what serves to bring in more money, since that's the point. Service first, always. You could offer an assortment of decks, and include one RWS since that's what people usually most connect to Tarot and they might feel more comfortable with it, instead of a deck (animal or otherwise) that they don't know.
 

Rhiamon

Every reading I've ever had, and there have been many....the reader has chosen their own deck, and I have always been intrigued by their choice, never turned off....I've always felt the cards were part of the magic of the reading, ya know?
 

Thoughtful

In the past when l have received readings it has not mattered a jot what tarot they use. What does matter is the strength and accuracy of their reading. l have the Pagan cats tarot and have used it with any number of people on a professional level with good results. If you are drawn to working with the animal cards stay with it, there are not many people who are averse to animals. And no, l do not see that you would be chasing people off, having a good personal relationship with any deck is vital to your own harmony when reading for others.
My hubby is a professional reader and always uses his Medicine Animal cards, people like to see the different animals. The fact that these cards talk to him in a way that is quite profound and accurate, soon has the client more interested in what he is saying. It's the reader that counts not the cards you use, that's how l see it.
 

Dogs&Coffee

Honestly, that would depend on the sitter? I remember getting super excited when I would get a reading and the reader would have an animal deck. I was also kind of turned off by readers that used super gothy 90s vampire style decks (I found them kind of cheesy). Ultimately though, now that I have a more intimate knowledge of tarot, I no longer judge. If it works, it works.

The business professional / retailer / marketer in me says non-traditional decks aren't bad, but do be selective about what you use, i.e. maybe don't use the Happy Tarot for someone mourning a loss, or a gory goth deck for someone wearing all vineyard vines.

Animal decks shouldn't turn many people off, though there are some that are probably more suited to professional readings than others (more polished look / images / cardstock).

All of the above aside, whatever you use, accuracy and readability trumps all advice you receive here. The querent might get snooty over a deck they don't like, but will change their tune if you blow them out of the water with a truth bomb :D
 

Carojulie

I had never thought of that issue, but now that you explain it like this, I see your point.

My thought on that is maybe "some" querents might get put off, but this will be a small minority.
Most people who come for professional readings do know at least a little bit about tarot... and I expect they will also be openminded.

I know a very succesful professional reader whose deck of choice is the Wild Unknown wich is a great animal deck, and apparently nobody ever batted an eye, so I suppose that would apply to your clients also.

As has been said earlier, the real point is which deck will make you sparkle as a reader, will ignit your intuition... then your querents will be satisfied, no matter what.

Myself, I have had readings with many different decks and it has never mattered to me, so long as it enables the reader to start seeing things..... the only time I have been (slightly) disapointed is when a reader used their RWS, because I felt it is not the most exotic of decks.... but that is just me.

When I offer readings I like to offer a selection of decks. Not my whole collection (that would consume too much time) but a selection of five or six decks. I name whatever few decks from my stach I am attracted to at the moment, and the querent choses. It's part of the reading, which deck they choose, because such card will have a more "sensual" or more "eemotional" etc... side if taken from deck A rather that deck B.

Maybe you could offer a selection with several animal decks and one traditional deck, and see which one is getting chosen the most ?
 

barefootlife

Honestly, I would rather see a pro reader who used an unusual deck than someone pulling out a standard RWS, but that's because I personally find the RWS stiff and limited (what can I say, I'm a jerk). What matters in the end is a good reading, though. I'd use what you love, but maybe carry a more 'traditional' deck that still reads well in case someone gets snitty.
 

Obsydian

Thank you everyone! There are a ton of valid points in here and I can safely say that I feel a bit more comfortable pulling out my cutesy cats or my more serious wild unknown in the professional scene. I was never sure it was a problem, I had just been hearing mixed things online and I love having other feedback.
 

6655321

To be clear I am neither a professional nor do I visit professional readers. This isn't to say I frown on such things (because I don't)

Personally, I think it's largely a matter of where the reader / quarrent is coming from in regards to their paradigms. In my opinion a “good” professional should probably be familiar with / make available at least a small selection of decks which the quarrent can choose from. The quarrent, on the other hand should do a little bit of research regarding where the reader is coming from philosophically to make sure that the reading is grounded in / justified by their own paradigm. For example; if the quarrent is a neo-pagan then going to a reader who is also neo-pagan makes sense, but if you're not, then you might get turned off by prayers to the goddess. If you're a strong believer in ESP then you might be inclined to visit someone who claims to have psychic powers, if not, then this reader may seem like a con-man to you (and maybe they are). There are numerous reasons that people have for getting their cards read, just as there are many approaches to the tarot. I don't think any of theses reasons or approaches are “wrong” except in cases of dishonesty; if the reader isn't sincere in their beliefs regarding their approach to the tarot or the quarrent isn't realistic in their expectations of the tarot (for example: if the reader expects a clear report on the specifics of the future or lies about their situation, expecting the reader to “know” this with their psychic powers… unless the reader suggests that they can somehow do this). More than any specific deck (though I think the quarrent should still ideally, have a selection to choose from), I think it's important that the ideas of the quarrent and reader should line up, if they do then everything should be fine.
 

nisaba

If you are seeking a reader for yourself and see that they use primarily animal and cat decks, does that turn you off of them? Do you take them seriously?

These decks are my bread and butter, but I wonder if I'm chasing off potential clients.

Any other professional readers here swear by animal decks?

I use animal decks. I use science decks. I use art-themed decks. I use Australian decks. I use music decks. I use gilded decks. I even use pornographic decks, but only with clients who are not total strangers and know that I'm a collector.

If a deck works, use it. The only decks that world prevent me sitting down at a reader's table and that I would be too ashamed to display would be:

pink decks
manga decks
Doreen Virtue decks.

to me, it is those things that make a reader look a bit useless, rightly or wrongly. Animal decks? I have many of them and use them all, and no client has ever flinched.