Hello all,
I'm new to the membership of the forum rather than new to the forum itself. I'm a dyslexic lurker, on so many sites that I often forget to post an introduction as i feel I know everyone already. (my feet are already under the coffee table, even if i haven't let myself be noticed yet -so to speak).
Since I've been reading professional, I have charged people. Only a tiny amount, but enough to know it's serious. If they can't afford it, or find it too easy to pay, i take great delight in making challenges, so that they pay with time. On the few times I haven't charged i have come into problems.
The first was a gentleman in a social gathering who said "would you mind reading for me?" Not feeling comfortable charging (first warning) I said yes.
When i read I take about five minutes discussing various aspects and view points ( it's best if this is a two way conversation because your get more out of it, but i'll happily read cold if thats what you prefere. . .the cards are difficult to shuffle but don't worry sometimes it allows for jumpers etc). As soon as I started he began to rush me through this, pushing for me to draw the cards (second warning and my own ritual going out the window).
As soon as the cards were drawn they began to tell me everything we had discussed proir, until we got to the hopes and fears and then "i popped up" My signifior card sat there.
it was then that i realised he asked for the reading so he would have my full attention. he afterwards said that if anything about my skills is true that i would phone him, as "angels don't enter your life and then fly away".
Had he of paid (i doubt he would if i had charged) the reading would have been a lot more accurate and the exchange would have been more benifical, because it would have been taken seriously.
The other person whose a bit of a nightmare is a close friend of mine, who always cooks dinner in exchange for a reading. However in the past half year it's become more of a girlie get together, as a christian she is cautious but as i was "learning" we used to discuss tarot and different theories as to why it works. Owing to the time we've spent, she knows why I don't read for certain people. . . (one of the reasons is that I personnally feel they don't want to hear what I can tell them, and that they'll "shoot the messenger" and all that).
As the readings for her have gone on she has become more relaxed in her attitute towards them, and luckly for me the cards that have been drawn have reflected that, because more recently a serious problem in her life is occurring which she doesn't want to deal with. However because of her relaxed attitute, i do now just read the cards for her eg fool = new beginnings, where as with many other people I do tune into my intutition and can tell them many things which don't come forth so obviously from the cards.
her face was a picture when she joked one night that i wasn't clairvoyant and three people looked at her and said "are you sure?"
I'm still unsure on how to read for her, she abides by all rules so i can't duck out and use the "one reading per six months" line, but I have faith the cards will be more clear if either she is ready to hear, or perhaps if she gives them more faith.
As for skeptics, quite often temperance appears for them. tipping her water at an impossible angle asking them to see things not so scientifically, or to weigh up all options. Usually by pointing out the images on the card and where i can see those things (quite easy in RWS) they become more willing to accept. I love skeptics on the whole, providing they treat it with respect.
"I wouldn't go into a church with drink, spray paint or stamping feet regardless that I'm not Christian, so i ask that people treat tarot with the same attitude. There are many people who believe in it, so wipe your feet, make a cup of tea, take in the atmostphere and stay open minded. . . draw your conclusions when you leave.
Yuko