nisaba said:
Er ... ??
intuition897 said:
This is exactly the response from pros that I was afraid of and it's why I have been concerned about putting anything out there advertising readings. The last thing I want to do is step on any toes here in my community with people thinking, "Who the heck does she think she is anyway?" There is such a thing as paying one's dues and 9 months is not that impressive that way.
OMG. I just re-read this and it all came out sounding WAY harsher than I intended. I guess maybe I should avoid posting too late at night. Makes me sound all cranky.
nisaba said:
I don't think anyone (especially myself or Apollonia) had a "who the heck does she think she is anyway" attitude.
No, you didn't! I guess I was referring to a worst-case scenario with someone in my local area whom I might find myself competing with. Just the same as tattoo artists abhor "scratchers" who bring down the reputation of the tattooing industry with their ineptitude, so too (I'm sure) do Tarot readers abhor the con artists and irresponsible dolts who do not take the art seriously. I can give you a perfect example. One reason that my Mom is so against card reading is that my grandfather - her Dad - once had his "fortune" told. The fortune-teller told him that he would be a rich man someday... !!!??? This is that situation Amanda mentioned where the sitter takes the card-reader's word as law. "That man waited his whole life for his fortune to come! He wasted years waiting for it!" she tells me. Now my reaction to that is that it was irresponsible of the card reader to tell this to a client without explaining that he had the
potential to make a great deal of money or that the situation was ideal for him to move forward in that direction, but that his decision and effort would be required to make it happen. I'd also have to say that this misunderstanding was brought about by superstitious, ignorant beliefs and attitudes toward the Tarot. There's nothing mystical and magical about it! At least not any more mystical/magical than any other good thing in this world. They are pieces of cardboard! They're just a tool that some people use to tap knowledge that they already have within them, to allow them to dial-up to the Akashic record, the Book of Life, the Universal record, the Ether, or whatever you want to call it. I told my Mom that it was Grandpa's own fault that he believed her. I strongly believe that we should each think for ourselves and never take human being's word for anything. We each must determine our own path, and we are each fully responsible for the choices we make and the paths we take.
ann823 said:
I found that somehow doing a reading for someone else was very energizing and seemed to bring the cards to life even more...I really loved it.
I agree with you, Ann, 100%! My reading skills suffer simply because of lack of practice. I enjoy reading for others because it "makes it real". It gives me a different point of reference. I get feedback and can gauge how well/poorly I'm doing. And it would indeed be interesting to read for people who were NOT Tarot enthusiasts themselves. So far I have only done a few (free) readings for non-tarot people and I have not gotten a lot of feedback.
I wonder...
I work at a university. I wonder if it would make sense to maybe put a sign up on one of the many bulletin boards that I'll be in the local cafeteria on certain days during the lunch hour offering free quickie readings. If they asked to pay, I wouldn't accept payment (being at my workplace and all) but would suggest that they make a donation to a local charity instead. Students are very cause-oriented and open-minded...and they like free stuff. This kind of arrangement might appeal to them, and it would appeal to me: it would be so easy to do.