Being seen fully in a tarot reading…
We come to a tarot reading hoping to be seen. For our innate talents to be recognised. We come because we are looking for direction and we hope the cards will give us guidance and encouragement. We hope the tarot session will help us gain perspective on where we are and where we are going. We want the reader to recognise us.
Today I decided to pull a card thinking about what to write for my first tarot newsletter since January!
What did I want to say ? Besides come and have a tarot reading with me, what I really want to say is learn to read tarot for yourself. I have a whole section on my website that has been there since last year and I’ve done nothing about it.
So my letter would say
1. Thank you for having readings with me. I hope they were useful and please comes again.
2. More importantly, give yourself your own pack of pack of tarot cards this Christmas.
3. And learn to read tarot for yourself.
4 Because over the years my Tarot cards have become my spiritual guide best friend and confidant all wrapped up into one.
5. It is brilliant as a self care, self recognition practice.
As I was thinking about all of this, it crossed my mind perhaps I should offer classes, but nowadays no one needs to go to class, we’ve got AI. And certainly AI will tell you the meaning of every card and does a very good job at it, after all it is gathering all the information out there in the ether, everything that’s been written about one card and defining the meaning for us.
So how does the 6 of wands relate to the message of possible newsletter?
A moment of triumph and success….
I always think of the 6 of wands as a moment of feeling really seen, properly recognised for who we are, for our genuine talents. There’s also an element of triumph and success because we have succeeded and gained recognition for who we are. A card also of respect, for ourselves and from others.
When I am reading tarot for someone else I go, wow look at how talented you are, and bravo for bringing your talents out into the open, I bet others recognise you and respect what you bring to the table. And they always smile in acknowledgement.
I remember my teacher, Annabelle, used to say, think of the 6 of wands a graduation ceremony, you’ve finally got your degree and everyone is acknowledging you and clapping as you collect it. Bravo, your peers see and acknowledge you. A moment of triumph, of success.
Is this what we long for in a tarot reading, for our special talents to receive recognition and to be ‘seen’. And how does having a tarot reading with AI compare to having a reading with me? Very good question as I had a reading by AI and I was impressed, it was very close in meaning to one I had given by a tarot colleague (see blog) and yes it gave me a feeling of being recognised and was very positive indeed.
Which was great. But after a month I can’t remember much/anything about it except that it was positive…
One thing occurs. In terms of the difference between having a tarot reading by AI as opposed to a real person, there is the witnessing aspect of being seen and recognised by another human being that I think we all long for. To belong. To be received. Hence the power of other humans being a witness to ourselves and our lives. As there is a power in the conversation between two people that occurs in an in person tarot reading.
Certainly I know in a conversation with a young client this week about her loss of ‘purpose’….she so young and feeling the need for a grand and definitive one was disempowered and despondent and and so I told her mine was so simple, just to be able to space for possibility for myself, the world and others. We were able to discuss, her purpose of just trying to make each day a bit happier, by smiling hello to friends, and strangers on the street. The conversation opened up a space of hope and possibility for her.
By holding space I mean, holding an energy field that is free from judgement, assumption, certainty, so that I may bring an unbiased kind of open welcome and ‘be’ with people in that moment. When I am reading tarot I am conscious of holding space for them to be themselves, be seen and recognised….I think we all desire to feel welcomed just the way we are.
The six of wands talks of this. The illustration on this card, of a young man riding in a crowd of people all cheering him inspires. We all need a bit of that.
It is something I can do in a reading. And truthful by just reading the cards.
I’m not sure Instagram is the healthy way, nurturing way, to go.
To be fair AI is unbiased, and I felt very seen and recognised. But it didn’t stay with me.
Perhaps the difference is being able to give voice to our thoughts and response, so often I don’t know what I think until I think it out…or write it out. Like here. Perhaps we’re all going to rely on journaling?
Perhaps that’s why my focus as a tarot reader is to discuss with my client the best way to activate the potential in the cards. So that they feel inspired, the action feels right to them. The tarot is the first to speak of cause and effect. We need to take action. And so often you might hear what a reader says and walk away without any practical guidance about how to activate the reading.
That’s my argument for having a tarot reading with me !
Of course the 6 of wands might just be saying write the newsletter so that people recognise what you offer and how good you are?! ha ha.
Do come and have a reading with in Battersea or online. it would be my pleasure.