What happens during a Tidal Tarot reading?
If you’ve never had a card reading, sitting down for a Tarot reading can seem intimidating or overwhelming: What do I do? What if I do it “wrong”? What if the cards don’t make sense? What if my reading is bad?
Knowing a bit about how a Tarot reading is done and what the process looks like can make the experience more enjoyable and remove the apprehension. And while all Tarot readers have slightly different ways of reading the cards, below I will outline what you can expect from a Tidal Tarot card reading, and how it “works.”
A general reading or a specific question
To begin, I will ask you whether you would like a general reading or whether there is a specific topic or question you would like to focus on. There are benefits to both general and specific readings, and which will be best for you depends on what you are looking for in your Tarot reading.
A general reading will allow for the cards to pick up on, and draw your attention to the more prominent energies in your life at the time of the reading. A general reading is the Tarot equivalent of a weather forecast; it can give you a good idea about what is going on around you, and lets you know what may be heading your way.
A specific question will focus the cards more directly towards a topic or theme. You may want to ask for an overview of a particular topic, such as relationships, career or living situation, or you may have a very specific question, such as weighing the pros and cons of two options available to you at that time.
While open-ended questions are where the Tarot really shines (by providing a rich and deep exploration of a topic), Tarot can answer “yes or no” questions. Please note that if you are asking a “yes or no” question, that Tarot will not provide a definitive answer, but it can provide some insight into whether the outcome is likely or unlikely.
Shuffling the cards
Once you have indicated what type of reading you would like, it is time to shuffle the cards! Again, different Tarot readers will approach this differently. I have found that the most accurate readings come from when the querent (aka the person having the reading) shuffles the deck themselves – thoroughly!
At Tidal Tarot, I interpret both upright and “reversed” (aka upside-down positioned) cards, and I will ask for you to shuffle the Tarot deck by placing the cards face-down, and spreading and mixing the deck around on the surface of the table. While shuffling the cards, it can be helpful to clear your mind if having a general reading or focus on the topic you are asking about, if having a specific reading.
When you feel you have shuffled the cards “enough,” bring the cards back into a single pile. There are 78 cards in the deck – I know this is a lot, so take your time, relax and don’t feel pressured to rush.
Laying out the reading cards
Depending on your question (or if it is a general reading), I will lay out the cards that you have shuffled in a way that I feel will best answer your query. Each position that the cards are placed in will have a specific meaning (for example, a position may represent the past, or a strength to be harnessed, or a likely outcome). I will read each card in relation to the position it is placed in, as well as reading that card in relation to the other cards drawn, and the topic that you have asked about.
Readings work best when it is a conversational process between myself as the card reader and the individual that I am reading for. You are the person who knows your situation best, so your input in the reading can help me to decode and interpret the messages that cards are communicating to you. One card can have multiple nuanced meanings, so your feedback on what is resonating and what isn’t can really allow the reading to provide you with the most useful information.
My role as a Tarot card reader is not to “prove” that I know everything about you or your situation, and Tarot reading is not a “test” or “trick” whereby I try and conjure an eerily accurate prediction about your life or situation. My role as a card reader is to act as a conduit and interpreter of the cards, to allow you to tap into the reflections and guidance that the cards are presenting to you.
Drawing additional cards
Sometimes in a reading, there may be a card that doesn’t quite make sense, or leaves you curious for more information. In these situations, it can be helpful to draw an additional card, often called a “clarifier” card over the original card. This can provide further depth and context to the original card that was drawn.
An important question to consider when thinking about drawing an additional card, is whether you are actually seeking clarification or if you are simply seeking an answer that is different to the one you were provided. The other thing to remember is that the Tarot is not going to provide definitive, exact or precise answers; so if your reasoning behind asking for an additional card is to lock in a specific date, discover exactly which organisation is represented by the new job opportunity, or find out the eye colour and height of your future love interest, a clarifier card is not going to help.
If in doubt, ask!
My goal is for you to have a fun, relevant and useful reading with Tidal Tarot. So if the direction that the reading is headed in isn’t making sense, or you aren’t quite understanding what the reading is saying, let me know! I love when reading become more of a conversation between the cards and person I’m reading for, with my role being a translator for that conversation.
Interested in sparking a conversation with Tidal Tarot? Head over to our services page!
