The Rules
Before reading the Tarot, you must always ground and center. Light a candle, and while gazing into the flame, ask your higher self to guide you in your reading. Envision a white light descending from above to surround you. When you are finished, gaze into the candle and give thanks for the gift of insight you were given. Blow out the candle, and then drink a glass of water to ground yourself again.
You may have heard instructions similar to these. They are a compilation of things I was told by someone I met in a bookstore and things I read on the web, when I first set out to learn to read the Tarot. Being a novice, I took them to heart as The Rules. I was very careful to ground and center, light a candle and ask for guidance (not sure who I was asking, but just asked anyway). The candle seemed really important to the person who told me I Must Light One, so I never read without a flame burning. There were also instructions involving a spread cloth, what sort of fabric it must consist of, how to shuffle and cut, and how to return the cards to their bag and box. You needed both, and they had to be silk and pine respectively.
It got to the point where I didn’t even want to get the cards out to read. Reading for someone else was out of the question. I cringed at the thought of trotting out all the paraphernalia I needed to do a simple reading. It became a chore, and I gave it up. I simply pulled a card from the deck to study, meditate and journal about. I felt like I was being sneaky, but the cards didn’t seem to mind, and nothing bad happened. Eventually I became bold enough to start reading with them without the ‘floor show’, as I came to think of it. One morning I got the bright idea to ask the cards if I really needed to do all that stuff. They assured me that none of it was actually necessary.
Now the only thing I really do is make a cup of tea and take a moment to quiet my thoughts. The tea has become almost essential and I find I can’t settle down to read without it. That is the extent of my ritual these days.
Please don’t think I’m criticizing those who do any or all of those things when they read the cards. I’m certainly not. Rituals are very important to those who observe them, and everyone needs different rituals for different activities. Mine has simply been reduced to applying boiling water to herbs in a mug, and perhaps adding milk or lemon. Personally I love having a reading done for me with all the pomp and circumstance. Perhaps that is why many readers have practiced and refined these rituals over the years. I think maybe they benefit a certain type of querent.
But truly, all you need to do is focus and shuffle and then open your mind. Everything else is ambiance. If you love using rituals, create your own. A ritual created by another may not necessarily work for you. So don’t ever feel you need to follow someone else’s instructions.
In the last place we lived, I was reading for people at a Wiccan shop in town. I employed a candle, and on one occasion incense (although that was more due a funky smell in the room than ritual), and usually had a moment of ‘silent meditation’ before the reading. That was mainly to give me a chance to clear my mind of the usual chatter, and focus on the person in front of me to feel whatever energies and vibrations they radiating. Most of the clients were quite happy with the sessions.
But the only really important thing for me during that time was the cup of tea on the table beside my chair.
Genius Loci
Atmosphere is always important. But it’s often an essential tool of the Tarot reader. What sort of small gods do you invite into you reading space? They can have an interesting influence on your readings.
This post in the Cabinet of Wonders offers some thoughtful insights into the general spirit of a place, how it can affect those in it, and how it can be encouraged to change for the better.
In any case, I think the current craze for small fountains and hidden benches in tiny urban gardens is an attempt, albeit unconscious, by the residents to invite, gently and hesitantly, some sprite or minor god to come and settle, to sit and stay awhile. … In the end, if you’re lucky, you’ll make the place comfortable enough and beautiful enough that one of those vanquished spirits might, with a little coaxing, consent to stay. They need us as much as we need them.
What sort of space do you routinely read in? Do you create an atmosphere? Sometimes it isn’t possible to control the ambiance of an impromptu reading. How do you manage that? What works for you?
Ambience
Ambiance is important to me no matter what I’m doing. But most especially when I’m doing any sort of energy work such as pulling cards for a spread. Or just pulling cards for inspiration.
I like quiet, if I can get it. So that limits the time I’ll spend doing any intensive work with the cards. A casual draw to help make a decision or spark my imagination when I’m writing requires nothing more than a quick cut and draw. But if I’m pondering my direction, interpreting a dream or vision, or trying to gain insight into something important I’ll usually set aside some time and create the atmosphere I need to work.
Candles are important, because the flame helps me achieve a meditative state of mind. I like ones that are either unscented or naturally scented. If they are too “perfumy” it’s distracting and sometimes gives me a headache. Textures and colors must be soothing and comfortable. That includes my clothing and the surface on which I’m am laying the cards. Some folk are particular about the spread cloth. I have a black velvet rectangle I use. Whatever deck I’m using stands out nicely in contrast to the deep black. The feel of the velvet is nice and engenders a feeling of splendor and comfort that “slows” my energy levels down so I can ground. At least that’s how it works for me.
Usually I will put on Enya’s The Memory of Trees or The Celts. I also find Avec Laudenum by Stars of the Lid is especially good as is the first disc of their Tired Sounds. You may be familiar with Enya, but Stars of the Lid are not as widely known. They make ambient music that may not be for everyone, but I do enjoy it and it works perfectly for me when meditating or working with Tarot.
A bit of incense is nice if I have any. But it must be lightly scented. Smudge bundles are too heavy for me as is most commercial incense. A fine quality Japanese incense is best. Oil diffusers are nice because they impart the scent of the essential oils without creating any smoke.
If nothing else, a nice cup of herbal tea and some light classical music will work just as well. The important thing is my state of mind, and all these things are simply tools and aids to create right state of mind for any energy work, including reading the Tarot.
