There are some important steps querants and clients should consider taking if they want to have better experiences with their readers and to get the most out of their reading, regardless of the reading’s format (text, audio, videocall, etc.).
This guide walks you through how to best prepare for your reading through three stages: Before Your Reading, During Your Reading, and After Your Reading. Please note that I will be using the words “tarot” and “divination” interchangeably.
As with most things, whether you are a client or a reader, take what resonates and leave the rest. What I’ve shared here comes from what has worked best for me and my clients. Feel free to apply what feels right for you. Nothing is ever set in stone, and at the end of the day, it’s clear and open communication with a reader who truly aligns with you that makes all the difference!
Before Your Reading
1) Get into a calm and open headspace
Tarot, and divination in general, is energetic work, and energy meets energy. The calmer and more open your state of mind, the more effective and powerful your reading can be. You don’t need to be perfectly Zen, but do give yourself some space before your reading. If you’re not at your best before engaging with a reading, try to do something relaxing or something that you enjoy to help you get into a better headspace. You don’t have to be perfectly fine, but an open headspace is necessary to ensure your reception of the reading’s wisdom.
2) Recognize if you’re in crisis
If you’re in a moment of emotional crisis, extreme panic, or deep mental distress, it might not be a good time to get a reading. Tarot is best when used for guidance, not emergency support. This is not a fixed rule, of course. Depending on your level of crisis, divination may be beneficial as emergency support. But, as a general rule of thumb, it should be avoided. When you’re in crisis, you most likely need professional help or support from friends and loved ones first. Please put yourself first, then return to the reading once you’re feeling a bit better.
3) Try not to cling to rigid expectations
Try to avoid coming into a reading with rigid or pre-determined expectations for the outcome. Sometimes the reading will echo exactly what you were hoping for. Other times, it’ll provide you with insight into something you didn’t even realize you needed. It may even provide insights that don’t appear to be relevant in the moment, and the wisdom only becomes clear later on and in retrospect. Whatever the outcome is, the messages that come through are usually what you need to hear the most. This is why it’s important to come into a reading with a relaxed and open mind when possible.
4) Communicate your needs, expectations, and boundaries
This is your experience. If there’s something you’d rather not explore or if you have a specific style or tone you prefer, please make sure you communicate them to your reader. Contrary to popular belief, we can’t always read your mind! A good reader wants to honor you and your safety. Help us to better meet you where you are, and communicate with us effectively.
5) Make sure you’re on the same page with your reader
Before the reading begins, understand your reader’s terms and conditions. Know their refund policies, delivery times and methods, payments (if any) and ethics. It is so important to read through their policies thoroughly and to ask any questions you may have before the reading to ensure a smooth experience and to ensure that you two are the right fit for each other.
6) Finally, and MOST importantly: Ask clear and specific questions!
Asking the right questions is the foundation that the reading will be built upon, and it is very important for clients to remember that when approaching their readers. I always say that vague questions get you vague answers. When your question has direction, the cards have a much easier time guiding you in a better and more meaningful way. Take time to think about what you truly want to get out of your reading, and formulate your questions accordingly. Ensure they are direct, clear, and specific. Most readers are happy to help their clients better phrase their questions if needed. Also, take this time to check if your question is something your reader accepts. For example, some readers may not accept strict yes/no questions or timing questions. Now, in the case that you’re looking for a blind reading, that is perfectly okay! Just make sure that your reader accepts blind reading requests, and communicate that with them beforehand.
During Your Reading
1) Be present
Even with written, pre-recorded audio or video readings, treat the moment you engage with them as sacred. Make sure you’re grounded, centered, and available on all levels to receive the guidance that’s coming through your reader. This will help you to truly get the most out of your reading and your experience.
2) Take some notes
Try asking yourself: What stands out to you? Which parts made you feel seen? Which parts challenged you? Were your questions fully addressed? What are your thoughts surrounding the outcome of the reading? You don’t have to figure it all out right away, but writing things down helps the messages settle in and helps you in processing everything that came through during the reading. Now is also the time to prepare any questions you may have for your reader regarding the outcome of the reading. Please remember that asking questions regarding the outcome of a reading is NOT the same as asking entirely new questions to be answered via a new reading! Be sure to always respect your reader’s time and energy, and communicate with them accordingly.
After Your Reading
1) Sit with the reading
Some readings are comforting, some may be a harsh but necessary wake-up call, some might make you feel elated, and others may be more neutral or uneventful. All of these are valid and normal outcomes to an authentic reading. Not every reading has to be ground-breaking. Regardless of the outcome, it’s important to take some time to reflect and sit with the reading. It’s also important not to jump into another reading because you were unhappy with the outcome of the first one. Getting more readings on the same question or topic tends to bring about more confusion rather than clarity. Sit with it, and its wisdom may become clearer as time goes on. You can always ask clarifying questions if needed. Just make sure you take your time with what came up in the reading, then talk to your reader about any clarifying questions you may have.
2) Provide feedback and/or leave a review (optional)
Did the reading answer your questions? Were your concerns acknowledged? Were you spoken to in an empathetic and kind way especially when harsher messages were being conveyed? These are some questions clients can ask themselves to determine the quality of a reading or the skills of a reader.
It’s important to remember that a reading can still be valuable even if the reader’s energy doesn’t fully click with you. If you walked away feeling unsatisfied, take a moment to reflect on why. Was it the reader’s style or presence? Or was the message simply difficult to hear? Sometimes the truth can be uncomfortable, but that doesn’t mean the reading was inaccurate.
At the same time, no reader is perfect. It’s completely valid to feel disappointed if something felt off or if the delivery didn’t land well for you. You might not have connected with the reader’s energy or the way they communicate, and that’s okay.
Please just keep in mind that this doesn’t necessarily mean the reader or the reading was “bad” or deserves a negative review. It may simply mean the reader was not the right fit for you. And that’s perfectly valid too.
Now, clients are never obligated to share their feedback with their reader or leave the reader a review (unless that was something that was agreed upon beforehand). However, feedback and reviews are always appreciated, because they help us readers further improve our skills and help us become better readers. Good readers are always and forever students of their craft, and they will take your feedback into consideration and act upon it when appropriate.
As for leaving public reviews, they help other clients like yourself, as it helps readers and practitioners build trust with new clients who are still finding their way. Your review might help someone else find the right reader for them 🙂