A few years ago, I was invited to read the Tarot at a book store for a seasonal event. Requests for Tarot Readers come when the leaves fall and pumpkins start becoming a front porch decoration. Since this particular bookstore was a place where alternative spirituality and beliefs are celebrated, I accepted the invite for a few hours of promoting my style of readings for the possibility of future clients and to promote what I do.
The day was sunny with a light breeze sending leaves cartwheeling down the sidewalk. The store was slow to fill which is nice as people can browse and take their time with the newest books and other delights such as candles, attire, and sun catchers. After a bit, someone came up and sat down in the chair across the table from me. We exchanged pleasantries as I gave them a pen and a piece of advertising material to write down their answers to the questions they would be asking. I gave a brief description on how I do my readings and we settled in to focus on their questions.
The Querent (person asking the questions) spoke of a situation with their teenager and the possible outcome of a particular situation. I asked the questions of Obi divination, received an answer, and pulled three cards to give some background information as to why that particular answer was given. Each question became a step in which to build to yet another question, and the Querent appeared satisfied with their answers. I included some candle burning suggestions that they could consider so that they could pick up the product right there at the store before leaving.
A few minutes later, the shop owner came over with a scowl on their face and proceeded to lambaste me on the reading that I just gave to ‘her customer’. I asked her what was the problem with the customers reading, now aware that the customer must have immediately went over to the shop owner and revealed what was discussed between myself and the Querent.
The shop owner proceeded to tell me that that customer as ‘one of her best’ and that ‘they shop in the store all the time’, and that the shop owner tells me that I should not give such a pointedly direct reading and to ‘soften my delivery’ as that I do not upset anyone. “Upset anyone?”, I said. “It isn’t like I was saying to take drastic and dangerous measures with her teenager.” The shop owner continued to voice her opinion on my reading (despite not being present and actually h-e-a-r-i-n-g what was being discussed). I said that her comment was understood, and I stood up, packed up my cards in my case, and left the shop quietly, making sure that there was no one wanting a reading before I did and exiting to demonstrate how certain business situations should be handled. I felt that it was unprofessional to approach me in from of her other customers, and without any true evidence that the Querent actually understood and interpreted the information correctly. Sometimes people do not understand clearly what is being said to them – or – even appreciates the information the reading is giving them.
In this field of spiritual/psychic readers, there are two categories – professional and those who are more of an ‘entertainer’-type person. Professionals will tell you what the cards (or any other divination methodology) are saying, according to their research and expertise. Those who do readings for entertainment, may be less studied and may also want to “please the crowd”. I fall into the first group, and many years have past since I chose not to read at public displays of reading as too many times really personal information came through the reading and the Querent might feel awkward in the revelation. This is why a little research is needed to determine what category of reader is needed for an event.
Moral of the story: If you wish to have a reading in public, please ask the reader their years of experience and/or length of study in their field of divination before you ask seriously personal questions so that you are not surprised in what occurs at the reading table.
