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Most people think of the Tarot as being dealt inside a dark tent by an old crone in the light of a waning candle. But there is far more to Tarot cards than mere fortune telling. It is more than an oracle for predicting the future as it may be portrayed at your local state fair or renaissance festival.
The Tarot is a deck of 78 cards, each portraying pictorial messages common to the human experience. The cards are simply that, cards; their interpretation rests in the reader. The Tarot deck may not help you discover lost objects or people. It will not guarantee the date of your marriage nor will it name your soul mate. More importantly, a reading can tell you about events that could possibly happen if you make no changes in your path.
There are Tarot readers who may say they can predict the future. Keeping this in mind, it is crucial that you remember always that your future is still in YOUR hands. If you do not like the result of the reading, you can always change your actions to create a new possibility. Other readers will interpret the cards for the purpose of guiding you spiritually, or helping you by showing alternative paths you might follow.
There are basically two types of Tarot readings. The "straight" or mechanical Tarot reading is one in which the reader will rely on the traditional meanings and positions of the cards alone. The "intuitive" or "psychic" reader uses the Tarot as the focal point; however, an intuitive reader will also use clairvoyance (visions), clairsentience (feeling the emotions of others), or clairaudience (hearing voices or sounds through a trance) in addition to observing the traditional meaning and positions of the cards. The type of reading you choose should reflect your faith in the skills advertised by the reader.
While it is always best to have your reading done face to face, readings can be done by telephone, by post, by email or in internet chat rooms. These are all valid and acceptable. You may be asked for your full name and date of birth, which is the most common information asked for by a reader, however it is not completely necessary and you may refuse to give this information if you wish. Some readers ask for a photo, or a handwriting sample in order to connect to your personal energy. Each reader has special requirements. These vary. You should go with your gut, proceed with reasonable caution and a grain of common sense. It is with Tarot readers as with any other profession--most are ethical and "deal" (pardon the pun) straight from the heart -- and there are those who simply are not.
On the subject of ethics, if a reader offers you a FREE reading it should be just that...FREE! If the reader deals your "free" cards and then asks for payment for interpretation or gives you little or sketchy information, LEAVE! Hang up the phone, exit the chat room, go off-line from the instant messenger, or block the reader’s email. This is not a free reading. A free sample may be brief, after all, it is a sample, but it should be complete. Many offer one- to three-card readings, which give a small amount of information. This should be acceptable. Do not expect to receive your entire life story in a sample.
As for the accuracy of readings, "accuracy" changes with time, or with the nature of any situation. No outcome is "set in stone." The cards do not lie; however, you can make a liar out of the cards!
Once you have decided on a mechanical or a psychic reading and whether you will do it online or in person, inquire about the reader's ethics, or look for his or her statement of ethics on their web site or posted at their place of business. It is common for ethical readers to refuse to answer questions concerning health (including death and pregnancy), finances, and legal situations. These readers ask that you consult a professional in those fields. If a reader refuses to answer your question about ethics, or has no restrictions about what questions to ask, be alert and be wary! Tarot should not be used instead of a doctor, accountant, stockbroker or lawyer. Readers who allow questions like these are overstepping the law in most cases, and are definitely working outside the standards and traditions of the body of ethical readers.
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