When getting a tarot reading is a bad idea

Is there such a thing as a bad time to get a tarot reading? YES!!! There are some instances when tarot is not a good idea - keep reading to see when it might be a good time to step away from the table.

If you aren't sure if a tarot reading is right for you ask yourself these 7 questions before sitting down at the table.

1. Are you in a very emotional state?

If the answer is yes, then back away from the table. When something highly emotional happens it is only natural that we want guidance. If we didn't we wouldn't call up our friend or mom and cry on their shoulder, right? The problem is that when you are highly emotional you tend to focus in on one detail or issue, and often don't want to see the big picture. This is a sign that you should sleep on it for a couple of days, and then come back when you have calmed down.

​2. Is it too soon? 

This one sort of ties in with the answer above, but with a bit of a twist. I have had people call me up for a reading and this is how it goes: 

My boyfriend was gone this weekend with his family. He said he would call me by 9pm when he got home. I haven't heard from him at all today - tell me the truth. He's cheating on me isn't he?

And when I look at the clock it is only 4 in the afternoon. It's actually pretty common, and if the time hasn't passed yet when they said they would contact you, or even when I told you when they should contact you, then it is too soon to have a reading about it. I am not a crystal ball that I can just call up whomever I want and see what they are up too.  If the deadline passes and you still don't hear from them, then maybe you can consider a reading. But don't go borrowing trouble. It's like when our mom's can't get us on the phone and they picture us lying dead in a ditch somewhere. You are panicking for no good reason.

3. Did you just have a reading yesterday/last week?

I am really passionate about this one. I have had people who literally wanted a reading every 24 hours - on the same topic. They get concerned or even mad when the same cards show up over and over again. I even had one person scream at me for a good 10 minutes one day about it. When I read the cards for you I can tell you where things are headed, or what needs to happen to move things along. But if you are having readings too often then you run the risk of getting frustrated because nothing has happened yet. I like to tell people that they really shouldn't have a reading more then twice a month (but ideally once a month) on the same subject. Allow the universe to work it's mojo. 

​4. Are you testing the reader?

This one bugs me to high heaven. As readers we have all had that person who comes in the door already determined that the whole tarot profession is a load of bull. They sit across the table with their arms folded, give the reader one word responses and give them false information. Don't be this person. If you aren't sure about how legit tarot is then ask questions. Don't set the reader up for the sole purpose of trying to be an ass. It'll just make the experience miserable for everyone involved. 

​5. Are you looking for a certain answer?

If you already have it in your head before you get started that you are after a specific answer you are likely going to end up disappointed. You aren't going to be open to hearing anything other then what you want to hear, and it's just going to be a waste of your money.  Be open to what the tarot has to say, or you might as well keep your wallet closed. I would rather that you didn't come in then to tune me out and give me a bad review for not telling you what you wanted to hear.

6. Are you looking for your 4th or 5th opinion?

This is another one that causes a lot of problems. I have seen people who literally go to a new reader every day, and then base their opinion of a reader on all the ones before. It usually goes something like this: 

Well, the last 8 readers I spoke to this week all told me that Jimmy isn't coming back. I don't believe them - what do you see? Is he going to come back to me? 

You can't get mad at me if I tell you the same thing everyone else did. They have all been giving you the answer, but you don't want to hear it. This is also a problem when I tell you something, and then you leave me negative feedback because "the next reader told me that you were wrong". Tarot is open to interpretation of the energy and direction at the moment of reading. Things can stay the same, but they can also change. Here is another example: 

A woman came in for a reading about her husband. They were having marital problems and she wanted to know what to do. I gave her some direction and said do X,Y.Z and things should improve. She left me a nasty review a month later about how her marriage had failed. Closer look at the situation showed that after we talked she signed divorce papers and moved from Europe to California (without the husband) and couldn't figure out why the marriage didn't work.

If I say that you should think about something or do something and you do the exact OPPOSITE then you really can't blame me. 

7. Do you want to keep tabs on someone? 

If you come in and ask me to "psychically stalk" an ex, I'm not gonna do it. It is not uncommon for a woman to come in and say "xxx and I broke up 3 years ago, what is he doing right now?" First, I don't have their permission to read for them, and second you are not with that person. Now if you say to me "xxx and I have been dating now for three years, and I feel like he is not being truthful. What do you see?" then that I can look at. But checking in on someone that you knew years ago feels squicky. It feels a lot like spying on someone in the shower. It's crossing a line and it makes me feel unclean. Please don't ask me to do it.


If you answered YES to any of these questions, step back and ask yourself what you hope to accomplish. Chances are if you really think about it you will choose to wait a bit before getting a reading.