21 Ways to Get in the Zone and Deliver a Better Tarot Reading

blog-20111221-21-ways-to-get-in-the-zone-and-deliver-a-better-tarot-reading Ever sit down to do a Tarot reading, and instead of concentrating on your (or your client's) question, all you can think about is your huge To Do list or what your friends are doing on FaceBook?

It happens to all of us.

We struggle to concentrate and our mind is over-run with meaningless chatter that only distracts us from the Tarot reading at hand. Instead of connecting with the energy that surrounds the question and the cards, we allow our thoughts to become scattered and tangled with completely unrelated issues.

Yet, to perform an insightful and accurate Tarot reading, a quiet mind and inner peace are what we need most. We need to create the space and the silence in our mind to be able to ‘hear' our intuition and inner voice. We need to get in the zone!

Here are 21 ways to help you clear your mind and get in the zone for a more insightful Tarot reading:

Meditate. Shut your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Focus on the sensation of the breath, either through your nostrils or your mouth. Simply observe your thoughts as if they were clouds in your mind.
Use a visual aide. You might like to focus on a photo of your client, a favourite place in nature, a mandala or a favourite Tarot card. The Eight of Pentacles is definitely a great card for concentration.
Listen to meditation music. I LOVE the work by Jeffrey Thompson. He uses sounds that access certain brainwaves to create a higher level of consciousness. I use this during most Tarot readings (and even during childbirth!) for optimal focus and concentration. My favourite is the Awakened Mind System (I'm listening to it right now!).
Hold your cards. Before shuffling, hold the cards in your hands and feel the energy begin to rise and transfer between your cards, you and the Universe.
Tidy desk, tidy mind. Clear your desk (or your desktop if you work on your computer like me) and ensure you’re completely free from distraction.
Use aromatherapy. Find an oil blend created especially for concentration and inner peace and burn during a reading.
Keep a notepad nearby. Then, if you do think of something unrelated, jot it down and then forget about it.
Draw a Tarot or Oracle card for guidance. Before you start reading, draw just one card asking, “What do I most need to focus on for this reading?” It’s a bit like having an appetiser before tucking into a big meal!
Switch off your phone. iPhones are particularly distracting, so hide it away in a drawer somewhere, switched off.
Close the door. If you’re in a busy place or even at home when other people are around, let them know you do not want to be disturbed until you open the door again.
Take a bath or a shower. Water can have a very cleansing and calming effect, so before you start a Tarot reading, consider having a shower or a relaxing bath.
Clear your chakras. Chakras represent our energy centres in the body and clearing and opening each of these prior to a Tarot reading can assist in creating a very deep and insightful reading. I personally use Deepak Chopra’s “Chakra Balancing” CD which includes a guided meditation for clearing each chakra. Also included is a CD of meditation music.
Take short breaks. If you’re doing a number of readings in a row, be it for yourself or others, make sure you take a short break between readings to clear the energy and refocus for the next reading. Self-care is essential for Tarot readers!
Use quartz crystal. Quartz crystal has a clarifying effect and so the placement of one nearby where you are reading can help to clear your mind of any ‘junk’ or negativity.
Take a quick walk. A little bit of exercise will help get the creative juices flowing. If you’re not up for a walk, do a few star jumps!
Sit somewhere beautiful. I love sitting in my room when I do a reading where I can either see my courtyard or I can see the blue sky and treetops. I gently zone out while I stare into space and clear my mind. Sometimes I also get cues from my surroundings which support the reading.
Light a candle. Candle light is just beautiful and can offer a focal point to meditate on before you start reading.
Make a cup of herbal tea. Warm tea is wonderful for feeling all cozy and relaxed – perfect for focusing on your Tarot reading and nothing else.
Use a sage smudge stick. Just as you can use sage to clear and cleanse your Tarot deck, you can use a sage smudge stick to clear your space of any negative energy that may be distracting.
Sit outside for a moment. Find a special place in your garden or even on your front step. Take in a breath of fresh air, thank the Universe for the blessings of the day, and then go back inside to do your reading.
Practice. The more you practice getting in the zone, the easier it will become. It takes a trained mind to switch off completely from distraction and focus on the task at hand.