Reading for someone else
A completely different job from reading for yourself.
Reading for yourself, you already know the context. Reading for someone else you do not, and the biggest mistake is trying to fill in the context you lack.
Four rules
- ASK FIRST. "Where are you with this right now?" A minute of answer doubles the reading.
- DON'T SPEAK IN CERTAINTIES. Say "here is what I see", not "here is how it ends". The difference is whether the person keeps their own decision.
- ASK BACK. "Does that land for you?" A reading should be a conversation, not a broadcast.
- DON'T FRIGHTEN. When the Tower appears, saying "your life is about to fall apart" is both wrong and irresponsible.
When a hard card comes up
When a hard card lands, the move is not to soften it but to FRAME it. "The Ten of Swords is rock bottom, and rock bottom means there is nowhere further down" is both honest and carryable.
What is the most important first step when reading for someone?
Trying to invent the context you lack is what wrecks a reading.