Reading Tarot While Sick.
Note: Before I begin this post I would like to encourage everyone to please read the disclaimer within the post notes of this blog post.
For those who do not know, I suffer from several chronic illnesses and this past week I have had a really bad cold to the point where I was mostly in bed. But I am also a Tarot reader and I have pre-booked in person appointments weekly and I found that this life experience of being sick as well as being a Tarot reader would make a great post as I was actively going through it. I wanted to provide some tips, personal experiences and things that have worked for me during times when I read Tarot, especially for other people while sick.
24 Hour Notices: I cannot stress the importance of giving clients a 24-hour notice that you aren’t feeling well. Most clients understand and are happy to reschedule. What I like to do is always refund half my rate because of the inconvenience for the client of rescheduling.  Because I do deal with chronic illnesses, sometimes I do not have the luxury of 24-hour notices. I can be fine one hour and be in debilitating pain the next. If I know my body cannot physically get through a reading, I call the client as soon as possible, let them know the situation, and ask if they would like to reschedule. If they do not want to reschedule, I refund them immediately and apologize for the inconvenience. It is always important to know your bodies limits.
Splitting Up Readings: When I do in person readings, I am paid for my time, not the spread or the amount of cards I pull, so depending on the amount of time the reading that was paid for is going to take, I ask the client if they would mind if we could perform half the reading today and the other half another day. I only do this for timing over 45 minutes. Most clients are always understanding and are more than happy to split their reading into two parts.
Get Better Tool Kit: I would be lying if I said that there aren’t times when I feel like I am dying but I still provide readings. Sometimes this is out of necessity to be able to afford the medicine I need to get better and other times to not disappoint the client. In those cases, I have a Get Better Tool Kit. Before my in-person readings, I always make sure to confirm an hour before with the client, and during this process when I am sick, I make sure to tell the client that I am feeling under the weather and ask if they still want to continue with the reading. Most do not mind and proceed with the reading appointment. In this toolkit, I carry with me hand sanitizer, disposable face masks, vitamin c tablets, emergen-c fizzy drink mix, portable disinfectant, water, two tea bags of lemon and honey tea, throat lozenges, lip balm, tissues, and ibuprofen. I find that these things work for me when I am sick, help me not spread as many germs as possible and help me get through the day, especially one full of in person readings. I encourage you to create your own get better tool kit during situations like these with things that help you feel better.
Medicine: Be accountable for your medicine, what you are taking, how much you are taking, when you are taking it, etc. I make sure that if I am doing in person readings that I do not take anything that I know is going to impair my judgment, make me drowsy or cause me to not be in control of my body. If I am taking let’s say an antibiotic that needs to be taken every day at a certain time, I make sure to set a reminder on my phone. If the timer goes off in the middle of a reading, I make sure to snooze the alarm until the reading is complete. After the reading is over, I excuse myself and take my medicine. I also make sure to keep track of what I am drinking in regards to my medicine. I know that I cannot drink certain herbal beverages because they can interfere with my medicine and my body in different ways. It is important to always be safe especially when taking medicine.
Bodily Needs: I always try to listen to what my body needs. I like to stay hydrated and moderately fed between readings, whether it is just a small snack or cup of tea. I also like to spritz some water on my face every hour to keep me feeling awake and hydrated. I think it is always beneficial to stretch and even get some fresh air if the weather permits. These things really help me to be comfortable while giving a reading and being sick.
Networked Referrals: Here in NYC, I am part of a Tarot Network with other professional readers. When I am feeling sick and cannot make an appointment, I ask the client if they would like to have a reading with another reader that I highly recommend. Most of the time they agree and I set up the reading with the Tarot reader of my choosing from within the network. I usually get half the rate of the reading for the referral which is also nice. I have yet to have any client complain of a referral reading.
Reformatting Readings: Another option that I don’t use often but have used before with great success is asking the client if they would mind the reading in a different format rather than in person. What I would offer the client is if they would like the reading done through private web communications such as Skype or Facebook. I have also recorded readings, where the reading would be video recorded in my home and sent to them through e-mail or uploaded privately to YouTube. I have also offered recorded readings with just voice and the photograph of the cards. I have also offered typed email readings and readings over the phone as well. All these are great options to provide to clients if you cannot physically do in person readings because you are sick.
Energy Levels: When I am sick, especially when reading Tarot for other people, it is important to keep my energy levels in check. Tarot readings really drain me without being sick, and when I am sick it is worst. Even if it takes me a minute or two longer to get the reading done, I always allow myself time to pause and take a break between interpreting large chunks of information in a reading. Â I also monitor my tea and coffee intake as these can alter my energy levels quite drastically.Â
Scheduling: Something that I do that is important even when I am not sick is to not have my reading appointments be one right after the other. Especially when I am sick, I think this would hurt me so much. I always try and space at least thirty minutes between my last appointment and my next one. This allows me to get up, use the bathroom if needed, stretch, etc. I like to have time to catch my breath, sip some warm tea and gather my thoughts. I also do not schedule any new readings during this time. This allows me to focus on getting better instead of worrying about future readings.
Tarot Deck Wellness: Something that I like to personally do after I get home from readings is to take my deck and place it on a plate within a salt circle. I usually say a prayer or affirmation to help get rid of any of the sicky energy it may have absorbed during my time of being unwell. When I wake up from a good rest, I let my deck hang out with some crystals for a few hours and then it is good to use again. I like to think of it as my deck having a little get well spa day. lol
Rest, Rest, Rest: I know that that is a given but it is so important to get as much rest as you can. Although I have not once received a complaint of a reading I gave while sick, I know that being my best self when performing readings is when I am feeling better. It is important to take care of yourself. Your body, your deck, and your clients will thank you in the long run.
Post Notes:
Please do not remove the captions.
Title: Reading Tarot While Sick
Copyright:  © Ivan Ambrose 2017
Deck: Rider Waite Smith
Safe Space Tags: Sickness, Chronic Illness, Medicine, Thermometer
Disclaimer: I know that reading Tarot for yourself or others while being unwell is a very touchy subject. It is not my intention to offend anyone with this post and if I do I sincerely apologize. I am willing to talk about anything that may upset or discomfort you privately if you wish to do so. I also would like to make it clear that I am not a medical professional, nor claim to be, nor do I suggest this post and its content to be used in replace of medical treatment or professional medical advice. This is just what helps me and I wanted to share it with others. This isn’t the only way, the absolute right way or the way that you “should” approach this topic. This is the way that I choose to do things and what has worked for me for countless years. What may work for me may not work for you and vice versa. I encourage you to do what you are comfortable with and to tailor any advice provided henceforth to your specific needs and individual situation. I encourage and open up this conversation to respectful debate and added commentary to supplement this post of any kind.Â
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