AUTHOR’S NOTE: Those who request a tarot reading are often called “seekers” (among other things), but what exactly are they seeking?

The obvious reply is “answers” but their goals vary: many querents want to know what they should do in a challenging situation, others care more about what they will get out of it, and some may have only reached the point of “What’s going on here?” Then there are those casual types who are idly curious about the cards with no earnest agenda in mind, and this is the at-risk population of “metaphysical tourists” that lawmakers envision protecting with statutes requiring that divination be offered for entertainment purposes only. (I guess they figure caveat emptor isn’t good enough.) In my experience, the smallest group of all involves those who are looking to transform themselves in some meaningful way, either psychologically or socially.

Sincerity is the key to obtaining useful insights from a tarot session. For this reason, I never do “for entertainment only” readings except for the purpose of demonstration during tarot lectures. (Fortunately, my local and regional laws don’t mandate it.) At the very least, if there is no specific objective in sight, I will perform “for information only” predictions that are aimed at giving seekers what I call “the target and the ammunition” to make the most of the projected outcome.

This has been called “empowerment,” but that encouraging title assumes that there is something about the individual’s circumstances that would benefit from empowering; they may just be looking for some trace of a path through the wilderness and wouldn’t know what to do with the tools of transformation if handed to them. Not to say that it can’t happen under these conditions, just that it isn’t always consciously sought. Conversely, I will often inject gentle humor into my storytelling to make the narrative entertaining for both the sitter and myself, but – although a little incidental fun can lighten the mood – it shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of seriousness.

I like to think that every observation I make during a reading will add something useful to the seeker’s perspective on the matter, even if no concrete action comes of it. But I’m not in the business of hand-holding and I don’t intend to render advice that might get me into legal trouble if my suggestions turn out to be disastrous for the client. It’s common wisdom that diviners should stay away from inquiries about medical diagnoses, financial investments, punitive lawsuits and anything else that creates a risk of liability for the practitioner if things go badly. We are as vulnerable to malpractice litigation as any wellness professional, whether doctor, therapist or counselor.

But there is always roundabout language that can be used to remove the onus of statutory accountability when approaching these subjects with an eye toward making a difference in the sitter’s handling of them. Although I facetiously call it “weasel-wording,” I think of this form of circumlocution as “what-iffing” the scenario in ways that can reveal opportunities for resolution without attempting to be definitive or prescriptive. In this manner, the reading can still be transformative for the querent’s personal development without coming across as binding in any way. How they choose to apply it is entirely up to them, and the only promise I make is to read the cards to the best of my ability.