The Diviner’s Duty

Although I frequently encounter the sentiment in online discussions, nowhere have I read that it is the solemn duty of a diviner to make a querent “feel good” about the outcome of a reading. Empowered? Hopefully. “Forewarned and forearmed?” Whenever warranted. Enlightened? Absolutely. But not necessarily cheered or encouraged by the prospects described in the narrative, which won’t always convey unalloyed optimism. I’ve consistently maintained that my task is to tell the truth in language that is sympathetic but not misleading in its equivocation. It has been said with justification that every apparently negative tarot card has its positive side, but a beneficial or merely benign interpretation may not align with the circumstances as shown by the rest of the cards in the spread, leaving us to grapple with its less favorable connotations and come up with a sensitive, nuanced verdict. I like to say this is “where we earn our money.”

Many say that we should always conclude our readings on a positive note, others that we should render the brutal details as unflinchingly as possible regardless of the emotional trauma that might cause. My personal approach with querents is to remain in a constructive “helping” posture throughout by identifying (as impartially as possible) both opportunities to be exploited and pitfalls to be avoided, with hints on how the situation might be managed effectively to those ends. I try to steer clear of giving actionable advice, but rather offer my clients insights they can use to make their own decisions and chart their own course through the matter.

Missing from this scenario is the idly-curious dabbler (I hesitate to use the word “seeker”) who wants a general reading with no particularly pressing issue in mind. This group is also where the majority of love-lorn inquiries come from, especially the “What does ‘x’ think/feel about me?” variety. In my estimation these are useless mind-reading exercises that are an affront to the skill of a talented and experienced prognosticator, and I refuse to consider them in my professional work. Ask me anything but what an absent third party has on his or her mind, the dubious prediction of which might give the querent false hopes or groundless fears (made even worse if they act upon this information).

Originally published at http://parsifalswheeldivination.wordpress.com on January 25, 2023.