Letting the Reading Lie
Resting in the silence of The Sun
"The quieter you become, the more you can hear."
— Ram Dass
As a Tarot reader, I often feel the need to share every piece of knowledge I have about a card’s history, symbolism, intentions, or meanings within the sometimes limited confines of a reading. If I am lucky enough to sit with an individual who has never received a reading before, I often overexplain and sometimes trivialize the importance of the act of Tarot reading. Perhaps this comes from a deep-seated desire to give context to a somewhat mysterious art form, but even 23 years after picking up my first deck, I still feel the need to not only decode the cards but also reframe them for the masses.
However, over the past few years of interacting with the community, I have noticed that I am not the only one who struggles with letting a reading be just that: a reading. When engaging with a querent or Seeker, there is often an urge to fill the space with observations, stretching our minds and interpretations to ensure the individual across from us feels that what they just paid for was "worth it” or a good value.
XIX. The Sun. Clockwise from top left: Somnia Tarot, Smith-Waite Centennial, Fyodor Pavlov Tarot, Leonora Carrington Major Arcana, Terra Volatile.
When we discuss the value of a Tarot reading with others, especially those who aren’t familiar with the practice, there can be moments of self-doubt or even shame. How can we allow ourselves to charge upwards of a hundred dollars (on average) for an hour of looking at tiny images on pieces of paper, suggesting to whoever asked us for clarity that these cards can provide insight or guidance on their personal dilemmas? The short answer: because we can.
What most folks fail to recognize is that Tarot reading, similar to that of a therapist, coach, or manager, is that it’s not simply about storytelling through the cards, rather, it’s a balancing act of handling the often heightened emotions of another human who can be in distress, suffering from anxiety, looking for confirmation, or simply experiencing something they’ve never tried before. This is where the artistry lies. When a reader can superbly balance the expectations, interpretations, and energy of another person, magic happens.
The Sun created with the help of artificial intelligence.
The Sun card in a Tarot reading can mean many positive, often saccharine things. To be honest, it’s not my favorite card in the Tarot simply because I’ve placed it into a camp of expected, trite, and often the most boring of interpretations. Now, I am never against good news for a querent or Seeker. Never! Rather, I would like to more fully equip my clients with the knowledge of a card’s symbols and history, rather than a simple, “Things are looking up!”. But with all of that said, there is a time and a place for shortness.
While I enjoy providing robust, highly detailed interpretations in my readings, I have begun to challenge myself with what I call “letting the reading lie”—the practice of elevating simpler interpretations and allowing the querent or Seeker to fill in the gaps themselves. Silence can be just as effective a tool in a reading as talking, and, like The Sun, it’s okay to let your interpretation shine without blinding your client with a barrage of meanings. Sometimes the card is just that: a card.
Take a spin through a mini-playlist inspired by The Sun—tunes for joyus basking in the light of day.
Listen HERE