An Interview With Rachel Pollack - Page 2
© Elizabeth Bissette
A Questions that are a little open so there's a chance to explore. Yes or no questions are more difficult. So, rather than asking, for example, if a person should marry, I would look at what kind of relationship it would be if the person did marry. Where is it headed? What would life be with or without the other person?
Q What usually happens in a Tarot reading?
A Different kinds of things happen in different kinds of readings. Some readers want the person they're reading for to say nothing at all, before, during or after the reading. The reader is stimulated by the pictures and will say what they see.
Some want the person they're reading for to look at the pictures and describe what they see, to make the connections themselves. One time, when I was teaching, I came upon a student reading for another. I thought it was very interesting because she would have the other person interpret every card as she turned it over. These are the two extremes.
For most readers, there's an intuitive interpretation, but they will want the person they're reading for to say what their questions are. Some readers have very strong reactions to the cards. With me, when I feel most strongly is when I will stop myself and ask the person about the card to see what they say.
Q Why is that?
A Because my interpretation is based on the traditional meaning of the picture. The other person may have a very personal reaction to the card. If I ask what their reaction is, we can combine the two readings. Modern Tarot reading is all about person you're reading for, not the reader.
Q How is your new book different from previous books, including your own, in its approach to readings?
A Most Tarot books focus on how to read the cards. Even if they have a particular theory about the cards, they go one by one through the deck and define them. This book shows how far you can take the cards. It doesn't give instructions so much as demonstrations.
Also, in many other books it's necessary to already know about Tarot to benefit from them. This one doesn't require anyone to have previous knowledge.
Q Could it be valuable not only to people who don't know about Tarot but to people who are not interested in reading Tarot cards?
Q What usually happens in a Tarot reading?
A Different kinds of things happen in different kinds of readings. Some readers want the person they're reading for to say nothing at all, before, during or after the reading. The reader is stimulated by the pictures and will say what they see.
Some want the person they're reading for to look at the pictures and describe what they see, to make the connections themselves. One time, when I was teaching, I came upon a student reading for another. I thought it was very interesting because she would have the other person interpret every card as she turned it over. These are the two extremes.
For most readers, there's an intuitive interpretation, but they will want the person they're reading for to say what their questions are. Some readers have very strong reactions to the cards. With me, when I feel most strongly is when I will stop myself and ask the person about the card to see what they say.
Q Why is that?
A Because my interpretation is based on the traditional meaning of the picture. The other person may have a very personal reaction to the card. If I ask what their reaction is, we can combine the two readings. Modern Tarot reading is all about person you're reading for, not the reader.
Q How is your new book different from previous books, including your own, in its approach to readings?
A Most Tarot books focus on how to read the cards. Even if they have a particular theory about the cards, they go one by one through the deck and define them. This book shows how far you can take the cards. It doesn't give instructions so much as demonstrations.
Also, in many other books it's necessary to already know about Tarot to benefit from them. This one doesn't require anyone to have previous knowledge.
Q Could it be valuable not only to people who don't know about Tarot but to people who are not interested in reading Tarot cards?
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