Reading Tarot for Children and Teens

What do you think of the idea of reading for children or teens? Or would you allow your child to get a reading?  I will begin by stating that I do read for both children and teens. I'm hoping the rules and guidelines that I follow help you figure out what to do, if you are on the fence. Ready yourself, grab a coffee, tea or hot toddy. Put on something both sexy yet comfy, relax and get your peepers ready, heed this warning- it could end up being a long post.
Lets begin with, should you read for children or teens?
There is a big difference between reading for children and for teenagers. Lets start by talking about reading for children. When I volunteered with the Carnival of Terror last year, I had the chance to read for a lot of young people (between 9-12). It was my first time reading for kids outside of my family and friends. If you decide to read for children, the most important rule would be to make sure there is a parent or guardian present. If all you read of this post is that bolded sentence, my work as your Tarot guide is done. It is the most important rule.  So important and I am going to just put it right here, one more time,  if you do choose to read for a child make 100% sure that a parent or guardian is present. This covers you and the child.  You never know what a kid could end up going back to their parents and saying. It is better to have them there to hear everything you are telling their most precious little monster firsthand. Another plus of having a guardian present is that you can ensure that you will not become a babysitter. Sadly this does happen, especially at public fairs or events. There is nothing worse than being stuck with an unruly child when you are trying to create an air of mystery and intrigue. We are Tarot Readers not babysitters. Never let anyone take advantage of your tent or your time!

Rule number two, make sure you have a child friendly deck to use. When I went to the Carnival of Terror, I only brought my Rider Waite deck. In retrospect, I wish I had brung a deck that was more child friendly and did not contain nudity. The Rider deck's nudity is not graphic but it is there are some cards contain totally naked people. Learn from me, I ended up getting some disapproving looks from a couple of parents, especially when their kids were pointing at the Star card saying, "boooooobies." Yeah... that was not a comfortable time to be me. You do not want to introduce a random child to anatomy. Save that for their parents or biology teachers! Next time I am at a public function where there will be children, I am going to make sure to use my Fairy Deck or perhaps find something else to use. Runes or Witch Stones might be a good idea because they contain zero naked parts. Another thing to keep in mind is the imagery on your deck. It may not be a wise idea to use the Zombie Tarot for example, to read for a nine year old. Keep your decks lighthearted and fun for the youngin's out there. Note: I just assumed reading at a Haunted House, would result in older people getting readings done instead of children. You know the old saying to never assume, listen to those old sayings!

Someday I will get a real camera...

Rule number three, because apparently, I love rules, you will need to think about some cards like Death. Do you really want the Death card to come up for a child? Do you really want to explain to them about how it does not actually mean Death and do you think they will actually listen? If I were you, I would remove it. Unethical to remove cards? Yes I think so, but do I want to explain it to some random ten year old, no thanks! There are decks out there that are specifically for children, but I don't see the point investing money into a deck I would only use a couple of times. Instead, I think it is better to modify whichever deck you plan to use. You will also need to think about how you would explain cards like the Three of Swords or Ten of Swords to a child. Depending on their age, the Three of Swords could be described as being sad and dealing with emotions. The Ten of Swords might be a nasty classmate or friend who likes to gossip. Do you just gloss over the meaning, rewording them to be child friendly?  Really think about your delivery and how you approach those not so nice cards. Another thing to consider are the more racy cards like the Lovers or the Nine of Cups. There are other cards too that you may want to be cautious about. A mistake that I made was telling a child when they got the Moon, that there were spirits around them. Little kid me would have LOVED to hear that. This kid was nervous and his mom immediately made me clarify that they were not bad spirits. Something that is so commonplace and normal to an adult could be scary to a child. This is where the idea of using runes or witch stones might be a better alternative when reading publicly for children. 

Witch's Runes

Not a rule but something else to consider are spreads. I typically use the Celtic Cross spread.* Its my go to spread, but it really does not translate well for children. There is too much information in the Celtic Cross for someone who has only been on this earth for a couple of years. I personally prefer to use a three card spread that covers the basics- past, present, future. These spreads typically do not go too deep into the past and I find they work well. Lastly an easy go to is a 12 card / 12 month spread that just covers each month of the year. This one seems to work well and is popular with children I have read for.

When it comes to reading for teens, I work a little differently. Teens are probably my favourite age group to read for because they have this vibrancy about them. Young people are open minded, they are excited and willing to listen. If you are on the younger side of teenager-hood (I made a new word- fancy) your parent or guardian should either be present or at least pop in to tell me that its okay. They do not need to stay for the reading, but I still want their permission.
The cut off for parental permission for me is that if you are old enough to drive a car, you are old enough to decide for yourself whether you should get a Tarot Reading or not. I know a lot of people say 18, which makes perfect sense and I agree, but full disclosure, I would probably not turn a 16 or 17 year old away. Plus some of them are more mature than people my age, so there is always that.

There are still some things to consider when reading for teens. First your deck choice. I don't think you have to be as cautious about nudity as you do with children but you still need to remember that they are minors. None of us want to turn into the "creepy Tarot Reader" on the circuit. Some Tarot decks are basically softcore porn, The Witches Tarot is a perfect example of that. I would not use that deck, seriously though, have you seen that deck? The nudity is very 80's and it just gives me the weirdest vibe. They need to spice that one up, but alas thats a whole other post. Unlike reading for children, you can be a little more creative with your deck selection. The Zombie Tarot, Halloween Tarot or Tarot of the Dead might be fun for this age group (upon re-reading this before posting, I noticed I listed all spooky decks. I just cannot turn my brain off of Halloween). You can also be old school like me and stick with old faithful, the Rider Waite-Smith and I think you would be fine.

Picking a Tarot spread for this age group is easy as well. By thirteen you have seen some things. You should have had some major experiences by this point. Therefore I believe the Celtic Cross works fine or any other Tarot spread you want to use would also work great. There is just enough past for the past cards to  make sense. I love telling young people about their future loves, careers and adventures. 90% of the time its something positive and gives them something to look forward to. I always slip in a little guidance counsellor like wisdom with messages of "staying in school", "following your dreams" and "being open to love" because hey, why not plant some positive seeds. You might just be the reason they decide to stay in school if they think it is written in the stars that they will be successful. Note: I am not saying to manipulate a teen by telling them everything will work out and be dandy, but I see no harm in telling someone hard work will pay off or to follow their dreams. You the always mysterious, Tarot Reader may be a beacon of hope for some young person. Keep this in mind. Which brings me to my next point.

What about those cards that are not so nice? How do you explain them to an impressionable teen? This one is not easy because teens are old enough to pick up on the symbols on the cards. They are also very intuitive so trying to hide something from them will probably result in embarrassment. I try to treat teens like adults and am very black and white about what I see. The good thing is that you can explain to a teenager that the Death card means change and not physical death or that the Three of Swords means heartache.  They are often wiser than we give them credit for.
There is a balance in Tarot of light and dark cards so eventually you will get someone who for lack of a better term, gets a really shitty reading. This especially sucks when it happens to a young person. Again its all about delivery. There is no need to tell a young person that something horrible is going to happen. Be delicate and explain that nothing is set in stone and that these cards are showing up as a warning about what can be avoided. An example is the Devil. Maybe this person has been getting into things they should not be doing, maybe they succumb to peer pressure. This would be a good way to let them know they can think for themselves and that they can avoid going down a bad path if they listen to themselves instead of everyone else. There is a positive in every card so if you get a young person who has a lot of negative cards, do everything you can to make sure they leave feeling happy with a new point of view on how they can navigate growing up. I wish I had a Tarot Reader who could have helped me through those awkward years!

Last but not least this part is for the parents who may be on the fence about letting their most precious angels/ sometimes devils get a Tarot reading. First it is super important to do your research. Make sure you take them to someone who has a good reputation. Read testimonials, check out their website, ask around, creep their Facebook or Twitter account. If you get someone who takes Tarot seriously and is not just messing around for a few extra bucks, you will not be disappointed. Please be weary of anyone who just pops up claiming they can read the cards. There are a lot of weirdos out there but you don't need me to tell you that. Don't be afraid to ask the reader questions or talk to them before hand. Be prepared that no one, not even the Tarot Reader will know what is going to pop up during the reading. If this makes you feel sketchy, Tarot may not be for your young one just yet. If you are still with me, know that if there are topics that you do not want discussed, just let them know. Any reader worth their incense, crystals and salt will be respectful of these requests and would appreciate the heads up. Tarot is an age old tradition of fun, mystery and exploring the unknown, remember that this is for entertainment. If you have any reservations whatsoever, than my recommendation is to NOT allow your child to get a reading done. As your Tarot reading guide, I like to think we are not going anywhere so we will always be around when the time is right.

*For anyone who is not familiar, the Celtic Cross is a fairly traditional Tarot spread which consists of ten cards, that cover everything from the past to the future, issues hiding under the surface, how others see you, hopes and fears and everything else in-between. 

Death

Death XIII

My oldest foe Death,

How I fear your visit

The clasp of your cold hand

The scent of your presence,

I live in your black shadow

You great bringer of sorrow.
Forcing the wheel of life to turn

Encourager of new seasons,

Without the demise of Winter

Spring would not burst forth.

Without you, would I know joy

Experience purest happiness,

Without comparison to your gloom.

My dearest friend Death,

Do you know what love is?
 

-N. Thiemann

This card needs no fancy heading or funny play on words. It needs not a paragraph on the February weather or my usual initial banter- though I do have some good Tarot Adventure stories and updates for my next post. This my friends, readers and fellow bloggers is the most infamous card of them all. Featured in countless horror movies, detective novels, surrounded by a smokescreen of mystery and fear. Why do we fear this card so much? Is it because most of us are inherently scared to die? I sometimes think this card is so powerful because we can all connect with it. Every one of us has experienced death in our lives or will eventually experience it. I remember my first exposure death. Like most people, it was the passing of a pet, my first dog, Tramp. I will never forget the day I found out Tramp had passed on. I think we all remember our first experience realizing that the fragility of life is a very real thing.  Out of all of the cards, this is the one I respect the most. I have the upmost respect for the grieving and the afraid. We are all in this together. Side note: my dog was named after "Lady and the Tramp" (it was the 90's) and we thought that would be a fitting name for the scruffy terrier/weiner dog that he was. Afterwards we realized that might not have been a good "dog name" after all. The little bastard- I say that with love, had a real passion for running away and it would result in my mother yelling, "Tramp" loudly out the door. I think a lot of people in our neighbourhood might have took it personally based on our popularity with the neighbours...

Many people in the Tarot community tread lightly when this card makes an appearance in a reading. I believe in following some serious Tarot ethics and one of those things is to never tell someone they or a person they love are going to die. Lets leave that conversation for medical professionals who can really tell you how much more time you have on the clock. This is not something for a Tarot Reader, in my opinion, to get into. I have a close friend whom a Reader once told her mother that her father would die within the year. She spent a year worrying every time he coughed or went out. He is still kicking today. You see, there is no need to plant that seed in someone's mind. Even if I do see a death, I personally would never tell someone. Does that make me dishonest? Maybe. I'm not losing any sleep at night. Plus it is very rare that this card does mean an actual death in the first place. Which is a perfect way to lead into our next paragraph...

 

This card does indeed mean the end of something, hence the title, "Death" but that could mean the end of many things. Depending on the cards surrounding it, it could indicate the end of a job or relationship. Usually it lets you know that the end will be a GOOD thing. The sun is pictured rising which is always a symbol for better things to come. When the cards around Death are a mismatch of all sorts of different meanings than I take it as a sign of BIG CHANGES to come. It can indicate a whirlwind like change, where you feel like everything is happening around you but you have lost control. Oftentimes this will come up for people who have been having a terrible year or they are feeling lost on their path. This card really wants you to just, roll with it or go with the flow. There is no sense fighting what we cannot change. Like physical death, we can put on anti aging face cream or workout until the cows come home but in the end the Reaper will always be waiting. I am just a ball of sunshine today folks! When this card is coupled with the Three of Swords, Nine of Swords or Ten of Swords, this is when I would think about physical death. Again, I caution you, please use your discretion. No one needs to hear about their demise from a psychic. If you are someone who feels that their querent should hear all news, please be gentle in your delivery and remember even the best of us can be wrong. I strongly urge discretion when sharing information like this and the consideration of not sharing this info at all.

 

Getting Acquainted with Death

 

It is no surprise to anyone who knows me personally, that I am a little on the morbid side. My house is pretty much Halloween ready 365 days a year- however it is classy not tacky- there is a very fine line folks. I love horror in all its many forms. Growing up I lived beside a cemetery so my parents would take me there to play. That's where I learned to ride my bike and used to go sliding. I was always a little antisocial even as a child and would go to the cemetery to relax and sort out my thoughts. The cemetery that I frequent is called Fernhill and it is where my family has been laid to rest for many generations and it truly is my "happy place". Please do not be fooled, even though I surround myself in spooky imagery and take relaxing strolls through the cemetery, I am terrified of death and my own future demise.

 

I have been trying to figure out some exercises to help anyone interested get more in tune with this card. My recommendation would be to take a stroll through your local cemetery, if this type of place does not bother you. Make an afternoon of it. You will be surprised at how much history you will uncover. Do some cemetery etchings or maybe take some pictures. You might just capture a couple of ghostly images. If you do decide to do this exercise please be respectful of the cemetery and those who are laid to rest there. If you bring your dog, clean up after him or her otherwise, I will get on my broomstick and find you! Nothing bothers me more than people who let their pets run rampant in a place that should be respected. This is not an amusement park! *takes off ranting hat*

 

 

If you are not comfortable with the cemetery, which I completely understand why not embrace the change aspect of this card. Take a little trip to a nearby town and check out some new sights. Do something different that you would not typically do. See what happens when you bring new change into your life!

 

Getting to know Lady Justice

Justice XI

 

I know in the last post I had said that I would see you in 2016, but typical me, I lied. I have just been feeling the Tarot love so strongly lately that I had to do another post. Can you believe that tonight is Christmas Eve, which has always been my favorite part of the holiday, what about you? Did you find 2015 flew by at an insanely fast rate? I know I did! I just cannot believe that tomorrow is Christmas  and then next week marks the end of 2015! Insane! I already said it in my Yule post but I will just say it one more time, I am very grateful for all the wonderful things that have happened this year. Tarot has taken me on so many adventures it has been mystically, marvelous (see what I did there?)! I am grateful to the Tarot community: fellow Readers, Bloggers, Tweeters, FB Posters, and of course my Tarot Family over at Tarot with Tasha. It has been an amazing year full of Tarot and I am super excited for our adventures in 2016! Lets get on with the card, shall we?

 

Well sexy, beautiful, studly, handsome readers, we made it to the eleventh card, Justice. I must confess, up until like yesterday, I thought this was a man. Somehow Lady Justice and the Justice card never matched up in my mind- blonde moment! (I do think it's pretty badass that the Justice card is also a blonde lady, did the Tarot cards predict Legally Blonde was going to happen all those years ago? Sorry I got sidetracked...) You probably can tell by now, that I am more drawn to the watery lovey cards thus far than I am the more stern cards. Its just my personality and has nothing to do with the importance of these more "stern" cards. Justice is all about getting what is owed. Sometimes that can work in your favor, other times not so much, but in the end you deserve what is coming you way. It can be thought of like Karma. You are getting back what you put out. If you have been a good person and have done your best, this card is here to let you know you are going to get some form of payoff or reward. On the flipside, if you have been a bit of an a-hole then you can expect your "up-n-comin's" as my late grandfather would have said. This card can also indicate a possible legal issue or having to go through the justice system. In a career reading, this could mean a possible career in one of the many professions inside of the justice system. Lady Justice (now that I know she is a lady) wants you to weigh both sides of the coin, think about both sides of the story and make a fair decision. Its about thinking things through and doing your best to do what's right instead of what is easy. In her left hand she holds a set of scales meaning weighing your options. The sword represents punishment by not following the simple rule of being fair to others. The crown on her head represents that even the justice system is not to be held above the common folk- too bad this isn't practiced in all justice systems... I will just keep my opinions on that to myself!

 

Keys to remember: Fairness, karma, weighing your options, possible career within the justice system, getting what's owed.

 

An exercise in Karma:

When thinking about an exercise that would bring the Justice Card into your life, I kept thinking Karma and how could we play with that. I don't expect you to right your Karma by going out on a limb and trying to fix old relationships etc. Old relationships are in the past for a reason and we don't want to make our lives messy. Instead, I think it would be a good idea to try to bring some good Karma into your life. Go out and do something nice for someone not expecting anything in return. This could be buying a coffee for a stranger, taking your dog for an extra long walk or to a dog park, helping a family member or friend. Just go out there and do something that is nice for someone who deserves some good Karma to come into their life. Let Lady Justice guide you and think on the card before you go do your good deed. You never know, Karma might come around for you and you might get a little somethin' somethin' from the universe!

 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!