The other night I woke at 3am, full of anxiety about an issue that was on my mind. I felt full of uncertainty and I really just wanted answers, guidance and comfort. Whenever I feel sick to my stomach with worry, I reach for my Crystal Visions Tarot and my Angel cards.
But I knew that if I did a reading for myself in this state of confusion and fear, it would end up being a jumbled, nonsensical reading.
So I made an extra effort to ground myself and clear the energy in the room – clearing the decks for a great reading to take place.
Once sacred space and clear intention had been created, I felt so calm and grounded and ready to read the cards. The reading I did for myself was amazing – it was clear and accurate and left me feeling totally connected to my angels and guides, like they were right in the room with me! However, I know it would not have been so crystal clear and uplifting had I not taken the steps the I did before the reading.
Here is my personal formula for creating sacred space and clearing my energy:
1) Light some candles, turn down the lights and put on some relaxing music
2) Sage my aura – I do this by lighting a bundle of dried sage and wafting the smoke around me, with the intention of clearing my energy field of any fear or anxiety
3) Clear my reading space by wafting the sage smoke around my reading table
Sit calmly and “ground” my energy by taking slow, even breaths and visualizing any negative energy or worry draining out through my feet and into the floor. I make a conscious effort to connect my energy to the earth’s energy
4) Connect with my deck by holding it in my hands, closing my eyes and asking my Angels, spirit guides and higher self for help and guidance with my particular issue
5) Begin the reading with absolute trust that the cards that I choose are the ones I need to see at this time
I cannot tell you the countless times I have not taken these steps and instead did a rushed, panicky reading in a frantic attempt to get the answers I was looking for. It never worked out when I did it that way!
Creating sacred space makes your reading special and sends a message to the universe that you take this seriously – so expect to get outstanding results when you try this. Doing this one thing will change the quality of your readings in profound ways.
Perhaps you have your own ritual or steps for creating sacred space and clearing your energy before a reading? If you do, I would love to hear about them in the reply section below!!!
Kate,
I truly appreciate all that you share on this blog. I am new to Tarot and just love that you are so generous with your knowledge. Thank you!
MJ
I’ve done the same things you have and had the best readings. I’ll admit I don’t always do it but when I do it works wonders.
I have a bracelet with small silver bells that I got at Christmas time. The bells make a light, sweet sound that helps change my state of mind and clear the air. I also have some small brass bells that also have a gentle light sound that I use sometimes. In addition, my mom had given me some wonderful lavender spray. Spraying it above my head and over the area and feeling the cool, fragrant mist drop down gently over me is calming and clearing for me – and my cats like it too weirdly enough. Holding my hands in a prayer position and pressing on the breastbone in the center of the chest is an accupressure spot called “the sea of tranquility”. The pressure along with the prayer position also seems to help me. There is also a hand mudra that creates a lotus blossom unfolding and opening to receive from the universe that helps remind me that the universe is ready to fill my hands and my heart with gentle assistance and encouragement. Namaste =)
In case you didn’t figure it out from my post – I need A LOT of strategies for grounding and clearing due to anxiety, worry, stress, negativity. Life is tough. Being human is tough sometimes.
Hi Tess,
These are some good suggestions – I have known some readers to ring little bells before reading as a way of clearing the space/energy. Sometimes I use a tibetan singing bowl to do this and it really works. I also have a spray that I use sometimes – its called “aura spray” and I spray it above my head – it isn’t lavender, but its a mix of other essential oils. It is supposed to bring a calming energy and connect you with the higher realms. I haven’t actually used it for readings yet, but I use it for everything else. i am going to try that hand position thing you mentioned – thank you!
Kate–
This is a lovely and profound post. Thanks for being so open about the occasional stresses in your own personal process. That encourages me so much more than just endless messages of “light.”
I just received my Oracle of Shadows and Light and (okay, instead of WORKING) was reading the accompanying book in which the author, Lucy Cavendish, was talking about how important it is to acknowledge our real selves/feelings even when they don’t meet with the current New-Age-y trend toward excessive positivity!
(If I were on Twitter, I might start an @excessivepositivity hash-tag thing.)
Love and mischief,
jme
For some reason your comment made me laugh – “endless messages of light”! I know what you mean. I feel the same way when I log into facebook and see all those positive quotes people post every five seconds. There is something a little dishonest about just talking about “light” all the time, since everyone experiences both light and darkness and darkness doesn’t go away when you ignore it.
I just adore your blog!! Thank you!
Thanks, Valerie! 🙂
Hugs to you,
Kate
This is such wonderful advice, Kate, thank you so much for sharing this. I, too, have had a similar situation happen were, in the frame of turmoil that I was experiencing, I chose not to do a reading for myself even though I really wanted to consult the cards for help, I was afraid it would be clouded and jumbled and unclear. The next time this happens, I will definitely try this technique, it sounds like it really worked for you and it’s comforting to know that it is possible to carry out a clear, precise reading even when things are disturbing you and hearing this gives me the confidence that it really can work. Thanks again, you always give out wonderful and thoughtful advice 🙂
Thanks Mel! Yes, its definitely possible to get a good reading despite having strong emotions just as long as you are able to calm down before the reading – if you try this, let me know how it goes.
Hugs,
Kate
I definitely will, thanks again for sharing 🙂