I know I haven't posted on the other threads yet... I'm trying to get comfortable with my mental knowledge, and familiarize myself with the cards more before I try a reading.  However, I wanted to know how we mentally prepare ourselves before we do a reading.  Meditation, just calming our minds down and focusing on the person?  I don't want to do something that makes the person think it's some "big deal" ceremony, and have them feel comfortable.  Yet at the same time, I don't want them thinking it's a game.  I want to maintain a good balance while doing a reading.  I wasn't sure where to post this, but since this is the first practice reading I thought I'd post my question here.

Hi Ive been watching your thread for replies but it looks like I'm going first
Tarot opens up the psychic abilities that we are all born with whether we acknowledge it or not when i read i calm my mind and put up protection against any negative energies this could be thought form or spirit enter-tie but i do this while alone. i have a nice velvet cloth i use for the table on which i place rose quarts for calming emotions and clear quarts for clarity Then while i shuffle the cards I'm tuning in to the person while also asking what they want out of the reading i also play soft back ground music when the music stops i try to bring the reading to a close

comfortable warm relaxed atmosphere with no signs of any oecus pock-use going on  

Thank you chrisdee! This helps a lot.  I did want to know the environment to read in also.  I've never seen/heard anyone discuss what they do in a reading, and this helps me think of ways that I may better read with.  When I practice my readings, I do calm my mind and ask a scenrio question.  I've also practiced with the "homework" we have.  I'm getting there, though a couple times I've read based on the general feeling everyone else would think of instead of what my heart felt.  I think I'm learning fairly quickly, though I have much to learn.  Thank you for your help! ((Hugs))  I like the idea of the rose & clear quartz too.  Thanks to the lady I met after discovering her store, I may end up using Crystal Ally as well.

Happy to be of assistance

Aww