I just joined and am seething with questions, but I'll refrain myself lest I get lost or lose others.

I started studying Tarot through books uncounted when I was thirteen or so. I remember being unable to make the jump from the "card labels" -like "good prospects", "disgrace" and so on- to the coherent story I wanted to get from the spread. In fact, it took me many years to feel confident enough to venture my own interpretations -while still checking the meanings afterwards-. Now I have no problem doing a spot reading at a friend's when asked: usually I feel quite satisfied with results. But I still have a feeling that I could go much deeper, like peeling layer after layer of each card and the spread as a whole, though I usually give different view points if I can get them from the reading.

My question being: how long should we devote to a reading? does it depend on the seeker? the reading? the cards?

I just read a helpful post on "sleeping on a question" before actually doing a reading. I suppose that's easy to do here, but it would look a bit odd if I tried it in front of my mystified friends  

I'll leave it at that for now, although the more I read, the more questions seem to pop up.

Thank you all for being there!  

Hi Pirbid, Welcome to Mystic Board

In answer to your question... how long is a piece of string?  A reading can be 2 minutes or 2 days!   Personally I don't ever sleep on a question or reading, but then that's probably because I am quite practised at reading in real time. I try and make sure I am not rushed or pushed for time. Sometimes it is wonderful to do a long reading other times lots of short ones hits the spot lol.

The two main decks that have a real depth of meaning to discover and delve into their layers are the Rider Waite Smith and The Thoth, their history and symbology aswell as astrological correspondences and dignities give a lot of scope for meanings and interpretation whilst still having a common base.

Which deck do you use then?

Don't forget, Gem, that some people actually like and only use the TdM (Tarot de Marseille). *shutters in horror at the thought*

Length of the reading: Depends on how many cards and how indepth you want the reading. Also if you're adding in the "extras" of astrology, numology, etc, etc, etc...and NO you do NOT need to learn any of those to have a great indepth reading of tarot.

Some times it all depends on the question and/or the seeker...One person will be happy with one sentence tarot reading, another may want to know the ins and outs and whys and what fors and still not be happy.

Sleeping on the Question: Honestly I've never heard of and personally wouldn't do it because I'm likely to forget the question by that time. Sleeping on the reading I've heard of but again some reason as the question I won't do.

Now an interesting theory of questions though which I read somewhere is this:

Write down your question, then look over it and see what part you play in it. Are you (seeker in general) taking an active role in this question or are you excepting someone/thing else to be active? IE:

What will happen if I apply for this job? OR What can I do when I apply for this job?

The first while fine leaves a lot of wiggle room. The latter question make you responsible for applying for the job and if you want to add: to make me look like the best person? it gives you an even more defined and active role.

Hehehe, I actually typed TdM then deleted it!  Why? Because I didn't think it was a deck that fitted the criteria. It has 'pips' that are very hard for novices to read and the majors are, for the most part, like the RWS, so I left it out  hehehe now I am waiting for TdM's to come get me........ tra-la-la ca ce'st vraie n'est pa?

Gem, sometimes also it depends on if you are using the cards as a tool for a reading ..or doing the reading completely by the cards..Some psychic will use cards to sort of jump start the reading also..They may use a 3 card spread to just get it going...But, like the others said it could be a minute it could be hours..Myself, i have never heard of sleeping on a reading question either..I have been ask a question and had it later answer in my sleep again..But, to do it the other way around .i haven't heard of that..Like you said the client may wonder what is going on with that...lol.