I’m really comfortable doing readings in person, but I’m looking at maybe making that move and doing readings online instead.
I read the guides on doing readings for people online and this, but I’m thinking more about how I can get people to practice with me. We had a thread a while ago which was people offering to do practice readings for each other, but I don’t know if that’s still going.
I want to practice more. Specifically with online readings. I was thinking about offering free pulls on socials, or maybe here on the forum, just to get the reps in. The logistics are what I can’t figure out. Do they just message me their question and I shuffle while reading what they wrote? Or do I need to set up some energy connection first, like a grounding ritual or visualization before I even touch the deck? Without that face-to-face energy, I can’t read their mood or ask follow-ups about what they’re actually hoping for.
Maybe that’s just a beginner concern and it stops mattering once you’ve done enough readings, which I obviously haven’t. Anyway, tips from people who do this regularly would help a lot.
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Most readings leave you with more questions than answers.
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The logistics are simpler than you might think (and I’m not very techy at alll).
You can shuffle on camera and fan the cards so the client can call numbers or point for you to flip. Or have them shuffle and cut on their end while you watch, then they pick the packet or top cards. For text or async, some use online shufflers with a screenshare so it’s transparent. On video, my usual flow is close to in-person. I get them to take a couple of breaths and settle, then shuffle until they tell me to stop. Sometimes I cut them into three piles and let them choose which one to read from. I usually build the spread around their actual question instead of locking one in ahead of time.
Hold the cards up to the camera while you talk through them. Snapping a photo of the spread and emailing it after is handy too. The mood/energy thing does get easier. You start catching their tone, the pauses, and the way they phrase the question.
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The energy worry fades faster than you’d expect. I had the exact same hangup when I started, but it ended up being more about prep than presence. Tarot connections don’t need physical space. You’re linking energetically either way, and that clicks after a handful of readings. My routine’s basically the same as in-person, other than checking my connection is working and the video is clear (wiping your camera lens can go a long way).
Clear the space and my head, light a candle, set crystals if they feel right, do a quick invocation, then sit with their name and question for a few minutes before shuffling. Those pre-reading impressions are often the most useful part. You pick up on tone and phrasing instead of in-person mood cues. Plenty of readers actually prefer remote for that reason, with fewer distractions and more direct focus. The cards respond to intention, so it doesn’t matter who’s physically pulling them as long as you’re tuned into that person.
Ask clarifying questions upfront (what’s been going on, what kind of answer they’re after) before you shuffle. That back-and-forth is the energy connection. Leave space at the end for follow-ups too. Give it a few free practice rounds; the first ones feel weird for everyone.
The best way to learn is by getting the reps in by doing free poems. There is that thread somewhere, but it works well with friends and family.
I would suggest being comfortable with offline readings first. Online creates a little bit more jank with the lag and delay on video. Things are a little bit less organic when you’re not used to it. Start with people who you don’t have any pressure to perform. I wouldn’t start online with paid clients. Friends and family give you a little bit of flexibility to make mistakes while you’re learning.
The best thing about going online is you’ll have more practice clients than you know what to do with, probably within a week. That gives you a lot of opportunity for practice.
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Pairing clear quartz with your digital readings helps bridge that energy gap when you can’t read someone in person.
Don’t overthink it too much. It might take a little practice to get used to being online, but you’ll actually get a lot more practice reading, which means you get a lot faster at reading the cards in general. If you’re worried enough to ask about it then you care about the quality of your readings so you’re already better than most readers.
Don’t worry about it.
Daily free readings are the best practice out there. Yeah, we had an old thread, but I think people were abusing it to find clients here and spamming so it got taken off. If you make a new one and offer to do some readings though, I’m sure you’ll get plenty of people willing to let you pull a few cards and practice.
Focus on the person and their question while you shuffle. The energy connection comes through that intention, not some special ritual or setup. Just draw your cards like normal, snap a photo, and type out what you’re seeing. I’ve only done text-based readings this way, never video or voice. My gut says it probably works pretty much the same for in-person, but it’s hard to know without trying those formats.
If you were doing video readings then I’d probably just look at the cards and not at the camera because I feel like it would be taking me out of it, not like looking at a person. I like doing written ones with a photo though; it gives me time to think about the meanings and writing a reading is sort of meditative.
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I used to think online readings would feel impersonal. I did one because someone basically begged me back when we were all locked inside and… didn’t hate it. In some ways it was actually a lot more comfortable for both of us and it let me get a lot better at reading the Tarot in a short amount of time.
Bit awkward at first but the energy flows the same if you stay present and it will feel normal after the first couple of goes. Now I just chat normally and focus on their question. I do ask for a bit more context though, like who it’s about or what’s on their mind, so I’m not guessing. Listening to their exact words and trusting my intuition works just as well through a screen.
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Voice memos might work better than typed interpretations sometimes. My tone carries nuance that text flattens, especially with heavier cards like the Tower or Three of Swords. Add a soft disclaimer at the end about reflection versus prediction, since it sets a healthier container, especially with strangers where you don’t know their emotional state.
Give your cards a little stage. Something tender that helped me.
I think a lot of Tarot readers, especially the talented ones have imposter syndrome and that can feel worse when you’re doing an online reading. So take a few minutes just to improve the look of your video/photo and you’ll feel a lot more confident about it. A phone camera is more than fine. A clean cloth and soft natural light help, along with holding the camera steady when you take the photo. Small things, but they add up in ways the querent feels before they read a single word.
Ask for a recent selfie before you start. Sounds weird, I know. Holding their image while shuffling gives me the same anchor that eye contact does in person, and once you feel that click it’s hard to read without it. Works for me anyway.
Honestly? My most accurate readings happen over Zoom now. The setup is simple. I have them project their energy body through the screen, hands hovering over mine while they focus on their question, and I shuffle for them in real time.
Pulled the Tower last week, right before the client mentioned this huge life upheaval she hadn’t brought up yet. Connection felt just as strong as sitting across from someone at my table, maybe stronger some days.