Reading A:
Client: “I know the relationship was extremely toxic and not the best for my health, but is he coming back?”
Diviner: “No, he is not. Also, your ancestors don’t think he was a good fit for you.”
Client: “Well, I’m a bit confused. Can we unpack that?”
Reading B:
Client: “What is my purpose?”
Diviner: “Spirit says you’re meant to be a teacher.”
Client: “What kind of teacher?”
Diviner: “A spiritual one. Your practice will give you the tools, and once you’ve mastered them, you will need to share them.”
Client: “I’ve been told that before, but I don’t like to teach. And honestly, I don’t think that’s what I am supposed to be doing.”
Diviner: “What do you think you should be doing?”
Client: “Something else, but I don’t know what.”
Someone is laughing or kicking the air at the examples I just shared, but the truth is, we have all been there when it comes to spiritual readings. In short, we ask questions about things we already know the answer to. The reality is, our Spirit doesn’t lie to us, but sometimes we need a little grounding to believe it. Or, in many cases, you may book a reading to get the answer. However, you must understand that your Diviner, spiritual advisor, Babalawo, Iyanifa, or Woo-woo lady is not obligated to tell you what you want to hear! If you prefer to book with a charlatan, trust, you have many options, haha. If you are seeking “the real deal,” it is imperative to exercise proper etiquette during a spiritual consultation so you can get the answers you need to move through life in a way that is healthy, progressive, and, overall, aligned with your true path!
Spiritual readings are all the rage, and honestly, it’s been that way since the beginning of time. I know people try to act like they are afraid of it, but depending on where they’re at in life, everyone has interacted with or been curious about the woo! With that said, there are some things we must discuss regarding how to conduct yourself during a consultation, especially if you would like to maintain a relationship with your Diviner. Be mindful of the blatant fact that your Diviner is not a therapist, now, can they be a licensed therapist in addition to a diviner, absolutely! However, you can bet your monthly rent that there will always be a time and place during your consultation where those hats will have their turn to be worn. Meaning, when the divination is performed, if God/Spirit/Deity speaks, your Diviner is responsible for those messages they receive from above. Even if they are using their gift of tarot divination or mediumship, they must be present and focused on the agenda at hand. This part does not require personal reflections from you or your Diviner. Stay with me, haha. Then, when it comes to a conversation that you two may have regarding what has been revealed, psychology, or at least coming to a better understanding of what is at hand, can come into play. Again, there is a time and place. Which brings me to the first tip:
Tip #1: Listen without interruption. When you listen, you can hear more.
Yes, the reading is about you or is yours, but your Diviner does not work for you. They are providing a service to you, which means this is Spirit’s playground, and we are here to visit. There is a time when the park closes, haha. Sometimes a client can have so many thoughts racing through their mind, or what we call “overthinking,” that they miss the opportunity to grasp what Spirit is trying to tell them, which is usually the solution to a problem or the insight they claim to have been desperately seeking. To listen more, not only should you meditate and focus on being present before your consultation, but you should also be specific about what you are inquiring about. Now, if you’re working with a Diviner who doesn’t require you to state your problem or question to begin the reading, mentally hold on to your inquiry. At the same time, think about what you need answered or the insight you need to achieve your higher purpose. Again, you should pray or meditate on what you need from this reading before it takes place, as well as the protection you need as you agree and participate in this energy exchange. Now, if it truly doesn’t apply, let it fly, but you will never know if you’ve already made up your mind on what you want to hear. Which leads to number two:
Tip #2 Have an open mind and an open heart. Allow God to provide.
If you have all the answers and are sure about them, there wouldn’t be a need for a spiritual service. Participating in a spiritual reading, especially when you are seeking, is like agreeing with the fact that you are looking for higher guidance, so why not remain open when it comes to what you hear? I know firsthand how clients ruin their ability to elevate because they are not genuinely open to what is being said, and sometimes this is because they do not know how to interpret it. This comes from seeking Spirit’s message without knowing how to talk to Spirit! These answers are within us, and when we have trouble reaching or hearing them, or believing them, we must rely on an elder or an expert in the divination arts to help paint the picture we need to see.
They say God’s wisdom is hidden, sounds like a whisper, and is revealed only to those who are genuinely ready to receive. Cutting off your Diviner unnecessarily, talking longer than your Diviner in their one-hour service, and the constant need to “unpack” illustrate that you’re not interested in hearing God’s wisdom as much as you are interested in hearing your own voice. Which means? Your mind, your heart, and definitely your ears are not ready to receive what needs to be received. And truth be told, sometimes Spirit makes your Diviner fully aware of this, haha. This is important to consider when you think a reading is underwhelming or didn’t really tackle what you wanted. People have come to me for insight about an ex, and Spirit has instructed me not to divulge any information, even saying, “they need to be focused on other things!” And even when I’ve tried to ask for a little something to satisfy the client, the messages were never clear or consistent. Hey, I’m just the messenger! Whatever does come, understand that it may be what you need to focus on instead of feeding your ego. In other words, embrace the openness, understanding that neither YOU nor I gets to decide what God wants to talk about or what God thinks we need to hear. Your ancestors who are rooting for you damn sure care about what you want to hear, haha. Take a chill pill, haha. And above all, remember this final tip:
Tip #3: Embrace the journey. Change is a beautiful constant.
Did you know that “all the rules can change based on divination” and that even your own actions can switch the outcome of your reading? If a diviner told you that you’re being advised to leave a job or a relationship, and you continue to move forward with it, you can kiss some of the sweet blessings mentioned in the reading, bye-bye! You have changed the format or “broken the rules,” and based on that divination, the rules can become null and void. There’s a reason why IFA practitioners must do divination again if they take more than 9 days to pay for ebo from a recent reading. Things change all the time, and yesterday’s price isn’t today’s price unless explicitly confirmed, haha. When you are truly embracing the journey, that means walking with faith and releasing your attachments. A lot of people ask about people they won’t be with in 3 months; they ask for a ritual for a situation that won’t matter in a year, or worse, someone they eventually want to go back to.
Imagine trying to continue dating someone you were trying to “work” and this is not your spouse or the parent of your children. Would you tell them? Probably not, haha. Also, if you’re one of those who like to “quiz” your Diviner by not sharing any helpful information and crossing your legs (if you know, you know), do you want help or to be “wowed”? Embracing the journey means you’re not trying to control anything, because you know that, to be aligned with your purpose, you must be free. There is no need to get multiple consultations a month, consult the cards for every little thing, or think a challenge or obstacle is automatically the result of a spiritual attack from an enemy. As always, everything is everything. And what is taking place in your life is meant to be viewed as an assignment. An assignment, if done with the intention of doing your very best, your esteem, your vision, and your chances will all be up. Stay the course.
Lastly, record your readings, whether through a voice recorder or note-taking. Take a spiritual bath after every spiritual reading to prevent energy leaks and to keep necessary spiritual doors closed. Reread or relisten to your divinations as many times as you need to crack any codes, haha. Keep in mind that your Diviner is magical but also very much human. They have feelings and essential things to do, like you. Make sure to pick a reader who is professional, authentic, and above all, honest. If your intuition tells you to find a new one, do it! Be conscious of personal bias and customs, especially if you’re receiving a reading from a practitioner of an ancient tradition. Bring some rum, gin, flowers, cigars, coffee, or tea to offer to their ancestors or Spirits, in addition to your payment, if having the reading in person. If it is done virtually, don’t be afraid to extend a compliment via a written review or a tip! Make sure to give the female priestesses the same respect you would give the male ones. Get out of your head that just because they are your same gender or are known for being nurturers, that you can become overly comfortable. Again, let them do their thing and ask for their permission to unpack, go deeper, or dump before taking the initiative. Especially if you do have a therapist you can do these things with, if not, consider getting one so you can utilize all the right tools!
Now, I have given you the fundamentals in how to conduct yourself for the best interest of yourself and Diviner. Stay classy, and remember, no matter what you hear or don’t hear, the answers are within. Don’t freak, haha.
Connect soon,
D. Monique Thomas