Dealing with client's stories

[FairyCrystal]

So what do you do when someone asks you to do a reading for them and they send you their entire life's sob-story, almost an A4, always incoherent.

I never feel like reading it, I'm more like, just tell me what you want the reading to be on, I don't need to read all that chit.
Love? Okay, then tell me the current situation, single or not, seeing someone or not, and what you're looking for, and I'll do the reading.
All that info puts my system on overload and distracts me.

Now if that happened just once, but I got more people who do that.

What do you do in such cases? Do you read it regardless, do you ask them to be more concise? What?

[tealily]

I skim it; I'm currently not using an online form, but previously I did, and deliberately made it so that there was a set word limit on how much background info they could write :)

Fortunately people who are really emotional tend to be rare, so it all evens out :)

[angelic star]

I always have enough time when I am reading for someone and they have my attention.
If you are talking of online letters for free reads, I cannot always check them.

[Anne]

I deal with TMI from clients at my job every day and it can be very draining.

As an empath with a long history, my go-to lately at work is ‘shields up’!

As a tarot card reader, I realize I’m vulnerable and hesitant to take on more than I can chew, which is why I mainly read for myself. It’s hard to stay open all of the time...

But to those wishing to expand and explore reading for others, as tealily suggests, hopefully things even out at the end. Avanti !! :))

[FairyCrystal]

Originally Posted by tealily

I skim it; I'm currently not using an online form, but previously I did, and deliberately made it so that there was a set word limit on how much background info they could write :)

Fortunately people who are really emotional tend to be rare, so it all evens out :)

The form is a good idea!
The latter I don't agree on as it's mostly people with a problem of sorts who want a reading. People who's lives are going as they wish don't.

The latest fad seems to be to feel/think/be convinced that some celebrity is their Soulmate and they want a reading to find out if they're correct and/or what they should do.
Can it get any crazier?

I'm inclined to refuse those as I feel it will lead to unsatisfied customers. They're projecting hope onto a celebrity, and since cards don't lie -and neither do I-...

[Roses Are Red]

You know, I actually read the their whole life story, it gives me good context. I give myself like an hour for the whole thing.
If you do not like that.. then have them write you a short bullet points of what you need to know in order to understand their reading best. Put your request upfront so they know how to go forward. This is what I do in my practice.
hope this helps :)

[Compendium]

Ya know FC you should make a form for people to fill out so your specific questions get answered limiting sentences then give them a box with a max character limit.

As an empath I get the issue, but sometimes ppl have this need to unload and honestly it is a lonely world. We may have global connections with society now, but in reality ppl communicate and make connections less and less. People just want to be heard and loved and that is difficult to find. So they feel compelled to make any connection possible.

It is very exhausting though and honestly I dont want to hear the intimate details of someone's romantic life etc. I sleep terribly as it is and I dont nap so I am always tired which makes it even more difficult to deal with people. It is important to only take and do what you can handle. I limit my social life and encounters with people to a very bare minimum. I love people and I find it difficult to say no when someone needs help so I find its better to stay away at times and regroup.

Namaste`

[FairyCrystal]

Thanks! Maybe some sort of form will indeed help. I'll think about it, how I can do that.

Context to me is just distracting. It doesn't keep me up at night, but it tends to distort my readings.

Also, would you do a paid-for reading on love when it concerns a celebrity? Meaning you know upfront it's going to be negative, because it's just a figment of their imagination. I know the feelings ppl have with such idealizations can be strong, can make someone truly think/feel they have a connection with a singer/author/public figure. So you know you are going to disappoint the readee. Do you then do that reading? In a way it is wasting your time and energy just cos you get paid for it.
Do you do that?

[tealily]

I would say it's personal choice - I always cite that I reserve the right to do readings for any reason :)

I'd be open to doing a paid reading for love regarding a celebrity, although I think the chances of the reading saying "uhh, not likely I'm afraid!" are reasonably high :) In this case, the tone of voice/choice of words becomes really important.

As a reader I figure I'm paid to do a reading, not as a guarentee that I'll be giving good news (although obviously we all try to make our readings as empowering as possible)

[FairyCrystal]

I like that approach, thank you. I guess sometimes I think too much like a blunt Taurus, haha.
But it is a good one, I don't get paid to deliver good new per say. And yes, I do aim to make my readings empowering. I always try to give people something they can do something with in the sense that they can work on something, meaning they (get a sense they) have control over their life, as opposed to them feeling life is happening to them.