A lot of times when I am reading people on the site I notice people talking about having a "bad reading." By that they usually mean that the psychic pulled a so-called "bad" cards, such as the Devil, The Tower of the Ten of Swords, in answer to their question.
First of all, you need to realize that there is no such thing as a "bad" reading. Usually "bad" means that the reader pulled cards that don't agree with your idea of what the desired answer to your question should be. Many of the "bad" cards are cards that indicate change. Most people fear or resist change as we all have a basic fear of the unknown.
There are a few cards in the Tarot that I know put the fear of God into trembling clients. These are the Tower, The Devil card, the Ace of Swords, the Ten of Swords and the Nine of Swords.
Of them all, possibly the worst one, in terms of sheer bad luck is the Ten of Swords, which can indicate cruelty from another person. The Ten of Swords usually indicates that a strange twist of fate as well as the wresting of control of your life into another's hands.
The Nine of Swords, on the other hand, indicates an emotional anguish that may be perpetrated by the questioner. In other words you may be doing it to yourself by holding on to a drama or an emotional drama from the past. In some ways that card is actually lucky as it shows that you hold the key to your own psychological prison and have the power to let yourself out. When I see the Nine of Swords in a reading, I know there is still hope for the individual to regain control over his or her life. It usual indicates that the person is willingly relinquishing or giving control to someone else. This is much different than the Ten of Swords indicates that the questioner is truly more helpless, may be suffering a genuine loss or is the victim of genuine cruelty.
Saturn, the planet of discipline and limitations, rules the Ace of Swords. Although this card can represent a loss, it is also a card that bodes the swift, just and righteous conclusion of a matter. There is not usually great suffering along with the Ace of Swords although the changes it can bring can be a bit of a shock to the nervous system of the questioner. This card also has a positive twist to in the sense that it can mean that you have paid a huge debt to your Bank of Karma. Ultimately, the Ace of Swords represents a change. For better or worse, this change is usually the right one for you.
The Devil card does not always bode gloom and doom. Sometimes it means fun and games. It represents the most playful part of human nature. It represents all Seven of the Deadly Sins. If you don't like food, sex and material things, then you might definitely see the devil card as being bad. In a love reading it can mean that a relationship will finally be consummated or the beginning of an affair. It can also be seen as a good card in a business reading as it can mean the signing of a contract. It can also represent a manipulative move that is about to be made that is actually to one's advantage. As it is a card that represents civilization and man's triumph over nature (often interpreted by many as God's intentions), it bodes well for creativity, innovation and invention.
Also where the card is positioned in the spread can have a great impact on the severity of its meaning. For instance if you are asking about having an affair with a married man and you pull the Devil card in the immediate future, then that card would be good news for you. However, if you were the wife asking, "is my husband cheating on me" the answer would have more negative implications. If you pull the Tower card, but positive cards surround it, it can mean the collapse of a situation for the better. If the Tower card is in the position that describes, "How others see you" you might simply be a drama queen rather than facing any real trouble in your life.
This is why it is important not to jump conclusions or react immediately if the psychic seems to pull a card that has a reputation as a 'bad card'. These cards are like clouds. Many of them boast silver linings.
Also, after getting a reading it is important to remember that what you are hearing is not necessarily "absolutely gospel." The true purpose of Tarot is to allow you to conceptualize the situation, so even if you get "bad cards", you have the opportunity to prepare for these changes or even in some cases, completely avoid them.
Ultimately there is no such thing as a "bad" reading and if you fear the outcome of a reading, there is really no point in torturing yourself. Many people so fear the so-called "bad" Tarot cards to the extent that they actually manifest them in the spread as the psychic can attach to their hopes and fears. The best thing to do is ask the question and then be prepared to be accountable for your own reactions to the cards as the psychic is not "liable" ethically or emotionally to suffer your displeasure or anxiety.
Asking a question of the Tarot, without fear, desire or anxiety attached to the matter, is the best way to receive the most accurate answer.
About the Author
Sam Steven's metaphysical articles have been published in many high-standing newspapers and she has published several books. You can meet Sam Stevens at http://www.psychicrealm.com where she works as a professional psychic. You can also read more of her articles at http://www.newagenotebook.com where she is the staff writer. Currently she is studying technology's impact on the metaphysics.