What is tarot?
You might be surprised to discover that you already know the answer. At the most basic level, tarot cards are simply fetching images printed on cardstock. What we do with the cards is where things get interesting.
Tarot is many things at once: a card game, a divination system, and a tangible piece of art.
A tarot deck is made up of 78 cards, 22 of which are known as the major arcana. These cards are the iconic tarot images: Death, The Lovers, The Magician, etc. The remaining cards are divided amongst four suits like standard playing cards. Instead of hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds, tarot decks typically have cups, wands, swords, and pentacles.
From here the details are never ending and fascinating. For more information on the ins and outs of tarot, see my blog here. To get a sense of my philosophy as a reader, check here.
What can tarot do for me?
With tarot you really can lay all your cards out on the table, freeing yourself to examine what's really going on and to make decisions that work best for you.
Confused by a situation? Unsure what to do next? Looking for inspiration? You can address all this with the tarot.
It can engage with a wide range of issues, from big "meaning of life" questions to little questions like how to phrase an email.
Tarot can be used to:
brainstorm
spark creativity
track your progress
access your intuition
process past experiences
ask questions
get a sense of your life at the present moment
map goals
For information about how you can use the tarot for yourself, check the blog here.
I’ve never had a tarot reading before and I’m nervous. What can I expect?
First off, I'd like to say welcome! I love reading for people new to tarot. It's a very exciting place to be, and there's absolutely no pre-requisite required to have the experience - no special spiritual background, mindset, or belief system needed. In fact, you may find yourself better primed to take in all the tarot has to offer without any preconceived notions of what it is.
That's not to say the idea of tarot comes with some baggage - shifty fortune-tellers, ominous predictions, and more. Don't worry, you're not going to hear some unchangeable bad news and you don't need to do anything special. Just show up as your beautiful self with an open mind.
As for what to expect, a tarot reading with me is like a conversation. That's right, I'm not going to have you sit in silence while I lay the truth on you. My reading style is collaborative and exploratory. You get to steer the reading in the directions that interest you most. This includes participating as much or as little as you’d like, so there’s no need to feel like you’ll be put on the spot.
You don't need to expect solemn, hushed tones or absolute seriousness. That's not to say we won't be going to deep places. It'll just be with a healthy dose of curiosity, enthusiasm, and humor.
Want more information on how to get ready? See this post about how to prepare for your reading.
What can’t tarot do?
Tarot is not a replacement for legal, financial, or medical advice.
It can't predict the future with 100% certainty. It can't offer any guarantees.
It also (unforunately) can't predict winning lottery numbers or locate lost items.
What is intuition anyways?
Yes, this word pops up all over the place, especially on the more "woo" corners of the internet.
So what do I mean when I say that my tarot readings are intuitive?
I see intuition as the flashes of connection and knowing that appear to us without the normal logical processing that come with our conscious thoughts. It's what you may know a gut feeling -that first impression that turns out to be spot on.
I believe that intuition comes from the deep well of experience and information we carry with us. In other words, intuition springs from the subconscious.
This sets me apart from someone who would call themselves psychic, meaning that these insights come from a supernatural source.
I have studied tarot for over a decade and have read many books about the meanings of the cards. When it comes to the act of reading, however, I can wholeheartedly affirm that tarot is not about pasting together a string of premade interpretations. It's much more beautiful than that, which is what makes it both a skill and an art.
When I read for you I use my intuition to bridge the meanings of the cards into a story. Better yet, we use your own associations and intutitions about the symbols to build a reading that truly engages you and your situation.
So can you tell me my future?
I am rather adamant about this point, and you'll see it pop up all over my website.
Why? Because I believe that a future we can predict with certainty is a boring future, indeed!
If I could tell you how your life would unfold would you feel the same excitement and anticipation?
These feelings, even fear and trepidation, are the spice of life!
I do not believe in a predetermined fate that is laid out for us at birth. My idea of divination is based on forecasting instead of fate.
When I read for you I use the cards to identify the forces at work at your life in the present moment. From here we can outline the options open to you, examine motivations and hangups, and, best yet, empower you to make the decisions that affirm your goals and beliefs.