Archive for the ‘reading tarot’ Category

If I Could Talk To The Animals….

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

If you are in my life for any extended period, sooner or later you’ll discover a little secret: my routines are not dictated by me. In fact, my life often marches to the beat of a furry pulse. Or like I prefer to say: “it is ruled by two cats with iron paws”. They are both quite expressive and efficient at letting me know what they want or need at any given moment. I’ve learned to tune in and follow their lead.

My current buddies: TaoZen and Monkey

Many other pet owners can attest to the same connection. Our four legged friends link to our hearts and find ways to communicate with us as effortlessly as we do with fellow humans. (And in some cases, better!)

The tarot can be an effective tool for ferreting out more information about our animal companions and often my clients will come in specifically to ask about them. Questions can range from “will we get a dog” to health concerns or messages from deceased pets. I find that using the tarot in this manner can help the pet owner to make better decisions or to find peace in any situation.

Let me demonstrate a few different examples so that you can see how your tarot reading could shed light on any animal related question.

Sometimes a family may be considering getting a pet for the household. For a simple yes or no, I look for cards that may suggest a “green light” such as the Ace of Cups. This would be a good sign that the time is right for welcoming a pet into the family. If they are needing more details about what kind of pet, I’ll look for the animals present in the cards – such as the dog at the heels of the Fool or the black cat sitting by the Queen of Wands. This may give a clue as to what kind would be best for the family. Court cards can also give an idea of personalities (Page of Swords for example could be a highly intelligent puppy) so the prospective pet owner can be aware of what type of temperament they may encounter. Knowing what you are getting into could prevent issues due to personality conflicts. These creative examples are a great way to help the querent make informed decisions for the best results.

If a client wants to know about a pet’s needs, I read for the pet in the same way I would read for a human. I feel that animals have feelings and needs just like us so I see little difference when I read the cards. Here’s a sample so you can see how this works. I asked tarot “what does my cat, TaoZen, need the most right now?”

The card I pulled was the King of Pentacles. This serious card reflects TaoZen’s stoic and noble personality quite well. I have often considered him to be rather mature and dignified in his mannerisms. TaoZen also likes to be in command of his fiefdom, much like a king. This card suggests to me that he wants to feel “in control” and needs to be treated with a lot of respect. The King of Pentacles is quite well dressed and seems to be living lavishly – an indicator that TaoZen likes the good life so perhaps I need to keep those treats coming and continue to give him praise, comfort and high quality items. Apparently, my cat is a yuppie. Hmmmm……

This same rule of reading tarot as if you are reading for a human can be applied to deceased pets. I believe that spirits can communicate with us. So why not the spirit of a beloved pet? Why should this be limited to humans?

To show you how well this can work, I pulled a card to ask tarot if my dear Sparkle had any messages for me from the other side. The card I picked was the 2 of Cups. This is a beautiful image of two people bringing their cups together as if in a toast. The caduceus symbol sits between them with a winged lion figure above. This card speaks of love and healing. To me, this is a sure sign that Sparkle is sending his love and letting me know that we are still connected in spirit. I always like to say that if there was ever a true soul mate in my life, it was that cat. He understood me like no other and was my fiercest protector. He didn’t like to share me with anyone and we had a bond unlike any I have ever had with any other pet. He’s been gone for 2 years and I still think of him all the time. This was the perfect card to symbolize our relationship.

I hope these creative examples can give you an idea of how you can also use tarot to find out more about your four legged or winged pals. Look beyond the package that we come in and you may see that these animal companions are no different than us. We share the same ability to love, to feel and to understand.

‘It often happens that a man is more humanely related to a cat or dog than to any human being.’  ~Henry David Thoreau

Blessings!
Theresa

I’d love to hear your insights about using tarot to read for animals. Please post your stories in the comments section below!

PS If you’d like to see an example of a reading I did about a horse’s health, please check out this link for more.

My beloved Sparkle

I dedicate this post to my late animal companion and best bud, Sparkle.  Still miss ya, Botz.

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Posted in animals, learning tarot, reading tarot, tarot, tarot cards, tarot reading, tarot readings | 6 Comments »

Questionable Questions

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

During my typical day as a tarot reader, I get a wide variety of questions tossed at me by my clients.  It runs the gamut from typical romantic issues to more complex situations such as connecting with a departed loved one.  I never know what to expect and have always allowed my clients to feel as if they can bring any question to the table.

In some cases a client may ask something that pushes outside my comfort zone. This is not odd as you think as most tarot readers have guidelines about what is an acceptable question to ask and boundaries vary greatly from reader to reader. (For example, some tarot readers do not answer any questions about health while others have no issue with this.)  Each reader finds their own “code of ethics” that suits their needs and the needs of their clients.

I often find myself contemplating about what makes a question “acceptable” or “unethical”.  Are there some questions a reader should refuse to answer?  And if you are not comfortable with a question, is there a way to still help the client find direction? Can we safely have a universal “code of ethics” or should that be left up to the reader?

  1. Most tarot readers are NOT lawyers, doctors, stock brokers or licensed therapists.  We should never take the place of these professionals. That being said, we can answer general questions about these fields but it is still in the best interests of the reader and the client to refer them to a professional.  Doing otherwise puts the reader and the client in a possibly risky and legally compromising position.  I am careful about how I answer these types of questions and I always keep a list of professionals for referrals. An example: rather than give legal advice, I might look and see if the outcome of a case is favorable to a client.  That is still helpful for them but I am not assuming the role of a lawyer.
  2. Some tarot readers will not answer a question about a third party as they see this as “spying”.  I feel differently about this as giving a client insight into another person may pave the way for communication, compassion and understanding.  I encourage follow up questions such as “how can I help” which can empower the client to make better decisions regarding their relationships.  If you are not comfortable answering questions about others, let the client know and see if you can rephrase the question in a manner that still gives the client helpful information.
  3. Criminal activity is a dicey topic and giving advice here could put you in hot water should you be called to testify against a client.  In some situations, you might even be seen as party to a crime (ex: giving information on “how” to get away with an offense).    Yes, do not be surprised – criminals DO come to tarot readers seeking advice!  Typical questions may include  “am I being watched” and “who can I trust”.  But some may ask heavier questions and you may find yourself nervously turning over those cards, wondering if you are putting someone’s life at risk. This is where I have learned to draw the line.  In my opinion, if a person is seeking my services only to become a better criminal rather than a better person, then I need to disconnect.
  4. If you are uncomfortable with any question, it is best to be honest with your client.  See if you can rephrase questions in a way that still helps them get information while maintaining your boundaries.  And do not ever shame your client by saying something such as “that is against my code of ethics”. This makes the client feel judged for wanting the information they feel they need.
  5. A universal code of ethics may be difficult to apply simply because each reader is different and each client is unique. Some tarot organizations have a set of standards that their members agree to abide by.  This is not a bad idea but you may want to  contemplate if these guidelines work for you as a reader and ask if there is room for flexibility.  Do not agree to anyone else’s rules of conduct unless you are absolutely sure that you can stick with it.

Ultimately, this is all a matter of personal preference.  For myself, respect and compassion for my clients is always my number one priority.  I try to serve their needs in any way that I can as I know that sometimes this is the last place they turn to when they  need insight into their problems.  It is not my job to judge what they ask but to find a way to answer their questions with dignity and compassion.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on using the tarot to answer questions.  What do you feel is the best way to handle questionable questions?  Is there a way that you think clients should ask questions?

Blessings!

Theresa

image by Taoxproductions

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Posted in clients, reading tarot, tarot, tarot business, tarot readers, tarot reading | 8 Comments »

A Town That’s Right For Me

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

One of the hardest things about working in the tarot field is the isolation that some of us feel.  Often times we find ourselves without peers – especially those who may live in a rural area.  It’s not easy to connect but thanks to the advent of the internet and social media in particular, the game has begun to change.  Many of my fellow tarot readers have been delighted to find each other through this medium – and it has made our world a little more inclusive and a lot less lonely.

Recently, a new site launched that has stepped it up a notch and created a true community for us tarot lovers.  It’s called “Tarot Town” and is the brainchild of Marcus Katz and Tali Goodwin of Tarot Professionals .  Tarot Town is fun but don’t be fooled by the light tone – there is some SERIOUS tarot stuff going on here – classes, forums, discussions, groups and more!  Not only can you connect and make friends here – you can improve your skills, ask questions, learn about events and more.  If there was ever a Tarot Nirvana for us tarot freaks, I think I have found it here!

Of course, I had to ask Marcus and Tali about the creation and inspiration behind Tarot Town and this is what they had to say to me:

We were inspired to create Tarot Town by listening to the members of Tarot Professionals. We had been asked to provide a service to allow our members to network and socialise outside of the focused studies of Tarot such as Gated Spreads, the Diploma Course, Tarot Houses and other projects. When we looked at our existing forum we realised that it did not fulfil this purpose, although it is where we will continue to hold our Tarot course discussions.

We then considered our vision to promote high levels of Tarot education, and realised if we could find a way of providing such a social network, we would serve our own vision by opening it to the wider community. We also recognised that as our members had such a great deal of Tarot knowledge and experience we could connect them to those looking for help in their studies in an open and friendly fashion.

This resulted in us looking at many ways of accomplishing this aim – we reviewed existing sites, new technologies, voice/video systems, on-line teaching systems, and much more. We decided on a package of the “best of the best” even though this required a significant technical and financial investment. The site TAROT-TOWN was born from this research and our desire not to re-create the wheel.

With regard to what can we offer, there’s a line in Keat’s Hyperion which asks of the Titans, “What benefit canst thou, or all thy tribe, to the great world?” We asked ourselves the same question – as Living Oracles, what is it we bring to the world? In Tarot we remind ourselves that the Story is bigger than the individual images that arise in front of us – whether it be life or cardboard. In every divination, we are divined. We hope that Tarot Town will lead to more people coming to that experience of Tarot sooner, and deeper, through an accessible introduction. We are also shaking off the cobwebs – the Tarosophy book is all about mythbusting, and promoting brand new ideas, and Tarot Town is a reflection of that ethos, research and experience.

We’ve primarily aimed to make the Town vibrant, fun and free. There’s an optional Citizen rate of $1/month which ensures we can start to make the Town viable in the long-term and at the same time not exclude anyone on the basis of cost. Participants get access to great teaching experiences, video lessons, a one-stop window on selected Blogs and news, and most importantly peer guidance in a supportive environment. Citizens get special courses and privileges.

We are delighted that Rachel Pollack (age 13!) and many of our other Hon. Members of Tarot Professionals have joined to assist in connecting and sharing their wisdom. Our Deck Study groups are likely to have the deck designers and artists themselves in residence – such as Emily Carding in the Transparent Tarot Study Group.

There’s a readers exchange which has the unique feature of double-blind requests (you offer a reading to someone, but they don’t get informed of the request unless they offer a reading to you also) and peer-review feedback system – the Tarosophy STARS rating. We are also privileged to feature Beyond Worlds Radio Show as the Town’s official Radio Station!

Most important to our hearts is that we have provided a space for Tarot Townsfolk and Citizens to make their own home. The future of Tarot Town is in the hands of its inhabitants – it is an agile environment which will respond to the requirements of its citizens in an organic manner:

There once was an architect who did not build roads, or paths, or paving. He did not even include them in his plans and drawings. He laid grass down between the buildings which were open for all to walk.  Then as time went on, he watched where the grass was thinnest, and for where the beautiful curves and shortcuts, straight lines, dells and grooves that the passage of many people created. This was where he then created his paths – where feet naturally walked.

We have exciting plans already in pre-production for Tarot Town. We will be integrating our existing WIZIQ Learning Environment from Tarot Professionals into the Town Hekademia very soon for online courses in the Town. We are already well advanced in a 3d-Avatar environment for Tarot Conferences, Rituals, Discussions and Socialising! If you watch our promo video, you’ll see a sneak preview of the 3D world which will be ready by 2011.

Marcus Katz is the author of Tarosophy: Tarot to Engage Life, Not Escape It (pub. Salamander & Sons, August 2010) and the founder of Tarot Professionals. He is an MBA graduate, M.A. holder (Western Esotericism, University of Exeter) and currently 3-years into a 6-year PhD Thesis on the Teachings of Occult groups in the Western Esoteric Tradition. He is a therapist and trainer.

Tali Goodwin is the Marketing Director of Tarot Professionals and a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Her career has also involved healthcare and occupational therapy. She has also practised Reiki healing.

No matter if you are a tarot professional, a newbie, or just curious, I’d invite you to stop by and take a look around.  You can find me as what else?  The Tarot Lady.  Hope to meet you there!

Blessings!

Theresa

Image property of Tarot Town

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Posted in Tarot Town, forum, learning tarot, reading tarot, tarot, tarot blogs, tarot community, tarot lessons, tarot reader, tarot readers, tarot reading, tarot readings | 11 Comments »

The Care And Feeding Of Tarot Readers

Friday, June 18th, 2010

If you’re thinking about becoming a professional tarot reader, I’d like to let you in on a little secret: tarot reading is hard, taxing work. You may wonder how this could be, as it appears like the reader is just sitting around tossing a few cards on a table and chatting with people.  Well, on the outside it may look like “having a good time” hanging with clients, but truth is, this career demands a lot from those who intend to walk the walk.  Many fellow readers tell me how drained  and burnt out they can feel at times.  Over the course of twenty years as a professional tarot reader, I too have experienced this myself and have had to develop tools to help me remain grounded and balanced.

Self awareness is the first key.  Over the years,  I’ve learned to become more sensitive to the warning signs when my energy is unbalanced:

  • Feeling depleted/ lethargic/ drained
  • Depression
  • Addictive behavior (for me excessive eating of sweets)
  • Putting on excessive weight
  • Less psychic sensitivity
  • Irritability/ impatience

When you are doing any sort of spiritual work, you collect negative energy from the people that seek your services.  Understand this: it’s not deliberate on the part of the client.  A tarot reader has to be open to the experience – and often times the querent may be coming with a lot of emotional baggage or heavy issues, which can be absorbed by the reader.  Once the reading is over and the client leaves, this energy remains with you.  And over time, this can build up, layer by layer and begin to affect the quality of your readings – or in extreme circumstances, your health.  You may not notice it right away but eventually if this negativity is not released, it will weigh you down and undermine your ability to remain a clear channel for your clients.

For me, this happens less these days as I make my self-care and spiritual health a priority.  I have found that it is vital to keep your psychic tools sharp, clean and maintained if you want to continue on this path without jeopardizing your sanity or health.  It all starts with boundaries.  I maintain the strictest of boundaries and put limits on a client’s access to me.  My guidelines, for example,  are:

  • All appointments must be scheduled in advance.  No last minute appointments
  • I do not answer “quick questions” over the phone
  • A 3 – 6 month wait between appointments (sometimes longer for some clients)
  • If a client sounds extremely distressed, I may make them wait until they are more calm and focused
  • No-shows get banned

You’ll have to choose what boundaries are comfortable for you.  Some readers are a bit more lax and it doesn’t seem to affect them at all.  For myself, I have found that I function better with structure and this allows my readings to remain objective.

In addition to establishing some ground rules with your clients, it is also important that you create time and space for self care.  Not only eating well and exercising, but also tending to your spiritual life.  There are a few things I do to keep my chakras balanced, energy stable and psychic channels clear:

  • Meditation - spending time with your inner self connects you to the guidance within and allows you to quiet the mind.  Meditation helps to work out your own issues and allows you to become friends with your SELF.  This leads to greater compassion, and that benefits YOU and your clients.
  • Exercise – negative energy can get stored in the body.  Taking time every day to do some sort of physical exercise (I prefer yoga) will insure you are not holding on to difficult emotions or bad energy, which could lead to illness or a feeling of being drained.
  • Pace yourself – I keep a schedule and only read tarot 4 days a week and I limit the number of  clients I see.  Avoid over doing it as that is the surest way to burn out.
  • Bodywork – Massage is a wonderful way to release trapped energy and restore the mind, body and spirit.
  • Eat well – it’s no secret that I love to eat.  Good nutrition paves the way for a healthy body and mind.  However, when I am absorbing too much energy from my clients, I’ll go on mad candy binges!  I try to limit my sweets but more importantly – if I am choosing to eat poorly, I look at my work and see what needs tweaking.  Perhaps a day off or an extra yoga practice could fend off the poor eating habits.
  • Salt baths – at times, my boundaries may be crossed by some really negative client and I find myself completely drained.  A salt bath will cleanse the aura and restore my sixth sense.  It’s very simple to do – fill a tub with warm water and about a cup (or more) of sea salt. Soak for a good 20 minutes.  Air dry.  This works wonders and I swear by it!
  • Candles – I’m a huge fan of candles for cleansing my tarot room and  charging myself and my cards.  I use the Tarot Tools candles by Coventry Creations, which were made especially for tarot readers!  The Energy Boost and Psychic Cleansing candles are a MUST in any tarot reader’s arsenal!

The wise tarot readers will make sure that they keep themselves in tip top shape, from head to toe to soul.  It makes all the difference  not just in the quality of the readings but in the quality of the reader’s LIFE.

Blessings!

Theresa

image courtesy of taoxproductions

How do you keep yourself sane and balanced? I’d love to hear your suggestions!  Post them in the comments section below!

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Posted in psychics, reading tarot, tarot, tarot business, tarot reader, tarot readers | 28 Comments »

Top Ten Tarot Blogs

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

I’m always on the hunt for new ways of looking at the tarot.  You’ll always find a tarot book on my reading table but I have discovered that some of the best tarot writing actually exists on the web.  There are some fantastic blogs that I visit on a regular basis because they never fail to enlighten me and expand my own abilities.

Here are my top ten recommended tarot blogs:

1.  Mary Greer’s Blog – no list would be complete without Mary’s blog.  This brilliant tarot scholar engages her readers with a wide array of subjects from tarot history to different spreads to tarot references in pop culture.  It is obvious that Mary is constantly learning and we are lucky that she is sharing her knowledge with us!

2.  Tarot Eon – this smart blog is written by Douglas Gibb and I can honestly say that his writing has changed my view on tarot more than any other writer out there.  He is deep, philosophical and playful.  Whenever my tarot brain gets too lazy, all I need to do is hop over to his site and in no time, I am thinking deeper than I have ever before.

3. Tarot Elements – I’ve been consistently impressed by Catherine Chapman’s stellar blog. Excellent tarot writing and delightful guest bloggers (I even got the honor of writing a post here!) round out this blog wonderfully.  There is a cornucopia of knowledge here and I’m always discovering new things!

4.  Tarot Pathways – This is a blog at Llewellyn, new age publishers, written by tarot expert Barbara Moore.  Witty writing, deep insights and so many different ways of working with tarot – it seems as if Barbara is an endless well of ideas and concepts!  One of the things I really enjoy about her writing is her conversational tone – I feel as if I am sneaking a peek at someone’s tarot diary and getting the “real dirt” on what tarot is all about!

5.  Bonnie Cehovet – Bonnie is a prolific writer and deck reviewer.  She takes great care to provide detailed reviews of tarot decks and books and this is the place I go to before I buy a deck.  I know I’ll always get an honest and thorough opinion without any hidden agendas.  Before you plunk down your hard earned dollars on your next deck, be sure to look here!

6.  Corrine Kenner’s Shuffle – This popular blog has it all – deck and book reviews, spreads, and get this – American Idol predictions!  I LOVE this!  Corrine is also a well known tarot author and has written one of my all time favorite tarot books:  Tarot Journaling.  Make sure you stop by here and see what she’s up to.  It’s always entertaining!

7.  Supertarot - If you want to learn  more about the Golden Dawn system as well as get more familiar with the Thoth Deck, then Paul Hughes Barlow is your man and this is the site you want to visit.  I am really new to the concepts he presents here and one thing I can tell you – Paul explains these methods in such a clear and concise manner that even my stubborn brain can ‘get it’.

8.  Melissa Tarot – you know what I really like about this blog?  Melissa has a great sense of humor and an excellent way with words.  She explores cards in depth and melds philosophy with wit for a fun yet serious look at the tarot.  I’m looking forward to watching this blog continue to grow.  Good stuff so far….

9.  Musings On Tarot – Arwen Lynch has one of the freshest tarot voices on the web.  She makes me laugh out loud some times, she makes me think and she makes me hungry.  What you ask?  Well, she sometimes writes about tarot and food!  I love her recipes and for me, this is the Holy Grail because there is nothing I love more than food – imagine reading about a tarot card and getting a recipe for guacamole! Fun!  Don’t let that make you assume the blog is silly – there is some super intense tarot interpretations too!

10.  Donnaleigh – This is a fun page with a potpourri of information and a tongue in cheek attitude at times.  Donnaleigh’s colorful blog is never boring! She writes about her own experiences with tarot and she’s never afraid to take it to places I would never dream of!  And if you’re too lazy to read (I know plenty of people who claim to be), she also includes an audio file “Tarot Minute”.  Listen in and learn!

While this list is big, it is by no means complete.  Be sure to check out these other blogs: Auracana, Big Tarot, Tarot Dame, 78 Notes To Self, Cat ‘N Owl and up and coming awesome tarot blogger Mike Hernandez

I also hope you check out the other blog I contribute to with my good pals Astrogrrl, Starcana and TaurusRising: Astrocreeps and Tarot Freaks.

Keep learning and keep reading!

Blessings!

Theresa

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Posted in astrocreeps, learning tarot, reading tarot, tarot, tarot blogs, tarot elements, tarot reader, tarot readers, tarot reading, tarot readings | 17 Comments »

Lessons Learned From RS10

Monday, April 26th, 2010

I am currently back home after an eventful week at the Reader’s Studio.  What a week it was!  New faces, old friends, lessons…so much to digest.  I am sure it will take me  while to process this life changing conference!  Even the last day had plenty to do.  I started out my morning attending Donnaleigh’s Breakfast Roundtable.  She gave a lively lecture about “tarot bridges” and explained how the cards can connect with each other to provide insights.  This did not disappoint – she had a lot of information to pack in an hour but seemed to do it seamlessly.  (I must confess that I really enjoyed the Roundtable events – both Donnaleigh and Paul Quinn had a lot to share!)

Donnaleigh teaching about tarot bridges

Afterwards, we met up with our original partners for the “Foundation Reading” to revisit the original reading we did for each other and see how the new insights we learned at the conference enhanced our interpretations.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that what I had learned from these different teachers did indeed add a lot of depth to my reading!  Wow.  That was a powerful revelation to me.  Although I have been reading for many years, this was an eye opener.  It clearly pointed out that tarot has many layers and one can never learn enough!  (I was also happily surprised to discover that Andy and I had the same penchant for industrial music which helped me to see him as a kindred spirit in addition to being a reader that I respected!)

Myself with my tarot partner, Andy Matzner

The day finished with a ceremony to hand out certificates and prizes.  Ironically, I won a membership into a tarot organization which was the universe’s way of winking at me.  I am not affiliated with any tarot organizations as I am a lone wolf and have no intention of joining any group.  So, I had to laugh out loud at this turn of events.  What kind of cosmic joke was this to my anarchist nature?  Hmmm……I think I’ll have to ponder that a bit before I come to a conclusion.

After saying my goodbyes, it was time to head to the airport and get home to a very needy (and messy) household.  Although I am glad to be home, I am grateful for all the things I learned at the conference.  Here’s my epiphanies:

Mary Greer, Robert Place, Dr. Elinor Greenberg, Ruth Ann Amberstone

1.  You can teach an old dog new tricks. I’ve been at the tarot game for almost 3 decades and have never had any formal training.  While I do believe I know the tarot pretty well, these classes all gave me new tools.  The class with the Amberstones revealed symbols and subtleties that I took for granted.  Dr. Elinor Greenberg pushed me outside my comfort zone with a therapy technique that challenged my beliefs (although it was not my cup of tea, I will be first in line to buy her book “Tarot Counseling” when it is published next year as I now realize that what she is teaching is groundbreaking and invaluable).  Robert Place humbled me with his vast knowledge and is making me rethink some of my assumptions about chakras.  And Mary Greer is a delight.  I have read Mary’s books in the past and thought her interactive method of tarot reading was too different from my “style” to incorporate into my work.  Lo and behold, this wise woman taught in a surprisingly effective manner and I may never look at tarot the same way again.  She’s amazing and now I can’t wait for my next opportunity to learn from her!

Myself with tarot author Mary Greer

2.  Resistance limits you.  I’ll admit that I am rather set in my ways.  In fact, I am rather fond of my own opinions.  The RS10 challenged me to rethink some of my own beliefs.  That doesn’t mean I am going to abandon my ideals but I am certainly going to open my mind to new insights.

3.  Twitter is a great place to make friends. One of the coolest things about RS10 was meeting many of the friends I have met through Twitter.  Yup, lots of tarot peeps like to tweet.  How cool it was to finally put faces to the names!  I had always been skeptical about meeting people online but this whole experience taught me that there are super people out there and it is worth venturing out of my cave to connect!

4.  Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone are the bomb! I can’t believe what a major effort these two put into this conference.  The Amberstones were a joy to be around – they are approachable, knowledgeable, friendly and really know how to make you feel welcome.  I have the utmost respect for them and intend on learning more with them.  How nice to finally find some mentors that I can look up to!

5.  Room service rocks! For the last four years of my life, I have been busy with care taking.  This was the first time I have ever been in a hotel that had room service as I tend to go the uber cheap route when I travel.  As lame as it sounds, having someone wait on me for a change was a joy.  As the waiter said to me when he brought up my requested glass of wine “You deserve this.”  That was the biggest revelation of all – I do deserve to hang out with cool peers, learn from the best, enjoy my life and be treated well.  This conference has changed me in more ways than one.  I definitely plan on making this an annual retreat.

But now….back to my regular life and my needy cats, my hungry husband, my messy house and my awesome clients.  After the conference, the laundry so to speak.

Blessings!

Theresa

www.thetarotlady.com


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Posted in RS10, learning tarot, reading tarot, tarot, tarot readers, tarot readings, twitter | 4 Comments »

Nothing’s Shocking – The Art Of The Pokerface

Friday, November 27th, 2009

A well dressed, attractive woman walked into my office and sat down for a tarot reading. Nothing about her stood out as unusual except for her visible nervous energy. No biggie – lots of people are anxious about getting their cards read, especially if they have a lot of drama in their lives.  After starting out with a general outlook for the year, we began to focus on her questions.   It seemed her main concern was about an upcoming party she was throwing.

I tossed a couple of cards and glanced at them, noticing that they were a rather “odd” combination but ultimately indicated a successful ending.  After a look of relief and joy swept over her face, my curiosity got the best of me and I asked her what kind of party she was throwing (assuming it was some sort of masquerade or something unique).  “Oh we’re getting a bunch of crack and having a wife swapping party” she said without batting an eye.

Did my jaw drop at this announcement? Nope. I didn’t flinch a bit.  My reaction (or lack thereof) was as casual as if we were discussing the weather. 

As a tarot reader, you’ll find that there are all kinds of situations that your clients may inquire about.  While the majority of people like to ask about family, work or love, on rare occasion you may encounter someone who has a shocking or upsetting situation that they need (and deserve) answers to. 

So what can a good reader do when a client lays something heavy on you? 

1.  Leave your judgments at the door.  As the old saying goes: different strokes for different folks.  We can’t always understand other people’s motives and/or emotions – nor do we need to as tarot readers.  We are only here to deliver information and help guide the client.  If you have a particular attitude about a certain lifestyle, get over it. 

2. Don’t be a moralist. A wife swapping crack party is not my cup of tea but I have no business trying to force others to conform to my own worldview.  I have learned to hold my tongue and mind my own karma.  Be ethical in your advice but refrain from windy criticism or lectures. The client may already feel bad enough without your sidebar.

3.  Desensitize yourself a bit. This may sound like strange advice, but a few years living in a very bad neighborhood in New York and hanging out with some seedy characters allowed me to become less “shockable”.  While I still encounter a situation here and there that may raise an eyebrow, I’ve seen enough crazy things that I am rarely surprised by people’s behaviors.

4.  Be honest about your own skeletons in the closet.  I’ve got quite a collection of them myself and sometimes sharing my own mistakes and war stories shows the client that they are not alone and helps them deal with feelings of shame or fear.
 
5. Practice compassion. You must always walk a mile in someone else’s shoes before you judge them.  Any time I find myself getting too self righteous, I remember the saying: there but for the grace of God go I.  Meaning that we could ALL end up in any situation at any time. We  must never think that we are above making critical mistakes or getting into messy situations.  Even the most educated people can screw up majorly!  Compassion is not pity – it is the ability to understand someone on a deep level and truly care about their well being. 

A tarot reading may be the one place where someone can – and should be able to – freely share their life stories.  As a tarot reader, you need to embody the trust of a priest, the compassion of a therapist and the humor of a comedian in order to help your clients feel safe and heard. 

Blessings!
Theresa
www.thetarotlady.com

© The Tarot Lady | Theresa Reed | www.thetarotlady.com

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