What Kind of Tarot Reader Do You Want To Be?

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Business, Journal, journaling, Life, Reader, Tarot, Tarot Class

I spent a lot of time today thinking about the many different Tarot readers that I know and how unique each one is in their reading style. This got me to  thinking. What kind of Tarot reader am I? Am I a fortune teller? a problem solver? a healer? Am I an intuitive reader or a method reader? All of these styles can be impactfull, but what is very important is to define our style and makes sure we communicate it so our clients know what to expect.

I think the type of Reader we become has a lot to do with our initial encounters with Tarot and the impact it had on us.

So, I ask myself the following questions:

What drew me into Tarot? Why did I want it?

You maybe thinking “I’ve always been interested in Tarot” but there is more to it when you really think about it. I wanted answers. I wanted to know the future and I wanted to know what others were thinking. Why? It made me feel more secure and in control of my situations. That is what initially drew me to Tarot. The fear of not knowing what the future would bring. If this is what drew me than that is most likely what many others are looking for. To get there you must be willing to hear what the cards say. This is not always easy. I am very honest about my impressions when I read. Sometimes the message can sting but this is the only way to get to the heart of the matter.

Next question: What was my first reading like? What impact did it make on me? What was so profound that I wanted to learn to use them myself. Well I don’t remember my first reading exactly because I got so many from my Aunt during my life but I do remember some really profound ones. Often in a good way but I must confess that when I received readings often they were less meaningful. For this reason I recommend to my clients not to receive readings often. A reading should be a big deal and not be taken lightly. No matter what the message, it should make an impact to the client and give them lots to think about.

Often I tried to manipulate the reading I received in my mind to be the answers I wanted to hear, especially when I read for myself. Guess what. It never worked. The Tarot is usually right no matter how much I try to convince myself the cards could have meant something else.  To avoid this with my client I ask them to decide what they want the outcome to be and we use the cards to find out how to make it happen. Seems to work better that way. Keep in mind that the outcome they think they want is not always the case. You really must dig deep here. Make sure you get to what it really is they want. A really obvious example is they want someone to love them. Well really what they want is to have a relationship with their soulmate. It may not be the person they think it is. It is important to dig these things out before the reading. Ask the question why a lot.

One last thing you should think about when deciding what kind of reader you will be is what was going on in your life when you started your journey with Tarot and how did Tarot affect your life situation. My life was in complete turmoil at the time. My relationship with Tarot at the beginning was to get rid of uncertainty. What it ended up being was a tool for healing and inspiration.

My advise to anyone reading this that wants to be a Tarot reader is to figure out what you want to give and stick to it. Be really up front about what you will deliver so there will be no questions in your clients mind about what they can expect from you. Go ahead and explore new methods and if your style changes that’s fine but make sure you  are clear about it. 

I think the most important advise I could give to anyone that wants to be a Tarot reader is be authentic to yourself and your natural gifts. Don’t try to force something that doesn’t come naturally and remember that we all have something to offer in our own unique way.

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Journey Through the Tarot – A Study Group for learning Tarot

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Journal, Meetup, Study Group, Tarot, Tarot Class

Years ago when I first began learning Tarot I longed for a group of people with similar interests that I could learn from and share with. I did find one that was great fun. It was in the instructor’s home and for a small fee she would teach different aspects of the Tarot and then would have a group reading for one person in the group. Unfortunately it ended soon after it began and there was nothing else in the area. From then on my Tarot community was strictly on line in forums like Aeclectic Tarot Forum.

That was 10 years ago and since then I have done lots of readings for people and learned with Tarot masters from all over the world.  I have accumulated so much knowledge and experience and now I would like to share it with others. I have started a group on meetup.com for the purpose of studying Tarot.

I will lead a study group currently meeting every other Tuesday at the Peekskill Coffee House from 7 to 9pm.  Each meeting we will explore one card in depth and then I will have an extra lesson that can be anything from ‘entering’ into the card to learning elemental dignities. I have a endless amount of interesting things to share. Once you RSVP for the meeting I will send you the materials that we will be going over for that meetup.  The cost is only $10 and the first meetup you come to is free! So please join us this Tuesday, Oct. 16 as we delve into the meaning of the Magician card and then move on to study the meaning of the suit of Wands!

You can reach me at hvtarot at me dot com if you have any questions or to RSVP

My First Death Experience

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Death, Journal, Major Arcana, Meditation, visualization

This is a meditation I did by entering the Death card. It was written in my journal on 8/30/03. It is a bit different than the one I previously posted a few days ago. Entering the cards is an excellent way to learn meanings for them. It gives you  a personal experience to draw upon in future readings.

I went into the card. I saw the bodies to my left falling as he quietly rode by. Just shells left behind.  He paused before he got to me and then looked at me straight on and pointed at me. Immediately I felt my body go limp. Before I even hit the ground I was gone. I flew like I was catapulted and weightless. I went into the spirit world. I saw my spirit guide smiling at me. Daddy was there, I noticed out of the corner of my eye. In front of me were 2 men. One, I knew, had been my father in another life.  I went to my Dad and my Grandma was beside him. Both were welcoming me. I hugged them both. They both looked happy. I went to my guide and we held each other close. I thanked her for all she does for me.

I turned back to my father and brother from another life. It was a life I had envisioned before where I was an old Indian woman with weathered hands. Lonely and an out cast. In that life, my father and brother had been  killed in a war with another tribe and I was made a slave by them. I had lost my freedom. I could have become a part of this new tribe but I refused. Knowing I’d be with them again someday is all that kept me going.

It felt so good to see them all again. My father told me I had to let go of my fear of being captive in order to find happiness. I can’t describe the overwhelming emotions I felt when seeing them again. How enlightened I felt. It was as if things suddenly made sense. Not only was this experience of “Death” painless, it brought forth so much knowledge and freedom and understanding.

Daddy told me it was time for me to go back and then suddenly I was on the field this time on the other side of Death. The field was large and fertile. He pointed out over the fields and told me my life was before me.  When I first went into the card, the sun was going down between the towers. Now the sun was coming up between the towers. Death told me to get on his hoarse and I rode with him toward the towers. As soon as we rode through the towers Death became the naked boy in the sun card. We were laughing and happy. I felt so free!!! The sun was beating down on us and I was very hot. I realized now that I was the only one on the hoarse. I hugged the horse’s neck. There were beautiful flowers everywhere. Lots of sunflowers.

My thoughts after this:

Being afraid of what the future might bring. Transformation, rebirth. Permanent change.  A revitalizing force that sweeps through you. Change is required. If you don’t change willingly, well, the Tower will take care of that.  You will be reborn.

Release your fears and look ahead. Today is new, the past is dead. Hanging on could mean lost opportunities. Experience is the greatest teacher. Worry will get you no where.

Reversed – You are putting off necessary changes out of fear. You are stuck in old habits and you don’t want to put forth the effort to change them. Depression. Don’t let things slide. Come to grips with life. Make new goals. “Time and work will change it all, stand up straight or you may fall”.

Death Card Meditation

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Journal, Major Arcana, Meditation

Death card meditation

I wanted to write something really amazing since it has been so long a time since I have blogged. I also have changed my blogging software. Apple is no longer supporting iWeb which is what I used for my on line journal.

I have been longing for change in my life, but like many I am afraid of the “what ifs”. To overcome this fear I have been immersing myself in the Death card. To bring renewal and change we must face our fears head on. One of the things I have always found helpful when seeking growth from the cards is to enter into the card for a little one on one interaction! I have done this with the Death card years ago and I will post that one as well, but here is what I got from it yesterday:

When I entered the card it was very barren and I could smell dead leaves rotting. There were many frightened people. I could feel the fear. The castle was shut off and this made me realize that fear causes us to shut ourselves off. We lose our humanity.

The people in the card were cowering from the Death Rider. When I looked at him, there seemed to be a veil distorting my view. In this veil there was a diamond shaped opening through which I could see clearly. I stepped through this doorway.

On the other side of the veil every thing was white. Not like light or as if I was on a cloud, but white like “nothing”. The horse was white and on the horse the Death Rider now appeared almost like an angel except his eyes were black. He wore white robes instead of armor and had blond hair and flesh. He still looked ominous but in a pre way. I wasn’t sure if I was going to get on the horse in front or in back of him. When I climbed on the horse I ended up being “in ” him. The horse took off and we began riding aimlessly into white nothingness. So I kept riding and going no where in nothingness waiting for the next thing to happen. Nothing happened. The horse just kept running until I realized I needed to talk to this hoarse. The hoarse stopped and I got down. He was milky white except for his black eye that was looking into me. It spoke, “I need to talk to you, Amy”. I knew it was very hard for him to speak so I told him to just “think” it. That is when the message for me started flowing:

“You took the first step and faced your fears by getting on my back. (IRL I am very afraid of horses!). When a hoarse senses your fears they react without reason and run in no apparent direction. You let go of your fear and that is when I stopped and listened. Now you can direct me and I will do the work while you lead me. You need to face and control your fears at all times. They can carry you far if you face them and give them direction! Keep them on the path. Make me work for you not against you. ”

In retrospect, my weakness is getting side tracked and loosing sight of my goals. I have so many ideas I want to bring to fruition that nothing gets done. I need to focus on one project at a time and not get distracted by fears and doubts. Just do it! Acknowledge my fears and then move on.

Once I understood this the diamond in the veil appeared again. I stepped through and was back into the card. As I was leaving the card I turned around and looked back at the Death Rider who was back to his skeletal form and he looked back and gave me a wink!