I deeply care about you but I won’t attach myself to your issues.  Tarot readers are sensitive creatures.  We have to create strong boundaries in order to preserve our own inner peace.

I can’t remember your readings (I do a “reading dump” at the end of the day).  I can barely remember my grocery list. Trust me on that.

Last minute appointments throw my mojo off.  My day is strictly planned and I don’t like surprises.  Sorry but you’ll have to wait.

A tarot reader practices a lot of self care – you should too.  You deserve it.

You don’t have to be unhappy.  You have every tool available (including therapy) to change your life.  Your future is always up to you.

There are no guarantees.  Don’t seek that from the cards or from me. The only person who can give you a guarantee on your life is you.  

I can’t read for everyone. Nothing personal. Sometimes we just don’t gel.  Keep searching and you’ll find a reader who is a better fit for you.

Don’t waste your energy on past loves. The present is all that matters.  What will you do with now?  Start with loving yourself.

You must take action if you want your life to be awesome.  Sitting around waiting for your “luck” to change leads to a whole lotta nothing happening.  

A tarot reading is rarely if ever 100% “accurate”.   If you are seeking 100% accuracy, that’s a mighty tall order.

When you call me for a “chat as a friend” and it ends up with you dumping on me and asking me to “toss a couple of cards” or give you “my vibe” on the situation, I feel very taken advantage of.  (This is why my phone is always off – I won’t allow this any longer.)

Everyone has their turn at the wheel.  Life is always in motion.  Don’t get angry if life doesn’t always go your way.  Roll with the punches.  This too shall pass.

If you walk in the door proclaiming that you “don’t believe in this stuff”, I don’t find it charming or funny.  It puts me on the defense and creates a hostile environment.  Would you like it if someone did that to you at your job?  Probably not.  If you don’t believe, I really don’t have any interest in proving a thing to you.  

Likewise, if you choose to sit mute in the reading or wish to “test me” with trick questions, I hope you realize that you are making my work feel like an onerous chore.  Be friendly and don’t play games.  We’ll get along much better.

When the clock is off, my mojo is turned off.  And no, I don’t walk around “reading energy” or prying into other people’s auras.  It’s invasive. I like to mind my own karma.  (Oh, and that perplexed look on my face is not about you – I’m probably stewing over last night’s Mob Wives episode because that is where my brain goes when I am not working.)

Not all tarot readers are witches (I’m not one).  Nor are we all gypsies, psychics, con artists, women, pagans, crones, druids, or any of the other stereotypes you may have heard.  We come in every shape, size, color, gender, sexual orientation, background, belief system, etc.  

Tarot isn’t only for divination.  In fact, tarot originally started as a game – and it is still played as one to this day.  Tarot can also be used for creative prompts, conscious decision making, self development, a therapeutic tool and more.  

When you ask the same question over and over to get the answer you want, my cards get rebellious and I get aggravated.  Don’t do it.  

Tarot is not “evil” nor the work of the devil.  In fact, it’s quite neutral and depends entirely on the intent of the reader and client.  Most readers want to help, not harm.

Bitter is not a good look on anyone.  Don’t be bitter – be better.

You do not have a curse on you.  If you believe that, you have taken your own personal responsibility out of your current circumstances.  If your life feels crappy, you can change it.  It’s always up to you.  As my mother said “your life is how you make it”.  

No ones gets spiritual by holding on.  Let go.

What feels so horrible and difficult right now will bring deep understanding later.  You’ll look back and see it differently.  BREATHE.  It gets better.

Your future belongs to you and is yours alone.  Focus on you.  Don’t worry about everyone else. Live fully.  Be present.  

In the end, you’ll realize that this was all just one big, joyful journey.  Love the life you have now because it will end one fine day.  And that’s the only future you can count on.

Blessings!

Theresa

© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady

What do you want to know about tarot or tarot readers?  Or what do you wish people knew about tarot?  Post your comments and questions in the comment section below:

Stuck in a rut but raring to go?

Ready to take your business (or self) to the next level?  

Perhaps you simply need direction….or some tough love.

If so, at some point you may have considered hiring a coach.  

Coaches can: 

• push you towards your personal best
• call you to the carpet when you are sabotaging yourself
• help to brainstorm new ideas and fine tune the good ones
• hold your hand or hold you accountable 
• sometimes all of the above 

I’ve had numerous coaches over the years – including one on one and group programs.  I have been fortunate enough to have (mostly) good experiences. I’m on a quest to continuously grow as a person and entrepreneur – so for me, it’s essential to have the right support to keep me and my business moving forward.  A coach is a valuable member of Team Tarot Lady.

Choosing a good coach is not an easy process nor something you should take lightly.  With more and more people jumping on the coaching bandwagon (because they assume they’ll make “easy money”), it’s getting harder to weed out the frauds from the real, experienced ones. Anyone can call themselves a coach – and with cheapie “diploma” mills and home study courses, it’s even easier to look “certified” and legit to an unsuspecting public.

But if you are mindful and take a few careful steps, you may just wind up with the right person by your side, guiding you towards your greatest success yet.  Here are my best tips so that you get the ideal experience (and the most bang for your buck):

1. Know what you want to accomplish and what you need.  For example, if you are looking for someone to help you with your marketing, then a lifestyle coach may not be the person you want.  Get super clear on your goal so that you may weed out the ones who aren’t going to be suitable for your mission. Also, ask yourself if you prefer one on one work or if you enjoy a group program.  Personally, I like the group dynamic but I get way more value out of private coaching.  
2. Research, research, research.  Look very carefully beyond the snappy web copy and get the real facts.  For example, what is their training?  Did they go through a reputable coaching program? How many years have they been in business?  What are their specialities?  Do they have real references that you can contact?  At the very least, they should have a successful business or lifestyle model that appeals to you.  
3. Talk to them.  Find out if their personality is a good match for you.  An “in your face” method may work for some while others may prefer a coach with a softer touch.  One of my worst experiences was in a group program with a coach who promised to be accessible and then became aloof and pretty much disappeared when the program began.  
4. Cheap isn’t necessarily better.  Sometimes you do get exactly what you pay for.  But then again, big bucks doesn’t guarantee you are going to have a rock star experience either.  Stick within your budget but don’t jump at the cheapest one in the lot – often they are cheap for a very good reason.  
5. Consistency is a must.  Beware of the coach who is constantly scrambling with a million websites and Facebook pages, new Twitter handles every few months, and unfinished projects.  Reinvention is one thing – scattered focus is another.  You want someone who is clear on their brand and not all over the place. If they are not focused on their own business, how do you think that will translate to their work with you?
6. Street cred.  Do they have testimonials from real people?  How about pictures of them at industry events or speaking engagements?  Do they have a healthy following on social media sites?  Are they well regarded amongst their peers?  Are they actually living the lifestyle they claim? It doesn’t take much to find this out.  Simple googling should turn up plenty of social proof.
7. Be sure they have a real, current headshot on their site (a video introduction is even better but not necessary).  You need to have a good idea of whom you are working with.  For example, I will never work with someone who uses a cartoon or symbol to represent themselves. I want to see an accurate and friendly representation before I sign on the dotted line.  If you have seen the documentary Catfish, you quickly learn that anyone can be whatever or whomever they say online – that “handsome million dollar success coach with 20+ years experience” may be nothing more than a pock marked loser living in his mother’s dilapidated house.

No matter whom you choose to work with, there is one other factor to consider: a coach is only as good as the client allows them to be.  Once you hire your coach, you become a team. It’s up to you to show up and do the work as well if you want to see the magic unfold.  

“A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.”  ~Ara Parasheghian

Blessings!

Theresa

© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2012

Have you used a business or life coach? What was your experience?  Post your thoughts in the comment section below:

 Resources:

These are some coaches and programs that I have worked with directly or in a group setting and can personally attest are the real deal:

Erika Lyremark at Daily Whip

Yolanda Facio at Red Hot Momentum

Nathalie Lussier

Tara Gentile

Dyana Valentine

Rich Happy and Hot B School with Marie Forleo

I was excited to get my hands on a copy of the long awaited Mary-El Tarot (Schiffer ISBN:  9780764340611) by artist Marie White.  I had seen some of the pictures and so I knew it was going to be a stunner.

And oh, what a beauty indeed!  First of all, the packaging is exquisite – a big, gorgeous cigar type box with a ribbon pull and magnetic closure.  This is standard for Schiffer and I must say, I just love that they put so much care into creating a solid package.  This makes all of their decks feel special.  

The quality does not end with the box though – the cards and book inside are well made as well, making this a tarot lover’s dream set.  What I love most is the card stock.  This deck is made from firm, glossy cards that will stand up to years of readings.  Although they feel a bit stiff at first, I do appreciate that they are strong as there is nothing worse than a flimsy deck that falls apart after a short period.  The cards are slightly bigger than standard size which is a bit awkward for small hands but it didn’t hinder me (there are some decks with much bigger cards so this is about midway).  

The deck contains the usual 78 cards with Majors, Minors, and Courts.  White based her deck on the work of the Marseilles, Rider Waite and Thoth.  You can certainly see the Thoth influence in some of the cards such as The Devil.  

Each card has a black border with the name of the card on the bottom, giving the deck a nice, uniform feel to it.  The back has a reversible image of two snakes linked together.

The artwork is breathtaking – brilliant colors, ethereal images, and striking symbols.  This is a true feast for the eyes!  I could not stop looking at the cards and examining all the details.  Apparently, this deck was illustrated with traditional oil paints which explains the richness of the colors.  In my opinion, each card is like a mini-masterpiece.  White is an amazing talent and her work is very unique.

The accompanying book, Landscape of the Abyss is loaded with information – quotes, keywords, divinatory meanings, reversals, spreads and more.  This is not a “little white book” – it is a full sized book with a lot to discover.  

The book was necessary because the deck was not clear at times.  For example, if the cards for the Page of Swords and the Queen of Swords were not labeled, I would not have any idea what I was looking at.  And because these images are not typical tarot, the book was absolutely needed – and would be especially so if you were a beginning tarot reader (I would hesitate to recommend this deck to newbies for that reason).

Some of the cards were a bit creepy which might be a turn off for sensitive types.  The 10 of Sword and 10 of Cups for example, although gorgeous, would be a bit much for some who are squeamish.  (I happen to like them but I know that not all would be comfortable with this sort of imagery.)  There is also quite a bit of nudity which may not be suitable for younger readers.  

That being said, the readings that I have gotten with this deck have been intense.  The interpretations provided in the book have almost a mystical poetry feel to them and lend well to esoteric or deep contemplation.  

I asked the Mary-El what I need to know about this deck.  I pulled The Star.  A line in the book grabbed me: “In the blackness that was the Tower the Star will guide you home.”  That seems to sum this unique deck up perfectly – it’s dark at times but the more you reflect with the deck, the more you discover about yourself.

This may be one of the most beautiful tarot decks I have ever laid eyes on.  It’s powerful, creative, vivid and at times a bit shocking.  The images will grab you and the book will enlighten you.  I would highly recommend this deck for intermediate or experienced readers or for anyone that loves to collect tarot. 

Blessings!

Theresa

© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2012

Talkin’ Tarot With is a monthly feature designed to introduce my readers to different tarot readers from our wonderfully diverse community!  Each month, I’ll be asking various tarot readers 3 questions about their tarot philosophy and style, plus pointing you to their websites and blogs so that you can learn more about them!  I like to hand pick tarot readers that I feel are talented and interesting.

One of my favorite things to do is meet the other tarot readers that I engage with on Twitter or Facebook.  It’s always cool to take the relationship from online friend to real life pal – plus, I really enjoy face to face.  It’s more personal and “real” to me.  A few months ago, I had the opportunity to connect with Matt Williams in Chicago and it was an absolute pleasure.  

Matt joined me and my daughter for crepes (mine were escargot in case you were dying to know LOL) on a beautiful day in Andersonville, a small section of Chicago.  Naturally, the conversation turned to tarot.  Matt and I started discussing the different voices of male readers vs. female readers which lead to us creating a little online experiment, the blog series “He Said She Said”.  In that column, we explored that differences and guess what we discovered? We were not as different as we initially thought.  In fact, I found Matt to be a very sensitive guy and we often offered similar advice.   

Matt’s online hub is for his professional tarot work is located at:  http://personaltarotwithmatt.com.  In addition to tarot, Matt studies Reiki and psychic mediumship as well.  These skills are utilized in the readings that Matt gives to provide his clients with an insightful and healing experience.

Matt is also the author of Tarot Thoughts Blog at http://personaltarotwithmatt.com/blog and his writing has been featured in Tarosophist International as well.  In addition to all this, he also hosts Personal Tarot Radio,  a weekly radio show with metaphysical information, live tarot readings and more!

Check out Matt’s answers to my questions below:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. What is your philosophy about tarot reading?
For me, the road map analogy sums it up best.  The Tarot can show you where you have been, where you are now and where you may end up if you stay on the path you are currently traveling.  The beauty of this is that in the same manner, you can also see the myriad of options that lay in front of you.  Despite any challenges that may lie in your path, an open and honest reading will help you to identify where these challenges are and how you can navigate through or around them. 

2. How do you feel a client might get the most out of a reading with you?
I advise my clients to focus on a specific are of concern and will work with them to craft a question that will gain the most insight.  While virtually any question can be answered with the Tarot, framing your question in an open ended, seeking manner will allow you to gain the most information.  For example, asking “will I find my true love?” will get you a yes or no.  Asking “what can I do to become the type of person my true love is attracted to?” will present you with actionable steps to create the change you desire in your life.  I also recommend that they do not seek additional readings on the same topic until the energies we discuss have had a chance to come to fruition.  The Universe has a way of testing to see if we are paying attention by delivering obscure messages when we repeatedly ask the same questions over and over. 

3. What is your best piece of advice for an aspiring tarot reader?
Trust in yourself and communicate the messages you get.  Plain and simple, that is the biggest thing I can tell any aspiring reader.  There is no cut and dried way to gauge your accuracy for every reading and many times the messages you receive will not make much sense to you.  The thing to remember though is that the message is not for you, it’s for your client.  There are times that the most peculiar things may come to you that seem to have nothing to do with your reading.  It is often in these messages that your clients will find the most connection and you may find yourself hitting on some amazingly accurate information.     

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A hearty thank you to Matt for taking the time to answer my questions!  If you’d like to get a reading from Matt, be sure to visit his website at: http://personaltarotwithmatt.com.  And check out his facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/personaltarot or follow him on Twitter @personaltarot

Foundation reading with Mike Hernandez

Each year when I return home from the Reader’s Studio, I like to look back on my notes and reflect on my take aways.  As always, I come away with so much.  It’s almost impossible to grasp the scope of it all until much later.  Here’s what I learned this year:

1.  The Amberstones never run out of ideas.  When they told the crowd what they had planned for the next year and beyond, I was impressed.  They are true tarot innovators and educators – and I’m thankful for all they do for tarot.

2.  I’ve always believed that tarot is a useful tool for healing.  James Wells gave me new spreads and ideas that will expand my skills so that I may serve my clients better. Thank you, James.

3.  Shawn Nacol is a genius.  It will probably take me a lifetime to make heads and tails out of the info he presented.  I’m no slouch but compared to him, the information I know can fit on the head of a pin.  Time to bone up….

4.  James Wanless may just be  my new favorite tarot teacher.  He is clever, a pitch perfect educator and full of wit.  Plus, he wears cool shirts.

5.  I am always surprised by how talented my tarot peeps are.  I had some great readings from Mike Hernandez and Donnaleigh de la Rose – and super insights from doing exercises with Gina Thies, Johanne Blanchard and Hilary Parry….and more.  The great thing about RS12 is the opportunity to practice non-stop.  I always learn so much from my peers!

6.  Party crashers are the best!  Thanks for showing up, Angelo!  

7.  I wished I lived closer to all of my tarot friends.  Those few days at RS allow me to reconnect, deepen friendships and meet new pals as well (loved meeting Rosa Perez, Johanne Blanchard, Vesta Wind and others).  

8.  Tarot bingo is hilarious good fun!  Thanks to Marcia McCord for the diversion from all the heavy tarot stuff.  

9.  Nancy Antenucci is one of the most creative thinkers I have ever met – between her roundtable storytelling, interpretative tarot dance and the novel tarot incubators, she’s the one to emulate.  She’s my new she-ro!

Once again, the Amberstones did not fail to disappoint.  Can they top RS12?  Well considering all that they are unveiling next year….perhaps.  I am already counting down the days!

Blessings,

Theresa

© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2012

Sunday morning I woke up bright and early after a great night’s sleep.  Although it was a lighter schedule ahead, I knew today would still feel like a long day.

I strolled down to the breakfast roundtable hosted by Marcia McCord expecting more knowledge over load but she had other ideas for our time: tarot bingo!  The crowd had so much fun playing along – and the grand prize was a copy of her upcoming tarot deck.  Things got jokingly competitive at our table as Julie Theroux, Donnaleigh and I were neck and neck.  Alas, none of us won!  This silly game broke up the energy in a delightful way and then we were off for more tarot goodness!

We headed into the main ballroom to revisit our foundation readings and see what we learned from the new techniques.  Mike and I were pleased with the additional depth we discovered in our readings.  It’s fascinating to see how effective the Reader’s Studio really is for developing your skills.  I walked away from my reading feeling inspired (thank you, Mike, for being such a great partner!).

The practice session was followed by “Tarot Incubators”, a new RS concept dreamed up by Nancy Antenucci.  The incubators were a series of mini roundtables based on different topics of interest: how to publish your book, starting a meet up group, and more.  I was honored to be leading a group on “how to take your tarot business to the next level”.  We had a dynamic exchange – questions were asked and answered, ideas were presented and the brainstorming was electric!  I loved sharing and receiving knowledge (and if you know me well, you know that next to tarot there is nothing I enjoy discussing more than business – for me, this was my idea of heaven!).  

We broke for lunch and then had a little time to decompress.  After reconvening to the ballroom, we were treated to a sneak preview of “Tarology”, the new documentary about tarot poet (and genius), Enrique Enriquez.  If you are a tarot fan, you MUST see this movie.  It is beautifully filmed and Enrique is fascinating to watch.  I can’t wait to get my copy when I return home.

Wald and Ruth Ann took the stage afterwards to announce the exciting news for RS13 – a FULL day on Thursday focusing on “tarot and psychology”, plus next years presenters: Major Tom Schick, Ferol Humphrey and the amazing Nancy Antenucci.  The Amberstones have more tarot tricks up their sleeves – so this is not the end to what they will be offering next year and into the future.  I won’t reveal more except to say that if you love tarot, you NEED to get to RS13!

We finished off with the certification and closing ceremony and then bid farewells.  Many of the attendees were either already headed home or leaving soon after.  A few of us stragglers gathered for a last supper and then a nightcap in the bar.

These last few days were a lot to take in and I’m still processing it all.  I’ll be sharing my last thoughts tomorrow.  All I can say for now as I sit at the airport is this: WOW.

Blessings,

Theresa 

© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2012

Today would be the most content heavy day of the Reader’s Studio with two master workshops!

I was sure to get a seat in the “breakfast roundtable” led by Nancy Antenucci, author of one of my favorite tarot books, Psychic Tarot.  Nancy led a story telling group where many of us shared some of our best “tarot stories”.  Some were tearful, some were deep and others were comical.  It was a lot of fun but still intimate at the same time.  Nancy has that way with people – she can entertain but she always leaves you knowing that her underlying message is one of deep human connection.

We then headed into the main room for a master class with with Shawn Nacol.  I’ve always wanted to hear him speak so I was extra excited for his class to begin.  To see Shawn in action is to witness a force of nature.  He is high energy, fiery and in your face (in a good way).

Shawn presented a heady class on the Elements.  The information was multi-layered, complex and super smart.  I have a thing for intelligent men – either I fall in love with them or my eyes glaze over and circus music starts to play in my head when it starts heading into Einstein territory.  I may have accomplished both.  

It’s hard not to like Shawn or to fall in love with his material – it’s that good.  But at times, I was overwhelmed and had to sit back and percolate on what he was presenting.  This was no ordinary Elements class and I realized I would need to take time to digest and process this info-overload long after Reader’s Studio ended.

I headed out for a light sushi lunch (it’s all about food with me) with my buddy Donnaleigh de la Rose.  It was just the tonic I needed and I came back feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the next class with the legendary James Wanless.  

James is a true master of tarot but he’s also a natural showman.  He walked on stage in a flashy cool shirt like a true tarot mack daddy and instantly captivated the audience with his smarts and charm.  His class was about  “whole person profile reading” and he taught us a fantastic spread that can be used for “transforming yourself and your future”.

We had a lot of fun at our table creating our spreads and sharing our findings. After we completed our individual spreads, we then used the same format to create one for our table.  Our group had a blast putting it together and interpreting the meanings.  James then finished off by having the audience create a reading for the entire conference.  I love hands on classes like this!  For a visual person like myself, the information was processed immediately.  This is a spread I will definitely be doing again and again.

One of the highlights of the conference is the Saturday night banquet.  People dress up in costumes or nice clothes (except myself because I am not a fancy person and prefer comfort).  Some were dressed like tarot cards but there was also steampunk, ren faire and gypsy costumes as well.  My favorite was Gina Thies’ interpretation of Justice.  

Gina Thies as Justice

Thalassa, Barbara Moore and Lisa Novak

James Wanless and Mary Greer

Myself with "Big Daddy" Mike Hernandez and Hilary Parry

Dinner was fantastic and I was with a fun table.  After we were done eating, Ciro Marchetti presented the Amberstones with a box he designed that was filled with notes from the conference goers.  This gift was extra special because it also marked the 10 year anniversary of the Reader’s Studio.  Ruth Ann and Wald were very touched by the gift.

Ciro Marchetti presenting a gift to the Amberstones

This was followed by a tarot themed performance from Nancy Antenucci where she embodied the cards in an interpretative dance.  When she finished, more performers took the stage for a fun song and skit (tarot centered again – but of course!).  Guests filtered out of the ballroom, well fed and totally entertained – but not done yet as there were evening classes and opportunities for readings.

Nancy Antenucci becomes the 2 of Swords

Evening entertainment

I attended the “Presentation Skills 101” class with Mike Hernandez.  I love business classes and this one was useful and informative.  Mike has had years of public speaking and it showed.  I learned so much!  For those who didn’t attend, they missed a great class.

Mike Hernandez

By the Saturday wrapped up, I was too tired to hang out in the bar.  I needed some rest.  But hey – there is always tomorrow……

Too tired to hang with buddies Donnaleigh and Angelo

Blessings!

Theresa

© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2012

Even though we had the class with the Amberstones, Friday is the “official” beginning of Reader’s Studio.  Ruth Ann and Wald began the event by welcoming everyone warmly.  This was followed up by a ritual, which charged the energy of the room and alerted us that now things are really underway.

The main instructors were introduced – and what a line up this year!  James Wells, James Wanless and Shawn Nacol.  I’m especially excited to take Shawn’s class because I have never had a class with him.  (We were both at the last RS but teaching workshops at the same time – and then we were at BATS but once again both teaching at the same time!)  The instructors told the audience what they would be teaching and I was happy to hear that these would be highly useful classes.  More on that later.

James Wells introduced by Wald Amberstone

Shawn Nacol introduced by Garnet Starr

James Wanless introduced by Ruth Ann Amberstone

We then chose partners for the “foundation readings”.  This is an important part of the Reader’s Studio – basically you pick a buddy and each do a reading on the first day of the conference.  On the last day, you revisit your reading and apply the skills you learned from the classes.  It’s very cool.  

I was lucky to get Mike Hernandez of Just Enough Tarot for my foundation partner.  Mike gave me a very moving and accurate reading.  I have no idea how he will top that or add to it because it was that good.  I’m looking forward to seeing what we come up with at the end of the conference.  

After the foundation readings, there was a welcoming ritual for the new conference goers.  We had quite a few newbies this year.  It’s exciting to see how the Reader’s Studio grows every year.  New attendees came from all over the world (including a lovely lady I met named Rosa Perez who told me that she came to the event after reading something I posted!).  

Newbie conference goers line up for the welcoming ritual

We were treated to an awesome lunch buffet (the Amberstones provide this every year and it is always delicious) and then settled in for James Wells’ class.

If you don’t know James, I really hope that I inspire you to get to know him.  A while back, I was dealing with a very tough situation and I got a reading from him.  James’ style is very therapeutic and it was just the balm I needed to begin healing.  I don’t even need to look at the notes I took from the reading because I can remember it so clearly – it impacted me that deeply.  

James Wells

James brought that compassionate energy into his session with a class on doing readings for tough times.  I once again partnered up with Mike for the exercises, which turned out to be a good move because he was just the right type of gentle for these sensitive readings.  People were moved by the information they uncovered and several stood up to share their findings.  James brings emotional magic to his work and this class most likely inspired more than a few breakthroughs.  I’m now armed with some great spreads for grieving, upsetting situations and more – which is always good to have in the tarot arsenal for myself, not to mention my clients.

After class, it was time to head out for dinner.  A group of us went to the local Buccaneer diner.  I admit, I am a bit of a food snob and like exotic things so I was super skeptical and bitchy about having dinner at a diner (I envisioned that gross “Diners, Dives and Drive Ins show) but was pleasantly surprised at my lovely sea scallops.  Yum!

The rest of the evening was study groups and readings from the presenters.  I was too tired and after a glass of wine decided to hit the sack and get some shut eye.  There was a busy day ahead and I didn’t want to be up to late.  

Okay, that’s it for now….more later!

Blessings,

Theresa

© Theresa Reed |  The Tarot Lady 2012

I had been anticipating the annual Reader’s Studio event for weeks.  Not just because it’s a chance to do non-stop tarot, but it’s also an opportunity for me to hang with friends and go back to my old stomping grounds in NY.

I arrived two days early with my daughter to have a little time for some site seeing and eating, of course.  New York is a foodies paradise and one can never run out of things to eat.

We spent Tuesday with old friends touring through St. John the Divine’s church on the upper west side.  Supposedly, this is the most haunted church in Manhattan!  I didn’t see any ghosts but perhaps that is because I was wowed by the incredible architecture of this massive cathedral.  It was stunning inside and out, from the garden sculptures to the giant stained glass windows.

After touring the church, we shared some delicious pastries at an old Hungarian pastry shop that has been around forever.  One of my friends used to eat there when she was in college and she remarked that the place hadn’t changed one bit over the years.  It sure looked it – the place had that “old world feel” and some of the signs look like they hadn’t been changed in eons.

The next day, we headed out to Little Italy to check out some cute Italian guys and eat non-stop.  Did I mention that I am on a diet?  Yup – being on a diet and hanging in Little Italy was not an easy feat.  I managed to eat some delicate chocolate French macarons and a fantastic lunch of seafood and veggies.  (No pasta – had to sacrifice that for the cookie!)  My daughter had fresh cheese ravioli which was so good she ate every last bit.

As we headed back to the hotel, we noticed some tarot people beginning to arrive.  It was now obvious that it was going to be non-stop tarot talk.  

After a good nights sleep and mucho allergy meds (I’m currently in allergy hell – ugh), we headed down for some breakfast and to meet and greet fellow tarot lovers.  Didn’t take long to round up a bunch for a lunch date at the local Dominican restaurant (can you tell that this blog today is a bit food oriented?).  I had one of my favorite things in the world – goat.  Yup, I am a fan of goat and this restaurant served it perfectly done along with a side of Yuca fries.  

We got back to the hotel and things were starting to get hectic – Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone (our fab hosts) we scurrying about, handling last minute details and various staff members were trying to set things up and get the first day in gear.

I don’t know how they do it year after year but we were able to seamlessly register and get our “goodie bags”.  My daughter scored big time – she got a copy of the Gilded Tarot.  I, unfortunately, got a hideous deck that is completely unusable (for the sake of the artist’s feelings, I won’t name the deck).  Oh well.  Beginner’s luck, I guess!  

We were signed up for the class with the Amberstones: “Court Cards – The Fourth Arcanum Master Class”.  As usual, Wald and Ruth Ann delivered a powerful class with some interesting concepts.  I won’t divulge their method here but let’s put it this way: we were having many interesting breakthroughs at our table!  I highly recommend that you always take the Amberstone’s class when you come to Readers Studio – it’s very much worth it.

After class, many of us were crowded into the bar area to eat and congregate.  Angelo Nasios “crashed” the party – which made it all the more fun.  We were laughing, talking tarot, examining the latest Gilded Royale tarot and trying to get something to eat.  The poor beleaguered staff was kept busy trying to get us our food and drinks.  Needless to say, I ended up eating way later than I wanted to and could barely keep my eyes open at the end of the night.  I bid my fellow tarotists adieu and headed to bed.

And now the first “official day” of RS12 begins…..

Blessings,

Theresa

© Theresa Reed |  The Tarot Lady 2012

Years ago, an angry woman brought her teenage son in for a tarot reading.  She was frustrated with him and assumed that a tarot reader would “set him straight” (for the record, no one should ever be coerced to come in for a tarot reading nor should anyone put the responsibility of “disciplining or scolding a teen” on a tarot reader).  

The boy reluctantly shuffled the cards but after a bit he relaxed and seemed to be enjoying himself.  I don’t remember much about that reading except one thing:  at soem point the mother belligerently butted in and forced her son to ask the tarot if he would “ever respect her”.  

The cards showed a point blank “no”.  This answer made him burst into laughter and it infuriated her.  (That was the last time she ever came to me again.)

Even though I was surprised at tarot’s answer (tarot has a mind of its own), I wasn’t shocked that she was having so much trouble with her son.  The way she talked to him in front of me was downright rude and demeaning.  

I often thought of her over the years and wondered if they ever were able to find peace.

But more importantly, that incident taught me that if I wanted my own children to hear me, I had to become mindful of my own dialogue with them – and I had to listen more actively.

Truthfully, I preferred my kids as teens.  Finally, we could communicate intelligently and openly.  Often, I learned more from them than they learned from me.  It’s funny how it works when you drop that “infallible parent” act and simply listen, human to human.

If you have teens, you’re bound to struggle at times.  It’s hard to forget that they are no longer kids and need more freedom – but at the same time, they are not quite yet adults and still need your guidance.  Communicating with them requires balance, mutual respect and patience.

These are the truths I kept in mind when I went through those oh-so-challenging teen years:

1. Don’t forget what it was like to be that age.  Put yourself in their shoes and be compassionate.
2. You can’t demand respect if you talk to your children in a disrespectful manner.  Teach them respect by talking to them in a dignified manner and acknowledging their concerns.
3. Learn the lingo.  I’m not saying you have to begin talking like a phony fake ass “friend” parent but please don’t talk like an old fart either.  Your words will be going in one ear and out the other.
4. Practice non-violent communication.  Marshall Rosenberg wrote a beautiful book on this compassionate style of speaking.  This book changed my life and taught me how to communicate in a respectful and productive way with my children.  I highly recommend every family read this book and apply the principles.
5. You are going to lose your cool at times.  Hard to stay peaceful when your child gets an F on their report card.  Apologize and start the conversation over when you are both centered.
6. Most importantly, choose your battles wisely.  Arguing over a hair do is pointless – having a debate over taking the family car on a joyride = necessary.  

Sometimes even if you practice the most compassionate and grounded communication, you still may not reach your teen.  At times when I would be dealing with a particularly frustrating situation, I would reach for my trusty tarot for guidance.  

Here’s one of my favorite spreads when two people are at an impasse:

Person 1 (The Querent – their point of view)

Person 2 (The Teen)

The Solution/Advice

Using myself as an example, when my daughter was a teen she went through a phase where she was struggling with school.  It was straight F city and I began to worry about a future of burger flipping for her. What made me madder is that she didn’t seem to care.  Here are the cards I pulled:

Person 1 (me): Temperance reversed – this indicates that this situation was pulling me off center.  I was having a hard time being patient and was letting my frustration get in the way of having a balanced and compassionate dialogue.

Person 2 (daughter):  2 of Wands reversed – the man in the card is holding on to a wand as he stands in a walled of city.  This reflected that she may be feeling alienated and unsupported.  Something else was going on and she needed to feel safe, not attacked.

The Solution/Advice: 6 of Wands – here, we see the man moving forward towards victory with people cheering him on.  The solution was to encourage, not punish.  She needed to know I was her ally in this drama.

We opened up a discussion and she revealed to me that she was having trouble focusing on her studies because she was being picked on (she’s incredibly shy and some school bullies were giving her hard time because of her gentle nature).  I gave her more support (and reamed out the principal who wasn’t doing anything to protect her) and guess what?  She passed high school and just recently got her MFA.  Mission accomplished!

The next time you are feeling stressed out with your budding young adult, try that tarot spread and see what you discover.  Your solution may be only a hug and a conversation away.

Blessings!

Theresa

© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2012

 http://www.thetarotlady.com

If you have a teen that loves tarot, consider gifting them with Tarot For Teens, a special class just for them.

If you are a young tarot reader who wishes to go pro, I have a special gift for you – my FREE report: Advice For Young Tarot Professionals.  Click the Add To Cart Button below (don’t worry, it’s free) and grab your copy today.  

By the way, you can use the tarot spread above for any relationship that is going through a rough patch.  I’d love to hear your results in the comment section below: