Yes, I am Doing Readings. No, they are not Free

Today's card is the Ace of Pentacles from Tarot of the Sweet Twilight (English and Spanish Edition). It speaks of new beginnings, a new direction, and the beginning of financial gain in this area.

I started doing readings again recently, and I have heard a little bit of grumbling and complaining already about the prices. There are several reasons why I price my readings at the rates that are listed.

First of all, I have been reading and studying Tarot for over 20 years. I have thousands of hours of readings behind me. I have found a couple of decks that truly resonate with me and give me the ability to see things that clients often think I shouldn't "know."

I also have over a decade of experience as a mental health therapist. What I learned from those years was that psychology doesn't help people - people help people. The most important thing is the connection between the people, the support, and if the client trusts the other person. This has been demonstrated in study after study in psychology. So why use a system like psychology that often focuses on negatives when I can use Tarot and help people focus on the positives and move forward in their lives?

I have a Master of Divinity in Comparative Religion. This is a Metaphysical Sciences degree, and I am currently finishing up my Dissertation to get my Doctorate. I also hold a Master of Public Health in Environment, Safety, and Health, but that really doesn't have much to do with Tarot.

The most important thing, though, is that the prices reflect not only my own confidence in my ability to help others, but the value of the service I offer. A person who gets a free reading is less likely to heed the advice, and instead will often search for other free readings. Trust me on this, I did free readings years ago. I was often told, "My other psychic told me this, but I want to know what you see." Frankly, I see you wasting your time. Going from reading to reading and psychic to psychic is not doing anything to help you. The whole point is to take the information you receive, think about it, meditate on it, and, most importantly, ACT on it. If you don't change your actions, your thoughts, or something about your life, then you aren't really doing anything.

Paying for your reading often results in a more serious attitude about the information, more serious discussion about issues and obstacles, and often yields discussion about concrete steps and actions the person may take in order to move towards more positive outcomes in their lives. When people come to me for readings, I care about what is happening in their lives and what they think they need to work on. I care about what happens when they leave (people often send me follow-up information, sometimes months later). I can't make people change their situations, but I can help them see some possibilities for a better tomorrow.

So, no. I'm not going to give free readings anymore, at least not on a regular basis. Sometimes it's fun to just do a fun reading to test things out, but isn't that what promo minutes on a psychic hotline are for?

By the way, if you do want to try a hotline, contact my friend Willow Davis (you'll have to click the "W" to get to her name). She's a great Tarot reader. :)

Happy Readings!

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The Mind is willing, but the Body isn't

I got this as part of a spread I recently did for someone, and I find it very interesting.

Mind – VIII Strength – There is no doubt that you have the will, the drive, and the determination to continue to strive for your goals.

Body – XIV – Temperance, Reversed – However, your body is going to stop cooperating. You are pushing it beyond its limits, are unsatisfied and impatient with what you think of as “poor” results (even though most people would find them incredible), and you are extremely hard on your body. You may be breaking it down too much, and health issues may start cropping up even more often in the form of aches and pains, possibly knee problems, and just feeling tired and run-down a lot. Due to your Strength, you tend to just push through the pain.

What do you do when the mind is willing, but the body isn't able? Do you push through the pain? Or do you take a step back, rest, and re-evaluate?

I used to push through the pain, and that's how I ended up using a wheelchair for two years, a walking boot for a few more, and now have permanent foot issues. Now I advise people to slow down and step back. However, they usually don't, and I see them go through some of the same things I did - over and over again. You can't teach life experience, though. Some lessons are meant to be learned the hard way and are much more valuable for people when they go through it themselves.

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Celtic Cross for A

Using the Gilded Tarot, I did a Celtic Cross Spread:

My first impression is that you are having some trouble with your current role and figuring out what your role should be. Are you a stay-at-home mom? Or do you have a job but it isn't what you want? I really get the impression that somehow a child or children is your main concern right now. Are you pregnant or trying to get pregnant or are there already kids? These are the questions I would ask if we were face-to-face. :) I also have a sense that you are married or with someone and maybe he is more traditional and while you thought you wanted that role now perhaps you are somewhat rebelling against it, at least on the inside?

Let's see what the cards say:

1. you - 2 of Cups - your relationship with someone take precedence, even over yourself and your own needs

2. what crosses you - the Page of Swords, Reversed - a strange twist or unpredictable event, perhaps a child who born with an illness or mental or physical health issues? Did you husband or another family member get sick and this is taking up much of your mental power right now?

3. your subconscious - III The Empress - You have in you a very strong, powerful woman, but maybe you are afraid to let her out, instead letting others take the lead.

4. what is conscious - 5 of Cups, Reversed - There has been a lot of pain in your life, a loss of some kind. It may not be a death, but something is not as you would have liked it to be. However, your energy is returning and you are determined to move forward by sheer strength of will (this is also drawing on the strength of the Empress)

5 your past - VII The Chariot, Reversed - okay, now I'm really getting curious. What is going on? Something happened that you felt you had no control over, that left you feeling completely powerless (also could have driven the Empress further into your subconscious). You may have blamed yourself.

6 the future - XII The Hanged Man, Reversed - the Hanged Man is saying that it is okay to let go, that it was not your fault, and that you can quit blaming yourself. The Hanged Man wants you to move forward with your life, but you may not be ready for this yet. He reminds you to "let go and let God" when you are able. There is no room for blame and guilt when he is here. You have made your choices, but you can make the best of them and still be satisfied and happy.

7 you - 2 of Pentacles, Reversed - You are juggling too many things right now. It may be time to let something go, focus on one thing, or one day, at a time.

8 environment - King of Cups - there is someone there to love you and support you (your husband, perhaps?) He is saying, "Come, lean on me." Don't be too stubborn and try to do it all on your own. You are lucky to have someone who loves you so much. Perhaps his love will help you forgive yourself? He does not blame you for anything in the past and only wants the best for the both of you. The King of Cups is very compassionate and understanding. Are you hiding something for the past that your are afraid he will think ill of you for? If so, you need to forgive yourself - it is affecting your ability to be close with him. (You don't necessarily need to tell him anything.)

9 Hopes and Fears - 8 of Cups - Your Hope is to get past your worries and fears of the past, and be ready to move on. However, you still feel like there are some loose ends or things in the past are in disarray.

10. the Outcome - 6 of Pentacles, Reversed - This card could indicate not having as much financial freedom as you would wish. Perhaps if you are returning to work, you find yourself spending more on day care, clothes, etc, or if you stay at home, you don't have as much income as you would like (whether or not you have children). An ongoing or old bill from a medical issue or illness or something from the past may continue to tax your finances for some time. However , you will eventually find a way through this. A state of harmony and happiness can be achieved; however, you may have to find creative ways to do it. Watch your finances as best you can. If you are not currently having financial issues, save as much as you can for a rainy day. Beware of feeling isolated. Find creative ways to spend time with friends and family. If you have recently become a parent, find a "Mommy and Me" group or something. Stay involved with others. Continue to pursue interactions with adults. Your Empress may be feeling somewhat stifled. Find a creative outlet for her - whether writing, reading, painting, or whatever. Do something to feed your spirit.

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3 Card Daily Spread

One of the more popular quick spreads in Tarot is the 3 Card Spread. Many people know this as the Past, Present, and Future Spread. However, as a daily spread it is much more useful to use this as the Mind, Body, Spirit Spread. This will give you a variety of clues as to what to expect during the day. A quick look in the morning can not only warn you of upcoming difficulties, but can help provide you with clues and advice about how to overcome any adversities throughout the day.

I advise everyone to do a quick 3 Card Spread in the morning and to write it down in their Tarot Journal. Keeping track of your daily readings will provide insight as to how your life unfolds. Over time, you will begin to notice patterns and cards that tend to repeat themselves. Pay special attention to these cards as they are trying to teach you something. Look for repeats in court cards as well as these cards may come to indicate particular people in your life. However, do not rule out the possibility that they are aspects of your own personality.

Most 3 Card Spreads include a majority of Minor Arcana cards as these are daily tasks. If a Major Arcana card shows up, it is a message to pay attention as something important is going on. Let's take a look at today's 3 Card Spread using the Gilded Tarot.

Mind - 10 of Wands, Reversed
Body - 0 The Fool
Spirit - XIII Death, Reversed

Right away it is important to note the appearance of not just one but two Major Arcana cards. In general if this suddenly happened in a spread, the Querent (person for whom the spread is for, or the person who is asking the question) would want to pay particular attention as there could be major events occuring during this day. However, in my own life, Major Arcana cards have been coming up quite frequently in even my smallest spreads. This is due to changing my focus and changing my life direction. Any time you are making major decisions in your life, you can expect a variety of Major Arcana cards to come up very frequently.

Let's look at what each of these cards could mean for me for the day.

The first card I drew to represent Mind was a Wands card. Wands are generally associated with the element of fire and represent growth and development, at least when upright. Some people associate wands with air and swords with fire. When I first began using Tarot, this was my association. It worked well with the deck I used for the first ten years or so. However, after I began using a variety of other decks and studying the cards more deeply, I switched interpretations. Depending on the deck you use, associating wands with air may be more appropriate. As long as your associations are consistent when using a given deck, your Tarot interpretations will still be valid. If you find yourself struggling with interpretations, you may want to experiment with switching this particular association to see if that works better for you and the deck you are using.

The number 10 can represent completeness, or the end of a cycle. Additionally, the end of one cycle means the beginning of a new cycle.

The 10 of Wands represents a person who is overloaded and carrying an abundance of heavy burdens. In fact, they may be carrying burdens that don't even belong to them! Some people attempt to help others by not only giving the person a shoulder to lean on, but taking on a majority of the load themselves. This can indicate a nurturing nature that has gotten a bit out of hand or even codependence.

When reversed, the 10 of Wands indicates that the burden is being lifted. The Querent is free to let some of the baggage go. It can indicate that it is time to prioritize your responsibilities and let others take on some of the work. It can also mean that you have to look at your activities, decide which ones are serving you, and which ones you need to let go. There is a time to say, "no" to new activities and responsibilites, and the time is now. How many committees are you serving on? How many times have you volunteered at school or for extra projects at work? Participation in activities is great for the mind and the spirit. But over-participating and saying yes to everything can lead to burn-out. It's time to let others step up and develop their leadership skills.

In my case, there are a plethora of issues I have been concerned with lately. My mind tends to work in over-drive and I have trouble sleeping because of this. Last night, for example, I got three hours of sleep. Perhaps if I heed the advice of the 10 of Wands Reversed, I will be able to better prioritize my responsibilities, focus on what really needs to be done, and get a good night's sleep.

For the Body card we have 0 The Fool. The Fool stands alone in the Major Arcana as it is the first card and is often not numbered at all. The Fool indicates the beginning of a new adventure. In my case in this particular spread, the Fool in the Body position is an encouragement of my new physical activity. I have been lifting weights for years, but have recently wanted to add more cardio back to my workout regimine. I have never been a dancer, nor have I ever really enjoyed dancing as I feel like I am not good at it. However, I recently ordered Zumba and just a couple of days ago started using it to work out. The Fool here is telling me that it is good to continue working my body in this new way. Not only that, but since I can work out in the privacy of my own home (thanks to the DVD's), I can look as Fool-ish as I want and don't have to worry about being embarrassed if anyone else sees me!

While some people may not think this is deserving of a Major Arcana card, dancing is actually a difficult issue for me. I have many doubts and feelings of insecurity and self-consciousness around dancing. Most of my memories of dancing include other people laughing at me and making fun of me. To order the videos and try it at all was, I felt, a major breakthrough. The Fool is just here to validate my decision and to encourage me to explore this new avenue.

It is also important to note that the person in the 10 of Wands, Reversed is looking towards The Fool. Might he want to throw down some of his burdens and go dance and enjoy life? Has he been struggling for too long? Maybe he is starting to realize that life doesn't have to be as difficult as he seems to make it.

Spirit - XIII Death, Reversed

Many people can't help but panic when they see the Death card in a spread, even if it is reversed. Relax, Death is just the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one (kind of like that 10 of Wands we talked about earlier, except on a much grander level). It is the rare occassion when it might indicate the actual physical death of a person. When in the Spirit position of the Spread, Death Reversed can indicate stagnation and the need to regroup and see if this is the path you really want to take. There is no doubt that this card will continue to come up for me at least occassionally. I am embarking on a new path, have new goals, and I am scared. I am afraid I might fail. I think about taking the easy way out instead of trying to do what I really want to do. On the other hand, when I conform to an expected life pattern, Death upright appears in my readings because on that path my Spirit slowly dies and depression creeps in. In order to find my way in life, I will have to get over the fear and carry on whether I am successful or not.

The position of the cards in this spread is important. It is worth noting that if the cards appeared in different positions, they would produce different interpretations. For example, if the 10 of Wands Reversed card had come up in the Body position of the Spread, it could indicate an illness the Querent has not gotten vaccinated for or a lack of physical motivation to get chores or work done. In the Spirit position it could indicate letting go of old patterns and habits which no longer serve the Querent.

As you can see, you gain a lot of information and insight from a 3 Card Spread. You can also receive a lot of encouragement and motivation to continue new activities you have started or to pursue new goals. Pull out your deck and try your own 3 Card Spread. Don't forget to write it down and date it. It doesn't have to be as elaborate or as long as this interpretation. You can write down each card and just write 3-5 words about what you think it means, what feelings you get from the cards, or traditional interpretations that came with your deck. As you go through the day, pay attention to whether or not your experiences match your interpretations of the cards.You just might be surprised by what you find.

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