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Although there are many theories tracking the origins of Tarot cards everywhere from the Gypsies to Ancient Egypt, we don't know for sure where the Tarot came from. What we do know is that the Tarot is a deck of 78 cards divided into the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards numbered from 0 through 21 that chronicle the key stages in a soul's evolutionary journey. The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards divided into four suits of 14 cards each: Wands, Swords, Cups, and Pentacles. The 14 cards are numbered 1 through 10, plus 4 Court Cards denoting people: Page, Knight, Queen, and King. Each of the 78 cards carries a meaning that can either stand alone or influence other cards in a spread. The cards can be used as a tool to tap your intuition, bring clarity, and offer guidance.

Tarot cards are very similar to everyday playing cards. Indeed, playing cards are derived from Tarot cards. The Tarot has 78 cards while playing cards only have 52 cards. What happened? The 22 Major Arcana cards have been dropped (78 - 22 = 56), leaving the four suits of the Minor Arcana (Wands = Clubs, Swords = Spades, Cups = Hearts, Pentacles = Diamonds). The four Pages have also been dropped, leaving a Jack (Knight), Queen, and King for each suite (56 - 4 = 52). Some playing card decks even leave a Joker card, which hearkens back to card number 0 of the Major Arcana: the Fool. Thus, if you are familiar with their meanings, playing cards can be used for divination just like an abridged Tarot deck!

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A spread is the predetermined placement of Tarot cards so that each position corresponds to some aspect of a question. There many different kinds of spreads, and certain spreads are more useful for answering certain kinds of questions than others. Larger spreads tend to be better at answering complex questions because they generally address more aspects of an issue. Smaller spreads tend to be better at answering simple questions because they are more direct and to the point. The more cards there are in a spread, the more detailed the answer you receive.

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The Querent, or Seeker, is the person asking the question. The Reader is the person interpreting the cards. When reading the cards for yourself, the Querent and the Reader are the same person.

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There are no definite answers to how or why Tarot cards work. The only thing we know is: they do work!

My personal belief is that the Tarot works through a psychic link between the cards an the shuffler. While mixing the cards, the shuffler enters a meditative state where they and the cards become one entity. This is why one's state of mind is so important during shuffling. Ideally, the shuffler focuses on their question, but the human mind is anything but ideal. Besides the question, the shuffler's hopes, fears, and expectations could influence the cards. Eventually the shuffler will feel an intuitive pull to stop, and when the cards are laid out, they reflect our thoughts. Thus, people terrified of getting the "Death" card will find it in their reading - because it was foremost in their thoughts! This apparent flaw in the Tarot system is also one of its greatest strengths, because it brings to our attention issues we may not otherwise have been aware of.

Once the cards are laid out, the second part of how the Tarot works comes into play. The Tarot speaks in visual symbols designed to tickle the collective human soul. Though each card has a traditional meaning, it is only meant to serve as a guide for our own inner knowing. As we look over the cards, we may be drawn to particular aspects of the pictures that trigger feelings or insights. Formula blends with intuition as we start noticing patterns and stories emerging before our eyes. The cards serve as a mirror for what is inside ourselves. They work with what we know about a situation and offer new perspectives. We might know isolated fragments of our circumstances, but only when they are laid out in front of us can we grasp the big picture of how they fit together, influence one another, and how they can be changed.

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The greatest value of the Tarot is in empowering the present, not predicting the future. After all, the future starts with the here and now. We live, breathe, and act in the present. This is our place of power, this is our time to make choices that will shape the future, and this is exactly what the Tarot shows. It can show you the present, and it can show you the most likely future projected from the consequences of what you (and others) are doing now. This knowledge allows you to make conscious choices. If you do not like where you are headed, the present gives you opportunity to change your behavior, your attitude, or your priorities and steer yourself in the direction you want. This is the power of free will.

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Unlike many other forms of divination, the Tarot does not work with a predetermined set of external influences such as years and planetary alignments. Although the individual cards carry traditional meanings, they speak to us in the pictorial language of symbols designed to trigger our intuition. The cards' interpretation in the complex context of a spread can vary and is determined by the reader. The ability to see stories, patterns, and purpose in a visual tapestry of symbols is something no computer program can do. This skill relies on a living being's connection to their subconscious and the higher self. Above all, the Tarot emphasizes how free will and perspective influence our reality. By making us aware of our circumstances, it gives us the power to shape the future.

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No, I do not typically read reversed cards. Although the upright and reversed meanings for cards are often different, I see them both as part of the same whole. For example, the "6 of Wands" upright can mean "victory; praise from your peers," and reversed mean "arrogance; scorn or jealousy from your peers." But in reality, things are rarely this black and white. Each extreme has the potential to yield its opposite. By examining the position of the "6 of Wands" within the context of surrounding cards, we can more accurately determine what subtle twist the meaning will take. Often it is a combination of the two: "your accomplishments have not gone unnoticed by your peers, but don't let this go to your head, because tensions are high, and their praise could easily turn into contempt." The Tarot is a tool with many layers of interactive complexity, and should not be reduced to the randomness of a coin toss.

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A Significator is a card removed from the deck to represent the Querent or the question, and provides focus for the reading. Some choose to use this method, some don't. Since these are such important cards, I very rarely use Significators because I don't want to take away the possibility of it appearing in a spread. I do, however, sometimes keep a Significator(s) in the back of my head. This way, if it does come up in a reading, I know who/what it represents and pay it particularly close attention.

Some techniques of using the Significator do not require its removal from the deck. It can be shuffled in, and then used to indirectly cut the deck by picking off all the cards on top of it, and starting your reading from there. In Past-Present-Future spreads it can be shuffled into the deck, and then the few cards before it would represent the past, and the few cards after it the future. I like these techniques because instead of taking the Significator out of use, they make it an active participant!

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When done right, a Tarot reading gives us clarity, empowerment, and a connection with our higher self. It reinforces what we know, gives fresh perspectives we may not have considered, and offers solutions for overcoming obstacles that stand in the way of our goals. It helps us make sense of our lives by organizing key aspects of an issue in ways that are easier to digest. It lets us know if we are on the right track by projecting the most likely outcome if we don't change our tactics. Although many turn to the Tarot in times of uncertainty, others instead seek validation for what they have already decided on their own.

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The Tarot is best suited for questions more complex than simple "yes" or "no." There are simpler methods of divination better suited for that (dice, coin toss, pendulums). Tarot is designed for in-depth analysis, spotting patterns, and seeing the bigger picture. For this reason, it is best to ask more open-ended questions. Instead of asking "Should I pick A or B?" ask "What happens if I pick A?" and/or "What happens if I pick B?" Other example questions are:

~ "How should I deal with X?" (ex: "How should I deal with getting laid off?")
~ "What effect is X having on my life?" (ex: "What effect is juggling two jobs and college having on my life?")
~ "How am I progressing in X?" (ex: "How am I progressing in my chosen spiritual path?")
~ "How do I resolve X?" (ex: "How do I resolve differences of opinion with my parents?")
~ "What can I learn from X?" (ex: "What can I learn from this painful breakup?")

Questions need not be formulaic. The question I personally ask most is "Show me myself." This is another way of asking the universe "Show me what I need to know." Even if you intends to ask a particular question, it might not be the most pressing thing on your mind. The cards will respond to your emotions first, since they exert a more powerful influence than rational thought. Furthermore, emotions are often not fueled by the conscious mind, but by things going on behind the scenes on other levels of your psyche. So what the cards bring up might not be the answer you were looking for, but it would be what you need to know - which is a better bargain, if you ask me. Sometimes what you need to know isn't what you want to hear, but such is the nature of the most rewarding life lessons.

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Some Tarot imagery is rather frightening. It can be unsettling to see a card like "Death," "The Devil," or the "10 of Swords" (a man with ten swords stabbed through his back) pop up in a reading. But you must remember that these are symbols, and not meant to be taken literally. There are no "good" or "bad" cards. "Death" essentially means "change," a closure of one part of your life and the beginning of a new one. "The Devil" speaks of addictions, bondage, and unhealthy habits. If you're experiencing a run of bad luck, the "10 of Swords" is a welcome card indeed, since it signifies reaching the bottom and there being nowhere to go but up. The truth of the matter is, if something "bad" is on the horizon for you, it will happen whether you have a Tarot reading or not. The difference is that a Tarot reading could give you the knowledge you need to protect yourself.

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I'm a firm believer in the Querent's active participation, so I only do live readings. Although reading in person is always best, it is not necessary. Live readings can be done over the phone or over the internet. The internet especially provides many free forms of live communication, such as digital phone, instant messengers, chat, and voice programs. If you have any questions regarding my services, feel free to e-mail or call me. To request a reading, buy one of the spreads on the Readings page. I will then contact you by either e-mail or phone to work out a time and mode of communication that works best for you. When the appointed time comes, I will contact you and we will begin.

If the reading is in person:
~ You will have a selection of Tarot decks to choose from for your reading.
~ You will relax and shuffle the cards, either concentrating on your question or letting the universe decide for you.
~ When you feel it is time to stop shuffling, I will lay the cards out in your chosen spread and interpret them.
~ You are encouraged to make comments or ask questions at any time.

If the reading is over phone or internet:
~ Just because I will be shuffling the cards for you does not excuse you from participation. I serve merely as the conduit for your energy. In order to focus in on your energy, I will usually ask your zodiac sign/birthdate, favorite number, and favorite color.
~ You will tell me when I should start shuffling. While I'm shuffling, you will concentrate on your question (or lack thereof), and tell me when you feel it is time to stop shuffling.
~ I will then lay the cards out in your chosen spread and interpret them.
~ You are encouraged to make comments or ask questions at any time.

Although it is natural to want to "test" the Tarot reader, please understand that my motivation isn't to impress you but to help you. I act as a medium between you and the cards. I can interpret them without prior knowledge of your issue, but such a reading, though essentially accurate, would be very generic. A Tarot spread is like a jigsaw puzzle, and in order to get more personalized details, we have to fit the knowledge you already have with the messages contained in the cards. This is your reading, and the Tarot is speaking to you, the Querent. You do yourself a disservice if you choose not to participate in the process.

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Nobody questions a Psychologist charging for their time, a Doctor charging for their efforts, or a Lawyer charging for their knowledge. Likewise, nobody questioned the Witches and Shamans of old charging for their services. And this is what I charge for: my time, my energy, and my knowledge. In this way I can provide all who come to me with the very best service I can.

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My goal is to empower you to take control of your life. Change yourself and you change your world. I specialize in working with your unique strengths and weaknesses to realize your potential. I am dedicated to providing you with a safe and caring environment to explore your concerns. I will not rush you, and will give you the individual attention you deserve. I will be honest with you, both in what the cards say and in what I can and can not do. I am a Tarot Consultant, not a Doctor, Lawyer, Psychiatrist, or Financial Advisor. I will always tell you if you have hit upon a question I am not qualified to answer.

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I can not tell you when or how you're going to die. I can pick up on personality traits of people, but I can not divine their names. Sometimes a type of terrain or direction is implicated by the Tarot, but I can not tell you specific places. The cards can forecast various degrees of future, but I can not tell you exact dates or times. Though some believe this is actually possible to do with the Tarot, it is not one of my skills - largely because I don't believe the future is predetermined, and the information gained from getting a Tarot reading can change it. I can not find lost objects, talk to the dead, or predict lottery numbers. I will also not help you spy on or control someone else by answering third-party questions. My reading philosophy is to empower you, not infringe on the privacy of others. All questions must center around the Querent.

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