All my readings are virtual

I lived in NYC for 15 years.  I moved to Sydney but my old clients kept wanting readings. What could I do?

For me,  the substance of the tarot reading is the cards that you draw,  from a deck that you have shuffled.  I cannot shuffle for you.  I've tried,  but I can't get clear readings from it.

So how was I to do my readings from across the ocean?  I asked my regulars to get their hands on a tarot deck - it didn't matter which one,  as long at it was a full 78 cards (some of the fancier ones have fewer cards and I can't make sense of them either.)  But if you are buying one specifically,  I recommend the Rider Waite Smith Radiant.  It's pretty and easy to read.  Then,  they could shuffle and do the first layout.  And I could do the rest. 

So now most of my clients are in the US,  though I have done readings for people in Europe and elsewhere as well.  You get to sit in the quiet and comfort of your own home,  and you get to the shuffle the cards.

We start with the Celtic Cross Layout

And then I can answer 3-4 questions depending on how fast we talk!

I also recommend that people record these readings. If you don't want it, then you can just delete it,  but if you do want it,  I can't always recall the exact sentence I said to you.  I've had people who never listen, and people who've relistened so often that I can hear my own phrases when they talk to me.  Either way is good, what works for you is what matters.  

My Tarot Beginnings

I've had a few new clients lately who have asked me how I got into tarot.  

So when I was a young teen,  I would play cards with my grandmother,  and after a bit,  I could shuffle like a card shark, the cards just sliding through my fingers.  One of her friends said I had an affinity for the cards and should learn tarot.  

And what teenage girl doesn't want to have magical insight?  So I went off and bought the first deck I could find - a Rider Waite Smith pack,  and with the little paper booklet,  started looking at the cards.  It felt overwhelming,  but it's really only 78 cards and after a while they became more familiar. 

I stumbled across  - The 78 degrees of Wisdom,  by Rachel Pollack. She has such a deep and intuitive understanding of the tarot,  and I learnt a lot from her!  I was very sad to hear of her passing in 2023.

I bought other books and many other decks,  but really it was Rachel's understanding that underpinned my own knowledge of the tarot. 

I soon realized that it was one thing to have a deep understanding of one card,  but it was another entirely to see it alongside other cards - like knowing one musical note,  and then hearing an orchestra,  each new note bringing a different depth to the sound.  So it's not enough to know the 78 cards,  it's seeing how they lie next to each other,  how many of each suit,  what suit is missing,  all major arcana,  or all minor cards,  each has a different meaning depending on its context within the reading. 

And once I understood that,  my readings really took off.  I became far more accurate,  far more insightful. 

I've been reading cards for decades now (this blog was started in 2009 and I was an experienced reader then!) And I always start with the Celtic Cross,  which is a layout that just speaks to me.  And having seen thousands of them over the years,  I still get unfamiliar variations which jolt me,  or see the same cards coming to regular clients,  even with years between readings.  One client always drew the Queen of Wands for herself,  and in all our readings together,  that Queen always appeared.  

So if you want to explore the cards more,  I recommend around here, on this blog,  as well as Rachel's book,  and wish you a grand adventure.  One caveat - I can never read for myself.  I shuffle and look for me and all I get is mud.  So if you find you can't read for yourself,  don't worry.  It's like looking in the mirror.  You need a bit of distance to get clarity,  and it's very hard to look at ourselves that clearly. 

Welcome to Tribeca Tarot

January is traditionally one of my busier months.  People want to see what the year ahead holds,  want to discuss what did or didn't happen last year and how to shift/improve/encourage events in the new year.

If you have never had a tarot reading, please explore my blog,  there is so much information here!  I've been writing it since 2009 and reading cards even longer than that.  If you have a particular card you want to explore,  just go up to the B symbol on the upper left hand side and write whatever you are interested in the search box there and relevant blog pieces will appear.  

If you haven't had a tarot reading with me before,  for me the magic is in the shuffling.  So while most of my readings are virtual,  I still need you to hold the cards.  You can borrow or buy a deck - if you are buying,  I recommended the Rider Waite Smith Radiant - because they are prettier and easy to read.  But if you already have a deck,  as long as it has a full 78 cards,  I can read it. 

So you shuffle and then draw the cards and we lay them out in the Celtic Cross spread.  Then I talk to you about them for about 5-7 minutes,  and then we discuss what resonated with you, what didn't,  if the cards felt accurate and if you want more clarification on anything. 

Then we usually have time for about 3 or so questions,  and then the hour is up.  

Right now I read for mainly return clients,  so I know I am doing something right, as people keep coming back! If you want to make a booking,  just drop a line at tribecatarotreader@gmail.com and we can start. 

Virtual Readings

I lived in Tribeca for 14 years.  I started Tribeca Tarot Reader in 2008 and this blog in 2009.  When we returned to Sydney 3 years ago,  I switched to virtual readings.  I would skype or facetime you and read for you that way.  But because of the way I read,  I find the magic is in the shuffling - you have to handle the cards,  you have to move and select them,  your energy shifting them one way or the other.  

So most of my readings are for established clients who know the way I work,  and are willing to buy or borrow a deck and shuffle and do the layout for me,  and then we do the reading,  in the quiet and privacy of where you chose. 

It's actually worked out very well,  and my regulars,  who have readings once or twice a year,  or once every two years or so,  find me,  buy a deck - usually the Rider Waite,  but any deck with 78 cards will do,  and have a reading.  And continue being my regulars.

If you are looking for me in these uncertain times,  I'm happy to do a reading for you.  Just get your hands on a deck and we'll find a time and start.  And you don't have to have read with me before - just browse though the blog and you'll get a feel for how I read. 

Also,  to simplify matters,  I start all my readings with a cold reading - where I don't know what's going on in your life,  and just tell you what the cards tell me - in the shape of a Celtic Cross.  I find it helpful to remind people of what that looks like - 

We lay out the 10 cards together and then I start to talk... 

Email me or text me if you like a reading.

Wishing you warmth and safety and health,

Liat

First reading

If this is your first reading with me - Welcome!  I'm currently in Sydney Australia.  Most of my clients are in New York City.  I now do most of my readings via Skype or FaceTime.  

For me,  the magic of the cards comes through the energy of you shuffling.  So in order to have a reading with me,  you need your own deck of tarot cards.  Any deck will do,  as long as it is a full 78 cards (some of the more decorative decks have fewer cards,  and that doesn't work for me.)  If you are buying a deck in order to have a reading with me,  I recommend you get the Rider Waite Radiant Deck 

My readings usually cost $120 for about an hour.  If you are getting a deck for a reading with me,  I'll buy it for you,  and the reading will only be $100 

Once you have the cards,  we set up an appointment.  Usually after 6 pm for you,  after 9 am the following day for me. (I find time differences weird!)  

You shuffle the cards we start the reading with the Celtic Cross.  I talk you through it,  but essentially you lay out the cards in this shape:

I start with what I call the cold reading,  knowing as little as possible about your current situation,  I go through what the cards tell me.  It usually takes about 5 - 10 minutes.  

Then you get to tell me if you what you thought of it - if you agree/disagree/have questions/have comments and the reading progresses...

I can usually answer about 3 questions during the reading as well. 

I encourage people to record the readings,  as we go through a lot of information, very quickly.  

If any of the cards are especially significant,  I will encourage you to look them up online but especially on my blog.  There is a wealth of information here and every card is gone through in detail. 

After the reading you pay me via paypal. 

I'm so grateful to my repeat clients who have bought their own decks and keep coming back to me for readings, so that even though I am far away,  we feel close. 

Celtic Cross 2

Because once wasn’t enough J

When you are interpreting the Celtic Cross, it's not just where the cards lie - it’s how they balance each other, it’s how many of one suite appear, how many of another don’t (ie do you have all wands and no pentacles? Too much fire/energy, not enough grounding…)

The Basis is balanced by the Self – how you make your decisions,  what you remember about your life,  what holds power for you,  is balanced by how you feel about yourself,  how you see yourself. 

Your hopes and fears play against your possible outcome.  I’ve done readings where the recent future card moves to the recent past as I read for the same person 6 months later..

Lots to play with when you look at how the cards fall…

Celtic Cross Layout

I’ve gone through the cards, individually and by numbers.  Now how do I lay them out? There are many, many ways to lay the cards out in tarot but I only use one.  I’ve used it for so many years now that its subtleties and intricacies just leap out at me…

I use the Celtic Cross,  which is 10 cards laid out in a set pattern

1 & 2 are what’s at your core,  2 is the sideways card which is  your cross at this moment

3  is your basis, the energy/attitude you use to make decisions

4  is recent past

5  is possible outcome, hovering, not quite on the cards – do we pull it in or push it away?

6  is near future (within the next 3 months)

7  is self,  how you feel about yourself

8  is external environment – which I read as work or college, or where you spend most of your day…

9  is hopes and fears - always a rich spot

10  is outcome,  the culmination of all the previous cards…

There have been books written about the Celtic Cross spread, this is only the briefest of outlines, but if you have one of my readings,  it gives you an idea of how the cards will be played…