saw this on line and it made me smile

 

We need more Women In STEM 

Sorcery

Tarot

Energy

Magic

Good fields to be in... 

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. 

Jews and Tarot

A friend of mine sent me this article,  which I found fascinating!

 

Did crypto-Jews invent the modern Tarot deck?

This is speculation,  but it's very interesting speculation.  They are thinking specifically about the Jean Noblet tarot deck.  I don't read a lot about tarot history per se.  And some tarot cards don't speak to me at all,  while others are almost shouting,  they are so clear.  (I don't really like the medieval styled ones and don't use them for my readings, so don't know this deck at all.)

But the idea that people made the cards perform as mnemonics for their religious practices which had been banned and had to be hidden, is just so interesting. 

I also loved that when Stav Appel (the original formulator of the theory) put his work up online,  he got a lot more support and insight.  

Appel decided to self-publish a deck, and started an Instagram account, where he posted images of the cards and shared his theories on their Judaic origins. Many people began pointing out additional hidden Jewish objects and symbols that he had missed. “People really pushed me, and collectively, we went much deeper into the cards,” he said.

This is what I think is the best use of the internet - to share a passion and get collective knowledge on it.  Whether it be parenting or tarot or anything you are excited about.  When you put your ideas out there and encourage others to collaborate with you, you get a gestalt of knowledge,  a growth that just couldn't happen from you alone.  

I find in these weird times,  it's helpful to me to find positive aspects of the internet,  to help drown out the (noisy!) negative ones. 

What about the readings that don't work?

Someone said to me that all my reports on my readings are positive,  and why don't I comment on the negative ones?  And I said,  well the negative ones don't usually give me any feedback,  I don't see them again,  so I don't know where or how I went wrong.   I have read for many people only once.  I don't know if it didn't work for them or worked so well that the issue was resolved!  Of course some people expect real magic,  when all they are getting is discussions of the here and now and lots of people want to know 'when' something is going to happen to them without doing the work to get it. So those people are definitely going to be disappointed by any reading. 

I think one thing I have learnt is the more I manage my expectations,  the happier I am - in Tarot but also in life. 

I have had readings where my clients have been disappointed with the outcomes they drew.  That's not at all unusual.  But then the reading is all about how to change the outcome (hard work,  changing what you are doing,  moving out of your comfort zone.) If you don't want to do all the hard work, then it's not going to change.  And that is annoying and disappointing.  I get it.  I've lived it myself.  

Even with Tarot,  even with Magic, there is a limit to the shortcuts you can take.  If you are not getting what you want in life,  there are two questions - are your wants reasonable?  Are you doing all you can to make them happen?  I remember when I was struggling with infertility - all I wanted was a baby.  A completely reasonable want.  Most humans can have a baby if they want.  And I  had done all I could,  been to specialists,  had procedures.  And still the baby didn't come.  After seven long years (such a biblical number!) I finally gave in.  No baby.  So if not a mother,  then what was I going to do?  And about 6 months later,  with no treatment,  I became pregnant.  One miracle child. When people asked me if I would try for more,  I said,  I would take all the miracles I could,  but I wasn't going to chase any of them.  So I've had just the one,  and he was enough for our family. 

Sometimes you have to let go before something can arrive (and isn't that a hideous life lesson to learn!)  sometimes you have to jump the fences and try everything.  Tarot helps you to see which approach will help you more at this point in time. 

Intuition

What is intuition? 

A knowing without knowing how you know.  A sense about something without being able to qualify it.  

When I was a university we learnt about something called the Cocktail party Effect.  Basically if you are in a noisy environment,  and can't make out individual conversations,  you can still turn when someone says your name.  You are cued to hear your name and can make it out even though you would have said you couldn't hear what people were saying. Also, once you hear your name, you can zero in on that conversation and then hear what they are saying.

Essentially,  it's about filtration.  There is too much stimuli in this world,  especially in New York City,  and you can't pay attention to all of it,  so you filter.  But all it means is that you are listening to everything and then sweeping it away as not important, not worth giving energy to. But you are listening,  to see if it is important.  This actually works with all your senses. For example, this works with visual cues as well,  you are driving and can't look at everything, but you are still seeing things to assess if they are important or not,  and then letting go of what isn't important right now.  

And Intuition is when all the stimuli you swept away still gives you information. And when something else comes up,  all of a sudden that information that had been heard but not given attention, can be drawn up again.  

So the information/stimuli that was observed but not acted on,  is still there.  And you call it intuition when you get that stimuli says,  wait, this was important,  listen now.  And you don't know what it was, but if you listen to yourself,  you can start to tease it out.  And really, more often than not,  you are right.  It was worth listening to and you did need to pay attention. 

A tarot session gives you a moment of stillness,  to see the information and to make intuitive leaps. 

Seeing the woods AND the trees

Sometimes I want to write a post and realize it's becoming a maze,  I'm cramming in too much information and meandering through too many trails.  

Sometimes when we are looking at our own lives,  we can't see the wood for the trees - we either get lost in the details or fixated on one issue and can't see the big picture or how things are playing off each other.

That's where a reading helps.  It starts with a big picture overview,  (the celtic cross reading) and then gets down to the nitty gritty (the questions) and hopefully gets you to a clearer place. 

Of course sometimes we want simple solutions to complex questions.  And the tarot can do that too,  but there is always effort and cost (emotional,  spiritual , physical and financial) to shift and you have to be prepared to do that... 

Tarot readings

Traditionally,  January is one of my busier months.  People want to see what the new year will bring.  Will I get new work, a new lover,  new place? Am I on the right path?  All valid questions.  Sometimes people want to know when something will happen. But tarot reads your energies.  It will say soon,  or not soon,  or too far away to tell,  but it won't say,  on the 5th of February X will happen.  It's never that precise. 

I've had a lot of feedback over the years where people tell me that this listen to the recording of the reading and within 6 months,  everything we discussed came to pass.  Things that weren't obvious initially,  become clear as time passes.  I have a lot (mainly) repeat clients,  so I know from their feedback that my readings are accurate. 

So if you are looking to see if your actions are going to get the results you want,  if you want to see a snapshot of where your energies are strongest right now,  give me a call and we'll set up a reading.  

I'm currently in Sydney,  Australia and all my readings are virtual.  We read from the comfort of your home.    For me the magic is in the shuffling,  so you will need to get your hands on a deck - old or new,  it doesn't matter -and shuffle it quite a bit over 3 days,  and then we'll have the reading and I'll tell you what I see. 

In the meantime,  wishing you well for the new year.  

The Secret of Kindness

I was talking about the kindness of strangers recently and my upset client asked what kindness! And I said,  sometimes you can help someone who you don't know and won't get to know - in the supermarket,  in the post office,  filling out a form,  and it's nothing for you but eases their day... and then sometimes someone will do it for you.  When you are stressed and tired and they smile and help and you feel,  wow,  there are humans out there after all.  

It's important to remember that everyone around us is living out their life,  like we are,  having good and bad days,  as we are,  and if we can help them,  and they can do the same for us,  it makes a real difference to our shared reality. 

Of course,  some days I'm sad, mad or anxious one,  unable to give kindness,  no one can do it every day.  But every day that I can,  is a better day for me. That's the secret of kindess - in the giving,  you get to feel better... 

Let me intoduce myself

Every so often I do a reading and realize that my new client knows nothing about me and found me by pure chance.  So that's when I do a small blog piece about who I am and how I read.

Actually, to tell how I read,  just browse this blog - which I started in 2009,  but I had already been reading tarot cards for strangers for about 20 years by then.  So it's the job I've had the longest.  But in between I've done more professional things - worked in offices as a recruitment consultant, worked in a modelling agency as a booker,  worked in a dating agency,  then completed my second degree and became a group analytic psychotherapist,  and specialized in addiction.  Always working with people,  always interested in what motivates and sustains us; why we succeed,  where we stumble.  Always reading tarot cards.  But in 2009 my son was in school,  I wanted part time work I could control,  and I dropped all the other gigs and focused solely on tarot.  

I've been reading for strangers weekly since then. 

When we moved back to Australian I changed my format a little bit.  You see,  the magic for me lies in the shuffling - you have to move the cards,  you have to pick them,  your energy is what makes it work.  So I do readings via zoom,  facetime,  whatsap,  you name it,  but you need to have the cards in your hands.  Most of my regular clients were fine with this,  they bought a deck,  shuffled it in the week preceding our reading,  and I would tell them how to lay them out 

We always start with a Celtic Cross - you will lay out 10 cards into this shape.  Then I talk for 7 or so minutes,  I encourage people to record these readings,  it's a lot of information.  Then we talk together and you can usually get 3 or so questions answered on top of the intial reading during the hour. 

It's worked very well.  If I haven't read for you in the past,  just buy a deck and we will set up a time.  You read in the privacy of your own home,  I'm seeing you from Australia so usually your evening to my morning.  And you get to see a snap shot of where your energy is now. 

I look forward to reading for you,

warmly,

Liat

How I do my Readings

Every so often I put up this kind of post,  to let new readers know how I do my readings.

I've read tarot cards for decades now.  When we moved to Tribeca,  I started Tribeca Tarot Reader in 2008 and this blog in 2009.  When we returned to Sydney,  I switched to virtual readings.  I skype/zoom/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.

Even if you've never read with me before,  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 if you want to know more about me, 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.  We layout the cards 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...   

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

Email me or text me if you like a reading,  

liat@albanyconsult.com  or +61 477 043 555

Looking forward to it,

warmly

Liat

Both fun and deep

One of my favorite clients said to me that she always likes our annual readings - they are both fun and deep,  she said.   Fun,  because we laugh,  a lot,  about life and the situations we finds ourselves in. Deep,  because she can be honest about what is actually going on,  and if she wants to know more,  well then the cards are there to shine a light.   

She's in a steady job and a solid relationship,  but she still likes to check in. "It's an hour to talk about myself,"  she laughed.  An hour to take stock.   Our reading didn't foretell anything remarkable.  More of the same,  steady as she goes, was the theme. But she took that with grace - after all,  that's exactly what she wants... 

Resilience

A lot of people come to me,  because they've had a set back or a loss,  and they find it hard to bounce back.  So I read a lot about resilience,  for them and for myself.  

I read an interesting article in the Washington Post recently that concluded that we need to give children more opportunities for independent,  unsupervised play,  and that is what has been missing these past 30 or so years,  and that contributes to feelings of being overwhelmed or anxious. 

And I agree - independence,  negotiating your place with low stakes outcomes,  living in your own imagination, creative play - all these have been part of the human condition for millennia,  and suddenly,  over one and half generations,  they are if not gone,  they've been minimized. 

But I'm not talking to children,  I'm mainly talking to young adults - people in their 20's and 30's.  How does this help them?

Well,  I guess,  you need to find places where you can be a bit independent,  take some low stakes risks,  allow yourself failure.  Allow yourself to feel bad,  and disorganized and even chaotic,  and then still do the laundry and get to work.  I'm a big believe in functioning - that it leads to more functioning which leads to some better sense of self.  Of course some of us over-function,  but I would give them different advice but the same idea - take some manageable,  low stakes risks and let yourself fail occasionally. 

I say this often - don't let the perfect get in the way of the good.   And now I've added,  don't let the imperfect get in the way of the good either.   Just let yourself see the good around you.  Once you look for it,  you'll see more of it.  And the virtuous circle commences... 

Art by Yvonn Zuback, Saatchi Art