Cultivating Flexibility
Women in a yoga class.
In the pursuit of physical fitness, we learn that it is important to be both flexible and strong. Whenever someone tells me they don’t do yoga because they aren’t flexible enough, I must bite my tongue to keep from saying what feels obvious to me. Girl, that is exactly why you need yoga.
We have to work to build physical strength and flexibility. We do the work because we know that strength and flexibility will help us stay healthier, feel better, and live easier lives. One thing that I notice with age is that it is harder now to stay flexible and strong than it used to be.
Something I have been thinking about a lot recently is that mental and emotional flexibility is just as important as physical flexibility, and just as hard to cultivate. I also think that people tend to become less mentally and emotionally flexible with age. This is sad because internal flexibility is what will help us adjust to the changes that come with getting older.
Personality, astrology, and past trauma all impact our ability to be internally flexible. Sometimes people become more rigid when they are sad or afraid. I am convinced that rigid thinking is always a problem and never helpful.
How can we cultivate flexibility in our thinking? I believe that, since fear cultivates rigidity, we must begin from a place of confidence and security. We need to know that a change of mind, attitude, appearance, or schedule does not change who we fundamentally are.
Next, we need to remember the value of asking questions. This is hard because many religions and authoritarian structures forbid, discourage, or ridicule questions. Yet, questions identify problems and lead to solutions. Questions help us find the truth.
We need to be careful about attachments. We need to ask ourselves often whether we are hanging on too tightly or digging our heels in for the right reasons.
We need to be able to identify flexibility in others, and, when possible, avoid people who are rigid in their thinking. Rigid thinkers are difficult to be around and can cause us to revert to rigidity in defense.
How flexible is too flexible? We need to have hard boundaries and clear standards in life. Yet, reevaluation of standards and boundaries is necessary in times of change. We know flexibility is needed when our resistance to change causes trouble or when we are dealing with misfortune.
Inevitable misfortune is a fact of life on Earth. We cultivate flexibility to help us in times of misfortune, when we must swiftly adjust to unwanted circumstances.
Physical strength and flexibility go hand in hand. You need both to be physically fit. I think the same is true of internal flexibility and emotional strength. We need both to get through life well, and as we cultivate one, the other grows.
Some people equate stubbornness with strength. Often, though, stubbornness comes from a refusal to consider, question, or change. Strength is the ability to respond and adapt in the best ways possible. Flexibility is what helps us do that.
Pixie Arcana for StaarCon 6 by Pamela Steele.
The StaarCorner
StaarCon has been around long enough that, even though we are making some changes, there are traditions and people inherent to what StaarCon is and what makes us unique that we hope will never change.
We are very lucky to have some amazingly talented tarot and divination people in Florida. Among them are Brenda Elizabeth and Mitchell Osborn, who have both participated in every StaarCon event since the beginning.
Brenda Elizabeth, who is also known as Lady Lenormand, is a StaarCon sponsor. At StaarCon 6, she will be sponsoring a very special coffee break, complete with tea leaf reading!
Brenda will also be presenting at StaarCon 6. Over the years, Brenda has led Yoga Nidra at StaarCon and taught Lenormand. This year, Brenda is going to take us into the land of Oz with tarot! This immersive workshop will use the story of the Wizard of Oz to explore the stories in tarot.
Mitchell Osborn is well known and loved in the tarot community. His funny and wise tarot improv sessions have been a part of StaarCon every year. At StaarCon 6, Mitchell will also present a session on numerology.
This workshop will examine your three core numbers to see how they interact to help you best navigate the power within your unique numerological chart. We will also look at personal and universal years and months, as well as other practical applications of numerology.
We are excited about the variety of topics and activities at StaarCon 6 and look forward to spending time with our StaarCon friends! Get your tickets now!
Tickets to attend StaarCon 6 in person in Palm Beach Gardens are now available, along with guest rooms at the DoubleTree at a favorable rate. Get your tickets and book your rooms now! We look forward to seeing you in October.
StaarCon 6 Presenter Brenda Elizabeth.
StaarCon 6 Presenter Mitchell Osborn.
StaarCon 6 Virtual Is Coming — Here's What's on the Schedule
StaarCon 6 Virtual is hosted this year on StaarCast.com for a three-day celebration of tarot, divination, and esoteric arts from October 2–4, 2026. The schedule is still being announced, with more sessions to come — but what's already confirmed promises something for enthusiasts of every level, from curious newcomers to seasoned professionals.
Friday, October 2
The conference kicks off Friday afternoon with a full slate of programming before the festive Opening Ceremony.
The Gates Speak: Human Design & Tarot as a Unified Divination Dr. Alyassia "Asia" Taylor · 3:15 PM EDT In this workshop, Dr. Taylor introduces a fresh approach to the Human Design bodygraph by pairing each of the 64 Gates with corresponding Tarot archetypes. Attendees will explore how these two systems illuminate one another — deepening intuitive readings, expanding ritual practice, and opening new pathways for self-inquiry. Perfect for tarot practitioners, Human Design enthusiasts, or anyone curious about integrating multiple divinatory traditions.
Playing with a Full Deck: What 78 Cards Can Teach Us About Everything Headliner Christiana Gaudet · 4:30 PM EDT Christiana Gaudet invites attendees of all experience levels — from curious seekers to professional readers — to rediscover the joy and wonder in tarot through hands-on card exercises. This 90-minute session is designed to delight your inner child and engage your inner spiritual explorer. Bring a tarot deck and an open mind.
StaarCon 6 Opening Ceremony Christiana Gaudet & Christine Leiser · 7:30 PM EDT The official welcome to StaarCon 6, co-hosted by Christiana Gaudet and Christine Leiser. Full program details will be announced soon.
Saturday, October 3
Saturday is a full day of workshop programming, with more sessions still to be announced. Here's what's confirmed so far.
Numerology: Discover the Who, How & Why of Your Birth Date & Name Mitchell Osborn · 10:15 AM EDT Mitchell Osborn leads an engaging exploration of three core numerological numbers — the Life Path, Expression, and Soul Urge — and how together they reveal your unique nature, potential, and motivations. The session also covers personal and universal years and months, as well as practical applications for everyday life.
A Tarot Journey into Oz Brenda Elizabeth · 11:30 AM EDT Step beyond the rainbow in this immersive workshop that blends classic fairy tale storytelling with traditional tarot wisdom. Brenda Elizabeth guides participants through the world of Oz using the cards as a lens for insight and imagination. Bring your favorite deck and get ready for an enchanting experience.
Karen Winkel – The Big 3: Sun, Moon & Rising Karen Winkel · 2:00 PM EDT Most people know their sun sign, but there's so much more to a birth chart. Karen Winkel explores the "Big 3" of astrology — Sun, Moon, and Rising signs — examining how these placements shape personality, drive, and emotional life, and how they interact to make each person uniquely themselves. Attendees are encouraged to bring a copy of their natal chart.
Confessions of a Tarot Reader Bex · 3:15 PM EDT After conversations with over 70 fellow tarot readers, Bex is ready to share what was learned. This candid session explores the quiet assumptions readers make about each other's practices, the opportunities and challenges of social media and AI in the tarot world, insights from the intersection of tarot and clinical therapy, and an honest look at where the tarot community is heading next.
Pamela Chen – Presentation TBA Headliner Pamela Chen · 4:30 PM EDT A 90-minute session from Pamela Chen — full details coming soon.
Bardic Circle at StaarCon 6 with Christine Leiser Christine Leiser · 7:30 PM EDT An open-mic-style evening gathering where all forms of creativity are welcome — music, storytelling, spoken word, skits, games, dance, or whatever magic you feel like bringing. You can perform or simply relax and enjoy. Cozy, welcoming, and pressure-free: just good people and good magic.
Sunday, October 4
Sunday is the second full day, with additional sessions still being announced. Here's what's on the books so far.
From Words to Runic Wisdom: Building Divinatory Meaning from the Ground Up Aerik Arkadian · 10:15 AM EDT This hands-on workshop traces the Elder Futhark runes from written symbols to divinatory tools. Aerik Arkadian guides participants through the cultural and linguistic roots of the rune poems, then invites small-group collaboration to develop modernized, intuitive meanings for each rune. The emphasis is on understanding how meaning is formed — not just memorizing what it is.
Introduction to Lenormand Michelle Barrie · 2:00 PM EDT The Petit Lenormand is a 36-card European fortune-telling deck that's been growing in popularity across the United States. Michelle Barrie offers a welcoming introduction to the deck and its secrets — ideal for tarot readers curious about expanding their cartomantic vocabulary.
Karen Rontowski – Presentation TBA Headliner Karen Rontowski · 4:30 PM EDT A 90-minute feature presentation from Karen Rontowski. Description coming soon.
StaarCon 6 Closing Ceremony Christiana Gaudet & Aerik Arkadian · 7:30 PM EDT Christiana, Aerik, and others close out another StaarCon live conference — and remind attendees that the community and content continue year-round at StaarCast.com.
Join the Fun
This year, StaarCon 6 Virtual will be hosted on StaarCast.com, the online home of the Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers community. Visit the StaarCon 6 Virtual room to see the full schedule. Membership options will be available soon.
StaarCon 6 Presenter Brenda Elizabeth.
StaarCon 6 Presenter Mitchell Osborn.
A woman studies the cards in her room.
Being Flexible with Tarot
Most tarot readers start their journey with a strong desire to get it right and to be good at tarot. I often tell my students to stop worrying about being good at tarot and focus instead on how tarot is good for you.
Sometimes, the best intentions to be good at tarot reading can lead to a certain rigidity that often has the opposite effect. While it is important to know classic interpretations and to understand traditional techniques, a good tarot reading requires an intuitive flow that comes only with flexibility.
This means knowing that you will interpret the same card differently at different times, for different people, and in different situations. It also means that you can improvise techniques as you feel called to do.
Tarot study gives us a strong foundation. From there, our flexibility allows us to move beyond what we learned from books into real life.
Monday, March 30 @ 7 pm: Deep-Dive Tarot Readings Members-Only Livestream on YouTube.
The Week in Review
Most Mondays, at 9:30 am ET, I broadcast live on YouTube, and multi-stream on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitch. I pull three cards for the collective for the week ahead and individual cards for those who request them. I like to switch up the decks I use to keep it interesting.
On Monday, March 23, I used The Moonchild Tarot, which was a gift from Serena Fox. The three cards I pulled for the collective were quite interesting. We had the Five of Swords, the Wheel of Fortune, and the Two of Cups. This seems like we need to be very clear on who we want to partner with and when we need to fight for something.
This coming Monday, March 30, at 7 pm, I will be live on YouTube for Members Only. We will do some deep dive readings!
From Around the Web
I loved these musings of a tarot reader in The Wild Hunt this week.
There is still time to make your plans to attend Marion Kirk’s Oracles Rebellion in Scotland next month!
Emerald Lotus just published a tarot spread for the Spring Equinox.
Tarot cards with a focus on the Two of Pentacles.
Tarot Wisdom For the Week
There are many tarot cards that make me think of mental and emotional flexibility. Temperance teaches us to cleverly and creatively find the right solutions, and the Wheel of Fortune reminds us that everything has its ups and downs.
The Two of Pentacles is a card that speaks of flexibility in very real and practical terms. How flexible is your budget, or your schedule? For many of us, the answer is ‘not very.’
The Two of Pentacles acknowledges the struggle of making things work, financially, time-wise, or in terms of energy and attention. We often feel like we are juggling schedules and bank accounts to get through the day, week, or month.
What reassures us when we see the Two of Pentacles is this. While we acknowledge the struggle, we also acknowledge the capability. The Two of Pentacles reminds you that you can do what you need to do for as long as you need to. Will you always have to juggle this way? The Two of Pentacles speaks of a certain time, not for all time.
The Two of Pentacles reminds us of our ability to be flexible and manage our resources, and assures us that we can do this for as long as needed.
Unseen hands leafing through a calendar.
Upcoming Events
Weekly Livestream Events
Monday 9:30 am: Your 3-Card Weekly Reading
Friday Noon: Your Friday Weekly Wrap-up
Saturday 12:30 pm: Saturday Psychic Sampler
Sunday 9:30 am: Tarot Topics Newsletter Recap
Watch on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram! (internet willing!) Schedule subject to change without notice.
Christiana sharing a tarot technique at a recent tarot gathering in Palm City.
About Christiana Gaudet
Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.
Christiana Gaudet
770 SE Indian Street, Suite 10
Stuart, Florida 34997-5604
Locations in Port Saint Lucie, West Palm Beach, and Stuart, Florida!
Email cgaudet@cardandcraft.com
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classeswww.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com
YouTube@YourTarotFairyGodmother
Instagram@christianatarot@staarcon
TikTok @christianagaudettarot
Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, and in-person readings and instruction are available by appointment.
Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.
Zoom parties and group instruction are available almost everywhere!
Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
For business or agent inquiries, call 772-301-0232
For appointments, call or text 561-655-1160
Schedule Appointments, Mentoring Sessions, or Purchase Gift Certificates Online!
Schedule your private reading or mentorship session, or purchase gift certificates at https://christiana-gaudet.as.me.
Agent inquiries are welcome.
Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 9 Issue 12
March 25, 2026
Christiana Gaudet Your Tarot Fairy Godmother banner.
