If It's Not a Yes...
A woman in contemplation at the beach.
Over the past year, I have developed a new philosophy for myself that also seems to come up often in readings as a directive for many people. The philosophy is, if it’s not a hell yes, it’s a hell no.
This seems especially profound for those of us who were raised as girls and often taught that others would tell us what is for us and what is not. Not every child, and especially not every girl child, was raised to consider and cultivate their sense of personal agency and self-determination.
Since I’ve asked myself to consider my choices through this new lens of clarity, a few wonderful things have happened. First, I am much clearer on what I want and don’t want, generally and specifically. Second, the things I choose to embrace, I am embracing with enthusiasm. And I am learning not to feel guilt or regret when I feel called to refuse something. Shopping has shifted from “Well, maybe this will work” to “I will continue to look for exactly what I want.” Life is shifting that way, too.
I believe that Yes and No are powerful energies. If we have clarity about who we are and what we want, our lives will be fuller and more enjoyable. So many of us, as adults, are afraid to choose the wrong thing or afraid to leave something on the table. When we feel empowered and capable of making bold choices for ourselves, we open up to a whole new world of possibilities.
Pixie Arcana for StaarCon 6 by Pamela Steele.
The StaarCorner
This week, I am happy to introduce you to two presenters who joined StaarCon for the first time last year and who are returning for StaarCon 6.
You may have met Aerik Arkadian at StaarCon 5 when he presented a workshop on runes and assisted with opening and closing ceremonies. You might also have met him as a guest on my livestreams, when he joined us to teach me runic divination and magic, and to perform rune readings with me for the audience.
For StaarCon 6, we will again have the opportunity to study the runes with Aerik. This time, Aerik will invite us to take part in a hands-on workshop where we will discover how the ancient runes speak to us in modern times.
Last year, you may have had an opportunity to meet Heather Gaffney-Darnell when she was a virtual presenter at StaarCon 5. This year, we get to meet her in person!
Heather will teach us methods for using tarot and oracle cards to explore and heal the layers of the Self. You can expect profound depth and playful wisdom in this workshop.
We know that rune, tarot, oracle cards, and other tools are not just for party tricks and fortune-telling. At StaarCon 6, we are excited to dive into all the ways we can work and play with our tools, and learn about ourselves, the world around us, and the world of spirit.
Stacey Williams-Ng presenting at StaarCon 5.
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 presenter Aerik Arkadian.
StaarCon presenter Heather Gaffney-Darnell.
Virtual Presenter Spotlight: Karen Rontowski Brings Psychic Stand-Up to StaarCon
"Psychic Stand-Up"
StaarCon 6 Virtual | Sunday, October 4, 2026 | 4:30 PM EDT | 90 Minutes
Karen Rontowski has spent 35 years as a stand-up comedian and 25 years as a professional tarot reader — and rather than keeping those two worlds separate, she built a show around the collision.
Her comedy has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, Comedy Central, Comics Unleashed, Live at Gotham, and Mysteries of the Unexplained. Her Dry Bar Comedy Special Ridiculous Me has accumulated over 40 million views. In addition to her stage work, Karen is a Paranormal Investigator and reiki master, and she created the web series and podcast Paranormal Karen, which follows her investigations of haunted and obscure locations.
About the Workshop
Psychic Stand-Up is exactly what it sounds like: a live performance that blends comedy with real-time crowd readings. Karen describes it as part stand-up, part intuitive experience, and audiences tend to leave having laughed more than they expected and thought more than they anticipated.
At StaarCon 6 and StaarCon 6 Virtual, Karen will bring “Psychic Stand-Up” to the Live Track on Sunday, October 4th at 4:30 PM EDT. It's a fitting close to the weekend — and a different kind of look at what professional tarot practice can be.
Connect with Karen
You can learn more about Karen at karenrontowski.com.
StaarCon 6 Headliner Karen Rontowski.
Date: October 4, 2026
Room opens: 4:15 PM EDT
Session begins: 4:30 PM EDT
Duration: 90 minutes
A tarot reader contemplates her reading.
Binary Readings with Tarot
I think most experienced tarot readers come up with their own ways to work with the yes/no binary in readings. Some readers identify particular cards as giving a yes-or-no answer. Other readers, like me, will ask the question, pull cards, and try to interpret whatever comes up as a yes or a no.
Binary readings can be predictive, as people will ask if something will happen. Binary readings can also be advisory, as people will ask if they should take a particular action.
Some say that tarot is not the best tool for binary readings. They may recommend a pendulum or Lenormand cards. There are even card decks with special yes/no cards. Some people will joke that it is just as effective to toss a coin.
Often, when we do binary readings with tarot, what we truly find is information above and beyond the yes or no. We may learn about the circumstances and the reason that something might or might not happen.
Sometimes a client will come for a reading hoping for a yes or no, and the only answer available will be maybe. Then, the information we get from the cards that offer advice and understanding is what the reading can provide. Usually, clients are happy enough with this knowledge.
When we perform binary divination, it is important to know that not every question can be answered with a simple yes or no. Yet it is equally important to know that asking the question and conducting the reading may nonetheless yield valuable information.
Wednesday, April 22 @ 7 pm - April Fools Live Tarot Webinar.
The Week in Review
May TarotScopes were recorded on Sunday, and are now available for members on YouTube. May TarotScopes will be edited and made available to everyone on May First.
Tonight, please join us for a livestream class about Major Arcana 0, the Fool. You can join the stream on YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, or Instagram at 7 pm ET.
This Saturday, April 25, at 1 pm, please join me at Mandel Public Library in downtown West Palm Beach for a free, all-levels, one-hour tarot class.
On Tuesday, April 28, at 7 pm, members of my YouTube channel are invited to join us for a members-only livestream.
From Around the Web
Mary K. Greer has famously popularized a special tarot spread for yes/no questions.
May First, also known as Beltane, is just around the corner. Here is a tarot spread for Beltane from Llewellyn.
Amy Zerner and Monte Farber have been a mystical power couple forever. I was excited to see this recent article about them.
The Four of Cups.
Tarot Wisdom For the Week
There are many cards that can speak of decision-making, such as the Two of Swords and the Seven of Cups. There are many cards that can speak of mental clarity, such as the Ace of Swords or any of the Swords Court.
Yet, the card that, to me, most encourages us to find the clarity to reach a clear yes or a clear no is the Four of Cups. I often see the Minor Arcana Fours as cards of self-care and boundaries. The Four of Cups often depicts a person being offered four cups, and not reaching for any of them.
When I first learned tarot, I had the impression that the Four of Cups was a directive to fix your attitude. In this image, I saw a spoiled child, unhappy with any of their options. Sometimes, this is exactly what this card means.
Yet, I think there is more here. Sometimes the Four of Cups can give us permission to not make a choice. This card may suggest it is best not to let a person or situation force us to accept something we don’t want.
When I see the Four of Cups in a reading, I very often think it is appearing to give the querent permission to take the time to get to a yes or a no, rather than being pressured to make a choice they don’t feel ready to make.
Sometimes I see this card as a warning not to settle for something you don’t really want. What I like about this perspective of the Four of Cups is that it acknowledges that sometimes, even if we don’t want to, it is best to wait for what we want.
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.
Kimberly, Melissa, and Christiana at StaarCon 5.
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
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Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 9 Issue 16
April 22, 2026
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