Other Useful Things

A man unfocused at work.

Procrastination is such a common problem. So often, when we see it in ourselves and others, we judge it as laziness. Yet most people who procrastinate are busy and hardworking. In fact, procrastination often stems from being overworked or overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks at hand.

I recently heard someone describe their procrastination in an interesting way. They were upset that they couldn’t get started on an important assignment, but instead they were spending time on other useful things.

I didn’t ask for a list of what those other things were or try to determine whether they were indeed useful. I did feel a strong recognition of that exact behavior, though I had never heard it put so succinctly. I know many people do this.

Sometimes when working on an important project with a deadline, we seem to find every necessary task that also needs to be done. And, for some reason, those other tasks are easier and less threatening than the one with the looming deadline.

I wonder if we procrastinate out of anxiety caused by the importance of the task we are avoiding. I think self-doubt is often the architect of procrastination. Sadly, procrastination can also lead to self-doubt. It’s a vicious cycle. Our procrastination sometimes causes our work to suffer, which leads to self-doubt, which in turn leads to further procrastination.

What is funny is that the other useful things we accomplish while we are procrastinating on a particular task are often other things that we have previously procrastinated on. It’s also funny that the tasks we procrastinate on most are often the ones we do extremely well and enjoy once we get going.

What is the solution to procrastination? I think the more we can dial down on anxiety, the more we will be able to focus on our tasks. But how do we do that? I think it has to do with what we tell ourselves. Self-talk can increase our anxiety or our confidence, depending on what we say to ourselves.

If we can be encouraging of ourselves, I think it becomes easier to settle down, find focus, and get stuff done. If we can give ourselves grace when we go off course, it is easier to get back on track.

Overwork and overwhelm are a fact in many people’s lives. Self-doubt and negative self-talk are as well, but they don’t need to be.

Pixie Arcana for StaarCon 6 by Pamela Steele.

The StaarCorner

I am often amazed by, and always grateful for, the tarot community we have in Florida generally, and in South Florida specifically. StaarCon is always a wonderful blend of local and visiting luminaries.

This week, I want to tell you about two local StaarCon 6 presenters who joined us for the first time last year. We are very happy that they are able to return to us in October.

Joseph Farrar is a tarot reader, astrologer, Reiki practitioner, and ceremonial magician. He lives in South Florida after spending many years in New Orleans, where he first learned his craft.

At StaarCon 6, Joseph will present a very special session called Healing Through the Tree of Life. This workshop integrates the principles of the Hermetic Qabalah with energy work and will teach you to use the Tree of Life as a framework for energy healing.

Rose Saldana is an energy worker and tarot reader in South Florida. Rose’s work is rooted in presence and trust. Beyond tarot, she integrates coaching and energy work to support her clients.

At StaarCon 6, Rose will offer a practical workshop for tarot students and aspiring professional readers. Her workshop, Start Building Confidence in Tarot Reading, will do exactly what the title promises. You will explore techniques to connect with your intuition and trust your inner guidance.

We are so excited about the variety and quality of our workshop offerings for StaarCon 6, as well as the fun activities, great food, and sunshine that await us in Florida at the start of Spooky Season.

StaarCon Presenter Rose Saldana.

StaarCon Presenter Joseph Farrar.

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!

A coffee break sponsored by Weiser Books at StaarCon 5.

Ben Tomlin lecturing at StaarCon 5.

Virtual Presenter Spotlight: Ben Tomlin

From the Right Question to the Right Answer

Today we’re shining the spotlight on Ben Tomlin, one of the Live Track presenters for StaarCon 6 and StaarCon 6 Virtual. Known online as Libradoestarot, Ben is a tarot reader, cartomancer, and astrologer whose journey into divination began where so many meaningful things do: around the kitchen table with family. His Nan introduced him to tarot as a teenager, handed him his first deck and book, and set something in motion that has only grown from there.

For a long time, Ben read tarot privately, working with the cards for personal insight and reflection. In 2021 he began reading for others, and the experience was immediately meaningful. He found that he could help people find the guidance, clarity, and growth they were looking for, and that sense of purpose has shaped everything that followed. More recently, his focus has expanded to include mentoring newer readers as they find their footing on their own tarot journeys.

Over the past few years, Ben has broadened his practice considerably, weaving in Lenormand, Kipper, astrology, and charms alongside tarot. He is currently exploring the Oracle Belline and runes, and he brings genuine curiosity to the process of learning how different systems speak to each other. His approach is one of deepening understanding: studying each tradition on its own terms while discovering how their insights can complement and enrich one another.

What He's Bringing to StaarCon 6 and StaarCon 6 Virtual

On Saturday, October 3rd at 9:00 am on the Live Track, Ben is presenting From Questions to Clarity: Turning Curiosity into Meaningful Tarot Dialogue, an interactive workshop centered on one of the most practical skills a tarot reader can develop: the art of asking a better question.

Many readings stall not because the cards are unclear, but because the question itself is too vague, too closed, or too narrow to invite a real conversation. Ben’s workshop addresses that directly. Attendees will learn ways to reframe undefined or overly open questions and structure them with clear boundaries, getting to the heart of what the querent actually needs to explore. The session moves deliberately away from closed yes/no questions and toward the kind of open-ended dialogue that allows the cards to go deeper.

Whether you read for clients, for yourself, or are still building your practice, the techniques in this workshop translate directly into stronger, more meaningful readings. It is the kind of foundational skill that quietly improves everything else.

is the kind of foundational skill that quietly improves everything else.

A returning presence at StaarCon

Ben is no stranger to the StaarCon community. He presented at StaarCon 5 in January 2025, where he led Navigating the Lenormand Grand Tableau. That session offered attendees practical pathfinding techniques for working with all 36 Lenormand cards in the Grand Tableau format, a method that can feel overwhelming without a clear structure. Ben gave readers a roadmap for locating their client within the spread, planning a reading route, and navigating the complexity with confidence.

His return to the Live Track for StaarCon 6 reflects the kind of practitioner he is: someone who loves working with multiple systems, who is continually learning, and who finds genuine satisfaction in helping others do the same.

Where to find Ben between now and October

You can follow Ben on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads under the handle @libradoestarot. His Instagram at instagram.com/libradoestarot is a good place to see his work and stay connected between now and October.

About Ben

Ben Tomlin is a tarot reader, cartomancer, and astrologer who came to the cards as a teenager, introduced by his Nan, who gave him his first deck and book. He began reading for others in 2021 and has since expanded his practice to include Lenormand, Kipper, astrology, and charms, with ongoing explorations of the Oracle Belline and runes. Ben is passionate about understanding each divination system on its own terms and finding ways to combine their insights. He also supports new readers in developing their own practice through mentoring and guidance.

StaarCon Presenter Ben Tomlin.

Presentation: From Questions to Clarity: Turning Curiosity into Meaningful Tarot Dialogue
Date: October 4, 2026
Room opens: 8:45 AM EDT
Session begins: 9 AM EDT
Duration: 45 minutes

The Ace of Swords appears in a tarot reading.

Find Focus with the Ace of Swords

When the Ace of Swords appears in a reading, it may be a sign to avoid procrastination and do what you know you must do. You can also use the energy of the Ace of Swords to bring focus. You might do this when you see this card in a reading, or you might find the card in the deck and use it as a tool when needed.

Take the Ace of Swords and hold it to your forehead. Breathe, and think of the energy of this card coming into your mind to give you focus, clarity, purpose, and direction.

Do this as often as you need to. You will be amazed at how easily this simple tarot magic can work to keep you on task.

Global Tarot Circle Live on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook & Instagram - Tuesday, June 2nd @ 7 pm.

The Week in Review

If you missed Global Tarot Circle last night, you can watch the replay!

Have you gotten your June TarotScopes yet?

This Sunday, June 7, at 4 pm, it’s time for our monthly tarot meetup, Cards and Conversation, at Panera Bread in Palm City. Please join us; it is free and fun!

On Tuesday, June 9, at 7 pm, I will be multi-streaming a free tarot workshop called “Tarot Tells the Vibes”. Come learn the ways tarot describes the energies it sees. Join us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitch.

From Around the Web

Emerald Lotus has a tarot spread to help you overcome procrastination.

Theresa Reed has your June astrology forecasts and horoscopes.

Here is a thorough article about procrastination from Psychology Today.

The Four of Cups tarot card.

Tarot Wisdom For the Week

How does tarot speak of procrastination? I thought of the Nine of Wands immediately. Sometimes, when we procrastinate, we can feel defensive, wounded, and over-vigilant. I also thought of the Seven of Cups in terms of distraction and those ‘other useful things’.

Many reversed Court cards could indicate people who aren’t getting their work done. The Eight and Nine of Swords can speak of the anxiety that both causes and is caused by procrastination.

I think when something is prevalent in human behavior, many cards can be available to speak about it. The card I want to focus on this week as a card of procrastination is the Four of Cups.

In the traditional image, a person has been offered three cups and is unimpressed. A mysterious hand offers a fourth cup, but even that is refused. The person sits with their arms crossed, unwilling to take anything that is offered.

The Four of Cups can speak of many things, including boredom or a bad attitude. It is often called the card of the spoiled child. Yet sometimes this card might encourage us not to take anything we don’t want and to wait for what we do want.

How does the Four of Cups speak of procrastination? I think it is mostly in the mood of the card. Not taking a cup can symbolize inaction. Rather than making a choice, our character sits unmoving. Often, procrastination can feel a bit paralytic, just as we see in the Four of Cups.

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 and Mitchell Osborn at the Bardic Circle 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 22
June 3, 2026

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