Tarot News blog has news and information of interest to the tarot community.
Do You Feel Lucky?
What is luck, really? This week, inspired by Saint Patrick's Day and the Vernal Equinox, we are discussing luck and how to create it.
Abstracting pating of a young woman's face with a four-leaf clover.
This Sunday is Saint Patrick’s Day, and Tuesday is the vernal equinox. When I lived in New Haven, Connecticut, the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade was always an unofficial celebration of spring for my friends and me.
Thinking about Saint Patrick’s Day got me thinking about luck. Luck is such an interesting concept. We often define luck as an outcome of chance rather than strategy, skill, or smart choices.
We also think of luck as an energy around us.
Spiritually or superstitiously, many of us work to invoke good luck and avoid actions that we fear may bring bad luck.
We talk about luck a lot in our daily lives. “Getting lucky” implies something very specific. When someone is considering an ill-advised risk, we try to discourage them by asking if they feel lucky. The implication is that without luck, they have no chance of success.
I am not a very superstitious person. I put much more faith in skill, action, and the grace of a Higher Power than in luck. I usually credit a lucky break to hard work, magic, and prayers answered rather than actual luck.
Yet, I often notice that some people seem to get many lucky breaks while others seem to have the worst luck. When I consider that, I see something else. Some people perceive themselves as lucky, even though they are enduring misfortunes. Other people consider themselves unlucky, even though they have many blessings.
Over time, individuals who have experienced hardships but remain grateful for the blessings in their lives tend to attract more good fortune than those who focus solely on their difficulties. Feeling lucky (even in the face of difficulty) can bring better luck in the long run.
Many traditions have practices meant to bring luck. You can buy a ‘Fast Luck’ candle at any botanica. The clover symbolized luck even before it became associated with Saint Patrick.
Perhaps luck truly is a specific energy we can invoke for ourselves and others rather than a superpower a few people receive at birth.
We tap into that energy when we wish good luck to one another, even in situations where the outcome is more influenced by skill than chance. Have you ever wondered what would happen if we wished ourselves good luck every day, even in situations where we already consider ourselves to be lucky? This could be an intriguing experiment to undertake at the start of this new season!
The StaarCon 2024 AfterGlow. Fairy for 2024 by Ciro Marchetti.
The StaarCorner
StaarCon 2024 AfterGlow
Join Brenda Elizabeth in Charmed by Lady Lenormand Lounge tonight, Wednesday, at 7:30 pm to learn how to use tarot, Lenormand, and oracle cards to connect with your pets in spirit.
On Sunday, March 17, at 2 pm, join Hattie Parker in her Vibe 432 Lounge to experience the oracle card system she has created.
A replacement recording of the third segment of Mary Ellen Collins’ Tarot Plus intensive, Cards and Crystals, is now available for viewing. Find it in Friday’s Regular Sessions.
StaarCon 5
One of the things we are excited about for StaarCon 5 is that we will have a 2,200-square-foot exhibition hall. Exhibitors and readers will be together in that space, which we will call the StaarCon Marketplace. Members of the public are welcome to explore the Marketplace, shop, and have readings on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. People coming just for the Marketplace will not need to pay an entrance fee.
StaarCon 5 will occur in West Palm Beach on January 24, 25, and 26, 2025. Please email me if you would like to exhibit in the StaarCon Marketplace!
Hattie Parker doing aura readings at StaarCon 2024.
Tarot cards with a focus on the Wheel of Fortune.
Lucky Cards
Which specific tarot card speaks about luck for you? And how might we speak of luck in a reading?
Major Arcana 10, the Wheel of Fortune, is the most prominent representation of luck. The Wheel of Fortune can speak about gambling, amongst many things. I often see the well-dignified Wheel of Fortune as a sign that luck is with you and the ill-dignified Wheel of Fortune as a sign that it is not a good time to take a risk.
When well-dignified, the Fool can also suggest that luck will be with you, even as you make a risky move.
Many cards predict positive outcomes, even though few speak specifically about luck.
In a tarot reading, we can sometimes perceive a general energy of positive flow that may be what we call ‘luck.’ We get a sense that everything is falling into place and things are moving in the right direction. Sometimes, we see the opposite of that. The cards may show conflict and chaos rather than flow and forward motion.
When we see difficult cards, we generally do not interpret them as saying we should wait for our luck to change. Instead, we use the cards to find solutions and strategies for making the necessary changes.
Yet, while reading, we will feel whether the energy flows or feels stuck. Perhaps this is how the energy of luck presents itself in a tarot reading.
When we feel that stuck energy, we can use tarot magic to encourage better luck by activating the Wheel of Fortune to bring the necessary flow.
Equinox Gathering March 19 YouTube Livestream.
The Week in Review
Join us tomorrow, Thursday, at 7 pm ET, for a free live-stream tarot class on YouTube about contradictory cards. How do you handle a tarot reading when the cards don’t make sense? This class will help!
I am back at the Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach on Saturday, March 16, for a free all-level tarot class. Join me there at noon.
Tuesday, March 19, is the vernal equinox. We will gather for a live-stream celebration on YouTube at 7 pm ET. I hope you can join us!
From Around the Web
Time magazine has an interesting history of Saint Patrick.
Why are four-leaf clovers lucky?
Here are some ways to celebrate the vernal equinox, also known as Ostara.
A young woman burns a candle and palo santo for luck.
Making Magic
If luck is an energy we can invoke, how and when should we do that?
Before a big event, some magic for luck can ensure things run smoothly. When things are going badly, luck magic can help turn things around.
We can do luck magic every day to help protect us.
Every culture has its ways of invoking luck.
There are symbols we can wear and prayers we can say. There are plants, stones, and colors associated that are said to bring luck.
I like to burn a green candle for luck. I put the Wheel of Fortune tarot card next to the candle. This has been a simple and effective way to create good fortune. Try it and see what happens!
Christiana teaches at the Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach March 16.
Upcoming Events
Card and Craft Academy
Classes presented by Christiana are available right now at Card and Craft Academy!
Christiana’s Candle Magick
Christiana’s Eleven-Card Celtic Cross
Finding Meaning in the Minor Arcana
The Major Arcana, Magical and Mundane
Practical Tarot Techniques
Psychic Tarot
Personal Tarot: Reading for Yourself
Sharing Wisdom: Reading for Others
The Meaning and Magic of Tarot Reversals
Journey Through the Major Arcana
Your Journey Through the Minor Arcana: Numbers, Elements and Truth
Tarot Beyond the Veil
Your Journey Through the Tarot Court
Tarot Stories, Trends, and Blends
Tarot Readings for Personalities and Relationships
Clarity in Every Tarot Card
Tarot Flow Workshop
Making Magick with Tarot
Fearless Wisdom Tarot Workshop
Tarot Keywords and Interpretations Workshop
Tarot Spreads Tools and Techniques Workshop
Tarot for Magic and Mediumship
Tarot Communication for Clarity and Depth
Weaving the Tarot Reading Story
The Elemental Major Arcana
Minor Arcana Numbers, Elements, and Truth
Personal Healing with Tarot
Create and Interpret Custom Tarot Spreads
What the Court Cards Want You to Know
How Spirit Speaks Through Tarot
Catch up on your missed Zoom webinars and more!
Christiana Gaudet and her granddaughter, Aubrey.
About Christiana Gaudet
Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.
Christiana Gaudet
3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152
Email cgaudet@cardandcraft.com
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classes www.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com
YouTube @YourTarotFairyGodmother
Instagram @christianatarot @staarcon
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 available almost everywhere!
Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232 x102
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
New! Schedule Appointments Online at acuity:scheduling!
Schedule online at https://christiana-gaudet.as.me.
Agent inquiries are welcome.
Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 7 Issue 11
March 13, 2024
Christiana Gaudet Your Tarot Fairy Godmother banner.
Reactive, Proactive, Present
How do we handle the many annoyances of life? How do we enjoy the moment? And how do we create the future?
A young woman sits on a ledge, arms open to the world.
Life comes at us quickly. We navigate issues related to relationships, finances, and health every day. We work to achieve goals and pursue dreams.
Usually, we intend to process incoming information thoughtfully. Sometimes, we fall short of that goal.
Things can trigger us to react badly before we have had a chance to think it through.
We try to move closer to our goals proactively rather than simply reacting to what life throws at us. Sometimes, we don’t have the time and energy to do this as efficiently as we would prefer.
As spiritual people, we know there is value in being present in every moment. We strive to live in the now, even while we heal from our past and work toward the future.
Sometimes, we regret the way we react to things. When this happens, we must apologize and move on. We can use these moments to help us understand where we need healing and where we need to build emotional understanding and communication skills.
In divination, we often conduct readings by looking at the past, present, and future. Doing this gives us insight into ways we can heal from the past and become less reactive. We gain strategy for attaining our goals as we look to the future.
We also gain the wisdom we need for the present.
So often, we remind ourselves and others to ‘stay present.’ In a world of competing digital distractions, this becomes increasingly difficult.
One trick that can work when we are distracted is to take a conscious breath and look around, experiencing our surroundings as if for the first time. This can help us appreciate the moment, even as we juggle the many demands on our time and attention.
Our spiritual tools, such as divination, meditation, yoga, and journaling, can help us stay present, plan and prepare for the future, and heal from the past.
The StaarCon 2024 AfterGlow. Fairy for 2024 by Ciro Marchetti.
The StaarCorner
After this week I will begin dividing this weekly feature in to two sections. One section will discuss what’s happening in the AfterGlow; the other will discuss our plans for StaarCon 5.
StaarCon 5 will be January 24, 25, 26. Once again we be online on Accelevents with a year-long AfterGlow. For the first time, we will be in Palm Beach County’s newest hotel, the Delta by Marriott at Palm Beach International Airport. Tickets will be on sale soon!
This week, I will host my first lounge event. Join me in the Tea with Your Tarot Fairy Godmother Lounge this Sunday, March 10, at 1 pm ET. We will do some fun Minor Arcana exercises. Please join me!
We continue to replace and repair videos from StaarCon 2024 so that we can learn together all year.
Christiana Gaudet and Karen Winkel at StaarCon 2024.
A young woman reads tarot in front of a mirror.
Past, Present, and Future
Many divination techniques use past, present, and future to provide context for the reading. I think some tarot readers over-utilize the three-card Past, Present, Future spread when they don’t know how to interpret it deeply, and when other spreads might be more productive.
Let’s use the basic concept of that spread and expand our understanding to create a three-card spread that helps us heal, stay present, and create a great future.
What if we set the intention for each position as follows?
Card One: Past
Let this card show something from the past that needs healing or offer advice on reprocessing hurtful events.
Card Two: Present
Let this card advise on how to stay present at this moment.
Card Three: Future
Let this card show us what is possible for the future or how to achieve the goals we have already set.
Global Tarot Circle March 7 YouTube Livestream.
The Week in Review
Join us tomorrow evening (Thursday) at 7 pm ET for Global Tarot Circle on YouTube Live.
March TarotScopes are ready for you on YouTube and TikTok.
From Around the Web
Have you ordered your copy of Rhythm and Soul Tarot yet? I am so excited Stacey Williams-Ng chose me as a model for one of the cards! We have two more weeks to unlock all the goals on Kickstarter.
The first day of Spring happens this month for those in the northern hemisphere. The vernal equinox is known as the holiday of Ostara. Here are tarot spreads to help you celebrate Ostara from The Embroidered Forest.
The amazing Benebell Wen has shared a blog post about her progress on the historical deck she is creating. It is fascinating to read what she writes as an artist, a seer, and a historian.
Illustration of women reading tarot at a table.
Making Magic
Magic is very often about healing. We can think of magic as using energy to either increase something lacking in our lives or reduce something hurtful. We can do this using traditional tools and ceremonies.
If we don’t have the time, knowledge, or ability to follow those traditions, we can still work to increase and diminish the energies within and around us.
We can do magic with angels, candles, stones, herbs, and more. Yet, there are only three ingredients that are necessary for healing magic. One is intent, the other is vision, and the third is the conscious breath.
What do you need to increase or diminish in your life? Figure that out to set your intention. What does your life look like when that is accomplished? Create that vision in your mind. Focus on your breath. Breathe in the energy you are increasing. Exhale the energy you are diminishing.
We can do this simple magic anywhere, and anytime we want to be in the present without distraction, manifest our future goals or heal from past injuries.
Contradictory Cards Tarot Webinar March 14 Livestream on YouTube.
Upcoming Events
Card and Craft Academy
Classes presented by Christiana are available right now at Card and Craft Academy!
Christiana’s Candle Magick
Christiana’s Eleven-Card Celtic Cross
Finding Meaning in the Minor Arcana
The Major Arcana, Magical and Mundane
Practical Tarot Techniques
Psychic Tarot
Personal Tarot: Reading for Yourself
Sharing Wisdom: Reading for Others
The Meaning and Magic of Tarot Reversals
Journey Through the Major Arcana
Your Journey Through the Minor Arcana: Numbers, Elements and Truth
Tarot Beyond the Veil
Your Journey Through the Tarot Court
Tarot Stories, Trends, and Blends
Tarot Readings for Personalities and Relationships
Clarity in Every Tarot Card
Tarot Flow Workshop
Making Magick with Tarot
Fearless Wisdom Tarot Workshop
Tarot Keywords and Interpretations Workshop
Tarot Spreads Tools and Techniques Workshop
Tarot for Magic and Mediumship
Tarot Communication for Clarity and Depth
Weaving the Tarot Reading Story
The Elemental Major Arcana
Minor Arcana Numbers, Elements, and Truth
Personal Healing with Tarot
Create and Interpret Custom Tarot Spreads
What the Court Cards Want You to Know
How Spirit Speaks Through Tarot
Catch up on your missed Zoom webinars and more!
Christiana Gaudet and Jason Augustus Newcomb at StaarCon 2023.
About Christiana Gaudet
Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.
Christiana Gaudet
3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152
Email cgaudet@cardandcraft.com
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classes www.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com
YouTube @YourTarotFairyGodmother
Instagram @christianatarot @staarcon
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 available almost everywhere!
Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232 x102
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
New! Schedule Appointments Online at acuity:scheduling!
Schedule online at https://christiana-gaudet.as.me.
Agent inquiries are welcome.
Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 7 Issue 10
March 6, 2024
Christiana Gaudet Your Tarot Fairy Godmother banner.
The Price of Wisdom
Education is always expensive, but the price of ignorance is far greater.
A young woman screams at her computer in frustration.
Education is always expensive. We know how much it costs to go to school or take classes. But how often do we think about the other ways it costs us to learn something?
Learning is always complex, whether we are learning to advance our careers, perfect a hobby, or take better care of ourselves. Learning takes time and patience. We must endure the frustration of being bad at something to become good at it.
We often learn lessons we didn’t sign up for. Every time we make a mistake, we learn a lesson we didn’t know we would learn. That mistake may cost us time, money, embarrassment, or worse. Yet, we heal our regret when we embrace the lesson and move on with gratitude.
People say that wisdom comes with age. I wonder if that is always true. We only gain wisdom when we are open to the lesson. If we blame others for our mistakes, we fail to learn. If we stay in anger rather than embracing the lesson, we miss out on the wisdom it could offer us. We do not learn new things if we don’t try new things.
Wisdom requires a kind of humility. If we think we know everything, we can’t learn anything.
It costs a lot to learn, grow, and develop wisdom.
It costs even more when we refuse to learn.
People sometimes double down on their ignorance. Rather than learning a new, better way to do something, they stubbornly cling to the ways of the past. This can be a tempting stance to take as we age. This may be one of the reasons that older people are not always regarded as the keepers of wisdom.
If we want to be keepers of wisdom, regardless of our age, we must cultivate our curiosity and flexibility, as well as our open minds and hearts.
There is an expression that says that ignorance is bliss. Sometimes, we don’t want to know or learn something because knowledge makes us responsible for action. Ignorance can be more comfortable than knowledge in the short term.
In the long term, the wisdom and knowledge we gain give us power. Whether we are summoning the courage to embark on a new learning journey or recovering from an expensive misstep, the wisdom we gain will most likely be worth the price we must pay. Perhaps more importantly, what we will pay for ignorance will likely be a far greater price.
The StaarCon 2024 AfterGlow. Fairy for 2024 by Ciro Marchetti.
The StaarCorner
We prize learning and wisdom in the tarot, divination, and metaphysical community. That is why we attend conferences, write and read books, and share knowledge and wisdom with each other.
Coming up shortly in the lounges on Accelevents, we have Maria Alviz Hernando sharing information about spreads with Oracle Belline on March 2 at 5 pm ET.
On Sunday, March 10, at 1 pm, I will host my first lounge event of the year. We will do some fun Minor Arcana exercises.
On March 13 at 7:30 pm ET, Brenda Elizabeth will share information on connecting to your pets on the other side using tarot, Lenormand, or oracle cards.
I hope to see you in the lounges, and I hope you are enjoying the AfterGlow.
We will have an announcement about StaarCon 5 next week!
Ciro Marchetti at the Bardic Circle, StaarCon 2024.
Closeup of hands holding tarot cards, focus on the Magician.
Cards That Talk About Learning
There are so many tarot cards that can encourage us to go to school, open our minds, and learn something new.
In the Major Arcana, I see the Magician, the Hierophant, and the Hermit as cards of education. These three cards will often speak of formal higher education, with the Magician being a bachelor's degree, the Hierophant, a master’s degree, and the Hermit representing a doctoral degree.
I also see that the Fool, the Magician, and the High Priestess are all learning, but each does it differently. The Fool learns by exploring his world. The Magician learns by working with his tools; the High Priestess reads a sacred text and explores her inner world.
In the Minor Arcana, all four Pages can speak about being a student. The suit may suggest what it is you are studying.
The Three and Eight of Pentacles have an interesting relationship with each other. Most tarotists will see one of these cards as the apprentice craftsperson and the other as the master. We disagree on which is which.
We may each have our own way of discerning the need for knowledge, study, or formal education in a tarot reading. It is fascinating how often the cards want to encourage us to open our minds and learn.
Leap Year Party February 29 Members-only Livestream.
The Week in Review
Members of my YouTube channel are invited to join us tomorrow at 7 pm on YouTube Live for a Leap Year Party. In this session, we will use the unique energy of Leap Day to read about unusual things, rare things, and extraordinary things and how those things show up in our lives. We will discuss the most magical aspects of our tarot journeys.
This Sunday, March 3, local tarot friends will gather at Panera Bread in Palm City at 4 pm for our monthly tarot meetup. I hope to see you there!
Look for your March TarotScopes on TikTok and my YouTube channel.
From Around the Web
This is not the first time that Theresa Reed and I have written about similar things at similar times. I always look forward to her monthly Hit List. This month, her theme is We Were All Beginners Once.
Astrology.com has your March forecast.
New York City, pasta, and tarot? Yes, please! In March, the Standard East Village restaurant is partnering with the creators of Pasta Tarot to hold events with Italian food and tarot readings. What could be more fun?
A young woman studying happily at her computer.
Making Magic
We often liken magic to prayer. In some ways, this makes a lot of sense.
When I was a student at a Christian high school, we used to pray before taking exams. To this day, I remember the request our teachers would speak in prayer. The prayer was that we would have calm minds and remember the information we had studied. We did not pray for a passing grade. Instead, we prayed for our focus and ability to remember our knowledge. This distinction feels important.
It can be scary to learn new things. Some people have test-taking anxiety that makes it hard for them to receive certifications even though they know the material.
When I think about this, my high school teachers were wise to pray for minds to be calm. When it comes to learning and test-taking, that is much of the battle.
We can use magic in the same way. We can use magic to give us patience with our learning curve and to help us find the right teachers and information. We can use magick to help quell our anxieties as we prepare to take important exams.
We can use many different kinds of magic to achieve these results. Some herbs and crystals can help us be focused, patient, and calm. We can also use tarot cards to bring those energies to us. Many tarot cards can speak of calm, focus, patience, and confidence.
I would use the High Priestess and the Six of Wands to bring me success and confidence on a new learning journey or if I had to take an exam. Which cards would you use for this?
Cards and Conversation Tarot Meetup in Palm City, Florida.
Upcoming Events
Card and Craft Academy
Classes presented by Christiana are available right now at Card and Craft Academy!
Christiana’s Candle Magick
Christiana’s Eleven-Card Celtic Cross
Finding Meaning in the Minor Arcana
The Major Arcana, Magical and Mundane
Practical Tarot Techniques
Psychic Tarot
Personal Tarot: Reading for Yourself
Sharing Wisdom: Reading for Others
The Meaning and Magic of Tarot Reversals
Journey Through the Major Arcana
Your Journey Through the Minor Arcana: Numbers, Elements and Truth
Tarot Beyond the Veil
Your Journey Through the Tarot Court
Tarot Stories, Trends, and Blends
Tarot Readings for Personalities and Relationships
Clarity in Every Tarot Card
Tarot Flow Workshop
Making Magick with Tarot
Fearless Wisdom Tarot Workshop
Tarot Keywords and Interpretations Workshop
Tarot Spreads Tools and Techniques Workshop
Tarot for Magic and Mediumship
Tarot Communication for Clarity and Depth
Weaving the Tarot Reading Story
The Elemental Major Arcana
Minor Arcana Numbers, Elements, and Truth
Personal Healing with Tarot
Create and Interpret Custom Tarot Spreads
What the Court Cards Want You to Know
How Spirit Speaks Through Tarot
Catch up on your missed Zoom webinars and more!
Christiana Gaudet and Mary Ellen Collins at Basil Garden in Palm City.
About Christiana Gaudet
Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.
Christiana Gaudet
3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152
Email cgaudet@cardandcraft.com
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classes www.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com
YouTube @YourTarotFairyGodmother
Instagram @christianatarot @staarcon
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 available almost everywhere!
Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232 x102
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
New! Schedule Appointments Online at acuity:scheduling!
Schedule online at https://christiana-gaudet.as.me.
Agent inquiries are welcome.
Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 7 Issue 9
February 28, 2024
Christiana Gaudet Your Tarot Fairy Godmother banner.
All Things Tarot
This week, the newsletter is about my favorite topic, tarot. How can you spot a good professional? How can you learn tarot? How does tarot magic work? it's all in this newsletter!
A young woman lights a candle and prepares to do a tarot reading.
This newsletter is Volume 7, Issue 8. I cannot see the numbers 7 and 8 together without thinking of the seventy-eight cards of tarot.
I have been writing a formal version of the Tarot Topics Weekly Newsletter for seven years and an informal version for many years more. Yet, until now, tarot itself has never been the topic of the weekly newsletter.
Just before the pandemic struck, many of us in the online tarot community noticed that tarot was having a moment of popularity and public interest, unlike anything we had seen before. The months of shutdowns and uncertainty led to even more people discovering tarot.
Over my thirty-year career as a full-time tarot professional, I have seen years when tarot and divination were very trendy and other times when they were less popular. No matter the societal trends, there were always plenty of clients at my table and plenty of students in my classes.
The current upward-trending popularity of tarot does not seem to have slowed even as life returned to some semblance of normalcy.
I was a professional tarot reader long before the advent of social media and viral videos. Yet, the good and bad things I see among tarot enthusiasts and professionals remain the same. Now, it is all just on a bigger scale.
I have always believed that there are three types of professional readers. Some are out-and-out scammers. Today, those scammers create cloned social media accounts, pretending to be well-known and trusted professionals. The ancient trick of scaring a client into giving large amounts of money to remove a curse still happens as well. Be careful, both online and in person, when choosing a reader.
The second type of reader is truly well-intentioned but not very talented. Perhaps they need to study and practice more, or perhaps their love of tarot is greater than their understanding.
The third type is what I have always aspired to be and what I try to help my students become. That third type is the tarot reader, who is knowledgeable, talented, trustworthy, ethical, and sincere.
Each person coming to tarot and divination has an opportunity to develop new skills, new friends, and new ways of managing life. They also have an equal possibility of getting scammed or falling down a rabbit hole of bad practices and harmful beliefs.
Those of us who love tarot, teach tarot, write about tarot, and spend time with tarot students are responsible for developing and teaching healthy tarot practices. We must be aware of the scammers. We also must be mindful of the harm caused by misinformation spread by well-intentioned people.
How can tarot reading cause harm?
There are a few ways. Psychic addiction happens when clients don’t want to look at the root cause of their difficulties and seek simple answers that align with their desires. Some professional readers call attention to the problem and find solutions; others work to encourage the problem by feeding the addiction.
Social media is full of collective readings that some viewers mistake for personal tarot readings. The social media influencers who perform these readings often perpetuate that confusion.
Tarot can help us find real truth and information. Tarot is a tool we can use for our healing. We can also use tarot to prop up our false beliefs and support spiritual bypassing rather than spiritual enlightenment.
Like any tool, what we get from tarot depends on how we use it. The more we study, learn, and are thoughtful about our practices, the more tarot helps us in our lives.
The StaarCon 2024 AfterGlow. Fairy for 2024 by Ciro Marchetti.
The StaarCorner
Join Brenda Elizabeth in the Charmed by Lady Lenormand lounge tonight at 8:30 pm ET for Yoga Nidra for Third Eye Development.
On Saturday, February 24, at 6:30 pm ET, join Arwen in the Seek Joy with Arwen lounge for a watch party. At StaarCon 2024, Arwen’s session, Cocktails with Arwen, was about tarot for writers. If you are a writer and love tarot, do not miss this!
On Sunday, February 25, join Benebell Wen in the Bell Chimes In lounge for her Office Hours.
Look for new lounges and new lounge sessions coming soon, as well as information about StaarCon 5!
Opening ceremony at StaarCon 2024.
Closeup of a person using a book to do a tarot reading.
Is Tarot Hard to Learn?
“I would love to learn tarot, but it is so hard!”
A new client said this to me at the beginning of her session. I could already see that she was thoughtful and insightful; tarot would benefit her. She said she owned a couple of decks but couldn’t tell me their names.
When she told me definitively that tarot is hard to learn, I couldn’t help but react.
“Is it?” I asked her. The implication was obvious. I challenged her to explain why she thought tarot was hard to learn. Her answer quickly told me that everything she knew about tarot came from social media. She was filled with misunderstanding. She had no idea that tarot teachers, classes, conferences, and meetups existed. (Clearly, the intelligent and well-intentioned tarot teachers on social media, like me, could be doing a better job).
Is it hard to learn tarot? That depends on who you are and what you do. I compare learning tarot to meeting seventy-eight new friends. It will take a while to get to know them all, and further information about them will always emerge, but you can start having fun with them immediately.
When you begin with tarot, you might be confused by the vast array of divination decks available. You may wonder what differentiates tarot from other divination card decks. You will also discover several tarot traditions, each with its stylistic differences. There are countless decks available for purchase. If you want to learn more about choosing a beginner deck, here is an early video from my YouTube channel.
Once you have your tarot deck, I recommend keeping it in a special pouch. You might spend as much on your tarot bag as on your deck. If you sleep with your cards in their pouch under your pillow for a few nights, your cards will start to enter your dreams. This is a way for new readers to bond with their decks.
I often tell my tarot students that I cannot teach anyone to read tarot. I can only create a condition where you can discover how the cards speak to you. That is one of the most important things for new tarotists to understand. Tarot has structure, history, and classic interpretations that we must learn. Yet, in operation, tarot speaks to us in unique ways.
There are many tarot books, websites, and social media accounts to help you learn tarot. Find the teachers, authors, and influencers that feel most authentic to you. You don’t have to memorize the cards to start reading them casually for your friends and family. Feel free to do a tarot spread that you find in a book or on a website and use books (or Google) to look up the card meanings. In time, you will learn the cards and discover how they weave together to tell a story.
I believe that tarot is not hard to learn because we can start learning as soon as we play with the cards. We never stop being tarot students and always learn new ways to work with tarot. The cards will continually reveal new secrets to us.
Closeup of hands laying out a tarot spread.
The Week in Review
Did you catch my tarot classes on YouTube Live last Thursday and yesterday? Watch the replays!
Did you know that we have over one hundred members on my YouTube channel? Members get fun extra perks, like the members-only livestream on February 29. You can become a member, end your membership anytime, and remain a subscriber.
From Around the Web
Learntarot.com is a full tarot book and course by Joan Bunning, available online for free!
There is a new horror movie coming out this spring entitled Tarot. Watch the movie trailer and read this article about it from People magazine.
A huge problem in the tarot community is tarot piracy. It’s something we don’t talk about enough. I was happy to see this statement on tarot author Barbara Moore’s home page.
Tarot cards with a candle on an altar.
Making Magic
Tarot began as a deck of playing cards and is still played as a game today. Tarot has become a book of spiritual wisdom in picture form. Tarot is a tool for introspection, divination, and inspiration. Your tarot deck is also a set of seventy-eight magical tools.
As with tarot divination, you can also learn tarot magic by reading books, visiting websites, or studying with your favorite teachers.
Also, like learning tarot divination, you will ultimately find the best practices for you. A book may give you a detailed and specific spell. In time, you will learn to create the spells that work for you.
I learned an easy way to discuss tarot magic versus tarot divination from Madam Pamita. When divining with tarot, we pull cards while the cards are face down. When we perform tarot magic, we look through the cards face up and choose them based on their image or our understanding of their energy.
Tarot magic boils down to a simple concept. Each tarot card carries energy and can be activated for a specific purpose. If there is something you want to attract into your life or banish from your life, find the tarot card or cards that match that energy.
If you are attracting something, you might want to carry a card image with you. You might also place a card or cards in a special place in your home, such as an altar.
If you are banishing something, place that card face down, or print out the image and destroy it.
You can easily add tarot to any magical practice or create new ways of working with energy using tarot.
February 29 @ 7pm Leap Year Party!
Upcoming Events
Card and Craft Academy
Classes presented by Christiana are available right now at Card and Craft Academy!
Christiana’s Candle Magick
Christiana’s Eleven-Card Celtic Cross
Finding Meaning in the Minor Arcana
The Major Arcana, Magical and Mundane
Practical Tarot Techniques
Psychic Tarot
Personal Tarot: Reading for Yourself
Sharing Wisdom: Reading for Others
The Meaning and Magic of Tarot Reversals
Journey Through the Major Arcana
Your Journey Through the Minor Arcana: Numbers, Elements and Truth
Tarot Beyond the Veil
Your Journey Through the Tarot Court
Tarot Stories, Trends, and Blends
Tarot Readings for Personalities and Relationships
Clarity in Every Tarot Card
Tarot Flow Workshop
Making Magick with Tarot
Fearless Wisdom Tarot Workshop
Tarot Keywords and Interpretations Workshop
Tarot Spreads Tools and Techniques Workshop
Tarot for Magic and Mediumship
Tarot Communication for Clarity and Depth
Weaving the Tarot Reading Story
The Elemental Major Arcana
Minor Arcana Numbers, Elements, and Truth
Personal Healing with Tarot
Create and Interpret Custom Tarot Spreads
What the Court Cards Want You to Know
How Spirit Speaks Through Tarot
Catch up on your missed Zoom webinars and more!
Christiana Gaudet teaching tarot in Madison, Connecticut, circa 2018.
About Christiana Gaudet
Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.
Christiana Gaudet
3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152
Email cgaudet@cardandcraft.com
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classes www.cardandcraftacademy.com
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YouTube @YourTarotFairyGodmother
Instagram @christianatarot @staarcon
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 available almost everywhere!
Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232 x102
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
New! Schedule Appointments Online at acuity:scheduling!
Schedule online at https://christiana-gaudet.as.me.
Agent inquiries are welcome.
Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 7 Issue 8
February 21, 2024
Christiana Gaudet Your Tarot Fairy Godmother banner.