3 questions for my mentor, Part I.
Witchcraft, Catholicism and her early days as a Tarot reader.
Susan Hansen has been my mentor and dear friend after we “randomly” met at her Florida art gallery almost 15 years ago. I credit much of my success of 20 years to Susan’s wise council, knowledge and protection. I always encourage clients who are interested in Tarot to find a trustworthy mentor — but that advice was never more true for me, as I grew up in fundamentalist church that preached against anything occult, so I stumbled my way through the first years of How in the world do I do this thing? without a mentor. However, finding a good mentor can prove very tricky in the metaphysical world — so I am eternally grateful that our paths crossed (and we often laugh about our numerous lives together). In the near future, you will read more in-depth about our first meeting but please enjoy Part I of my 3 questions with my mentor.
Susan is available for virtual and in-person sessions and has read Tarot cards for over 50 years. You won’t find anyone better and I highly recommend a session with her.
1. You grew up Catholic and now are a practicing witch and Tarot reader with 50+ years of experience. How do you align that with your Catholic background?
I was born in Staten Island, NY in a very working-class neighborhood. I went to a parochial school until my junior year in high school. As a child, I loved going to Mass every Sunday. I loved the incense and candles — I loved leading the Religious Feast Day processions. I loved the stained glass windows in the old church. It was, to me, very magical during the Mass.
The nuns loved me. Since kindergarten, the Sisters of Charity have fascinated me and I connected to the protectiveness they had for me. As I reached the age of 7, I would help them pick out the winning Bingo cards or during the Summer Fairs, I would always know the right number to pick at the roulette or carnival wheel.
So, being a psychic at an early age was positive for me, especially when it came to the Church. I was not discouraged in the late 70s when I became a practicing witch living in Manhattan. I realized a lot of the Catholic rituals, especially during the Mass, are completely parallel to the pagan mass or ceremonies. A lot of the Feast dates also coincide with each other.
I do not follow one specific religion. I am a witch, yet I do not belong to a coven. I am my own person. I am my own religion.
I do believe in astrology and all the astrological predictions — past and present. I do believe in the Tarot as a sort of religion. All the ups and downs a Tarot reading gives a client is my faith. It gives me faith in mankind.
If I was ever to be stranded on a deserted island, the first thing I would do is make a deck of cards for predictions, as I don’t think I could exist without a Tarot deck.
2. What do you say to people who want to read the Tarot but have fear over using the cards?
I say don’t read them. There are other forms of divination and maybe the Tarot isn’t for you. Never be frightened of something or that makes you uncomfortable to do. However, over the years I have developed my own method in teaching the Tarot. Through an astral projection/meditation, I bring you through your own interpretation of the Tarot. It seems to work quite nicely.
If Tarot reading is a form of entertainment for you, just go to the movies. It’s cheaper.
3. What was it like being a Tarot reader in N.Y.C. in the 70s?
I went to Pratt Institute during the 70s. At the age of 19, I was introduced to Tarot cards by a classmate named Diane Menna. We were in some class situation (being an art college, the Tarot was a form of art!). I stood behind Diane and looked at the cards she had in front of her. I immediately saw these tiny “movies” in front of me. I began tell the “querent” some information about his girlfriend no one could have known.
Diane got up, told me to sit down and I continued the reading. That was it. No book, no lesson — just my intuition channelling through the cards. The Tarot cards were now my tools for predicting the future.
Once graduating from Pratt, I moved to Manhattan in Chelsea where I discovered the Magickal Childe Occult Shoppe on W. 19th. It was quite the place to be.
You see, none of this frightened me. I couldn’t get enough.
I became acquainted with Herman Slater, the owner of Magickal Childe. Through him, I met many like-minded characters — good and evil. It was through Herman I met my teacher, mentor and friend, Rolla Nordic.
I remember one rainy Saturday afternoon, she was giving a Tarot demonstration at Magickal Childe. I sat in the back (I always sat in the back, not to be noticed). Well, Rolla was talking and all of a sudden stopped, pointed in my direction and said, “You, dearie. Yes, you. Come up here.”
She was pointing at me. Again, the rest was history.
I never tried to win her over as others had. She just told me I had the “gift” — as many other important people had told me before and after her.
It was because of that pointing episode that I was made a part-time Tarot reader at Magickal Childe, which I did for a few years until I moved to France.