What I've learned about humans after 21 years as a Tarot reader.
We all want the same things.
Everyone is neurotic — and everyone wants to be happy and at peace.
Yep, ‘tis true. We’re all neurotic. Me, you, and everyone else. It doesn’t matter what is asked; any good reader will pay attention to the deeper tones hidden under the vocalized questions.
Usually, it is: Will I ever be happy (again?) How can I extend this feeling of peace that seems so fleeting? I don’t want the bad stuff, just the good. How do I find the “one”?
You’re the one. Sit with yourself for fifteen minutes — no noise, no distractions. That will show you how neurotic your brain is. Fortunately, there are ways to move beyond that. One of my favorite dharma teachers — a crazy Sagittarius :) — loves to say, There’s no one else. You’re the boss.
Everyone wants to love — and be loved.
Whether or not we believe we deserve it (you / I / we do) — everyone wants to know that they are loved, heard and seen, despite “tough love” doled out during their sessions (my clients love my straight talk, not airy fairy).
If you consistently extend love and acceptance, you will have a long and successful career, not to mention virtuous karma.
Everyone wants to know that they will be okay/survive/get through.
Yes. You will. I will. We have and will continue to do so. Perfecting balance in this illusory — but seemingly very real world — is the call to mastery. After 21 years as a Tarot reader, I don’t envy anyone after the stories I’ve heard, despite external fame/money/status/stuff/success, etc. It may dazzle some but it doesn’t really mean anything — plus, we’ll be dead soon. The truth is that most people are desperately miserable and don’t want or know how to change their circumstances. It all starts within.
Everyone is traumatized — even if you think your particular story is “worse” than mine. Trauma is trauma.
No one skips a turn on this ride, no matter the outward success, generosity, spirituality, money, lies, style, delusions, attractiveness, goodness or naught. Everyone has been hurt and traumatized — or will be — even if they lived a golden childhood (very rare). If we’re back in this Earthly realm, it’s likely we brought our unresolved issues and traumas with us — and often rumble with the very same people in different costumes as our mirrors. We’re here to work that shit out, not chase empty success or transitory things, unless that is what we’d like to experience. To each their own but I can say with assurance that no one walks around with a perfect life. I’ve heard tens of thousands of stories and they all include intensive pain of some sort.
Everyone has a story to tell. They are all fascinating and worth a listen.
How are you?
I’m fine. Good. Everything’s great. What about that (team/weather/gossip/politician . . .?)
Those are not stories. Just masks. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find an ocean of stories, if they trust you. Often clients will dive right in with me but there are some who need time to trust and that’s perfectly reasonable. I am not a person who trusts easily — but once I do, I’ll start to open up (as well as writing a million books, of course.)
Everyone has stories and they are all fascinating to hear, including the secret ones. You have to be a person of utmost integrity and trustworthiness to make it as a Tarot reader because you will hear stories that have been told to no one else (according to them). I consider it an extreme honor — and have been eternally changed by my clients.