Today I had the pleasure of appearing on CTV Your Morning Ottawa to chat with Rosie Edeh about reading tarot cards, and to give her a quick reading. Thanks so much to Rosie, Chris, Mike, Adam and the rest of the team for making this a most excellent adventure!
Here’s a link to the segment: One Ottawa Woman is Using Tarot Cards to Tell Stories. (How much do I love that title??!)
If you caught the segment, you saw me doing my favourite tarot spread for events. I offer two different types of readings, depending on whether it is a small home party (less than 10 folks) or a larger event (10+ people) like a bridal shower or bachelorette, a reception, a client appreciation event, a holiday party or other corporate event. Previously, I talked about my favourite 6-card tarot spread for smaller groups, the Dyadic Cross, in this post.
The reading I did on CTV Your Morning Ottawa is a 3-card variation that I call the party special. The tarot card positions in this spread are (1) the energy that is around you, (2) your opportunity, challenge or obstacle, and (3) your advice from the universe.
Over the years, I’ve found this to be an ideal tarot card spread for festivals and events for several reasons. First, it can give delightfully insightful reading opportunities without overwhelming the person with information. Second, it is a better use of time to jump straight into the reading rather than wait for the person to come up with a question or issue they would like to explore. It takes the perfect amount of time, around 5 to 10 minutes, to complete a reading that includes a little lesson on what tarot is about (I can never resist that) and as much discussion about the reading as the person is willing to make. Third, it makes a great tarot “appetizer.” Each person should leave with a little story that includes insightful, actionable advice and an introduction to how tarot “works,” and I feel like I’ve really done my job if they have a new spark of curiosity about tarot cards. And finally, a tarot reading at a party or festival is not the place for existential soul searching or the quest for life’s purpose. Readings at events should be succinct, interesting, insightful and fun!
In the CTV Your Morning Ottawa segment, we talked about reading tarot cards for mindfulness and reading tarot for yourself. My favourite way to read tarot for myself is to simply pull one card informally, at a random point in the day, and ask myself a question like, “Where should I be focusing my energy today?” or “What’s worth knowing right now?” Sometimes it is as simple as asking the universe for a vibe check to see what comes up. If I have a bit more time, I’ll use the 3-card spread I described above. It provides excellent food for thought!
Pulling just one card at a time is a great way to learn how to read tarot cards. Even if you’re brand new to reading tarot, you can pull a card and look up its meaning in the little white book or your tarot guide. If you have the time, make a note of the card and its meaning in a notebook or journal – I find writing things down is the best way to remember and internalize things. The next day, go back to that card and consider it in the context of your day. Was it helpful, accurate or insightful? Then over the course of a longer period of time, you can look for patterns. Pulling a lot of major arcana? You’re going through a period of big life lessons and significant choices. Pulling mostly pentacles? The practical, tangible things in your life are taking up most of your energy and attention. Seeing a lot of cups? Your emotions and relationships are in the foreground.
Did I mention that I also teach workshops where you can learn to read tarot for yourself? You’ll learn about the minor and major arcana, the suits and the court cards. You’ll learn how to interpret the colours, numbers and symbols on a standard Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck. You’ll learn about spreads and how to read them, and how to read for yourself and others. You’ll leave with suggestions and strategies on learning the spectrum of meaning attached to each card so you can continue to practice tarot reading on your own.
I also offer a wellness-focused session on tarot reading for mindfulness, designed for small or large corporate audiences. Learning to read tarot cards for yourself is a great fit for an employee wellness program, alongside topics like meditation and reducing or relieving stress. Mindfulness means learning to be fully present in the moment, paying attention to thoughts, feelings and sensations without judgement. The benefits of mindfulness include reduced stress, improved attention and concentration and better decision-making. Reading tarot for yourself gives a rare opportunity to slow down and reflect, and to do an internal wellness check. You can also use it to identify patterns, and check your internal blindspots. It’s a great way to check in with your intuition – what does your gut know that your brain hasn’t figured out yet?
As you can see, I love the idea of introducing tarot cards to new audiences. If you’re new to tarot and would like to learn more, don’t hesitate to check out some of links above, or reach out to me at dani@curiouscrone.ca. And of course I’d love to chat if you’re interested in booking a playful, insightful tarot card reader for your party or event in and around Ottawa.
Did you catch the segment on CTV Your Ottawa Morning? I’d love to hear your thoughts – drop a comment below!