Tarot Tips: Tarot & the Intuitive / Retrogrades / Digital Business Cards
Published: Mon, 04/01/24
"While many people celebrate "April Fool's Day with..."
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 Newsletter of The Tarot School
https://TarotSchool.com ISSN: 1529-0565 Vol. 16 #4 April 1, 2024
In this Issue: - Welcome
- Tarot Tip: Tarot and the Intuitive - Wald's Words of Wisdom - Diviner's Corner: What's Right with Retrogrades? - Meet the Reader: Michelle Welch - Best Practices: Digital Business Cards - Upcoming Events Welcome to a new issue of Tarot Tips!
And a special welcome to our new subscribers.
 This month you came from:Brazil, Canada, China, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom an the United States! We're glad you're here!  Happy Fool's Day! While many people celebrate "April Fool's Day" with jokes and pranks, we in the tarot community have claimed this day in recognition of The Fool in the tarot deck and it's importance to our personal life's journey. There are many different ways of looking at this iconic card. Some popular ones are Beginner, Seeker, Innocent, Adventurer, Wanderer and Free Spirit, among others. At The Tarot School, we like to share our understanding that The Fool can never fall off the cliff because new ground is created with every step The Fool takes. But Wald has discovered an even more profound way of looking at our beloved Fool. The following is excerpted from his writing on the subject... "Before the beginning, there is nothing, No-Thing. Before the beginning, all is dark but alive and aware as deity without expression. The path of The Fool begins in the living darkness. He steps from nothing to nothing, and as he does, his steps create light. The light of The Fool’s steps sparkles in the darkness, and is the first something, the first contrast, the first distinction between subject and object. The whole of creation is made from the sparkle of the light of The Fool’s journey. Your journey, too, is from darkness to light, and your whole personal universe is made of this light, even the painful parts. The Fool is your companion for the whole of your life’s journey, from your first breath to your last. He is the companion who sustains you while you sleep, who wakes you to begin your day, and keeps you from falling or failing no matter what challenges the world brings you, as long as you draw breath and choose what to do next." ~ Wald Amberstone However you wish to interpret this card, may The Fool continually refresh your adventure with tarot! And one more thing... Even though we're not running The Readers Studio this year, there's still a lot we have to do before the big weekend so there won't be a May issue of Tarot Tips. If you're coming to RS24, please find us and say hello! Wishing you joy along the tarot path, Ruth Ann, Wald, Gina and Sharonah
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TAROT AND THE INTUITIVE by Heather Mendel When first presented with a Tarot deck, I was overwhelmed — not only with the cards themselves, but how to to shuffle, select and lay them out, even deciding what questions to ask and how to ask them. Why read cards? For me, my spiritual path has been long and varied and my passion has always been about more mysterious aspects of our lives. An intuitive inner knowing that I have come to recognize as the voice of the Sacred Feminine exists within all of us and has always intrigued me. I wanted to hear it more clearly in my attempt to understand the magical and invisible connections that hold us all together. While many friends the Tarot community focus on predicting future events, my interest was always in the present moment and what I could do to make the most informed decision possible. Tarot can do that too. What, I wondered, about the perennial questions of the spiritual seeker: Who am I, Why am I here and Where am I going? Tarot has helped me appreciate that the answers to such questions seem to be a process that evolves as we do. I feel it all starts with asking a question and entering a dialog with the inner self . . . and listening. ‘Asking’ is a verb— posing a question that the Sacred Feminine within takes as a signal to reveal the concealed. In this sacred space of dialog, we learn step by step to pay attention and open to possibilities. With a focus on strengthening the intuitive and believing the questions I wanted answered was wide-ranging, I have discovered 4 steps in readings to be helpful: 1. Create a sacred space in which to work. 2. Acknowledge the intuitive in a ritual of respect and appreciation. 3. Ask the question you want answered. 4. Take time to reflect of the information you perceive and allow the ideas, impressions and feelings to flow. Tarot cards seem to be multidimensional— the more we ask, the more they reveal. Our international Tarot community is cohesive enough to include those who, like myself, are willing to interweave other mystical traditions into our understanding. The kabbalistic mystical tradition is the bedrock of my beliefs. Just as ‘asking’ is a verb, so too is the word ‘kabbalah.’ It means ‘receiving’— first we have to ask the question ‘what is kabbalah?’ It is a process that reveals itself. As a mystic with a small ‘m’, I find tarot and kabbalah blend so perfectly and most obviously in the Minor Arcana. Kabbalah offers the map— the Tree of Life with its 22 pathways, 10 ‘cosmic chakras’ arranged in 3 columns on 7 energetic levels that aligned with our human chakras. Learning to use this map to understand the mystical significance of the numbers 0-10 provides a foundation for what the numerical system of the cards offer us; when we add the information of the 4 suits which represent not only the 4 elements but 4 levels of soul consciousness, experience and expression, we have all we need, and the use of a non-figurative deck will give us the answers we are looking for in response our questions. Working in this way, with a spread of cards, we attend also to the relationship of one card to another on the table in front of us, the story unfolds and the inner dialog with our intuitive becomes unique, personal and profound. Such are the cards of the Parallax Oracle— simple in design, providing a number on a Tree of Life in one of 4 colors plus the icon of the particular suit as can be seen in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n50aUDH2vK0  In April, in preparation for the Summer Solstice 2024, I am offering a 7 week class on this process entitled: Kabbalah and Consciousness—Counting of the Omer in Search of the Sacred Feminine and you are invited to contact me for details. Finally, perhaps a different way of selecting the cards that also deepen our relationship with the intuitive — I have started using a pendulum to select the cards. The pendulum does not need to be anything fancy—I started with a perfume bottle-top shaped like a crystal on a string. I learned to know my personal ‘yes’ and ‘no’ spins. Now after dividing the shuffled deck into a number of smaller stacks or fans, and with the swing of the pendulum, work my way through till I have the correct number of cards for a specific layout, indicated again by the pendulum. Just like using a Tarot deck the practice may be slow at first, but gets faster as you become more comfortable with it. It has now become my honored ritual to connect me to my Intuitive, which deepens my appreciation for the magic of the tarot.  Born in South Africa, Heather and her husband, Rabbi Norm Mendel now live in Upstate New York. She is the author of 7 books and the designer of 5 Tarot and Lenormand decks. Email: [email protected] Website: www.sacredfemininekabbalah.com youtube channel: https://bit.ly/2stoeqw Wald's Words of Wisdom  Diviner's Corner WHAT'S RIGHT WITH RETROGRADES?
 It’s that time. Mercury goes retrograde today, April 1st through April 24th. In the realm of astrology and divination, the concept of planetary retrograde, particularly Mercury retrograde, holds significant importance. A planet is said to be in retrograde when it appears to be moving backward in the sky due to the relative positions of the planet and Earth. This optical illusion impacts astrological interpretations, with each planet’s retrograde offering unique insights and warnings. Mercury retrograde is perhaps the most discussed amongst these phenomena, occurring three to four times a year. It is traditionally associated with communication, travel, technology, and information mishaps. In divinatory readings, Mercury retrograde can signal a period of reflection and reevaluation in these areas. It's a time when the past might resurface, offering opportunities for resolving unfinished business and learning from previous mistakes. During divinatory practices, such as tarot readings or astrology, acknowledging Mercury retrograde can guide individuals to navigate these periods more mindfully. A reading might suggest focusing inward, reassessing plans, or delaying the signing of important contracts until the retrograde passes. It emphasizes patience, careful communication, and flexibility in plans. Moreover, the retrograde of other planets can similarly influence readings but in areas governed by those celestial bodies. For instance, Venus retrograde touches on love and relationships, Mars on conflict and energy, and so on. Each brings a time for introspection and reevaluation in specific life aspects. Planetary retrogrades, especially Mercury's, are significant in divinatory readings, offering a unique lens through which to view and navigate challenges. They prompt a shift in focus from outward action to inner reflection, urging individuals to pause, review, and correct course as needed. This celestial phenomenon encourages a deeper understanding of one's life path and personal growth opportunities. Resources: • Your Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide https://spiritualgangster.com/blogs/news/your-mercury-retrograde-survival-guide • Using Tarot During Mercury Retrograde https://the-crone.com/2022/05/16/using-tarot-during-mercury-retrograde/ We’d love your suggestion or submissions for this column! If you have an idea or would like to contribute, please contact us at [email protected]. Meet The Reader MICHELLE WELCH By Sharonah Rapseik, Ph.D., CMAP  Michelle Welch is a tarot reader, psychic medium, author, CEO, and mother of five. She is also a licensed attorney who draws upon her intuitive and psychic abilities in high profile court cases. Michelle hosts the podcast "Soul What" on all listening platforms, YouTube, and Facebook. She also hosts "Tarot Takeaways," a SoulTopia Instagram series. Michelle was born and raised in Longview, Texas in a religious family of four. Because of her spiritual childhood she always had a relationship with angels, God, and other spiritual beings. She attended Texas A&M to receive her BBA in business and afterwards attended Baylor Law School to become a licensed attorney where she was able to utilize her intuitive abilities to easily pick juries. Michelle Welch has appeared on CBS News, The Jenny McCarthy show, Coast to Coast, and many others. In her spare time she is training to be a death doula. She enjoys fishing, reading and writing. Interestingly, fishing connects her to her grandmother who lived to be 106 years old and keeps her close to her southern roots. Sharonah Rapseik: Michelle, what makes your tarot practice unique and how do you express it? Michelle Welch: Most importantly, I am unique because I "future tell." I am a full-blown psychic medium. In my tarot practice, I only read the information given from the cards and my intuition. By that I mean, I never give advice or my personal opinion, nor do I tie things up with a nice little ribbon. If I do not receive the information, it is not my job to put the puzzle together. I am a channel, an oracle, a messenger." Like the oracle or sphinx of earlier times, I know and accept that tarot may not reveal all of the answers someone seeks. My clients do not come to me for opinion, advice, or speculation. Also, I never play the odds on readings. Just because someone has broken up with someone else ten times does not mean they will an eleventh time. My clients come from all over the world and all walks of life because I know how to read cards. I have always been psychic, do not claim to be a life coach, am honest but caring, and I have a compelling, honest and high accuracy rate. I "flow chart" read. My clients present the question. We then read using my "flow chart" method that cuts to the heart of the matter. An example of this is a high powered businessperson in Dubai who wants to know which business would be the best investment between three choices. After all the necessary disclaimers, I ask my client to get the three investments in mind in order 1, 2, and 3 but give me absolutely no information. I emphasize not to change the order when I begin reading. Even if it seems like the reading of card #1 goes more with what they had as investment #3, do not change it. That is what I call a "punt", when a reader is wrong but they want to say the cards were in the wrong order. I have no patience for phony readers. I also will not "punt" and say it must be a past, parallel, or future life just to say I'm right (unless I stated we were doing that at the beginning). That would go something like this, "Oh...That didn't happen? It must have been a past life." So I turn over card one and I say, it looks like opportunity one would look like this... Then I do the same with card 2 and card 3. We then "flow chart" down from the card that is most promising or perhaps the one that isn't, but they thought would be. I am often quiet about my knowledge of tarot. I know a lot more than I let on to people because I love to learn. Tarot has a zunique energy that has stood the test of time and adapts to those in all walks of life. Whether someone is a tarot scholar or a tarot beginner, tarot helps to point you to new ways of thinking and viewing our lives and this human experience. As in everything I do in life, I have one clear manifesto: I strive for excellence, professionalism, and to assure ethics in my practice! Sharonah: Thank you Michelle, it’s been a pleasure to meet you! To Follow Michelle Welch: YouTube:
 Sharonah Rapseik is an Artist / Designer, Author, Tarot Reader, Radio Host and Producer for Psychic Talk Radio. Visit her at: https://psychictalk.net/sharonah/ Best Practices for Professional Readers DIGITAL BUSINESS CARDS
By Gina Thies www.tarotadvisor.com / www.facebook.com/tarotreaders www.tarotcoupling.com / www.oraclesoup.org A “must have” for the modern professional is a business card. Sharing your contact information has entered the tech age through digital business cards and other ways to digitize and share your information. Traditional paper business cards can be a bit of a hassle to update and carry around. If you are at an event or conference, digitally sharing your information is a breeze. Digital business cards save money and the environment. Digital sharing helps spread the word about your business quickly and no one will leave it behind. Having different options available is a win because not everyone will be at the same level technically. Consider streamlining your efforts when networking. Here are a few ways to digitize your contact information: 1. QR codes 2. Virtual business card design apps 3. Airdrop 4. Email signatures 5. Apple Wallet 6. Google Wallet Also, check out this really great article with specific instructions on ways to digitally share your business information: https://wavecnct.com/blogs/wave/how-to-share-a-digital-business-card Upcoming Events:  Tarot Salon on Zoom! 7:00 – 9:00 pm EST Our popular Monday night classes are now online so you can attend no matter where you live. Classes are recorded and all levels of experience are welcome! April 2024: 1 - 10 of Wands and Cups 8 - 10 of Swords and Pentacles 15 - The Celestial Array 22 - NO CLASS: Readers Studio Break 29 - NO CLASS: Readers Studio Break Get on the notification list to see what we'll be teaching each week. Find the form and register here: https://tarot.salon  The 2024 Readers Studio: April 26 - 28 Divination Day: Thursday, April 25 Join us once again at the LaGuardia Marriott in New York as we finally gather together to celebrate the return of our beloved tarot conference. This is only made possible due to the dedication of the new showrunners, Michelle and Roger Welch! Our gratitude knows no bounds. Please come so we can hug you! https://TheReadersStudio.com  Readings with Ruth Ann Running The Tarot School with Wald keeps me pretty busy, but I still love giving readings! My specialty is using your Birth Cards and Elemental Array (techniques Wald and I have developed) in conjunction with random draws to give you an extremely personalized and powerful reading. If you have a working knowledge of the Tree of Life, you may request a Birth Cards Synastry Reading. I will compare your Birth Cards with those of one or two others to give you a deeper understanding of your relationship with them. I excel at giving Readings for Readers so if you're always giving readings to others, let me help you with some self-care for a change! Click Here to book your private reading with me over Zoom.    
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