Have you been to a tarot reader before? If you haven’t my guess is that you’re not sure how it all works. Get a drink and sit over here ‘cause we’re about to fix all that.

The first time I had a Tarot reading it was with the friend of a friend. He said, “You have to meet her. She’s amazing. And accurate.” OK.

I was young. We were dating. I didn’t want to do my homework. Sure. Whatever. We drove to an apartment full of natural fibers, D&D, and cats. It wasn’t her home. She was crashing there.

The Reading

We went into an empty spare bedroom and we sat on the floor. She asked me what I wanted to know or if I wanted a general reading. I said, “Uh, General.”

I was kinda nervous. And I was kinda excited. Definitely full of anticipation about what this person I didn’t know, with these piercing black and knowing eyes, this untamed tight curly hair, and in a white tank and black leather jacket would know about me. She lit a clove cigarette and she started shuffling.

She started talking through the side of her mouth the cigarette wasn’t hanging from. “I’m in school for this. In classes. It’s a metaphysical school.” I wanted to be her. She was freakin’ amazing. I was hooked and she hadn’t done anything but be really fucking cool.

As soon as she flipped over that first card and stared at it she paused. She took a slow drag. Put her finger on the card. As she exhaled, she looked up at me and stared into my soul. Then she told me the truth. For an hour.

She said, “Is there anything else you’d like to know?” I had no idea what to say I was so shocked at the truth. from someone I didn’t know. Now, years later, I want to know why that reading was so on point.

Seek Out Accurate Insight

If you’re getting a Tarot reading for the first time you naturally assume that you’re going to find out what’s in store for you future. You’ve been conditioned to think that way. I think you can take Tarot reading farther than that and focus on what you want to be in your future.

For example, some people know they can come to a Tarot reader and get advice on what they should be doing next in their life. But not everybody knows that. Not everybody knows that you can seek out insight and actions that you can act on from a Tarot reader.

So I think it’s more accurate to say that when you come to a tarot reader for the first time you’re looking for a bit of magic. You want to be impressed at the reader’s “knowing.”

You probably also want to know your future. Certainly. What you don’t know is that you’re shaping your future by wanting to know what it is. And the best way to do that is to ask the reader specific questions about what it is that you’re trying to achieve. That way you can be more focused and successful.

The more specific you are with your Tarot reader about what you’re trying to get more insight on, the more impressed you’re going to be with the answers you receive. You’re probably going to hear answers you never even thought of. And that means you’re going to feel like a little bit of magic was just created.

You’re Going to Know Something About Me

One of the concerns I hear the most about coming to a Tarot reader for the first time is that I’m going to know something about you that you don’t want me to know. Totally valid concern.

In the age that we live in, the awareness of “big brother” is a real experience. It causes us to want to protect our privacy. Our privacy is the only thing that we can truly call our own. Especially in a world where anybody can find out anything about us online.

Leaked or not, we want to be in control of that information leak. So when you’re going to talk to someone that you think of as psychic it feels like an uncontrollable experience.

You’re Going to Tell Me Something Bad About My Life

So most people just say, “Well I just don’t want to know.” SMDH To take that feeling of not being in control a step further, I assume you think that I’m going to tell you when you’re going to die or that your husband/boyfriend/partner/whatever is cheating on you. Or that it’s true, your grandma really is a bitch and she always hated you. Basically the things that devastate you or you fear the most.

Here’s what I have to say to all of that. Don’t ask me about that stuff. Ask me about what can be in your control.

Let’s think about the husband/boyfriend/partner/whatever scenario. Ask me how you can improve the relationship. Ask me what challenges you’re having in the relationship that you can work on today.

Think of me like your Tarot Google. We’re just going to search through the universe to find the answers to your most pressing questions instead of searching through the Internet.

I Don’t Know What to Do or How to Act

Once you finally take the leap and decide you’re ready for a Tarot reading, you schedule it. Do you know what to do after that? I never realized this before but it’s like being on a first date. Or kissing someone for the first time.

You feel like a fish out of water. You forget how to act. You don’t know what to say or you think you sound stupid. You don’t know if you should say anything at all. It’s like you forget how to be a human being. Gah! Super intimidating.

Here’s the good news. You have more opportunities than I did to find out what it’s like to be a part of a tarot reading without even getting one. First, I have a Tarot kit for you. Second, there are a lot of Tarot readers already on social media (Periscope | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube). In fact, I’m on Periscope every Friday at 6 PM central.

Download the Periscope app or if you already use Twitter you can follow me @comingouttarotand see what it’s like for other people to get a live Tarot reading. I like when people creep my scopes. As long as you’re not a troll. And you’re just hanging out to see what it’s like, that’s all good.

You get a chance to see how other people ask questions. You’ll get to see how a tarot reading is performed. You get a chance to see how I interact with people. You’ll get to see that it’s not as stuffy or creepy or otherworldly as you might think it is. You get to see I don’t wear a cape or have a crystal ball or a weird hat on my head. And you can do it in your pajamas. You’re welcome.

My Friends/Family Will Find Out I Came to a Tarot Reader

Only if you tell them. 🙂

Now if you’re anything like me you’re probably not going to tell anyone that you went to a tarot reader right away. It starts to feel absurd that you went to someone who isn’t a licensed therapist or a career coach or a known and respected professional according to what other people think. But you’re your own person! You do you.

When you play back what you heard and what you experienced during the tarot reading you may not feel that your mom or husband is going to receive the message you received in the same way you did. You’re absolutely right. Until you internalize the message you received and qualify it based on your experiences that message isn’t ready to be shared with anyone else.

Once you’ve qualified it though, then it’s time to tell people where you got your insight. Share with others which Tarot reader kicked you in the ass and how you decided to take your next steps. Talk about what the momentum in your life feels like. And definitely talk about what the results are.

With What Money

So I imagine you’re thinking, “Seth, I don’t have the funds to throw away on a tarot reading.” Do you think that taking a moment to examine your choices and decide how to make the best decisions so that you can be more successful is really throwing away money?

I think that buying your mocha latte is throwing away money. I mean, the mocha latte is not advancing your life. A latte is not an investment in yourself or your future. It may be saving other people from dying around you but is it really helping you?

Plus #Free. See conversation about Periscope above. You can get a lot of value out of free resources that Tarot readers offer. For example, my coming out reading live in Instagram at 6a central (and stored on IGTV) is a free resource that I offer where you can get insight and actionable advice on whatever it is you are coming out about.

I Don’t Believe in This Stuff

I didn’t either. Until I saw it work. Listen, if you don’t believe in Tarot, you don’t believe. I’m never going to convince you to believe in what a tarot reading can offer until you experience it for yourself. So join me on Periscope.

Readers are Just Cold Reading People Anyway

One more thing. There are a lot of Tarot imposters out there that do use cold reading in order to make you feel like you are getting a powerful and impactful Tarot reading. There are readers who are not practicing cold reading. Myself included.

How can you tell the difference? Here are some questions that you can ask your Tarot reader in order to feel more comfortable with them. In fact here’s how to choose the right Tarot reader for you.

What’s Periscope?

Periscope is an app that was developed by the folks at Twitter. It is a live streaming app. You can certainly check out any of their privacy notices and how it’s connected to Twitter online. So if you’re nervous about Periscope or what it means to be on a live streaming app, Google is your friend.

One of the advantages to Periscope and getting a tarot reading with me on the app is that you ask your question in a public forum. There is a community of people ready to support you. Especially when your question deals with challenging issues.

Some people see that as a disadvantage because it’s a private experience. If your question is too private to put into a public forum you’re always welcome to connect with me via a private reading.

I Don’t Like New Apps

I totally get that there are some people out there who just don’t like new apps. You certainly don’t have to use Peri to connect with me. You can send me an email with a ton of questions. Or we can connect via Skype or FaceTime and you can ask me a ton of questions there. Whatever works best for you in order to feel like you get a chance to know me and know more about Tarot.

I Hate to be on Camera

One of the advantages that I think some people see in Periscope is that I’m the only one on camera. Especially if your camera shy or you don’t like to be seen on video. Skype is a totally different story. We can see each other, same on FaceTime, but on Periscope you can see me and you can type to me but I can’t see you.

So if being on camera is an issue for you, I have a few other options for you to think about:

1. Periscope is a one way visual.
2. I have an email reading option in my shop.
3. I can do a reading for you and record it and send you a video of the reading if you’d like.

Prep for the Reading

In order to get the most accurate Tarot reading you have to do some preparation for the reading just like I do. I have a Tarot reading kit that will help you better understand what kind of preparation need to do.

Get the Follow up Plan

One of the most important things you need to do in order to experience an accurate Tarot reading is have a follow up plan. I don’t think people receiving a tarot reading think about how they’re going to activate after the Tarot reading. That’s why I created the Tarot reading follow up plan.

It’s a structured way for you to take notes during the course of the reading. It also has a little insight on how to prep for the reading so you know what to expect. And it comes with some spaces for you to write down what your next steps are so you actually take some time to think through what you just learned and what you’re going to do about it.

4 Steps to the Most Accurate Tarot Reading

1. Let the reader guide you or you take lead. This mean you really need to choose the right reader.
2. Let magic happen. Sometimes we need an outside force to shake us up
3. Be open and ready to receive the message you need to hear. It’s an energy thing, a receptive thing, a manifestation thing.
4. Ask questions. Be actively involved in your reading

It’s Time for a Change

If you take steps to get a more accurate Tarot reading I think you’ll find yourself more confident in your choices which will make you feel more in control of your life and ultimately exceed your own expectations.

Who Are You Living For

Ensuring that you have the most accurate Tarot reading means that you’re going to be taking stronger actions. No more hoping that things are just going to work out along the way.

Even better, your decisions are informed. With accurate insight comes the opportunity to make clear decisions. Once the decision is made, you can evaluate your experience and make the next one with more information.

And I can’t stress this enough, you’ll no longer be bound by your previous expectations. As you start to advance your life based on your choices, the expectations that you or others had for you become secondary to your current experience. That’s being in the moment. That’s living for yourself right now. (Can you hear the Olympics theme?)