Liz Worth ~ Tarot

One of the most common questions I get from other tarot readers is, “Do you read reversals?”

It comes up whenever I teach a class, whether it’s to a group of beginners or advanced readers.

(And for anyone not familiar with reversals, it’s when a card is upside down in a reading.)

I don’t read reversals – but I used to. I picked up the technique when I was studying tarot, and used it regularly by the time I started reading tarot professionally.

But I gradually stopped reading reversals.

Why? It’s not because they don’t work – they do (if you’re clear and consistent in how you’re using them).

The reason reversals dropped out of my tarot practice is that I just didn’t need them anymore. I had started to develop new styles of card reading and the way I was working with tarot didn’t require reversals anymore.

I started to see that the way I was looking at a reversed card – whether it was a challenge,...

Whenever there’s change in the air, such as talk of important astrological transits, it’s normal to wonder: “How will this affect me?”

We often turn to tarot, astrology and other divinations to predict what’s around the corner. It’s not unusual to worry about whether you are making the wrong decision, or to worry about where your future is headed.

I find that whether you’re clear on your own direction, or you’re still trying to figure out your life’s path, uncertainty will always be a companion to some degree.

One of the main reasons why we turn to divinatory tools like tarot and astrology is because we want certainty, clarity and confidence in what we are doing.

Knowing how things will turn out can help alleviate some of the stress of the unknown.

After all, wouldn’t you go ahead and head back to school, start that business, or write that book if you knew for sure that you would be successful?

It would also be so much...

Staying healthy as a tarot reader can be tricky, especially if you do a lot of in-person work at parties, events, or one-on-one.

A lot of us readers are often working in public spaces like stores, coffee shops or fairs.

Here's what I do to stay healthy when I'm working out in the public.

(Note that I am not a health professional and can only speak to what works for me. ALSO - follow local health guidelines during Covid!)

“Asking the right question can change your life.”
- Wald Amberstone

Think about that quote from Wald Amberstone for a second. We’ll come back to it.

When people first come to me for a reading, I always ask them if they have a question, or a topic they’d like to focus on.

“Should I tell you what it is?” People often ask.

“Of course!” I say. Being clear about what someone wants to know helps me to deliver a clear, relevant reading. It also helps me to ensure you get the most out of the experience.

But this is also where communication can become a challenge for tarot readers, astrologers, and other folks who are doing this kind of work.

Not everyone is willing to put a question on the table – even if they have one. I think part of this comes from still viewing tarot as a parlor trick. People want to test the reader to see how good they are, which can turn the reading into a guessing game.

But why waste your time and money...

When I sit down with a client for a reading, I ask them if there's anything they want to focus on today.

“I have a question," they often say, "but I’m not sure I am supposed to say it out loud.”

There are so many strange little superstitions and misconceptions around tarot readings, and unfortunately, they can really impact the quality of your reading, and the messages you receive.

One of the muddiest areas is about what kind of questions to bring to a tarot reading. I’ve had some clients express complete surprise when I’ve asked if they would like to focus their reading on a question or a topic: “Oh! I didn’t know I was allowed to ask anything.”

Of course you can ask questions - and say them out loud.

How else is your reader going to know what you're wondering about? 

Sure, some tarot readers like to read "cold," figuring out your question on their own. But many, including myself, want to know your question off the top to get...