It was a special day just before Christmas Eve 2019 when I stumbled upon a quaint little bookshop while walking to the British Museum. For years, I had walked past the bookshop without realising it was there. That day, I caught a glimpse of a deck of Tarot cards through the large window, my life was changed forever. There was something so beautiful about the cards that I was in awe, I needed to see them in detail.

The bookshop specialises in modern and vintage books on magic, witchcraft, Tarot, and all topics related to the occult. On the glass door, there was a poster saying: "Walk-in Tarot Card Readings Available". There was an air of mystery about the bookshop, it felt surreal. And just like that, I experienced my first Tarot card reading and bought my first deck of Tarot cards. Over the past few years, Tarot has taken me on an epic journey into Greek and Roman mythology, the astounding history of the Middle Ages, and the fascinating world of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.

“Is he the right guy for me?”

This is a typical love question I often encounter as a Tarot reader. In fact, Tarot rarely provides direct answers to these kinds of questions. Most people view Tarot as a means of fortune telling, or divination; I view Tarot as a way to personal growth through understanding ourselves and life, a tool for self-exploration. Through the cards, I see querents' stories, their circumstances, and what lies beneath the surface of consciousness.

Tarot cards were originally designed for card games in medieval Italy and were only accessible to royalty and nobility. As Tarot spread to France, Kabbalah, Christian, and Islamic spiritual and philosophical influences added complexity and depth to the already enigmatic imagery of Tarot cards. With these diverse influences, Tarot evolved beyond its original purpose as a playing card deck and became a divination tool.

In 1909, Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith, a British artist, illustrator, and occultist, reinterpreted the tarot cards, and the deck has remained popular ever since. I was fascinated by the symbolic and philosophical meaning of the images and characters on the 78 cards interpreted by Smith. While the 22 Major Arcana embodied our journey of self-discovery through consciousness, subconsciousness, and eventually “superconsciousness” - the development of spiritual awareness; the 56 Minor Arcana reflect the real world, telling stories that are empathic to all of us. They reflect stories about choices, strategies, random events, discoveries, victories, and defeats - laying the groundwork for Tarot cards to be used by individuals looking for spiritual guidance, self-exploration, and manifestation. There have been many occasions when Rider Waite Smith's Tarot cards have revealed unexpected thoughts, emotions, and desires that my clients were unaware of.

Whenever you feel lost or confused, you can come to me for Tarot cards over a glass of wine and "give your heart a shake" - let Tarot lead you to your heart, unlock your unconscious, and regain control of your life.

'Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.' ─ Carl Jung