Soul Archeology with the tarot isn't that hard to practice.  But if you still want to include the traditional meanings in your readings, you still need to use the introspective technique instead of the predictive. To use this, all you have to do is change one little word:

Change "will" to "should" or "could".

"I will meet a man who is tall dark and handsome!" should read "I should take the time to write down all qualities I would like in a significant other and then go looking for him out in the world."

or

"You will go on a trip this year!"  should be changed to "You could think about taking a trip.  What do you think about that?  Does that appeal to you?  How do you see taking a trip somewhere would help your current situation?"

That's how you change your readings from being predictive, to being introspective. 

Tarot cards *DO NOT* predict the future.  But they can give you ideas on how to change your future yourself.  And they can illuminate things you've been thinking about but have been scared to say out loud.

And when you change your wording, everything becomes a possibility and new idea rather than a prediction or something set in stone.

And this makes every single tarot reading an exciting opportunity to gather new ideas for your future!





Try it tonight!  Throw down a reading and see what kind of ideas you can get...I guarantee at least one will set you on a new path in life!  

While traditional tarot card meanings that are found in books are normally suggested in the pictorial representations on each card, there are infinite more meanings that we can assign as we read them.

The first thing we need to know about reading the tarot:

There are no wrong answers.  

If someone is going through a divorce, the 10 of Cups will not represent a happy home life (as the pictures suggest).  It may represent what that client has lost.  And when you read the Soul Archeology way, the way your client sees it is the right way.

Once, I had a client see The Tower card and say "I see this as lightening striking my trailer and everyone burning alive inside" (talk about dark!).  I was reading the traditional way and quickly said "Oh no, that's not meant to be taken as literal!  It means.....(insert meaning here)".  Today, I would have responded differently.  I would have asked her "Where in your life does it feel as though something has struck your life and now you're burning alive?  Which one of the people on the card represent you?" Or "How does that represent your life right now?"  While our clients may take the cards too literally, we can help them understand their own interpretations with a little prodding.

What they see as literal, can become deep and meaningful, and might create a crack that will be helpful when digging into their core beliefs on life and the dark parts of their soul.  I mean, seeing a card that represents your family being burned alive by lightening...that's pretty dark.  It's our job as readers to help them fully realize what those words represent.

Whereas most tarot readers will see The Tower as an awful, scary card, I actually find it quite liberating.  I see the slate being wiped away clean and making room for more things in life that I really want and need.  That's the trick to the tarot: every sing person will see what they want to see and feel what they want to feel with the cards.

Does this mean you have to read in person every single time?  

No way!  If that was the case, I'd be out of a job! 😁 In actuality, you can easily find ways to read for your client online or over the phone.  You just have to find ways to read for them real time (meaning Facebook messages, Skype, etc.).  I use a webcam to show my clients the cards and then chat through Facebook messaging or over the phone (sometimes Skype!).  

This facilitates your client's interpretations which is wholly needed for the whole process to work.

There is a way to read by email, as well, and that is addressed in my beginner's class.  You can find the class here:




When reading for yourself, you need to ask the cards how they make you feel, not just how you've memorized their meanings.  Granted, how you feel can very much be the same as the traditional meaning, but not always.  Listen to your gut.  It knows better than any book out there what your cards mean to you.

So, what do you do with that list you got from your book?

You use them a guideposts.  As small lights dotting your way.  As a map.  You can refer to them when needed, but never rely on them.  Because this journey?  Is one of the soul.  And that must be experienced fully, and that means making your way in the dark along for bit, until you can create your own light.

If you've read through some of this site, you'd realize that I don't believe in the tarot like others do.  I don't believe they have magical properties.  I don't believe you can "imbue energy on them", nor do they carry any energy of their own.  I don't believe our cards "talk to us".  I don't think they send us messages.

Rather, I know my cards are pieces of laminated-ish cardboard that have pictures printed on them.  That's the truth, nothing more.  A paintbrush is a piece of plastic or wood, with bristles on the end.  That's it.  Nothing more.  But it in the hands of Bob Ross or some other amazing painter, look what that little brush can do??  Amazing!

The tarot is exactly the same.  It's simply a tool.   Nothing more.  But put them in the hands of a talented person, and they can change lives.

BUT I will take this one step further and add: you aren't magic either.  Sorry.  You can't think you're "developing your psychic abilities" while using them, because while you may be tapping into a great empathic ability, it's not supernatural in the least.  It's quite natural, actually.

The greatest tarot readers are those with the ability to dig deep into the human experience and understand what it's like to be their client on every level imaginable. 

The ones who claim to be "psychic" and only read your fortunes, are doing you a great disservice.  Instead, they should be digging deep into your soul to pull out what needs to be known that's been hidden for so long that it led you to seek out a tarot reader in the first place.

And that isn't an easy feat.  It takes years of hard work and practice.  But it's also not impossible either.  With proper training and proper practice (that you can do all by yourself) you can become a great reader and leave the other "psychics" in the dust with your ability to actually help your clients and not just bandaid their issues with "fortunetelling".


So, let's get started!

YOU ARE NOT YOUR BRAND

No, you represent your brand, but your brand isn't you (at least not as a tarot reader...but maybe in another profession perhaps as a life coach or an inspirational teacher/speaker).  I know, I know, this goes against everything everyone out there is saying right now.  They want to infuse your personal you with your business you.   And I wholeheartedly disagree with this style of branding for many reasons, but mainly because clients aren't buying us, they are buying what we can do.  And in order for them to see a separation between the two, they need to see our business brand. 

Branding is described by Entrepreneur magazine as the promise to your customer.  It lets them know what they can expect from you and why they should choose you.

I've seen many businesses fail, small and large, due to not having correct or confusing or bad branding.  So here are some tips on from what I've learned from my many years (and from my own mistakes) in this business:



First here is a list of what not to do:

1. Do not mix your personal life with your business life.  Meaning, no talking about dating or your marriage or any personal relationships.  Keep that stuff on your personal page.  Unless your business is literally YOU (like mommy bloggers), nobody cares about your personal crap.
2. Do not mix your politics or religion with your business life (unless your business is based on religion). Do I even need to tell you why?  If so, I'll see ya later, because you're on your way out.  Foodie blogger I am Baker has a section of her site called "I am Servant" which is dedicated to her religious life.  And she talks about her politics on there.  I feel she's doing a disservice to her baking website by alienating her fanbase.  BUT, what I agree with, is that she made it a different set of pages all together, so you can choose which site to look at "I am Mommy", "I am Baker", or "I am Servant".   She doesn't seem to mix the three together, which if you're going to do this, then she's doing it right.  IF you feel the need to mix YOU and your business, at least give your readers a choice.  But this strategy doesn't apply to #3:
3. Do not put more than one service on your website (or other online presences such as social media).  When I go to your page, I want to see what you do.  ONE THING.  I don't want to see you're a tarot reader who also writes short stories.  I don't want to see your art (unless you're developing a tarot deck).  I don't want to see your ability to cook-home-cooked-meals-and-I-have-the-option-to-hire-you-to-cook-for-me.  NO.  I want to see your tarot business.  PERIOD.  Save all that other stuff for other pages.  If you have to, come up with different personas for the other stuff so they don't mix with your tarot work.  The same goes for social media.  Do not start a Facebook page for tarot and eventually wander off to talk about your love of cooking.  NO!  Bad tarot reader!  Stop it!  Stick to one subject and ONE subject only.  Period.  As I said above about giving your readers/potential clients a choice, you do not do this with your businesses.  It just makes for a confusing website.
4. Don't confuse your potential clients.  Be up front about everything.  Don't use flowery words and new age buzzwords.  This makes you look juvenile and not trustworthy.  Talk to me like a person, not like we're at a hippie convention and taking a hooping class together.  I have no problem with people who are at a hippie convention and taking a hooping class together to talk in flowery words, but that's where it needs to stay.  Your business is a business, not a bandwagon.  You are here to actually help people and telling them you're "holding space for them" won't help them in the least.  We need to get real about tarot, and jumping on a bandwagon isn't real.  Also, don't change your mind after you've made a contract with a person.  They are paying you for a reading, give them exactly (or more) than what is agreed upon.  Don't give the less just because you've run out of time or some other excuse.  
5. Never be late!  This is the center of every single job you'll ever have.  Be on time for everything, and early if you can.  Do you want your brand to be known as "the always late reader"?  If you are doing readings online, the same applies.  If you are doing them through email, don't delay in getting them their reading.  Once, I had a Cyber Monday sale of $5 tarot readings for one day only, and someone had bought 2 readings that I didn't catch until months later.  I found them and realized my mistake and refunded their money and gave them 2 free readings instead to make up for my mistake.  I didn't want my name, even with only one person, to be associated with being slow with readings.  Or worse, someone who takes money and doesn't deliver.  Mistakes happen, you may be late to a couple readings, but don't let that be your norm.  Strive to be on time. 

Now lets get on to what TO do in order to brand yourself as a tarot reader properly:

1. Make your website as concise as possible:  If I go to your page, I should be able to clearly see these things: a) your prices b) why I should hire you over the other million tarot readers out there and c) your policies (a code of ethics).  Your website should contain much more than that, but those are the three things I need to know before hiring you.  What will you charge me?  Do I get a refund if I don't like the reading?  If I am under 18, can I get a reading from you?  What topics are okay to ask about?  Do you keep my information private?  Cancellation policies?  And how will you help me? I'd also like to know your experience level, and other things, but those three things need to be clearly showing right where I can find them easily.
2. The same goes for your brand itself. Your brand should be concise, and as clear as possible.  You should be able to sum up your business in one line, just like a book.  They call these "elevator pitches".  This also works for any person branding their business.  If someone in an elevator asks you what you do or what your business is about, you should be able to sum it up in less than 30 seconds.  And that's a long one for a tarot reader.  Here is a great article on how to come up with your elevator pitch.  
3. Proofread everything.  Whether you do it or you have a friend or hire someone to do it, get it done.  I admit, I do have an issue with this.  I sometimes proofread myself and post without making 100% there are no misspellings, which very unprofessional.  And I will say that these mistakes have probably caused my potential clients and readers to see me in a different light.  So, don't make my mistakes and get a proofreader for all your written material (online and off).  
4. Come up with a spiffy name for your blog/website/etc..  Naming your service should be fun.  It should convey what you're trying to give your clients.  What does the name Rainy Day Tarot conjure up for you?  My goal was to have it convey a feeling of serenity, as most rainy days make us feel serene, calm, and at ease.  I wanted you to see us at your kitchen table, laying down cards while the rain was falling around us outside.  I also wanted you to see yourself finding a safe place to open up your own soul in your archeology tarot work (meaning that work you do alone, for your to find answer to the big questions hidden deep within).  Rainy Day doesn't mean to save every single tarot experience for a rainy day (meaning a day that's slow and you have the time), it means to save the BIG tarot experiences for those days.  So, pick a name that means something as to what you're offering.  I am offering introspection with the tarot (that is my elevator pitch!).  What do you want to offer?  Pick a name that reflects that.  (you can read about my old tarot business name here)
5. Be real.  By getting real.  The NUMBER ONE way to fail as a tarot reader is to give predictions.  Sorry, but it's the truth.  So stop.  Learn how to read without them.  Instead, help your client work through their issues with real solutions, real-world advice, and caring.  Sometimes they just need to talk about what's bothering them and they end up figuring out for themselves how to get through it.  Here's an article on how to deal with those "what will happen in my future?" questions we all get from our clients.  Give yourself a new brand by being actually helpful by giving hope to your clients with real solutions.  And then watch your client list get bigger and bigger and BIGGER.  This little act right here?  Is how I have clients all over the world and been in business for over 25 years.  
6. Your colors should match.  All your colors.  Go to this great website and pick a color scheme, and use those colors on your website, your printables, your business cards, everything.  Be consistent.  Make your colors a part of your brand.  What do you want to convey when someone looks at your website?  Make sure that the colors invoke the feeling of what you want clients to feel.   I use that website for decorating my home, as well. 

Branding is important.  It's how you sell your services to willing clients.  And it's not as hard as you might think.  And there are loads of great websites out there on branding, my page here is just a start.  If you have any more great suggestions for branding, please share them below. 

About Me.

This section is almost always read by your readers.  Whether you have a website or a blog, people want to know who they are reading or buying from.

The first question you need to ask yourself is "Who am I?" followed by "Why am I writing this blog/selling this service or product?"

I am writing my blog to help others understand the true nature of the tarot and to help them get away from traditional "psychic" readings.  I am hoping to help my readers use the cards to dig deep into their souls in order to find the answers they need, rather than to rely on fortunetelling.  In other words, I want them to actually work at getting to the roots of their issues, rather than just bandaiding their problems with what they want to hear.

"You WILL find your way out of the darkness!" is the traditional way to give encouragement with the tarot.

With my way, you don't give your clients or yourself a pretty card to make someone feel better, you prod them with questions (or yourself) until you find out why they were in the darkness to begin with.

I want my readers and their clients to HEAL.  Truly heal.

And I want my About Me section of my blog to reflect that.

So, what do you want from your blog or website?  And why are you qualified to give that to your possible clients?

Face it, you're here because you're a tarot reader.  Not because you sell DVD players out the back of your van.  Or that you sell security systems.  Or because you have a blog about cooking.  You're here because you either a) read the tarot, b) teach the tarot, c) sell tarot readings, or d) sell tarot related items.  Or you do you all or a combination of those.  So I am assuming you are reading this to think about how to do your About Me for your tarot blog/website.

So before you write your page, you need to answer these two questions:

1. What do you, as a reader, want from your blog or website? and 
2. Why you are qualified to give me what you're selling?

Even if you're not selling anything, just giving information, you're selling me on your ideas.  That's what you need to put on your About Me page.

But those questions aren't always simple to answer, nor should they be. 

The second part of the equation which is the "why" should include who you are, and what brought you to make this blog or website.  The "what" part should be conveyed smartly.  Not "I am here to sell you a and b because I am the best ever!"  Why are you the best ever?  And what will a and b do for me?

And don't list why you're the best ever, either.  If you were a writer, the first thing you'd learn in writing is to "show, don't tell".  This is very important for your readers.  You let them decide if you're worth their time, you don't tell them you're worth it (words mean nothing without the action to back them up).

So first, what do you want on your blog?  Are you selling something?  Of course you are.  Even if you're only selling information for free.  You are selling your readers on your blog.  So in the beginning, you're going to tell me why this blog or website exists.  But, you're going to help your reader see how what you're selling relates to them.

Then, you're going to tell me why you're qualified to do so.

You do this by telling your story.  What brought you here.  Why you love it.  How your readings have evolved from this to that.  Your first deck of tarot cards and how you fumbled with them.  Or how you were scared of the Devil card, but soon realized there was nothing to be scared of.  Your readers want to know these things.  Show them you're just like them, because you are.  Don't tell them you're psychic and come from a long line of psychics, because a) they may not believe you (with good reason), b) find you silly or c) at worst, they'd believe you and you'd be deceiving them.

Instead, show them how much you love what you do, and if you play your cards right (*snicker*), they will also love what you do and will soon want to either hire you or keep reading your blog to see what else you have to offer. 

You can write as little or as much as you want.  If you want to share some longer personal stories, then write them on a new page and link to them on your About Me page do you don't overwhelm your reader right off the bat.  That way, if someone wants to read more, then can.  If they don't, they don't have to.

Then, provide at least two links:

1. Click here to get a reading from me, and
2. Click here here to start your journey on my page

You can word both any way you want, but these two are important.  You want someone to take what they've learned from your About Me and put it into action.  Do they want to hire you to read for them?  Give them a link.  Or do they want to figure out what you're going to provide them on your blog?  Give them a link.   Then make a landing page for link two with all of your subjects on them.  My subjects are How-To Series, Reader Series, Working With the Dark Cards, One Card at a Time Series, etc.  So if they click on link two, they can see all of my subjects on a single page so they can pick and choose what they want to read, rather than flip through my entire blog. 

Also, every post on your blog also needs to show why you love what you do.  Why you're passionate about tarot.  Why you keep coming back to it.  Showing your passion, rather than telling, will keep your readers coming back for more because they can feel your passion and your honesty, rather than you just telling them you're passionate about what you do.  It's like the difference between saying "I love you" and never showing it and doing sweet things for your loved ones on a regular basis.  Words mean nothing without action.


You also need a kickass About Me picture.  Check out my post here about how to make one!


Share your About Me pages below and show everyone what you can do for your clients!   Someone may get some great ideas from your pages so they can effectively write their own :)

There are many people out there who's role in life is just plainly to disturb others.  Whether it's just being flat out annoying and rude or something more sinister and creepy as in making sexually charged or violent comments.  No matter what the reason, these people are someone we want to say no to when they enter into our lives.