Talkin' Tarot with Al Juarez

Talkin’ Tarot With is a monthly feature designed to introduce my readers to different tarot readers from our wonderfully diverse community! Each month, I’ll be asking various tarot readers 3 questions about their tarot philosophy and style, plus pointing you to their websites and blogs so that you can learn more about them! I like to hand pick tarot readers that I feel are talented and interesting.

I’m good at spotting potential talent. As a tarot teacher, I can see when someone has natural ability and the personality to evolve into something special. Al Juarez is one of those people.

I’ve worked with many students over the years but Al was probably the most enthusiastic and dedicated of them all. He studied hard and was always eager to learn more. A natural intuitive, he grasped the symbolism easier than most. And, more importantly, his gentle sensitivity also allowed him to connect with people. In my opinion, a willingness to keep learning plus a strong sense of empathy makes a good reader a great one. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed watching Al grow into the reader I knew he could be.

Al is one of the warmest, kindest people you’ll ever meet. There is not one mean bone in his body. He’s also hilarious! When you spend time with him, you are sure to have fun. His caring and warmth shines through in his readings, which is one of the reasons why I recommend him to the locals, especially for parties. (I stopped doing tarot parties years ago and Al is one of my go-to referrals. The clients always rave about him!)

He had this to say about his foray into tarot: “I’ve been an insightful person since childhood but of course never understood why I felt the way I did around certain people, place or things. And truthfully, I thought everyone was the same as I was when I was growing up. Man oh man, was I wrong about that. I would say things to my Mom and family and they’d look at me like I was crazy. It got to the point where I really freaked my Mom out with some stuff I would tell her. I learned to keep my mouth shut after that.

The vibes kinda went away a bit during my teen years. Then in 1998 I met you, Theresa, you read tarot for me, and we studied several topics together like astrology, numerology but it was the tarot that struck the biggest chord with me. I felt like I was back to my normal self when reading tarot.”

Al has been continuing to perfect his skills through regular study and, recently, tarot conferences. He is dedicated to all things tarot and to the lucky clients who get to work with him.

I cannot wait to see where he goes from here. There’s only one way – and that’s up.

A fellow Gemini, Al is all about the world wide web like yours truly! You can find him all over the place:

Website: Al’s Tarot (he offers in-person readings, phone sessions, I do tarot parties, email readings and Skype).

Facebook: www.facebook.com/alstarot

Twitter: @Als_Tarot

Check out his answers to my questions:

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Q: What is your philosophy about tarot readings?

Al: “Scary, Oogie Boogie, The Devil’s Cards!” I had the same thoughts that most people have about tarot cards, tarot readings and even the tarot readers themselves. Because face it, as soon as a person hears the words “tarot cards” they instantly get that picture of an old lady laying out cards on a table in a dark room for a timid young girl who wants to know but is afraid of what the future holds her and then BAM! the Death card shows up and the girl gets all freaked out.

I wasn’t any different, at least until I met you, Theresa. You did a mini reading for me at a bar in West Allis and you blew me away – you nailed everything right on the head. After I came to see you a couple times at the bar, I expressed an interest to learn the tarot cards and you said that you were teaching a class. Score! From then on I starting learning what the tarot cards were about, what they could do, and what they can’t do. I learned that tarot readings don’t have to be scary, they can be fun but, more importantly, they can be useful and make you feel better about your life and where you’re going. It was at that point that everything changed for me. I learned I could see the my world and my life’s choices with brand new tarot eyes.

What I mean is this; before tarot, if I had a decision to make, a problem to solve, or situation to deal with, most times I had to tackle it with the advice of family and friends. Or worse, my own frazzled point of view on the matter. But now with tarot in my life I can give myself the chance to see those same issues from a very wide variety of viewpoints. There might even be hints of what the results could be or an outcome depending on which routes I explore, via full tarot spreads or simple three card combinations. Tarot readings can offer possibility. I think that’s what been so good about it for me. My deck of tarot cards really are 78 of my very best friends.

I believe everyone can benefit from tarot readings. Those moments when you really need some grounded guidance that very often a good tarot reading can give you. Which is why I try to do the very best I can for everyone I get the opportunity to sit with during a tarot reading.

Q: How do you feel a client might get the most out of a reading with you?

Al: I think a client gets the most out of any tarot reading when they’re feeling comfortable during the reading. Comfortable with where they are, meaning the place where the reading is being done and comfortable with the person who is doing the tarot reading for them. I try to take a little of the mystery out of tarot for them if I can, make it less scary and more real world practical. I explain each card as I go through the reading so they feel involved and I encourage them to ask questions about cards they don’t understand or if a card seems scary.

I tend to be a very laid back everyday kind of guy. Most times you’ll find me wearing jeans and a t-shirt. That’s how I like to present myself to my tarot clients, as approachable as I can be. A regular Joe who just happens to read tarot cards. I find that this is relaxing for clients, especially for say, the newbie who has never had a reading. It gives them the chance to see that I’m just like they are, at least in their eyes. I mean I don’t want to freak anyone out before I even get the chance to talk with them.

My tarot office is pretty calm too: a table and two chairs, maybe some incense and a candle for ambience. It helps clients to let the walls down so they can relax and be open to the tarot experience. That way together we can have an awesome tarot reading, find some answers, and hopefully have some fun.

From the client end of things, I ask a few things of them:

1) if they have questions (and they always do, right? LOL), write them down before we have our session. This way they know what they want to talk about during the reading and not have to think of things on the spot. Then we can tackle those things right away and not waste any of their time.

2) They should take notes during the reading. I’ve taken to making MP3 recordings and emailing them for my clients that I see in person, that way they can listen to it later after the session. I tend to talk fast so it’s a great way to hear it again and not have to try to remember everything that was said.

3) Be open minded and participate. I may be a good tarot reader but I’m an awful mind reader. There will be times when I ask if something makes sense or if a client understands what I’ve just said, so I will need them to be interactive and talk; not sit there like a bump on a log. LOL

Usually, if a client can do these simple things they can walk from our tarot reading feeling good about we were able to accomplish together. I do love my work and try to make sure my clients feel empowered after having a session with me.

Q: What’s your best piece of advice for an aspiring tarot reader?

Al: I love talking with tarot newbies. Their excitement about the cards is electric and contagious. I like to hear them talk about what they’ve learned so far and the things they still have yet to discover. They remind me that I still have a lot to learn about tarot too, but you never stop learning do you? LOL

The best thing I think I can share with new readers is to really take their time learning. They don’t have to learn it all in one fell swoop. I mean a 78 count deck of cards can overwhelm anyone and then if reversals are thrown into the mix, man oh man that’s a lot to cover. Also, stick to one deck for a couple years (at least) to really get to know it. Learn that deck from the inside out, the pictures, the vibe of each card, get the text book meanings down. Over time the cards will speak to you and you’ll come up with your own tarot language, but for now take your time learning and really get to know your tarot cards.

Oooooh and tarot people! Even an experienced tarot reader like me is learning that a tarot community is everything. People that you can reach out to, learn from, and maybe even teach something. There are tarot groups, tarot websites, tarot blogs, tarot books, tarot conventions. I just did my first one after fifteen years in the business, The Reader’s Studio 2015 in New York, thanks to you, Theresa. It was awesome and I’m going back next year!

So, there’s a huge tarot world out there with people who are just like you. With the same passions about tarot that you have. Make connections with them and create your own tarot family. It could be the best way to give yourself tarot roots and tarot wings! It’s the best thing I ever did for myself!

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Big hugs to Al for making time to talk tarot with me! Get to know him at his site: Al’s Tarot.

Blessings,

Theresa

photo provided by Al Juarez