Talkin' Tarot with Asali Earthwork

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 three 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 would probably say that Twitter is the one online place where I meet the most tarot people. Even those that are on Twitter sporadically capture my attention (hint: if you want me to see your work, that’s where to find me). Asali Earthwork is one of the tarot folks that caught my eye a while back. We’ve interacted a few times and I’ve enjoyed reading her writing on her blog and on other sites such as Little Red Tarot. I found her work to always be thoughtful and wise.

As a Black Queer Femme, Asali is bringing a much-needed voice for the tarot community. For example, she shines a light on tarot decks and other tarot tools from Queer, Trans, and Persons of Color, which helps to boost the signal of their work. She’s representing marginalized folks beautifully – something that I feel is vital for the tarot industry as it continues to grow and evolve.

She says that “My healing practice is deeply rooted in the truth that self-care is community care. I believe that making space to heal ourselves helps to do the work that heals our communities.” Her work is not solely focused on tarot either – she writes about social justice, spirituality, ritual, feminism, herbalism and other topics too. Spend any time on her site and you’ll feel her strength, wisdom, and compassion flowing through her words.

I’m a fan of Asali’s work and I think that she is creating a rich legacy for both self-empowerment and community empowerment. Her presence is powerful and needed – I highly recommend that you get to know her and check out her amazing contributions.

Bio:

Asali Earthwork is a Black queer femme community connector and earthworker writing, practicing, and creating at Asali Earthwork. Her work is rooted in using self-care as a means to disrupt systems of oppression and prioritize care for her community. You can visit her site right here.

You can find her writings, shop, and resources at her site (including her beloved #TarotoftheQTPOC Deck Listing which is an always growing compilation of tarot decks that center Queer, Trans, and/or People of Color). She writes not just about tarot, but also ritual, spirituality, social justice, and personal journeys.

Connect with her on social media as asaliearthwork both on Instagram and Twitter. If you’ve connected to her offerings or found them helpful to you, she invites you to help sustain a Black queer femme and support her work on Patreon.

Asali is also one of the guest contributors for the 2019 Many Moons Lunar Planner by Modern Woman, Tarot for the Wild Soul course, upcoming Radical Witchcraft Zine by Northern Lights Witch, and will be reflecting on the Empress for Amy Kuretsky’s upcoming tarot course- so look out for her work in all these awesome spaces.

Check out Asali’s answers to my questions below:

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Q: What is your philosophy about tarot reading?

Asali: For me, the tarot functions both as a source of affirmation- confirming what is already there and easing doubts- and a vessel for discovery and reflection. I don’t read predictively- at least not intentionally- instead, I approach the Tarot as an intuitive mirror for the self. The images in the cards trigger feelings, memories, questions and it is those that lead me to the answers I seek.

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

Asali: Be open to receiving what I share but do not take my word as gospel. Take what resonates and leave the rest. My readings often have further reflection or ritual prompts for my clients because I meet them as the primary source of wisdom for their own journey. I may provide guidance, but they choose the direction.

Q: What is your best piece of advice for an aspiring Tarot reader?

Asali: Start now and keep going! Tarot is meant to be a practice. Familiarity with archetypes and sensitivity to messages grows with experience. Trust your intuition even when it seems to contradict the ‘standard’ understanding of particular cards. Explore different resources- classes, books, blogs, etc- and learn from different perspectives. Understand that the way you read is not static- for example, my understanding of the Emperor now is drastically different from what I felt from it at the beginning of my tarot practice.

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Big hugs to Asali Earthwork for making time to chat with me. You can check out her work and get a reading at her site.

Blessings!

Theresa