Talkin’ Tarot With Barbara Moore

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 hand pick tarot readers that I feel are talented and interesting.

My featured guest this month may be already familiar to you – super fly tarot reader, author and blogger, Barbara Moore.  If you are a fan of tarot, you’ve probably picked up a few of her books – or perhaps you’ve seen her work as the author of many booklets for  decks such as the Shadowscapes tarot.  In fact, the words “tarot” and “Barbara Moore” seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly – and you cannot find one without the other (search the web and you’ll see what I mean)!

What really struck me about Barbara was her down to earth tone. She makes tarot accessible for all – and this is no easy feat.  As most of us tarot readers know, tarot can be deep and mysterious – and often intimidating.  Barbara has a way of making you feel as if she is right there, holding your hand guiding you towards understanding.  She makes the complicated seem uncomplicated.

This approach is not only apparent in her writing but also in her tarot readings as well.  Her website, Practical Tarot Readings, is aptly named.  Barbara’s tarot readings are full of sound guidance that makes her  tarot readings for REAL LIFE.  If you want a tarot reader that keeps it real, this is your gal.  (By the way, her new book, Tarot For Beginners is hot off the presses in November – you may want to get your hands on it soon.  It’s going to be a hit!)

Tarot has been a part of Barbara Moore’s life for over twenty years. Right from the start, tarot intrigued her with its marvelous blending of mythology, psychology, art, history, mystery, and magic, as well as its eminently practical applications.  In addition to providing professional readings, Barbara consults for both Llewellyn Worldwide and Lo Scarabeo and is one of the founders of the Minnesota Area Tarot Symposium (http://minnesotatarot.com/).

Barbara enjoys giving a voice to tarot cards not only by doing readings but also by writing the books that accompany decks. She has had the good fortune to write books and booklets for several decks, including A Guide to Mystic Faerie Tarot, The Gilded Tarot Companion, The Enchanted Oracle, The Mystic Dreamer Tarot, The Vampires of the Eternal Night Tarot, The Witchy Tarot, The Dream Enchantress Tarot, Tarot of the Sweet Twilight, and Shadowscapes Tarot, Pagan Cats Tarot (under the pen name Magdelina Messina), The Pagan Magical Kit, and The Book Shadows Tarot, volumes 1 and 2. Her new edition of Llewellyn’s Tarot for Beginners will be released in November.

New projects include working on Tarot Spreads for Beginners: Understanding, Using, and Creating Spreads, a new tarot deck, and a new tarot and oracle deck designed to work together as well as separately. Barbara is exploring new venues for tarot classes and creating exciting, fun one-day workshops as well.

A Hermit at heart, Barbara has been getting out and about more, speaking at conferences, such as MATS, TABI, and Readers Studio (Barbara will be one of the featured speakers at RS11! I can’t wait!) as well as appearing on Beyond Worlds.  When not exercising her newfound social skills, she is busy playing with her cards, writing Llewellyn’s tarot blog, designing an exciting new tarot deck, and working on a novel that may very well include fortune telling.

You can contact Barbara through her website: www.practicaltarotreadings.com

Follow her on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/barbaramoore

Check out her answers to my questions below:

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1.  What is your philosophy about tarot reading?

In many ways, my tarot readings are like weather forecasts. By doing a reading, I can help clients identify trends in their lives. By getting a sense of the environment surrounding a situation, people can be better prepared to do what they need or want to do.

In other ways, my tarot readings are like magic spells. After establishing the general outlook of clients’ situations, we can then determine what are the best actions to take to achieve goals or even to change undesired outcomes.

Readings are just one way that I like to use the cards. They are also great tools for spiritual exploration, personal growth, and creativity. I enjoy doing and teaching journaling and other activities involving tarot cards.

2.  How do you feel a client might get the most out of a reading with you?

A client who knows what they want to come away with usually gets the most out of a reading.

First, they should know what they want to ask. This is sometimes easier said than done. Many times people come in for a reading because they feel dissatisfied but are not quite sure about what, or perhaps are not ready to admit the actual cause of discontent.

Second, they should have some idea of what they intend to do with the knowledge they gain from a reading. If they want to know if their relationship has a future, if the answer suggests “no,” what are they going to do with that? What follow up questions would they have?

I think that clients should make a kind of flow chart of their question and map out the possible answers. That will help them be prepared to make the best use of their time with me. In fact, maybe I’ll start suggesting that! Of course, no matter how much we imagine possible futures, there is the chance we’ll miss one. Life can be surprising like that. So, that leads me to:

Third, be prepared to receive and accept what the cards say. I’m not saying swallow what they say without thinking. But at least for 24 hours, sit with the information. Accept that it might be true. This is particularly important if you feel as if the reading couldn’t possibly be true. Such strong resistance can indicate a repressed problem or something the client doesn’t wish to accept.

3.  What is your best piece of advice for an aspiring tarot reader?

Know yourself. Understand your beliefs about how the world works and how those beliefs shape how you understand your role as a tarot reader. Be clear about how your beliefs influence your readings. Make sure that everything you do with your cards and your practice reflects your beliefs.

After that, trust yourself, trust the cards, and practice.

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Big hug and fist bump to Barbara for taking the time to chat with me!  Make sure you visit her site,  Practical Tarot Readings and purchase a reading.  You’ll love it – I’ve gotten a reading with her and she is accurate and awesome!  Barbara will also be my guest in November for The Tarot Lady Blog Talk Radio Show – be sure you tune in – it’s the last show of the season and we’ll be doing some kick ass tarot readings together!

Blessings!

Theresa