Talkin' Tarot with Ellen-Mary O'Brien

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 met Ellen-Mary O’Brien of Coneflower Soul Tarot years ago at a tarot conference. First thing I noticed: that thick New Yawk accent. Second thing: she was hilarious. This is grounds for automatic friendship in my world (I can’t resist a witty New Yorker!).

I look forward to our yearly meet ‘n greet at the conference. Although we’re both there to sharpen our tarot skills, I also know it’s a chance to kick back and share some laughs. Ellen-Mary always cracks me up – and like me, she isn’t afraid to speak her mind. I always know that she’s going to say it like it is. In my opinion, that makes a mighty fine tarot reader. She is not going to mince words. She’s going to deliver the straight truth. That, my friends, is what you need when you’re sitting at the tarot table.

If you want a compassionate big-hearted reader who will give it to you straight without a fluffy coating, this is your woman. (Psst…see you soon, Ellen-Mary! I can’t wait!)

Bio:

Ellen-Mary is a tarot reader who uses tarot, and other means, both mundane and magical, to help people get clear about what they want, where they are headed, and what to do about it. She’s been reading professionally since 2008 and has clients from all walks of life.

You can find her at these mighty fine internet places:

Check out Ellen-Mary’s answers to my questions below:

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Q: What is your philosophy about tarot reading?

Ellen-Mary: Tarot is an amazing tool to communicate with your higher self, the divine, and the Others. It’s very handy when you want to peek into the future. It speaks in symbols and combines those symbols to answers the questions asked so it is important to ask what you really want to know. When you’re well versed in the language of the cards you can use them for so many things. The cards are an excellent mechanism for life guidance, and particularly useful to communicate with the divine in ritual. The cards are not here to give you permission and they will not allow you to make excuses. Tarot will call you on your shit and you will be grateful that it did.

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

Ellen-Mary: A cooperative client, who understands the possibilities and limits of divination and is there to get the most out of this experience, will get a lot out of our time together. Telling me what they really want to know right up front will save us both a lot of time and will make for a fuller, more detailed reading and will help provide useful tools and information to take with them.

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

Ellen-Mary: Find a deck you love the look of and get to know it very well. Pull three to five cards every morning and predict how your day will go. At the end of the day see how well you did. See if now, looking back, you can see different aspects of your day in those cards. Keep track of this work in a journal. Pull cards for the outcome of sporting events, and award shows. Learn from your experiences with the cards but also seek out good teachers either in person or in books. Mary K. Greer and Rachel Pollack will never steer you wrong. When you can confidently read a three card spread, work a few fairs and then join us at Readers Studio.

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Mad love to Ellen-Mary for making time to chat with me this month. Get to her world right here.

Blessings!

Theresa