Talkin' Tarot With Gina Thies

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.

You know how there are some people that you meet and you just feel an instant connection? That’s exactly what I experienced when I met fellow tarot reader and kindred spirit, Gina Thies. We were seated next to each other during a tarot conference and hit it off immediately. Maybe it’s because we had the same sense of humor or perhaps it was our similar style of reading (practical, down to earth) or it might just be that our personal planets were the same signs but in different positions (I’m a Gemini Sun, Scorpio Moon, Libra Rising – Gina is a Libra Sun, Gemini Moon and Scorpio Rising). I’m not sure what the reason might actually be but I knew right away that we would be fast friends.

Since that fateful conference, I’ve been lucky to count Gina as one of my favorite pals – and a trusted advisor. If I need feedback on a project or a life issue, I always know that she’ll give me the truth. Her honesty, smarts and wit make her one of the people I keep in my (very small) inner circle.

A native of Kenner, Louisiana, Gina has been working as a professional intuitive tarot reader for over ten years. You can find her at her online hub, Tarot Advisor, where she offers online readings, dream interpretation, private consultations, parties and more: http://www.tarotadvisor.com. Her speciality is relationship readings and she loves exploring this topic with other readers at her popular Facebook group, Tarot Couplings. In addition to working as a reader, Gina also teaches and has helped many of her own clients make the transition to professional readers.

She sees herself as a “reader’s reader” and has presented at the 2010 Readers Studio and the 2012 Bay Area Tarot Symposium (BATS). I was lucky to be able to hear her speak at BATS this year – she was amazing!

When not reading or teaching, Gina is busy working on a soon to be released book – and she’s painting her first tarot deck! The artwork on this deck is inspired by her travels to sacred sites around the world including those in Egypt and Crete. I’ve gotten a sneak peek at her deck and I will say this: wow. If you are a tarot collector, this is one you’ll need to get. If all that wasn’t enough, this busy woman is also Contributing Editor of Tarot Tips – the newsletter of The Tarot School. I’m not sure where she finds the time to tackle all this and manage to still look so flawless (imho, she’s a true fashion plate and I secretly want her to be my personal stylist!).

Gina is proof positive that one of the best parts of attending the conferences is the fabulous friendships you can make. I’m honored to count her as one of my favorite homegirls.

Check out her answers to my questions below:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. What is your philosophy about tarot reading?

Gina: I’d like to start with a quote written by Carl Jung in the ‘Undiscovered Self’, “Have I any religious experience and immediate relation to God, and hence that certainty which will keep me, as an individual, from dissolving in the crowd?”

I think of philosophy by how it is directly translated from Greek meaning “love of wisdom.” I think a tarot enthusiast must be driven to learn all there is to learn about tarot and helping people. This contributes to the well roundedness of the individual as a good tarot reader. One should resign to be a perpetual student of tarot because there is so much to learn.

It is also important to compile what one has learned as a student and thus become teacher to others. There is an importance to helping others unmask their brilliance so that they may shine their uniqueness positively in the world.

I was led to tarot as part of my spiritual journey. Just recently someone told me how tarot has been a constant source of sanity in an insane world. To me this meant that this person was willing to constantly look at herself and honor what tarot has to offer in deep ways.

Tarot comes to life through each of its users. Practitioners are able to give voice to a deep silent wisdom that addresses an individual’s fears and desires. I feel tarot is especially enigmatic and have long wondered if the reason why (if there is any truth to it) it was a guarded secret of the mystery schools was really about misuse.

When too many untrained people began to utilize any teaching or tool, it is very easy to incorporate too many things to the point of it losing its original purpose. On the other hand this is why tarot has staying power because so many systems do work with it.
2. How do you feel a client might get the most out of a reading with you?

Gina: I began reading with what I call was “baptism by fire”. This means that I had to read for people who were paying by the minute and wanted quick and relevant “psychic” information.

A client should know that I will not waste their time and they can expect a genuine reading that clearly shows what is possible as well as straightforward insight that may be beyond what they see for themselves or believe is impossible for them to do.

I feel people get the most out of having a reading with me through my capacity to grasp their situation as described by the cards and work in conjunction with the client in unearthing the core of what causes them conflict. It is amazing to see people become empowered through the wisdom of a tarot reading.

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

Gina: In order to be a good reader you should know how to counsel others. Secondly, I think it is important to know your inner truth. Lastly, be an avid researcher.

I greatly appreciate and respect all of the hard work of those who are sharing what they know about the cards. No matter how much information you can get from others on what the cards mean, the cards have to speak to you. Do not be in a hurry to learn the cards just so that you can run out and be a reader.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let me give a big round of applause to Gina for taking time out of her cur-razy schedule to chat with me!

Want to learn more about Gina? Get to her website: Tarot Advisor

Find her on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/tarotreaders

Follow her on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/tarotadvisor

And discover more about tarot and relationships at her Facebook group, Tarot Couplings

Blessings!

Theresa