Talkin’ Tarot With Linette Voller

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.

One of the reasons why I adore tarot conferences is that I get a chance to meet fellow readers from around the world.  Two years ago, I was really pleased to meet Linette Voller of SunTurn Tarot, who came all the way from Australia to The Reader’s Studio.

I had been acquainted with her for a while via online channels, but online only gives you a small glimpse into a person’s essence.  I knew that Linette was caring and compassionate tarot reader, but in person, she’s also a one woman comedy show!  Her impish personality and quick wit made us fast friends.  We practiced a lot of tarot that weekend but we also shared many laughs.  I will treasure my time with her forever.  If you have not met her yet, please be sure to visit her site (she is currently not taking on new clients).  Memo to Linette: if I get my sorry butt to your neck ‘o the woods, I am expecting a tour, some tarot, and more laughter.  And if you come back this way, you know where to find me (wherever good tarot is being read).

A little bio: Linette was given a Tarot deck in ’92 and has been smitten with the cards ever since. She not only reads the cards, but is also in the process of creating her own deck. She’s now made Australia her home, after visiting from the UK just to ‘see what it was like’, and finding out that she really loved the place.

Linette won a national “Women in ICT” award in 2013 which may seem in contrast to her love of the art of tarot, until you hear her describe tarot as ‘tech support for the soul’.  She doesn’t just stay hidden away behind her cards or a screen, however. In fact, she may have graced your screen, as she was a zombie extra in the film “Shaun of the Dead”. When not devouring brains (or a good book), she is a well known face on the Sydney Improv scene (which explains her crazy funny personality a lot!). 

Check out her answers to my questions below:

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Q:  What is your philosophy about tarot reading?
Linette: Tarot is like a spiritual Swiss army knife. There are so many different ways it can be used, each lending itself to a different situation. It can be used superficially or to delve deeply; super obvious, or only clear with reflection; blunt like an old friend, or incredibly poetic. (In a nutshell I think tarot is awesome!)

There is also something incredibly powerful about creating an oasis of focus in the hustle and bustle of daily life. It’s amazing to me that, regardless of where you are, once the cards are out, focus draws in.

People have often asked me ‘how does tarot reading work?’ and honestly I have to answer that I don’t have a clue. Then again, I’m not really clear on why gravity works, but do enjoy the way I don’t accidentally fly off into space (even now that I’m ‘down under’!).  The important thing to me is that I’ve seen it work, time after time.

Q: How do you feel a client might get the most out of a reading with you?
Linette: By preparing for the reading.  You don’t have to do piles of homework, but have a think about what you want to ask.  Once you are pretty sure you know what you want to ask, ask yourself “why?”, and let the truth of why you are asking that particular question come out. Then, ask a “why?” question again. In fact, keep asking why until you get to the core question (if you find yourself answering “I don’t know” then you’ve found the core question). Ask that core question, and you’ll find you get a lot more out of it than the original question.

Be open to the process. Avoid “Will I” or “Should I” questions. Remember that nothing is set in stone and the future is what we create, through action or inaction.

Q: What is your best piece of advice for an aspiring tarot reader?
Linette: Do it!

I mean this both as an encouragement (as tarot is fabulous!) and also as a reminder that you can have all the theory memorized (well maybe not *all* there is *a lot* of theory out there), but the skill is gained in the action  It’s like juggling in that you can’t become a master solely by reading books about it. Get those cards out and give them a shuffle.

Also, remember that the skill of the reader is interpretation and no two people have exactly the same idea of what each card means in combination. There is not a ‘perfect right answer’, so go easy on yourself! Just keep working with the cards (referencing book as you go if you want), and you’ll find their message will get clearer and clearer (although even long term readers get blank moments!!).

Enjoy the journey.

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Big thanks to Linette for making a wee bit of time for my readers (sending you some mega-love, lady).  Be sure to check out her site and learn more about her at SunTurn Tarot.  You can also find her on Twitter @mslanei

Blessings!

Theresa

© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2014