Talkin’ Tarot with Matt Harris

Tarot is a female dominated profession so I’m always thrilled to see male readers popping up.  One that caught my eye was Matt Phillip Harris.  With smart blog posts like  Tarot Teachings: What is(n’t) Tarot?, Tarot Reader Confessions, and Tarot Teachings: Ready or Not?  not to mention an Instagram feed full of compassionate tarot readings (and impressive yoga poses) it’s easy to see why he’s on my radar.  You might want to put him on yours too.

Matt is not only a tarot reader but also a Reiki healer studying to become a Reiki Master.  He’s also a fellow yogi currently enrolled in a teacher training program.  (Note to self: judging by his Instagram, this guy is way more flexible than me.  Need to sign up for a class with him – stat.)

What I love most about Matt is that he believes in magic. The magic of transforming your life, not pulling rabbits out of hats. He says this: “I’m a firm believer in magic. Not the instant twitch-of-the-nose, flick-of-the-finger stuff I grew up watching on TV and in movies. Instead, I’m a believer in the magic of confidence. The magic of heart-felt advice and encouragement. The magic of positive intent and the manifestation of that intent for the good of the mind, body, and spirit. As a Tarot reader and Reiki practitioner, my philosophy is simple: I use these tools for self-empowerment, finding out what makes you tick and how you can best channel those energies to become the best, most magical version of you possible.”

You know what I think?  He IS magic.

Bio:

Matt holds a certification in Holistic Tarot Reading from the International College of Humanistic Science as well a Reiki Level II Certification through Chicago’s Touch Transform. Currently, he’s on the Reiki Master path and studying under the guidance of Reiki Master Teacher, doula, classroom instructor, and author Rachel Goldberg. He is a proud registered member of the international Tarosophy Tarot Association and has made studies of many esoteric modalities, including a six-week study of Astrology at Chicago’s Life Force Arts Center.

Get to know him better at these mighty fine places on the internet:

Website: Matthew Phillip Harris
Twitter: @mphilipharris
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Matthew-Philip-Harris-581191671991940/
Instagram: @matthewphilipharris
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdd2OrUC3udz_v4T6TNEiuw

Check out his soulful answers to my questions below:

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Q:  What is your philosophy about tarot reading? 

Matt: I believe that Tarot acts as a key to discovering your greatest potential. It helps Seekers realize their own personal power and serves as a catalyst in working out a best course of action though encouragement and individual empowerment. It’s my goal to use Tarot to help someone look objectively at their life, the decisions they’ve made, and help them start a conversation about where they are, how they got there, and what they can do to either continue on that path or help themselves make positive changes to face any opportunities head-on. For me, it’s all about practical advice, heartfelt guidance, and personal empowerment (or as I say, my New A.G.E philosophy!).

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

Matt: Be prepared to lay it all out on the table; I can’t do my job if you’re holding back! I don’t use Tarot to predict the future or for any sort of psychic channeling, so if you’re not open and honest most of the reading will be spent trying to figure out what the root of the issue is instead of how you can work to solve the problem or understand the needed answer. Think about it this way: if you take your car to a body shop and only say “Something’s broken,” the mechanic will spend most of his time trying to figure out what’s wrong before he can fix it. If you show up and say “I think my carburetor needs to be replaced and it makes a strange noise when I press on the brake,” an understanding of the problem will be much quicker and a solution more effective and efficient. If you’re looking for the answers, share the whole story; we’ll both get the most out of the reading that way.

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

Matt: Never, ever lose the desire to learn. No one will ever know or understand everything there is to know about Tarot, and with a wealth of information stemming from all sorts of different traditions, beliefs, and systems, there’s so, so, so much fascinating information out there! I think that’s one of the things I love most about Tarot; I feel like I’ll never run out of resources to help continue my education. Read, watch, and listen to as much as you can. Take and learn what resonates with you and leave the rest behind. There’s no “true” way of reading Tarot, so if one thing speaks to you and another doesn’t, go with what works until you find something else. The most important thing is to do what helps make you feel authentically YOU; the rest will flow from there!