#30DaysOfTarot

8. What do you look for in a new deck?

When I started expanding my tarot collection I learned very quickly that I have pretty specific tastes in decks. I generally stick to the RWS format but am interested in collecting one version of any other formats I come across in the future – I recently picked up the Squid Cake Marseille for this reason. I don’t have any plans to collect any exact RWS clones, I enjoy my copy of the Universal Waite.

Beyond that, I gravitate towards colourful and artistic interpretations of the RWS system, I like hand drawn/painted designs where the artist has a really clear understanding of the cards with a different or unique perspective or theme. It makes me happy when decks have a unique point of view or manage to incorporate another concept (astrology, mythology, queer culture, etc) and it’s when I see these decks that I struggle not to buy them.

9. Do you believe Tarot can be used to predict the future?

(shhh, yes, don’t tell anybody) – but beyond that I think that even rationally, in a way, it can predict *a future*. I think using our intuition we can all predict our own future to an extent. We know our habits and patterns, we know what work we’ve done and what we haven’t. Given the space to think these things through, given time and breathing room, I think it’s perfectly possible to predict how things might turn out.

10. Draw a card, how does it make you feel?

I’ve pulled out the White Numen Tarot by AlbaBG, the card I’ve drawn is the Page of Pentacles. I haven’t used this deck on its own for a while and i’ve missed the beautiful, serene artwork. This Page is different from usual imagery, they look really decisive and sure of themselves, striding towards the viewer, clear on their path. This card makes me feel very calm, it’s a very different scene from how I’ve been feeling lately and it’s a reassuring image to be shown. This card also makes me happy because it reminds me of the Child of Pentacles in the Spacious Tarot – one of my favourite cards.

11. Do you use tarot as much as you’d like?

Yes and no, I feel as though I use it as often as I need to by the very nature of the intuitive part of my practice – if I pick up a deck that’s inherently the right time to use it. However, I do feel like I *should* use it more, there’s always so much more to learn and that knowledge can only come from using the cards.

12. Pick a card to describe how you’re feeling right now.

Sticking with the White Numen deck, I’ve chosen the Page of Wands. The Page stands paused, surveying their surroundings, they carry a flame through a barren looking desert, but they look comfortable and at ease. I’ve been feeling a bit lost and directionless lately, this Page is something like how I’m feeling with a bit of how I want to feel mixed in.

13. Do you have a favourite tarot deck?

While that is a bit like asking me to choose between my children, like any good parent, I do have particular bonds with some of my decks more than others. The Osho Zen deck is my oldest and most intuitive deck, the one I have the deepest connection with and one I would only use for reading for myself or people I know. The Spacious Tarot is the deck that captured my imagination the most from the very beginning of my deeper exploration into tarot, while I still find it challenging to read with, it’s probably the artwork that sparks the deepest feelings during readings. I’ve written plenty about my love of the Tarot of the Divine, it came into my practice after a long time looking for an inclusive deck to use for professional readings, I wanted anyone to be able to relate to the imagery as much as possible without it feeling contrived. The Tarot of the Divine deck has been my constant companion throughout my journey turning my hobby into a business.

14. What is your favourite card from the suit of cups?

I love the Six of Cups, the sense of nostalgia and childlike joy is something I love to see crop up in a reading. It also reminds me of a dear friend and some really happy memories of feeling supported and cherished.