“My life changed and my business exploded after a tarot card reading”

Stars like Anya Taylor-Joy, Kim Kardashian and Lana Del Ray are big fans of the mystical art of tarot.

And now people from all walks of life have turned to it, with an estimated 350,000 Brits using the 78 charts or astrology services once or twice a month.

Originally used as playing cards since at least the mid-15th century, people began assigning specific meanings to each tarot card in the 18th century.

They even suggested how they might be interpreted for divine purposes.

Peaky Blinders star Anya, 26, recently revealed she’s been using them for seven years and keeps the cards in her purse everywhere. She added, “It’s so much fun and you can always pull them out at a party.”

Chic London department store Selfridges now has in-house readers Psychic Sisters.

Founder Jayne Wallace’s clients include Kim Kardashian, Tracey Emin and Kate Hudson.

Singer Lana has also used tarot images in her music videos.

Here we talk to three tarot fans about the role it plays in their lives and reveal some of the meanings behind the cards…

Wild Card: Let the Tarot Tell Your Story by Jen Cownie and Fiona Lensvelt is available now for £14.99.

Help in turbulent times

During the day Jen Cownie, 35, works in an advertising agency. But at night she has a second job as a reader alongside her friend Fiona Lensvelt.

The London-based friends have just released their first book, Wild Card, a guide for beginners and those looking to brush up on their skills.

“Tarot is really having a moment right now,” says Jen, left inset. “In turbulent times, things like this thrive. Post lockdown, people use it to reflect on their experiences and the challenges they face.”

Jen and Fiona have been readers since 2016 when they took a course at the occult bookstore Treadwell’s. Two years later, they launched their own stage show, Litwitchure, in which they interviewed celebrities on stage while giving them a reading.

They claim tarot can be for everyone. Jen says, “To become proficient, you need to memorize the meanings behind all 78 cards. None of us are clairvoyant. In our class nobody was there because they thought they were psychic – they were just fascinated by it. Also, the cards are about guidance, it doesn’t mean certain things are definitely going to happen.”

My life changed after one reading

Yolandi Boshoff got her first deck of cards after being introduced to them by friends in 2014 and has since bought 46 more, which she keeps in a closet at home.

“They cost about £20 a deck, so I spent almost £1,000 on them,” says Yolandi, who is 45 and lives in Sidmouth, Devon.

Three years ago, Yolandi was even inspired to change her life completely by moving to the UK with her husband Rob, 57, and their son Ben, 13, to start a new life in the UK.

She was also advised to take her spiritual coaching business, Divine Soul, online – a huge help during the pandemic.

“Tarot showed that Rob was a little afraid of staying in South Africa,” says Yolandi. “He doesn’t care about the cards so he laughed when I told him we had to move. But then he said it made sense. And my business exploded because I played the cards.

“I firmly believe in following the advice I get from my readings. Something great could come out of your decision to follow your cards, as it did in my case.”

People opened up to power

Over the past 10 years, Alexia Rock has read cards for thousands of people, from multi-millionaires to college students.

The 48-year-old, who lives near London, uses an Angel tarot pack for her readings. “It has the same number of cards as a traditional deck and has cards that relate to larger events happening in your life and others that deal with daily events.

“The difference is in the tone of the cards. The imagery is much softer and more mystical than a typical deck.”

Alexia says Tarot used to get a bit of a bad rap, but she’s noticed that a lot more people have been contacting her for readings lately.

She adds, “I’ve had a real mix of people coming to me for advice on things like starting a relationship or the next step after college.

“There has been a real opening up to the power of tarot and the spiritual community has become much more accepted.

“The magic of the tarot is not in the cards but in the person reading them – and anyone can use their intuitive abilities to do this.”

What do they actually mean?

The Tarot cards are divided into Major and Minor Arcana, each of which is said to have its own special meaning.

Major Arcana, like death, represents universal human experiences like falling in love or making a big change, like getting married. B. to pull away. Meanwhile, Minor Arcana is meant to represent the energy, emotions, and activities of our daily lives.

The sun card is said to signify happiness and joy and to indicate that the universe is coming together and agreeing with your path.

Death doesn’t mean you’re about to die. Instead, it represents an ending. The fool represents new beginnings and potential.

The Hanged Man is meant to reflect the need to postpone a specific action or decision so you have more time to think about it.

Unsurprisingly, the Lovers card means a decision about romance, and The High Priestess means going with your gut.

Continue reading

Continue reading