Hello!
I'm Mari, and I am the reader here at Eighth Tarot. First of all I want to say welcome, and thank you for visiting. I hope that I can be of some help to you in your search for answers to the questions you have.
Well, you want to know about me. I don't know where to begin. I can tell you about my personal life: I'm a mom of 3 beautiful (no, really, they are!), entertaining, time consuming, children. When I'm not attending to them, I have a husband who I try to devote some of my time to, and own a family business caring for and educating children.
Let's see, you probably would like to know how I got started reading Tarot, if I'm psychic, and all that other stuff, right? Ok. I began reading Tarot as a way to learn more and grow in my Spiritual and Psychic Development. I heard that reading Tarot was an excellent stepping stone to developing, so I asked for a set of cards, and was gifted them by my husband (gotta love'em). I started reading for friends, family, and everyone and anyone (on and off line) that would let me. As I learned more about Tarot, I learned more about the world of Spirit, Psychic Development, and all Metaphysical things. I am still very much a student of Tarot (learning through readings about meanings, spreads, etc.), but I have very quickly become much more involved in the Spiritual side of readings, which leads me to the other question.
Am I psychic? Yes, and so are you. "Huh?" you may say (wait...wait, don't leave the site yet, hear me out). (Climbing on my soap box) Many people have different beliefs when it comes to psychics, spirituality, religion, and so on. Here's my take. First of all, to me, there is no distinction between those things. Actually, there is no distinction between you and me, and everyone else in the world. We are all matter, which is made of energy, which is another word for Spirit (see the connection?) We are all one in the same. So, yes, I'm psychic because I'm connected to Spirit, just as you are. Becoming more aware of the connection, and then (this is the important part) learning how to put that to use is where the distinction comes in. I choose to use the knowlege I have (and continue to seek) as a way to help others realize their connection to Spirit and others. As I am constantly learning, as I learn to help others, everyone is my teacher. You who may or may not decide to request a reading here, are my teacher. I have something to learn from you, and from everyone else I come in contact with. And I look forward to learning every day. So I say thank you to you, and I hope that I can be of service to you too (climbing down now).
Ok, what else...oh how about how I do readings (you may find that of some importance here). Well, I begin with relaxing and slight meditation. I shuffle (if I'm using the cards...did I mention I'm trying to learn to read without cards?... More on that later.) while concentrating on the question at hand, focus on the "question-er", and lay out the cards. Sometimes I can only read what the cards mean symbolically, sometimes I'll get more information from Spirit (I may hear things, see things, feel things, etc.). Then last but not least, I pass on the information as close as I can to what I got, the best I can. Now, sometimes I jumble up the information, misinterperet it, and otherwise can just totally screw up a reading, but I try my best and I truely do believe that despite what I do or say, the reading goes exactly the way it is supposed to (there are not mistakes or coincidence where Spirit is concerned), so it is what it is! :0)
So, where I currently am in my life, on my pesonal journey, is working on stregnthening my connection to Spirit (and consequently to others) through readings (for myself and others) without using Tarot cards. To me they are like the training wheels on the bike of life (love the analogy!). Now allow me to back up a second and say that there are those who choose to always read with cards or other tools and that is fine (mine is not a place to judge). Everyone must do what they feel is right for them. For me personally, the cards have been support to what I feel I (and everyone else) can do anyway. I'm just learning to balance the bike on my own is all, learing to be a better recepter or vessel for the information to pass through. The less stops it has to make along the way (from your guides to mine to you), the less chance I have to muck up what's getting through.
So, there you are. That's enough about me. I'd love to hear from you (even if you decide not to get a reading). Let me know what brought you to this site, where you are in your life, share anything it is in your heart to share. You are my teacher!
Love and Peace to you,
~Mari