Tomorrow is Wald's birthday. That got
me thinking about how birthdays are
landmarks on the turning wheel of time
in our personal lives. This month marks
the end of a yearly cycle, just as
January marks the beginning of a
new one, which we all experience
collectively.

The cards in tarot can serve both
purposes. They can be intensely
personal or reflect the energy of all
of us together.

Of all the months in the year, December
seems to be the one most focused on
group activities and celebrations. It's
possible for our individual energy to
get lost or overwhelmed. At least I
feel that way sometimes.

I decided to try an experiment. I drew
2 cards from my deck. The first
embodied collective energy — anywhere
from a few people to the global
population. The second card showed me
my place within that group. How I fit
(or didn't fit) while still keeping my
sense of individuality.

The card for the collective was The
Sun. We're heading toward the Solstice
and celebrating the sun's height in the
Southern hemisphere and the sun's
rebirth here in the North so it was
perfect.

I tend to retreat during this time of
year. I fully expected to see a
contractive card to represent me, so I
was surprised to see the second card
was the 10 of Cups. It took me a moment
to understand. The card was telling me
that the best way to fit within the
energy of the collective, is to send
out as much love as I possibly can.
Ironically, the best way for me to be
comfortable as an individual is to
focus on the group!

So I am sending all my love to each and
every one of you throughout this
holiday season and through all your
landmark moments in the year to come.

You can follow us on Bluesky at
thetarotschool.bsky.social

QUESTION:

I've just recently picked up on the
tarot but I'm not certain on how you
would start a reading. Does the querent
tell you the question they are asking,
or should they expect to keep that to
themselves? Should they tell you more
about the situation or do I leave that
all up to the reading? I've been trying
some practice readings on my family
with both and I find that the reading
is more accurate when they do tell me.
Either way I was just looking for your
opinion or some advice would be
appreciated. Thank you!

Lost & wondering,
River

ANSWER:

Thank you for your question, River.
I agree that a reading will be much
more productive if the querent asks a
question. The more background
information they can give you as well,
the deeper you can go and the more
targeted and useful the reading session
will be. I often tell people that my
goal is to help them — I'm not here to
put on a show. Granted, there are some
readers who actually prefer to work
without a question but that's a matter
of personal style.

Some background information should
be discussed as part of the process of
clarifying the question. Other things
may occur to the querent only after the
reading has gotten under way. Also,
some people will be more forthcoming
than others. Be sensitive to what is
comfortable for your querent.

In my opinion, the question is one of
the most important parts of the reading,
and the reading can only be as clear as
the question asked. If the question
asked is ambiguous, the results will
often be less than satisfactory.
Helping the querent to define and
refine their question will save time
and ultimately be much more useful.

Learning how to pose productive and
targeted questions takes time and
practice.

Here are some suggestions:

Think of the initial question as an
onion. What questions lie beneath
the original question?

Is there a more specific way the
question can be worded?

Is it what the querent really wants
to know, or is it something else?

Another technique to is to take a lead
from the popular American television
show, Jeopardy. This is a game show
where the contestant is given the
answer and then must guess the correct
question. Instead of having the querent
ask the question, try backing into your
reading by first asking the querent,
"What answer would you like the cards
to give you?" and then define questions
that will yield this answer.

For instance, "I want the cards to tell
me that the book I am writing will be a
success." Some questions based on this
answer might be:

What can I do to make sure I finish
writing it?

Will I make my deadline?

Is there a market for my book?

Is my agent the right person to
promote it?

What is my definition of "success"?

Design your spread to answer the
questions that arise. Of course, this
technique is no guarantee that the
cards will always tell you what you
want to hear. If the writer of this
book has no talent, contacts or drive,
the answer could very well be
disappointing — but by asking the
right questions, at least they'll know
why. The information uncovered in the
reading should be useful enough to help
the querent come to terms with or
overcome the difficulties.

To submit a question to be answered in
a future issue of Tarot Tips, send us an
email at tarot@tarotschool.com

Wald's Words of Wisdom

Cowrie-shell divination is a centuries-old
spiritual practice rooted in African traditions,
particularly in Yoruba, Ifá, and Santería
systems, though it has variations across
cultures. It is a method of seeking guidance,
insight, and spiritual understanding by
interpreting the patterns and symbols
created by tossing cowrie shells.

What You'll Need

Cowrie Shells : Traditional systems
often use 16 shells (a sacred number in
Yoruba cosmology). Other practices may
use fewer or more.

Cloth or Mat: A designated space to
toss the shells, often a white cloth or
sacred mat.

Sacred Items: Items like candles,
incense, or talismans for creating a
ritualistic atmosphere.

Notebook or Journal: For recording
insights and patterns during your
divination session.

Preparation

Cleanse the Space: Begin by purifying
your space using incense, sage, or any
ritual cleansing method that resonates
with you.
Set an Intention: Clearly state your
purpose for the divination. This could
be seeking guidance, clarity on a
situation, or connecting with spiritual
forces.
Connect Spiritually: Offer prayers,
chants, or meditative moments to invite
guidance from your ancestors, deities,
or spiritual helpers.

Steps for Cowrie-Shell Divination

Choose the Shells: Select the
appropriate number of shells for your
practice (usually 16). Ensure they are
cleansed and dedicated for divination.

Prepare the Mat: Lay down your cloth
or mat in a calm, undisturbed area.

Ask Your Question: Clearly state your
question or area of focus. Questions
should be open-ended to allow for
nuanced interpretation.

Toss the Shells: Hold the shells in
your hands, focus on your intention,
and toss them gently onto the mat.

Observe the Landing
Open vs. Closed: Count how many shells
land open-side up (the slit is visible)
versus closed-side down.

Clusters or Patterns: Note any distinct
groupings or patterns that form.

Position: Observe whether the shells
point in a particular direction or form
shapes.

Interpret the Results
In Yoruba tradition, the ratio of open
to closed shells is interpreted based
on established odu (sacred patterns)
within If divination.

In simpler practices, open shells may
indicate "yes," positive energy, or
alignment, while closed shells can
symbolize "no," obstacles, or areas
needing attention.

Seek Deeper Meaning: Reflect on how
the patterns relate to your question and
life circumstances. Allow your intuition
to guide you.

Closing the Session

After the reading, thank the spiritual
forces you called upon. Gather the
shells and store them in a sacred
place. Reflect on the reading and
consider actionable steps if guidance
was offered.

Cowrie-shell divination is a powerful
way to connect with spiritual wisdom.
Whether adhering to traditional methods
or developing your own practice, this
sacred art offers profound insight and
guidance.

We'd love your suggestion or submissions for this column! If you have an idea or would like to contribute, please contact us at
tarot@tarotschool.com .

Tarot School Gift Certificates

Finding the perfect gift for your favorite
tarot enthusiast(s) isn't always easy.
What if...

you're not sure of their level of expertise?
you don't know what they already own?
you have a specific budget?
you remembered someone at the last minute?

A Tarot School Gift Certificate can
take care of all your needs!

Select any dollar amount you want
and let your friends and loved ones
use it towards any of our offerings.

We have lots to choose from:

Audio Courses
Books
Correspondence Courses
Private Lessons
Private Readings
Study Guides
Zoom Classes

You can also indicate something
specific on the gift certificate
if you'd like.
Simply send us an email at
tarot@tarotschool.com
and we'll help you prepare the
perfect holiday tarot gift!

Meet The Reader
DONNALEIGH DE LAROSE

By Sharonah Rapseik, Ph.D., CMAP

According to Donnaleigh de LaRose,
she has had a love affair with Tarot and
Lenormand for over two decades. She has
done tens of thousands of readings for
people from every walk of life. She has
won multiple awards for her work
including an educational Cartomancy
podcast, which won multiple awards as
best metaphysical podcast for several
years in a row.

Donnaleigh has written the accompanying
booklets to several published decks, as
well as being been a consultant to
several oracle deck creators. She is
considered a master teacher of both
tarot and Lenormand. She has taught the
art of cartomancy to people on every
continent.

You will see her using Tarot, Lenormand,
charms, runes, and more to reveal your
personal story and seek answers to your
deepest questions. Her readings are
known for their accuracy and detail.

Sharonah:
Annie, what makes your Tarot
practice unique and how do you
express it?

Donnaleigh de LaRose:
I love to work in layers with multiple
systems as well as cards to provide
psychological depth in a reading.

I'm well-read in psychology and
relationship dynamics, so I always
have a list of great books or online
resources to share with my clients,
depending on what pops up in their
readings. This helps people study
themselves long after the readings
are over, to deep dive into a better
awareness of patterns, with solutions
to work through them.

I love the hidden gems we uncover in
readings and how eye-opening a session
can be to help us create big life changes.

Sharonah:

Thank you Donnaleigh, it's been a
pleasure to meet you!

To Follow Donnaleigh de LaRose:

Website:

https://donnaleigh.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/TarotTribe

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/donnaleigh_de_larose

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@divinewhispers

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@donnaleightarot

About Sharonah:

Sharonah Rapseik is an Artist / Designer,
Author, Tarot Reader, Radio Host and
Producer for Psychic Talk Radio.

Visit her at:
https://psychictalk.net/sharonah/

---

Upcoming Events:



Tarot Salon on Zoom!
7:00 – 9:00 pm EST
$20 per class

Our popular Monday night classes are
now online so you can attend no matter
where you live. Classes are recorded and
all levels of experience are welcome!

DECEMBER 2024
2 - The High Priestess
9 - The Empress
16 - NO CLASS (Winter Break)
23 - NO CLASS (Winter Break)
30 - NO CLASS (Winter Break)

JANUARY 2025:
6 - The Year-Long Spread
13 - Symbols of the 6 of Wands
20 - Symbols of the 7 of Wands
27 - Esoteric Titles of the Minor Arcana

Get on the notification list to see
what we'll be teaching each week.

Get Notified and Register Here

---

Readings with Ruth Ann

Running The Tarot School with Wald
keeps me pretty busy, but I still love
giving readings! My specialty is using
your Birth Cards and Elemental Array
(techniques Wald and I have developed)
in conjunction with random draws to
give you an extremely personalized and
powerful reading.

If you are familiar with the Tree of
Life, you may request a Birth Cards
Synastry Reading. I will compare your
Birth Cards with those of one or two
others to give you a deeper
understanding of your relationship with
them.

I excel at giving Readings for Readers
so if you're always giving readings to
others, let me help you with some
self-care for a change!