There’s something about June that carries a tension between stillness and movement. The light stretches longer each day, and yet it feels like everything is pausing — waiting — listening.

I’ve been noticing that sense of quiet anticipation lately. It reminds me of the space just before a card is turned over. Not the question, not the answer,  but that little breath held in between — where anything is still possible.  Maybe June is like that: not a climax, not a conclusion, but a hush in the middle of the year.

We’re halfway through the calendar now, and whether you mark that or not, it’s a good time to turn your attention inward. Even if the world around you is busy, bright, and blooming, the soul still has its own seasons.

So wherever you are on your tarot journey — beginning, deepening, circling back — may you find something in this issue that helps you pause, notice, and gently move forward. 

Wald and I recently had the deep pleasure of being guests on Rebecca Jones' video 

podcast, "Confessions of a Tarot Reader." Bex is a tarot reader and psychic medium based in London, UK.

In our delightful exchange, we discussed tarot as a means for self-inquiry, self-understanding, and psychological exploration. We walked her through our system of Birth Cards and how they provide unique insights into a person's character and life path.

We also reflected on our 30 years of teaching, the community we've built, our mission to make tarot accessible to enthusiasts of all levels, and more.

The episode release date: 

Thursday the 6th of June 
It will be available to listen or
download from each of these places:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2383306

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/confessions-of-a-tarot-reader/id1756345406

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/72NQ1NsC8MZw9B7MVgP7TO?si=PTcEAASRRZimHmCypZwv0Q

QUESTION:

Dear Ruth Ann,

I recently did a reading for a friend who has some knowledge of Tarot meanings. He feels that the meanings are internal or esoteric only and can't really have actual physical basis. If I said to him that I saw a future event not being a success, he would say he was sure it was going to be successful but that the information meant that he was going to internally process his own feelings of the event.

He wanted to know about the next six months, what he would be looking forward to spiritually and general happenings. I did not know of any six month spread so I did a twelve month and figured just to look at the first half, but informed him I could go further.

After he asked what cards I drew (we did this by phone) he basically took over the reading. He gave his own interpretation of the cards. How should I have gained back control of the reading? What should you do when a client is familiar with the Tarot but has their own meanings?

He did say the information I gave him was helpful but I felt discouraged. Your insight to handling this type of client would be helpful.

Thanks.
Gina

ANSWER:

Sometimes a querent will use a reader as a sounding board –– someone who helps clarify their own mental process. It seems like that is what was happening here. Your friend may not have been looking for advice as much as the opportunity to think out loud and come to his own conclusions and decisions.

One of Tarot's strongest powers can be found in its capacity as a mirror. The cards reflect the inner state of whoever reads them. Since your client was also acting as the reader in this case, you can probably trust that his insights were accurate.

You were effectively designated an auxiliary reader in this session. Having more than one reader can be a strong asset (We do group readings in class all the time.) However, while you most likely saw additional information that could have been very useful, the querent has to be in a receptive state to hear it. Apparently, this querent was too self-involved at the time.

Just like in dancing, there are readers who have a natural talent and proclivity to lead. And in most cases this is appropriate. But you don't need to be in control all the time. Be sensitive to your client's mood and needs. If he or she wants to take the lead occasionally, that's OK. You mentioned that your friend found the reading session helpful –– that's the most important thing.

You also said you felt discouraged. There's really no need to. Your client's behavior was in no way a reflection on your ability as a reader. This is a good opportunity for a moment of self-inquiry though. Ask yourself if your discouragement came from a desire to prove yourself as a reader or from a true wish to help your friend.

If the querent is satisfied when the reading is finished, you can count the session a success!

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

Wald's Words of Wisdom

Auramancy is the art of perceiving and interpreting the energy field, or aura, that surrounds a living being. Whether seen as luminous color, felt as vibration, or sensed as mood, an aura reveals what words may conceal: states of mind, tendencies of the soul, and the invisible language of presence.

While some gifted readers see auras clearly, most begin with a kind of inner noticing — a subtle awareness of temperature, color, or emotional texture that seems to radiate from a person.

How to Begin Reading Auras

Choose soft light and a neutral background. Natural daylight works well. Ask a friend to sit quietly — or begin with your own reflection.

Gaze softly, not directly at the person but just beyond their outline. Let your vision blur slightly.

Pay attention to impressions. What color comes to mind? What feeling do you get? You may sense motion, shapes, or changes in density.

Trust your perception. Whether you “see” it or simply know it, what matters is the intuitive message that arises.

Aura Colors as Personality Signatures

Auras shift and blend, but a dominant color often reveals a person’s essential character — the flavor of their presence. Below are examples of how color might 

show up in people, not as fixed traits, but as energetic leanings.

🔴 Red:
These are people of immediacy and intensity. They live through their bodies and instincts, often with powerful emotions and physical vitality. Reds tend to be passionate, competitive, quick to act, and quick to anger — but also quick to laugh. They need movement, challenge, and sensation.

🟠 Orange:
Warm and magnetic, orange-aura individuals are highly social, often creative, and drawn to experiences that feed their enthusiasm. They’re storytellers, risk-takers, and connectors — sometimes impulsive, always vibrant. They seek emotional engagement, whether through art, relationships, or adventure.

🟡 Yellow:
Bright, curious, and mentally agile, those with yellow auras tend to be communicators and thinkers. They often carry a quick wit, a philosophical bent, and a desire to understand systems — including people. There can be a lightness to them, but also restlessness if their minds are underfed.

🟢 Green:
These are the growers and healers — people with steady, nurturing energy and an ability to support others without burning out. Green auras may indicate teachers, counselors, or those who build bridges. They value balance and authenticity, and often feel called to help life flourish in some way.

🔵 Blue:
Calm, reflective, and trustworthy, blue-aura individuals are often natural listeners. Their energy feels like a safe harbor — still, clear, and deep. They may have an innate spiritual awareness and a strong moral compass. Blues tend to avoid drama, but can become overly self-sacrificing.

🟣 Purple (or Indigo/Violet):
Mystics and visionaries often have purple-dominant fields. These people are attuned to symbols, dreams, and subtle realities. They may be artistic, psychic, or drawn to esoteric studies. There’s often a sense of timelessness around them — and sometimes a need to stay grounded in the everyday world.

⚪ White or Silver:
White auras suggest a very high vibration — someone who is attuned to the greater
good, or operating as a spiritual channel. These people may seem “otherworldly,”
serene, or magnetically pure. White is rare as a dominant color and may appear
during moments of clarity, grace, or transformation.

⚫ Gray or Brown:
While not negative in themselves, these colors often indicate someone who is processing pain, loss, or depletion. They may be shielding themselves energetically, or navigating a heavy emotional landscape. Brown can also appear around highly pragmatic or materially-focused individuals.

Dark or fragmented colors:
These may show up around individuals who are struggling with inner conflict, trauma, or dissociation. Rather than judging them, these readings can offer opportunities for compassionate inquiry and energetic support.

🌈 Multi-Colored or Rainbow Auras:
These individuals are complex, layered, and often highly sensitive or spiritually attuned. Their energy may shift frequently, reflecting emotional depth, transitional phases, or creative versatility. Some carry many colors at once in harmony — others in flickering patterns that suggest inner movement or awakening. A rainbow aura can also indicate a strong connection to many realms of experience at once.

Why It Matters

Reading auras isn’t about labeling people — it’s about learning to perceive the living field around them. With practice, you’ll begin to feel when someone’s energy is expansive or withdrawn, vibrant or weary, grounded or unmoored.

Even when color is elusive, presence speaks. Sometimes the field will tell you
what a person can’t.

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 and Health

a Tarot School Study Guide

This Study Guide explores a selection of health issues that may be inferred from the tarot.

Learn what conditions the suits might
    indicate and what the images suggest
 

Discover important clues hidden in
    tarot's esoteric systems
 

Learn how to pinpoint body parts

Identify the underlying question your
    querent may have

Also included:

 3 very useful spreads

 A collection of hotline phone numbers
     you can use to refer clients who are in
     need of professional help

Important Note: It is extremely important that you do not use the cards to diagnose or prescribe for yourself or your clients unless you are licensed to do so!! Seeing any of these symptoms during the course of a reading should only be considered a possible indication of a problem and should always be verified by a doctor or other licensed health practitioner. 

Format: downloadable pdf  $7.00 

Esoteric Insights
THE HIDDEN STRUCTURE OF TAROT
 

By Wald Amberstone

Magick is one, complete approach to the central Mystery. It’s not better, or worse, than the others. It has its own place in the totality of human experience and understanding –– and it definitely has its uses.

The way magick deals with the world is hidden in the number 4. “The four corners of the world” is a magickal formula. Magicians know, of course, that the earth is round. They’ve known that for a very long time. The four corners talk about the observable faces of nature, ours as well as the world’s. They are a symbol of natural proportion and relationship.

Try this:

Draw a square. Label the four corners with the words Connected, Significant, Alive and Divine.

These are the four qualities of the magickal universe, and everything in that universe, from stars to cockroaches.

Inside the square, write the word Mystery.

And outside the square, write Mystery again, even bigger.

This is a magickal picture of mystery as a trinity. The mystery inside is separated from the mystery outside, below is separated from above, by the third mystery, the mystery of appearances.

From the magickal viewpoint, the world we live in and experience every day is the most fragile and delicate mystery of all. It is a gossamer-thin membrane separating mystery from itself. That third mystery is the line that makes the square.

When the number 4 describes an aspect of the world, you can see and recognize the magick in it. The 4 seasons and the 4 phases of the moon, the 4 directions and the 4 times of day, are related to the 4 elemental functions of Mind, Heart, Body and Spirit, and the 4 psychological functions, Thought, Feeling, Sensation and Intuition.

These, in turn, are connected to the 4 magickal elements of Air, Water, Earth and Fire that most of us have heard about at one time or another. And as most of you know, these elements and all these groups of 4 are attributed to the 4 Suits of the Tarot.

From these simple categories, masses of sophisticated relationships and techniques are drawn. For all of human existence, up to a short time ago, for maybe a hundred thousand years, these relationships and techniques were the basis of the work-a-day world. Humanity grew and thrived on them. Numbers are as important to magick as they are to science.

Another number, the number 10, has great magickal significance but is used in less obvious ways than the number 4.

The numbers 3, 7 and 12 form the rest of the inner structure of numbers on which our familiar magick rests, and 3, 7 and 12 combine to make 22, among the most sophisticated and esoteric of all the numbers of Western magick. And it just so happens that the skeleton of Tarot is made of precisely these numbers: 4, 10 and 22.

Tarot is a language of names, numbers and pictures that contain just about the entire tradition of Western magick. 

Mind Your Own Business
READING AT A SHOP?

What To Do When Business is Slow

By Patti Woods 

If you’re a tarot reader, a psychic, a medium, an energy healer, etc., a great way to attract new clients and get more experience is by reading out of a metaphysical shop. If you happen to live near one, this can be a great opportunity for both beginner and experienced readers. You never know who will walk through the door and need some guidance.

My first shop experience was at a small witchy boutique. Every Saturday, the owner would have several different practitioners available. We worked in close quarters with just a folding screen between us. 

Some days it would be non-stop, and other days it would be crickets. That’s the chance you take when you decide to go this route. On the slow days, I’d often hear the other readers complain. “Someone’s gotta come in. I’m so bored.” I’d peek over and find them playing Candy Crush on their phone.

This is a lost opportunity. When you commit to reading at a store for say, five hours, that’s time that you’re on the clock for yourself. These are your working hours. This is a perfect opportunity to get some marketing and admin stuff done. If you find there’s a lull, bust out your laptop or iPad or phone and get to work. What should you be doing?

Making social media posts.
Take photos or videos of the shop. Let people know you’re there. Go onto Canva and make posts for the rest of the week.

Write a newsletter.
Your people want to hear from you. Let them know about upcoming events, where to find you, what specials you may be offering.

Accounting.
Go through your numbers, pay your quarterly taxes, do some math to see where you are at this point in the game.

Research.
What’s going on in the metaphysical world? What are other people offering? Are there any events coming up you might like to work at? Are there any classes you’d like to take?

Speaking of classes, do you have a backlog of videos from classes or memberships that you’ve been meaning to watch? If you’re anything like me, you probably have some that you’ve even forgotten about.

Craft your curriculum.
If you teach classes, this is a great time to consider ways to improve your classes or start a new one.

Exchange readings.
If you’re working with another reader and it’s slow, do a reading exchange. It’s always great to see how other people work their magic.

These are just a few ideas to ensure that your valuable time isn’t wasted. And the best part is, if you do these things, more likely than not you’ll attract more clients the next time you’re scheduled to work at the shop.

About Patti:

Patti Woods is a writer and tarot reader with over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. Having served as an editor for both newspapers and magazines, she transitioned into freelance writing, contributing hundreds of articles to major publications such as The Boston Globe, Business Insider, Wine Spectator, Parade Magazine, The Week, Christian Science Monitor, Vegetarian Times, and Health, among many others.

In addition to her writing career, Patti is the founder of Mind, Body & Tarot, a business featured in Business Insider, Reader's Digest, Good Housekeeping, Fodor's Travel, and more.

She is also the author of Lost Restaurants of Fairfield, published by Arcadia/The History Press, and has contributed to several anthologies, including Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Learn more about her services and offerings at www.pattiwoods.com.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boozytarot
IG: boozy_tarot

Upcoming Events: 



Tarot Salon on Zoom!
7:00 – 9:00 pm EDT

$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!

JUNE 2025:  
  2 - Attention

  9 - Symbols of The Queen of Wands

16 - Symbols of The King of Wands
23 - Three Card 1-2-3 Technique 

30 - The Power of Intent

Get on the notification list to see 

what we'll be teaching each week. 

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!