Vol. 17 #12 December 1, 2025
In this Issue:
-
Welcome
- Tarot Tip: Predicting vs. Forecasting
- Wald's Words of Wisdom
- Product
Spotlight: Tarot Gift Certificates!
- Esoteric Insights: Psychology of a Magical Being
- Mind Your Own Business: Energy Audit
- Upcoming Events
Welcome to a new issue of Tarot Tips!
And a special welcome
to our new subscribers.
This month you came from:Argentina, China, Hong Kong, Portugal, the
United Kingdom and the United States!
Our featured Tarot Tip this month is longer than usual so I'm going to take this opportunity to keep my introduction short. As we wind down the year and look toward the next one, we hope you'll take a little time for yourself and your cards. We're here to help you with your tarot practice, whether
you're just starting your adventure or are a seasoned traveler. It's been a joy connecting with you each month and we're deeply grateful to have you in our world!
We wish you a Blessed Solstice –– no matter which one you celebrate!
And one more thing...
The month of December is often filled with
contradictory feelings. The holidays can be
a time of joyous celebration. But at the same
time, this month can be especially
stressful.
In an attempt to be helpful, I created the
"Help for the Holidays Technique," which
we published several years ago.
You'll find it in the Tarot Tips archives here:
https://tarotschool.com/TarotTips191222.html
Wishing you joy along the tarot path,
Ruth Ann, Wald and
Patti
Tarot Tips is here to help you with the practical side of your tarot journey. In order to take the greatest advantage of this newsletter, please send us your questions regarding any aspect of your tarot study or practice and we'll do our best to answer them in an upcoming issue.
Spread the experience of tarot - share this newsletter with other Tarot Enthusiasts!
Tarot Tip
TAROT AND THE FUTURE:
PREDICTING
VS. FORECASTING
By Mike Hernandez
Throughout the ages, people have been engaging Tarot readers and other folks who practice various divination arts to predict the outcome of an event, relationship or situation. Those of you who do readings know it still
goes on to this day.
“When will I find a new job?”
“When will I finally be able to move out of my current residence?”
“Is there someone else coming into my life
soon?”
“How long will I have to put up with this situation?”
How do you handle these questions? Do you try to predict what will happen or do you try to forecast what is likely to happen?
First, the Future
Let’s talk about the future for a moment and frame the discussion within the perspective of “your” future. This is a very broad topic, so it will be good if we do this.
I always refer to a quote from a
famous, old, wise Jedi Master when I think about the future: Difficult to see. Always in motion, is the future.
(Yoda’s response to Luke Skywalker’s question on whether his friends will die in Cloud City in “The Empire Strikes Back!”)
Yoda is absolutely correct – the future is
always in motion because there are so many things going on at any given time. There are a myriad of events and situations over which you have no control that can affect your future; some can even affect the decisions you make on what you perceive as your immediate future. Also coming into play are your very own reactions to unforeseen, unanticipated or unexpected situations – these, too, will affect future outcomes. Finally, your own free will can (and in many cases will) be the deciding factor
on future outcomes.
Predicting what will happen...
Notwithstanding the fluidity of the future, some readers seem to make predictions with reasonable accuracy. Perhaps they are more in tune with the ebbs and flows of time than most of us. I do admire their gifts,
though.
It is because of the fluidity and volatility of the future, however, that I personally find it hard to put a stake in the ground and say that something is going to happen precisely (or very approximately) at a given time. Yes, there are techniques you can use to determine hours, days, weeks, months and seasons with the Tarot (and I’ve used them to some
extent myself), but I still wonder how you lock in to a specific timeframe.
I also have a concern about the effect a prediction will have on a given person’s free will. As you know, the Tarot is a tool that provides
knowledge, insight and, above all, guidance – nothing in a Tarot reading is written in stone. An individual has the will and prerogative to accept or dismiss any guidance he or she receives from a reading; that individual is ultimately responsible for his or her life. There are some people, though, who feel that a prediction trumps their free will, thereby negating any chances they may have (or perceive to have) of acting upon or responding to the prediction in a manner that affects the
stated outcome. As such, the prediction seems to have either an unconscious or conscious effect.
• Unconscious. Despite any feelings or opinions prior to the prediction, the individual may unconsciously begin acting in a manner that transforms the prediction into nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophesy.
• Conscious. The individual may believe that the prediction is a matter of fate and that consciously trying to do anything to change the outcome of the prediction is futile.
I don’t do predictive readings, given what I’ve stated so far. I will, however,
agree to do a forecast of the future.
Forecasting what is likely to happen...
When I’m asked to look into the future outcome of some situation, I always explain my perspective on the nebulous nature of the future and then indicate that I will attempt to forecast
what is likely to happen based on a point-in-time snapshot of how the situation looks today. I also state that I will convey what factors seem to indicate movement towards a favorable or unfavorable outcome. I wait for a moment, and then explain how I see myself as a weatherman on the local evening news.
The Weatherman and the Tarot
Reader
The weather here in Southern California can be quite variable, more than what I would have imagined when I first moved here. Lows and highs move in and out, the Santa Ana winds can cause havoc (especially during fire season), and the rain can be, well, reliably unpredictable.
Vera Jimenez is the Meteorologist for KTLA 5 TV and Dallas Raines is the Meteorologist for KABC 7 TV here in Los Angeles. They’re my most favorite weathermen (I’m using the common title for someone in this position) in the area because they’re usually right on target with their forecasts. Notice I said “forecasts” and not “predictions”. Meteorologists never predict, they always forecast. Why? Because the weather can be so unpredictable – just like the
future.
Here’s an example:
Let’s say I tune into Vera on Monday, and she shows satellite photos of Southern California, describes how the weather patterns are currently moving, and indicates the locations of Low- and High-pressure areas. Based on this
information, she then provides her forecast of likely temperatures and weather for the next 5-7 days. It looks really good – sunny days for the most part, with temperatures hitting the upper-80s. Note that this is a point-in-time forecast.
Now I tune into Vera on Wednesday. She goes through the same drill as always, but this time she says there’s been an
unexpected change in the jet stream. It’s dropped down from the Pacific Northwest just enough to bring in a large Low from the north into our area. As such, she has to adjust her forecast – we’ll now have a marine layer coming in on Friday and Saturday, with temperatures dropping to the low 70s. Well, I’d better adjust my plans for the weekend accordingly. This, too, is a point-in-time forecast.
I use the Tarot to forecast the future in the same manner that Vera uses her satellite photos and reports to forecast the weather. In my mind, the message I receive from a reading regarding a question about a future event is point-in-time forecast of a likely outcome. Something unforeseen, unanticipated or unexpected could come up that would affect the message of a subsequent reading on the same question.
Here’s an example:
Lets’ say you come to see me on Monday about a question you have regarding an upcoming interview for a different position at work. The interview is this Friday and you’d like to know what the possible outcome might be. I do the reading and forecast that it is likely to go
well and that you’ll probably be the top candidate for the job. You then leave feeling relatively confident that things may indeed go your way.
On Wednesday, you feel slightly antsy about the interview, so you decide to see me for a follow-up reading. So, I throw the cards and see that you might have some competition after all. You ask me why there is a change from
Monday’s reading, and I tell you that there seems to be someone else influencing the decision who wasn’t involved before. You can’t figure out who that might be, but, armed with this new information, you go home to make sure you’re absolutely prepared for the interview.
It’s a good thing you came for the follow-up reading, as there was an unexpected transfer of a
new assistant manager to your team late Tuesday afternoon. It is she that is now in the interview loop and has her own candidate in mind. Despite the competition, you were able to garner the top candidate spot because you were more prepared than anyone else.
I believe my providing you with a forecast versus a prediction is what made you feel empowered to take steps
to have a more favorable interview.
A few last words
I hope the previous example made sense and illustrates why I prefer forecasting. Aside from avoiding trying to put a pin in a moving target, I believe a forecast avoids the pitfalls I mentioned regarding predictions.
The bottom line, in my mind, is that a forecast enables the querent to feel empowered to make adjustments and take actions that could help change any adverse or undesirable outcomes that may have been indicated in the forecast. Additionally, you, as the reader, can perform further readings to help the querent identify possible options or actions to take to make those adjustments.
About the Author:
Mike Hernandez is a respected, notable, and sought-after Tarot reader with over 17 years’ experience. He’s taught a variety of Tarot classes and workshops, written articles for an international Tarot magazine, done readings at everything from psychic fairs and metaphysical stores
to Tarot conferences to corporate and company events to private parties and, of course, private readings.
You can learn all about Mike and his work and love for the Tarot on his website www.JustEnoughTarot.com, or contact him directly at MikeHTarot@GMail.com.
To submit a question to be answered in a future issue of
Tarot Tips, send us an email at tarot@tarotschool.com
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Esoteric Insights
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A MAGICAL BEING:
MAPPING THE TRUE SELF
By Wald Amberstone
A human being is a magical being, a being of many lives and forms, an accumulation of formative impressions as the residue of many dramas. A magical life is far longer and more complex than any of its individual incarnations. Much of the script and set of any incarnation exists before the protagonist takes
the stage.
The construction of any personal drama is understood in this paradigm to be part karma (with reincarnation as an unspoken given), part dharma (with its whole-hearted acceptance of the tasks implied in all that went before), and part improvisation (the free choice of response to all the unavoidable givens).
Birth Cards are seen as the doorposts of a life, the two columns that frame the entrance to the mysteries of an incarnation.
So a life, an incarnation, can be understood and enacted as a mystery drama. The temple of circumstance is entered at birth between the columns of a
mother’s thighs and the inner, earlier, contraction of the Birth Card pair. The drama is played out in the temple and at the end, life exits from the portal of the lips as the final breath. The garment of the physical body is put away, the temple of circumstance is darkened, and the celebrant prepares for the next initiation, the next birth.
This is a pretty
picture, and one that can be intuitively accepted or denied but neither proven nor disproven. It is beyond analysis or proof. It can only be experienced. One who lives in this experience occupies a universe which becomes more and more identified with and identical to the “true self.”
The search for, and immersion in, the true self would seem to be the essence
of what is known as spirituality. And spirituality is at the heart of religion and mysticism, which satisfies the vast majority of seekers.
But tarot is magic and magic parts company from religion, mysticism and philosophy in that it is supremely pragmatic. It has no inner need or use for spirituality. It does not aspire upward or inward. It climbs no mystic
mountain, plumbs no spiritual depths. It explores what is — the known, the unknown, and the unknowable, and it becomes what it explores. Magic is in love with and in awe of the nature of creation. In the end, magic is identical with that love and awe and the mystery at its root. The magician loses the inner human form which is the true shape of spirituality, and becomes a navigator of the unknown.
For me, tarot has become a practical compass for the navigation of the unknown.
About the author:
A dedicated an innovative teacher, one of the founders of The Tarot School, Wald Amberstone has been working with tarot
since 1959, and with symbols, play and magic even longer than that. He prefers the private paths to the public thoroughfares of his craft, and enjoys the company of fellow travelers when he can get it.
Mind Your Own Business
ENERGY AUDIT:
How looking
back at 2025 can prep your business for 2026
By Patti Woods
December is here, which means it’s time for my annual business audit.
I’m not talking numbers, though. (I’ll leave that to my accountant.)
I’m talking about an energy audit. Every
December, as I get ready to set up the next year’s planner (yes, I still use a paper planner), I take some time to assess how the previous year went in my business. In doing this, I get to see what worked and what didn’t, where my time was best spent and how I might do things differently in the coming year.
To begin with, I set up the time with intention. If at all possible, I like to do it on
December’s new moon (this year it is Dec. 19), but it can be done at any time. I clean off my desk, light a candle and pick a tarot card that represents what I’d like to incorporate into my business. By making it a ritual, it feels sacred and makes the task less onerous.
Then I begin collecting my data. Depending on who hosts your website, you might have easy access to a lot of information. For example, I
subscribe to the professional tier on Wix, which offers me a lot of analytics.
Some of the data includes:
Where traffic comes from (direct, Google, email, etc.)
Highest sales
days (for me, it’s Mondays)
Best-selling services (half-hour sessions)
Geographically where clients are based
Percentages of sales increases over time
How I compare sales-wise
to others in similar fields
Top clients
I also send my newsletter through Wix, so I can get information on how many people open the newsletter, how many clicks it received and which links people click on. If you use Mailchimp or any other email service, you have access to these analytics.
Once I have that information, I then go through my planner and look at how each month went. Were some months busier than others? Where did I see a lull? Did I have to take off significant blocks of time and do I foresee that happening again?
I then use this information to start planning out my year. I look at what offers did well and
see if I need to tweak them in any way. I investigate what didn’t do so well and consider whether I want to try again or just be done with it.
For example, last year, I offered a one-hour “Vision & Vibes” session where the goal was to create some focus for the new year by incorporating meditation, tarot and a drawing exercise. It was very well-received so I’ll do it again this year, but I’ll make
some changes to keep it fresh. In contrast, one offer that I thought would do really well was my “This Sh!t’s Bananas” reading, which looked at ways to stay grounded and calm during all the chaos. I did a few of these, but it wasn’t the big seller I thought it might be. I might rework it, or I may just replace it with something else.
One other thing I’ve done in the past is to send my top clients a
holiday card just to thank them for their support.
Once I’ve got my data organized and have a picture of what the year will look like, I fill out any dates that I already know, give my planner a good saging and place a hunk of pyrite for prosperity on top of it.
By creating a space of ritual and gratitude, your business will receive the attention it deserves and you can go into the new year with a feeling of agency and organization. Do you have any rituals? We’d love to hear!
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
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 2025:
1 - Symbols of the 9 of Cups
8 - Symbols of the 10 of Cups
15 - Journeywork
22 - NO CLASS (Winter Break)
29 - NO CLASS (Winter Break)
JANUARY 2026:
5 - The Year-Long Spread
12 - Symbols of the Page of Cups
19 - Symbols of the Knight of Cups
26 - The Power of Intent
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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!
Do you have a question or comment on anything tarot?
Suggestions for future topics?
Contact tarot@tarotschool.com
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