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Tarot Beginners

7 Questions with Theresa Reed + Win It! The Tarot Coloring Book

This interview is a part of the “7 Questions” series. I will be posing 7 questions to people within the tarot community; whether they are bloggers, authors, deck creators, or fellow readers (or sometimes, all of the above!).

 

There is so much I could say about Theresa Reed. I owe this woman a TREMENDOUS debt of gratitude when I won her Tarot Apprentice contest in 2011. Tarot by Hilary had existed since October 2005: the day I gave my first ever “for pay” tarot reading. But really? It didn’t truly begin until I had Theresa in my corner, inspiring me and pushing me to take risks, go bigger, and genuinely and authentically step into my business.

Today I’m “paying it forward” by offering up THREE free copies of her new book, The Tarot Coloring Book (more about that after the interview). Here’s a little more about Theresa, and 7 questions with this tarot dynamo about her work and her new book!

Theresa Reed (aka “The Tarot Lady”) has been a full-time Tarot card reader for close to 30 years. She is the author of The Tarot Coloring Book (release date: Nov 1, 2016), an illustrated tour through the world of Tarot with coloring sheets for every card in the deck.

In addition to doing private Tarot readings, teaching Tarot classes, and speaking at Tarot conferences, Theresa also runs a popular website—TheTarotLady.com—where she dishes out advice, inspiration and tips for Tarot lovers of all experience levels. 

Follow Theresa on Twitter and Instagram for her daily “Six Second Tarot Reading”—plus photos of her extremely handsome cats, TaoZen and Monkey.

❓ What inspired you to write The Tarot Coloring Book? Why a coloring book and not a straightforward nonfiction tarot book?

Answer: The publisher asked me if I could turn my tarot book into a coloring book.  I was totally gungho with the idea!  Reason why: I am an experiential learner so I know how an act such as coloring can help when you are trying to learn something.  When I was taking yoga teacher training, the hardest part for me was the anatomy.  I couldn’t imagine ever learning all those muscles and bones.  Ilio-what?!  Well, I got a copy of the Anatomy Coloring Book and BAM!  I got it!  I passed my test with flying colors.  That’s the beauty of this book – as you color the images of the cards, you really soak in the meaning.  It’s a meditative way of learning.

❓ Which books have influenced you the most and why?

Answer: In tarot? 78 Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack, and 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card by Mary Greer.  I love those books very much. I also have to tip my hat to Tarot:  A Handbook for the Apprentice by Eileen Connolly.  That was my first tarot book and it really helped me to cut my teeth on tarot!  Now…aside from tarot, the other book that has been the most influential for me is Truth and Consequences by Miriam Young.  I read it as a child and it pretty much impacted my entire life.  It’s the story of a young girl who learns how to be honest + kind at the same time.  Honesty is very important to me but so is kindness – this book taught me the value of both.  I still have a copy!

❓ Not only are you a full-time tarot reader (a rarity), you have also been doing this for over 2 decades! What is it about tarot that keeps you coming back to it? How have you kept it fresh over the years when other people tend to burn out from this work?

Answer: I am obsessive by nature. If I get a bee in my bonnet about something, I will have no rest until every stone is turned!  Tarot never bores me. I learn from it constantly and I also learn a great deal from the lovely humans I get the opportunity to serve.  I love my work + my clients – simple as that. When you love what you do, it never feels like work!  I keep it fresh by keeping other obsessions in my life: yoga, cooking, cats, Game of Thrones…I’m never bored around here in any way, shape or form.  I also live a stress-free life, which helps to keep me from burning out.  I’m pretty chill over here. So i would say a relaxed lifestyle, intense curiosity, and loads of other interests is my secret.

❓ How do you receive psychic information?

Answer: It comes to me like a ticker tape in my head when I’m reading tarot.  But when not in tarot mode, it’s physical.  I feel stuff in my body, my gut.  I also get “musical oracles” – songs that come on or come into my brain that turn out to be omens!  It’s weird and I’ll write about it some day but suffice it to say David Bowie has been in my brain constantly lately.  And that is a very good omen.

❓ What was the most difficult part of writing this book? The easiest? Why?

Answer: When I sat down to write the book, I channeled it.  It flowed out of me much like the ticker tape during readings.  Total stream of consciousness.  The hardest part was not picking myself apart.  Oh – and the punctuation!  My daughter is an editor and she proofread the manuscript before I delivered and said “Mom…you have a comma problem.”  She’s a valuable member of my team – and I’ve learned so much about grammar, writing, and punctuation from her!  Writing a book can feel daunting but when you’re ready, it just comes.  I’ve also been fortunate to have a writing mentor, Alexandra Franzen, who has been a great help and encouragement with all of my writings ’n ramblings.  She’s the best!  I recommend everyone have a writing mentor and a skilled editor if you are thinking of embarking on the path of being an author.

❓ What, in your opinion, is the best way to learn tarot?

Answer: By reading for as many people as you can, preferably strangers.  Do that for a few years and you’ll get up to speed in no time!  Book learning and classes only take you so far – at some point you gotta dive in and just read for anyone willing.  I read for ten years before I went pro – and I got really fast ’n furious when I read in bars.  I would sit for hours and read about twenty to thirty people a night.  It’s an intense way to do it and not for the faint of heart but this method will make you or break you.

❓ Along with being a tarot reader, you are also an astrologer. Were there any “clues” in your chart or your personal astrology that told you there was “a book in you”?

Answer: I’m a Gemini, the communicator of the Zodiac.  I have three planets in Gemini so writing + communication are in my blood.  That might be the main clue there. I also have Leo on the Midheaven, which can symbolize a creative career or a performing artist.  So yeah…clues are there but keep in mind, even with that, there is no guarantee you’ll use that energy – astrology only shows tendencies and talents.  To write means you have to discipline the heck out of yourself.  Thankfully, I have good writing habits because I’m a prolific blogger. I think my regular blogging practice had more to do with me doing this book than any astrology stuff!

Many thanks to Theresa for answering my questions, and please check out her new book The Tarot Coloring Book, available November 1st (that’s right, it drops TODAY!). Order it here, OR….

***Win It!*** Do YOU want a free copy of Theresa’s The Tarot Coloring Book? I have THREE copies to give away! To be entered for a chance to win, you must be a newsletter subscriber. Not a subscriber already? Subscribe below, or go to FREE UPDATES and subscribe there.

Once subscribed, e-mail me at hilary@tarotbyhilary.com, subject line: THE TAROT COLORING BOOK GIVEAWAY. Body text can be anything along the vein of “I want to win!” Bonus points if you tell me a story about you and the tarot. Make sure to use the same e-mail address that is subscribed to my newsletter… and yes, I WILL be checking! The winners will be notified by e-mail. I will also announce the three winners in my newsletter on November 15th!

PRIZES:

  • GRAND PRIZE WINNER: A free 15 minute reading with the author of The Tarot Coloring Book, Theresa Reed
    • plus a free copy of The Tarot Coloring Book and the pre-order bonuses described at www.thetarotcoloringbook.com (HOW TO DO TAROT—EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT PSYCHIC e-book and audio book)
  • 2 Runner-Up Winners: a free copy of The Tarot Coloring Book and the pre-order bonuses described at www.thetarotcoloringbook.com (HOW TO DO TAROT—EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT PSYCHIC e-book and audio book)

YOU HAVE UNTIL NOVEMBER 14TH AT MIDNIGHT EASTERN STANDARD TIME TO ENTER! WINNERS ANNOUNCED NOVEMBER 15TH! THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED. WINNERS ANNOUNCED HERE: The Tarot Coloring Book Winners

Blessings,
~*~Hilary~*~
www.tarotbyhilary.com

Photo header created in Canva.

 

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©2016 Hilary Haggerty | Tarot by Hilary

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4 Responses to 7 Questions with Theresa Reed + Win It! The Tarot Coloring Book

  1. Laura says:
    November 1, 2016 at 3:49 pm

    fingers crossed. I really want to win and have subscribed, emailed, and shared.

  2. Laura says:
    November 7, 2016 at 9:47 am

    Shared again

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