Best of Tarot 2011

Posted: 28-12-2011 | Author: Hilary | Category: 2011, Barbara Moore, Best of 2011, Corrine Kenner, Courtney Weber, Nancy Antenucci, Psychic Tarot, the tarot apprentice, the Tarot Lady, Theresa Reed | No comments

How do I explain 2011 as a year, besides it being a very tarot-filled year? On March 14th of this year, I officially entered into a contest that changed my life, the Tarot Apprentice, and jumped through four tarot-y hoops of fire to come out in the end the winner. Looking back on the experience, I was glad friends pushed and encouraged me into doing it. I would not have a thriving tarot business without it. Nor a kick-ass website. Nor a fantastic mentor. Nor another year plus worth of studies with Hekademia. But enough gush about 2011…

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Video Intro!

Posted: 09-12-2011 | Author: Hilary | Category: intuition, social media, tarot, tarot by hilary, tarot readers, tarot readings, technology, the tarot apprentice, the Tarot Lady, website | 2 Comments

The Tarot Apprentice Speaks (Part 1 of ?)

Posted: 03-05-2011 | Author: Hilary | Category: creating tarot spreads, Readers Studio, tarot readings, the tarot apprentice | 2 Comments

Gee, I wonder what Marcus Katz said to me in this picture to make me react this way?

I AM the Tarot Apprentice! I am amazed and humbled that I was chosen among such a field of crazy-awesome tarot people. And you all need to keep in touch!
Readers Studio was this weekend, and the first I’ve ever attended. I never expected something like this to exist, but it does! Such a wonderful support system of tarot people; I feel completely changed in a good way by everything that happened and everyone I spoke with.
So, the theme of this weekend was torture leading to self-actualization. Yes, you heard me right. Threats from Courtney and Theresa to make me read for Ciro Marchetti using the Legacy of the Divine deck lead to me saying, “You are sick. You are sick, sick women.” Further threats included the following:
  • to have me read for Marcus Katz;
  • to have me teach Barbara Moore’s master class on creating tarot spreads;
  • and finally, the one that really happened: me being partnered with Theresa for the Foundation Reading.

Okay, let me break it down for y’all: the Foundation Reading is done at the start of Readers Studio. You partner with someone and exchange readings the best way you know how at the time. Whatever spread you want; whatever you deem appropriate. You take notes on everything: what cards come out where, and everything that’s said. Why? Because you come back to the same person at the END of Readers Studio and revisit the Foundation Reading, applying all of the information you absorbed over the course of the weekend. It’s pretty cool, and boy, did it WORK! Back to the scary part.
So, all of these threats flung at me were very tongue-in-cheek and playful… but then Theresa turned to me and said, “You’re my partner for the Foundation Reading.” Yeah, she wasn’t going to take No for an answer. And I had a feeling this was going to happen, because out of all the tables to sit at, she went out of her way to end up sitting next to me. Apprentice contestants who have been through the fires of the four challenges, let me just say this: the notches were dialed up to 11. So I sucked it up and I dealt with it. And yes, I read for her first (yes, she gave me the choice!).
More tomorrow… because it was a weekend full of stories to tell!

The Tarot Apprentice, Readers Studio, and the Waiting Begins…

Posted: 27-04-2011 | Author: Hilary | Category: Courtney Weber, Readers Studio, Tarot of the Boroughs, the tarot apprentice | 1 Comment

Courtney Weber blogged about me today in connection with Readers Studio. This is my first time at Readers Studio, and I have butterflies in my stomach. It’s going to be an amazing event and I am going to be learning much more about tarot than I ever thought possible. This will make me an even better tarot reader, and I can’t wait to share the new skills I will be gaining with clients.

In preparation for Readers Studio, I am packing the following to use as my workhorse decks for the conference:

  • Tarot of the Boroughs (available at Readers Studio for purchase and here)
  • Legacy of the Divine Tarot
  • The Llewellyn Tarot

Why three decks? Because I am fickle, and I want to be prepared for that fickleness. I know I’m going to feel that I want to read with a certain deck and if I don’t have it on hand, I will drive myself nuts.

In Tarot Apprentice contest news, the final challenge was posted on Monday. Now the waiting for the announcement of the winner begins. I feel a mix of relief, excitement, and nervousness. What if I’m not picked? What if I AM?! Either way, being a contestant on the Tarot Apprentice really pushed me to some of my limits (Read: vulnerabilities) both as a reader and as a potential businesswoman. It also made me aware of some things I say I don’t do just because they are scary and difficult. Discomfort from something being new is one thing; that’s something I can work through. There’s a difference between setting boundaries because you realize that something doesn’t work for you versus setting boundaries because you’ve never tried it. This is something I need to continue in my life, both as a reader and personally.

I will try to post a new blog after this weekend describing the indescribable: Readers Studio!

The Tarot Apprentice—Week 2

Posted: 13-04-2011 | Author: Hilary | Category: creating tarot spreads, tarot spreads, the Clock Spread, the tarot apprentice | No comments

For the second installment of the Tarot Apprentice contest, go here.

This challenge for me was very tough… creating a tarot spread. I have never created a tarot spread before. Even though I would consider myself a bit of an unconventional soul, I’m like everyone else when it comes to things that scare me; I tend to stick with the familiar when I feel a threat to the status quo. Change is scary! But in this case confronting something that’s scary was the only route to go, considering I had two choices: do the challenge, or forfeit the competition. Fear was not an option! Well, maybe fear was an option, but working through that fear won out. It also helped that I was half-coherent since I got a cold on Monday. I wasn’t second-guessing myself as much.

I created the Clock Spread. For the spread, a sample reading, and my assessment of it, go to the link posted above. I am the first post. If you use it to do a reading of your own, please leave your thoughts in the comments section. I would love to hear them!

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