FAQ
Do I need to wait until I am experiencing a difficult time and need guidance before I book in for a tarot reading?
There can be an assumption that one must be confused or in pain to seek guidance from a tarot reader. This does not have to be the case at all. Yes, people do come when they are going through crisis, yet people also come when they are on the brink of change: they might be changing jobs or travelling or moving overseas and are curious to get another perspective on these new experiences.
Sometimes people enjoy seeing a tarot reader for the spiritual connection, i.e. they can have a heart-to-heart communication with someone and be affirmed of what they already intuitively have a feel for. People also come when they are in really good places in their lives and want to celebrate this part of their journey.
Seeing a tarot reader can be a fun, enriching and moving experience. If there is a reader you get a positive feeling about, then book in and try it out for yourself.
Is a tarot reading different from a psychic reading?
It depends who is doing the reading. When I do a reading, the psychic and tarot element is all rolled into one. What I say is informed by both my psychic understanding and my knowledge of the tarot cards.
How often should I come for a reading?
Usually you would allow at least 6 – 8 weeks to pass before you come for another reading. This will give time for life to unfold and for you to get a feel for trusting your own intuition. It varies, but often people will come every few months, twice a year, once a year or once every few years. It depends on what is happening for you.
Sometimes a psychic can be the best person to see when going through a challenging time, yet be sure to gauge it carefully:
If you find yourself wanting to see the same psychic every week, or a multitude of psychics regularly, I advise that your money and time for active self-growth might be far better spent on committing to see a qualified psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor.
Do you do ‘channelling’?
I find that my readings are more grounded and make more sense when I am fully present in my own body and working with the energy that is already in the room. So no, I do not channel. I prefer to acknowledge the wisdom that exists in my clients and in myself as a means of delivering a strong reading, rather than having to rely on something invisible that would require a belief system to be in place in order for it to make sense.
Are Phone, Video Chat, or Email readings as good as Face-to-Face readings?
From my experience of doing thousands of phone, video chat and email tarot readings, as well as face-to-face, I can say that a reading from afar can be just as powerful as an in-person reading. I have many clients who have experienced readings with me in all the various technological mediums as well as in-person, and they report that they get just as much out of the phone/video chat and email readings as did when they were sitting in my tarot office.
My English isn’t very good – will I be able to understand the reading?
I regret that English is the only language that I can speak, and I am full of admiration for anyone who makes the effort to speak other languages in addition to their native tongue. I have done countless readings for people who aren’t very confident about their use of the English language. While of course the more shared language we have, the more understanding, I am happy to slow down and use shorter/simpler words so that it is easier for you to understand. Just let me know. Sometimes people bring in a friend who can speak English to translate for them. You can also have the session recorded so that you can play it back for deeper understanding. Also, if you are deaf or have limited hearing, it is totally fine to have an Auslan interpreter come with you.
I think I might have seen you for a tarot reading before – what places have you worked from in the past?
I started my tarot career at Living Energies, Hornsby (2002 – 2004) and Living Energies, Chatswood (2002 – 2005).
I have also worked at Nature’s Energy, Glebe (2004)
New Life Energy, Marrickville (2004 – 2008)
Phoenix Rising Books, Glebe (2005 – 2009)
Pure Botanicals, Newtown (2005 – June 2013)
My private tarot office upstairs from Suzy Spoon’s Vegetarian Butcher , Newtown (July 2013 – September 2015)
And now my private tarot office is at Suite 5, 134 – 140 King St Newtown (October 2015 – present).
Is that flower and glitter bike parked outside, yours?
Yes!
What tarot deck do you use?
Nowadays I usually have four decks on the table for you to choose from. The main ones I use are the Tarot of The Cloisters by Michelle Leavitt, the Dark Goddess Tarot by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince, the Next World Tarot by Cristy C. Road, and the Modern Witch Tarot Deck by Lisa Sterle. I have many more decks in my collection (about 100 at last count), and if there is a particular deck that you enjoy, please let me know at the time of booking. If I have it in my collection, I can use it!
I’m the world’s worst shuffler! Will this negatively impact my tarot reading in some way?
Absolutely not! You do not have to be proficient in shuffling cards to have a tarot reading.
However, since Covid-19 I am now the only person who handles my tarot cards. Initially I put this in place as there is no easy way to clean cardboard (!), but I am continuing with this as, a) my tarot cards are delicate and having just me shuffle them means they can last for longer and b) so many of my clients have been nervous about damaging my cards in the past, and are visibly relieved when I do it on their behalf instead.
I can assure you that you not shuffling the cards won’t make any difference to your reading. Your energy arrives with you, and you don’t need to touch the cards in order to affect the reading. It is not the cards alone, that tell the story. You will still have control over how the cards fall however, by telling me when to stop shuffling. This is how I do it for readings via phone and video call. Thank you for your understanding!
I’ve thought about coming but I’m a bit afraid. I don’t want to hear anything bad.
It is perfectly common for people to be nervous before they go to see a psychic reader. Who knows what they’ll say! For my part, I can assure you that I am gentle and positive in my manner, and I am not a doomsayer. I believe at the end of the day everyone holds the answers inside of themselves. Part of my role is to assist people in seeing that, and to help them connect with their own innate inner wisdom. If you are still worried, you can always specify at the beginning of the reading any areas you do not want to hear about. Also, tarot reading isn’t for everyone! If you are going to book in, make sure it is because you truly want to and not because others think you should.
But I don’t think I believe in tarot cards.
Tarot cards aren’t for everyone, and ideally you should have the capacity to make up your own mind about what is best for you. But if you are curious as to why thousands upon thousands of people from all walks of life do consult tarot readers, then you can always do a bit of research and find a few reputable readers to have a consultation with. There are plenty of books and online resources out there that can illuminate what all the fuss is about.
If after exploring these avenues you still find that tarot cards just don’t float your boat, then clearly it isn’t for you. At least though you will have an awareness of what it is that you don’t believe in. 🙂
At the end of the day, the tarot deck is simply a pile of cardboard with pictures on them. The pictures are a system of ancient archetypes representing the human psyche. If you are skeptical about the divinatory aspect of the tarot, it may be not so much that you have an issue with the tarot itself (divination after all can be made with crystal balls, jewellery, bones, stones or crocodile guts…) but rather that you do not believe in seeing patterns in the synchronicities of life.
Some people do indeed believe that the universe is nothing but mechanistic randomness. However, a little research can show that from fractals to sacred geometry, reality is composed of beautiful patterns that will reveal themselves to those who are willing to put in the effort to discern them. The tarot is an elegant tool for doing this.
Every psychic works differently: for more information about how I work go to About Psychic Sarah & How She Works
In May 2013 I celebrated 10 years of being a full-time tarot reader. I wrote a short story as to how I came to be a tarot reader, and what was happening as I made the decision to go full-time. Read it here 🙂
Tarot Readings with Psychic Sarah 