Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a reading?
Where ever you are, you can get a tarot card reading! I offer 1:1 remote readings and very occasional in-person readings at events in the mid-Atlantic area. Check my journal for posts about upcoming appearances or use the booking page to schedule your remote session right away.
How does a remote reading work?
Remote readings allow you to experience card readings from anywhere in the world. I have done readings remotely for seekers in Europe, Asia, and all over North America. With remote readings, we meet on a video call to review the cards and dive into your questions.
Where does tarot come from?
In the world of divination, tarot is a youngster. It was created in Italy in the 1430s as a parlor game for wealthy nobility , similar to bridge. It was called Tarocchi, and the individual cards were all hand-painted. Seriously, tarot did not come from the Egyptian Library in Alexandria, it has no origins in India, and was never historically associated with Jewish Kabbalists or Moses. There is no evidence it was used for guidance until seers of the Spiritualist movement adapted it to fortune-telling in France, about 1780. The only newer methods of divination are fortune cookies (1873, Kyoto, Japan); the Ouija board (1891, Baltimore); and the Magic 8-Ball (1946, Cinncinati).
The Major Arcana is made up of 22 carte da trionfi (cards of the triumphs, or trump cards) that were added to the familiar 4-suite deck in the 1430s. They were often based on popular Carnivale characters and costumes of the time, or reflected Christian icons, including popes and archangels.
The popular Rider-Waite deck was created in 1909. The artist, Pamela Colman-Smith, contributed her own vision, especially in the innovative
creation of fully illustrated scenes for the minor arcana. For many years, the Rider-Waite deck was the only one readily available in the U.S., so it
became familiar to whole generations. There is no “definitive” version of the tarot.
How did you learn to read tarot cards?
I inherited my first tarot deck from my mother, so I'm not the first person (or even the second!) to read tarot cards in my family. My first training was at home. My beloved heritage deck is a Tarot de Marseilles. I've also taken classes by Brigit Esselmont, Katie McLaughlin, and Richard Knight. Any tarot or oracle card can have many meanings, and I truly believe that the reader's intuition and skill play a big role in accurate readings.
How many decks do you have? How do you pick which to use?
An entire shelf on my bookcase is full of card decks! 21 in all! There are 8 tarot decks (2 vintage Tarot de Marseilles; 2 Rider-Waite; 4 novelty), 11 oracle decks, and 2 traditional playing card decks. For in-person readings or groups, I typically use the Rider-Waite style as it's familiar to more people. My vintage decks are only used in remote readings; they never leave the house. The other decks I rotate based on individual readings or season, like the spring flowers or Halloween-themed decks.
Is tarot a way to tell the future?
Like any divination, card readings offer a deep reflection of who you are and the moment of your life you exist in now. Personal things often come up, and sometimes you will be called to tend to challenges you’d rather avoid. It’s not unusual for seekers to react emotionally to the messages in their card spreads. No matter how a reading goes, you and those around you have free will. Decisions can rapidly change your future outcome.
Do you have a favorite card?
Yes! I love the Wheel of Fortune, Major Arcana number 10. It's change, destiny, movement. It adds excitement and motion to a reading. There's a Wheel of Fortune card behind this text and on the side in the photo.
Do you do charity events ? Yes, mini tarot readings are available for in-person charity events. I also offer divination gift baskets for charity auctions. Please reach out to me if you are planning a fund-raising event to see if we are a match.
Video demonstration coming soon....
Photo by Kirsten Weaver
Disclaimer: No form of divination, including tarot and/or oracle cards, is a substitute for needed professional services. Please note that I, Rissa Miller, am not a therapist, financial advisor, lawyer, medical doctor/nurse, or psychologist. If you are consulting tarot cards but really require other services, be aware that no divination method can offer what you truly need.
I am not qualified to give medical, legal, real estate, or financial advice. Any action you take is your own responsibility,
and yours alone. No divination artist can guarantee full accuracy of any reading as all people and animals have free will
in all life events.