Tarot Without a Net: My First Time

By Guest Contributor: Mary du Plessis

I’ll never forget my first time, but I certainly hope she did.

My first professional tarot reading (and I cringe to even say that) was with the wife of a yoga friend. The topic of tarot had come up in general conversation outside of class, and he mentioned that his wife was curious and interested in having a reading. She’d never had a tarot reading, and I had never read cards for anyone other than close friends. What could possibly go wrong?

We arranged to meet at my house on a Saturday morning and I was a nervous wreck by the time she arrived. I’d only met her once or twice and we were barely acquaintances. The entrance to my condo is something of a maze so I met her downstairs to show her the way, hoping to break the ice in our first few minutes. The awkwardness of that walk portended what was to come.

Setting up my dining table for the reading space was my first mistake, as my dining room is not very private, and my husband was in the adjacent living room. I don’t remember what I said as I tried to make anxious small talk while shuffling the cards and laying them out in a traditional Celtic Cross. This was mistake number two as that spread didn’t read well for me at that time. I’ve since made some adjustments that fit my reading style but unfortunately, it was too late to save this reading. In my defense, I didn’t really know what my reading style was at this early point of my professional career.

The cards swam in front of me. Everything I ‘knew’ about the meaning of the cards and position attributes vaporized from my memory and my intuition utterly failed me. I felt too warm and a little sick. Somehow, we muddled through the half-hour with me making about as much sense as trying to describe the scent of the color blue. My poor querent left me with a check for $25 as she beat a hasty retreat. It was my first paid gig, and I felt terrible about it.

Fortunately for me, my friends at the yoga studio encouraged me to continue. They recommended me to their friends, which helped boost my flagging confidence and before long I was reading at events the studio held for its students, and to give tarot workshops to the yoga teacher trainees as a reward for their hard work. Practicing my craft in front of a steady stream of willing and friendly faces allowed my natural ability, skill, and personal strengths to shine. Several yoga students booked me for their private parties and the studio offered me weekend slots to lead tarot workshops for the public as part of their regular rotation.

Before long, repeated requests for more in-depth, individual readings inspired me to create a private reading space. I transformed my tiny study into a cozy nook where I served tea, bubbly, insight, and advice. I began teaching a serious course of study to private students, one or two at a time.

Then the pandemic hit and, like so many others I pivoted to a virtual environment, expanding my client base as far as Ireland, the UK and Australia, as well as across the United States. Necessity is the mother of invention, and I created an online esoteric space I call The Mystic’s Parlour, where I lead workshops and hold individual mentoring sessions, private readings, and group events.

All of this came about because I was brave enough to fail that very first time. I still feel terrible about accepting payment for that very first reading when I think about it, like I am now, but then I remember that tarot works as an exchange of energy. From that perspective, I didn’t short-change her. I gave her everything I had; I’ve just gotten so much better at it.