Man, sometimes life just throws you for a loop, doesn’t it? I remember a few years back, I hit this really rough patch. Everything felt heavy, like I was swimming through molasses just to get through the day. I was stuck, couldn’t make heads or tails of things, and honest to goodness, I was just looking for something to cling onto, some kind of sign, you know?
That’s when I first stumbled into tarot. Now, I wasn’t always a believer. Far from it, actually. My initial thought was, “This is probably just a bunch of fancy pictures and guesswork.” But I was desperate enough to try anything. I walked into one of those little new-age shops here in San Diego, kinda nervous, picked out a basic deck – the Rider-Waite, of course – and just started messing with it.
I took that deck home, laid it all out on my kitchen table, and just stared. The little booklet that came with it was confusing as heck, I won’t even lie. So, I started digging online, watching videos, reading blogs, trying to figure out what all these symbols meant. My first readings were a disaster. I’d pull cards for myself and just scratch my head, thinking, “Okay, so what exactly does a Sword mean when it’s upside down and next to a Cup?” It was a mess, truly.
My Early Practice: Learning the Ropes
But something just kept pulling me back. I started keeping a little notebook, my first “practice record” if you will. Every single day, I’d pull one card for myself, write down what I thought it meant, and then see how my day actually played out. Sometimes it was spot on, sometimes it was way off. My intuition felt like a broken compass. I even started practicing on my close friends, bless their patient hearts. They’d come over, we’d grab a coffee, and I’d pull out my cards. I remember one friend, Sarah, she’d always ask about her career, and I’d pull a bunch of cards that just made no sense in that context. We’d laugh, but I’d always go back to my notes, cross-reference, try to understand.
I started noticing patterns. Certain cards would pop up when someone was feeling lost, others when they were about to make a big decision. It wasn’t about memorizing a textbook. It was about feeling the story the cards were telling, connecting it to the person sitting across from me. It took months, maybe even a good year, of just constant practice, reading, and really just listening to what these images were trying to convey. I learned that it wasn’t about telling someone’s future, but more about shedding light on their present, helping them see things from a different angle.
Why “Affordable”? My Own Struggle
The turning point, the real reason I decided to make this something I’d offer to others, and why I emphasize the “affordable” part, came from that same tough period I mentioned. When I was so lost, I looked into getting readings myself, trying to find some answers. But man, some of the prices I saw? They were just out of reach. I remember thinking, “How is someone who’s already struggling financially supposed to get this kind of guidance?” It felt unfair, like only people with a lot of extra cash could afford to figure out their lives.
I was barely making ends meet myself back then, scraping by, and the idea of shelling out a hundred bucks or more for a single reading just felt impossible. It burned me up, honestly. I thought, if I ever got good enough at this, truly good, I wasn’t going to let cost be a barrier for people who really needed some clarity. Everyone deserves a little guidance when they’re feeling lost, not just those with deep pockets. That thought stuck with me. It became a core part of my personal mission, you could say.
Setting Up Shop in Sunny San Diego
Once I felt confident enough, after years of practice and journaling every single reading outcome, I started small. I put out a little notice on a community board here in San Diego, just seeing if anyone would bite. My first few readings for strangers were nerve-wracking, let me tell you. My hands were shaking. But then, after each session, seeing that look of relief, or a spark of understanding in their eyes, it was just the best feeling. It wasn’t about me proving anything, it was about them finding some peace.
I kept my prices really modest from the start, true to my word. I didn’t want to make a fortune, I just wanted to cover my time and keep going. Word started to spread slowly, mostly by folks in my neighborhood in San Diego who’d had a reading with me and then told their friends. It became this lovely little network, people coming in with questions about jobs, relationships, just life in general. Each reading is a chance to connect, to hear someone’s story, and to use these cards as a tool to help them see their own path a bit more clearly.
My Approach to a Reading: Keeping It Real
When someone sits down with me for a reading, whether it’s their first time or they’re regulars, I always start with a simple chat. We grab a water or coffee, and I just ask them what’s on their mind. No judgment, no pressure. It’s about figuring out what kind of clarity they’re seeking. Then, I shuffle the cards, letting them pick a few, or I lay out a simple spread depending on their question. I don’t do grand pronouncements or try to predict lottery numbers. That’s not what this is about.
I look at the cards, explain what each one generally represents, and then we talk about how that might relate to their situation. It’s a conversation, a guided reflection. Sometimes the cards confirm what they already know deep down. Sometimes they point towards something they haven’t considered. My job isn’t to tell them what to do, but to help them understand the energies around them, the choices they have, and the potential outcomes of those choices. It’s empowering, not prescriptive. It’s about helping them trust their own gut feeling, because usually, they already have the answers inside.
That’s my practice, from fumbling with my first deck to seeing folks leave my San Diego spot with a little more pep in their step. It’s been a journey, one that started from my own confusion and transformed into a way to help others navigate theirs, always keeping that core idea of making it accessible to everyone. It’s honest work, and I love every minute of it.
