Tarot News blog has news and information of interest to the tarot community.

Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet

Needs and Wants

What is the source of greed? Perhaps greed happens when our needs are not being met.

A friend asked me an interesting question recently. If we have all that we need, why pursue wants?

This brings up some important concerns about spirituality which promotes greed and focuses on good fortune as proof of spiritual worthiness and favor. Yet, even when greed is not a factor, our needs transcend the physical.

In modern psychology, the standard for understanding of human needs is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

Maslow’s Hierarchy is usually pictured as a pyramid. Basic needs are at the bottom. The theory is that the basic needs must be filled before more esoteric needs can be addressed.

There are five levels of needs in Maslow’s original thesis. The first is physiological needs, like food and shelter. The second is safety needs, like security and resources. The third is love and belonging, the fourth is esteem. The final is self-actualization, which is the need to be the most and best that we can be. That is, to fulfill our potential.

Maslow ultimately extended his hierarchy to include three more levels. Cognitive needs, such as learning and research, and aesthetic needs, such as appreciation of art, beauty, and nature, are place between esteem and self-actualization.

The final level that is added after self-actualization is transcendence, which is spiritual pursuit and experience.

For me, this revised hierarchy feels more valid and inclusive than the first and answers my friend’s question quite precisely.

Once our basic needs are addressed, we have a natural desire to pursue knowledge, thought, beauty, understanding, creativity and spirituality.

We may categorize these things as wants rather than needs. Yet, truly, these pleasurable, intellectual, and esoteric pursuits are our human needs. They are not as basic and urgent as food and shelter, but they are still needs.

The moral imperative is to distinguish between need and greed. It takes more than basic resources to address these higher needs. We must have the discipline and insight to know when our needs are fulfilled, and to be satisfied.

If we are insatiable, it is because another need, such as esteem, belonging, or love, has not been filled.

The StaarCon 2023 Banner.

The StaarCorner

We are excited to welcome Jason Augustus Newcomb as a presenter at StaarCon 2022.
Jason is an artist, writer, philosopher, and sorcerer who has been studying and working with the powers of the mind, mysticism, and Western esotericism for well over thirty years. He has just completed designing "The Tarot of the Greek Magical Papyri" and is the author of more than a dozen books on esoteric spirituality.

Jason will be presenting his new tarot deck at StaarCon, and will also teach a workshop especially for professional tarot readers, and those who aspire to read professionally.

Join us at StaarCon 2022! Tickets are available now. You can join in person or online.

A photo of StaarCon presenter Jason Augustus Newcomb.
Close up of a woman's hands holding tarot cards.

Maslow’s Tarot Spread

Could we make a tarot spread of Maslow’s revised pyramid? Perhaps each of the eight levels could have two cards. The first card could speak of how our needs are being met at this level, and the second could suggest an action to preserve or attain this need.

Or, we might want to have a single card at each level. That card could check in on what we are doing right now to address these needs, or what we need to do.

The eight levels, from bottom to top, in order, are Physiological, Safety, Belonging and Love, Esteem, Cognitive, Aesthetic, Self- Actualization, Transcendence.

Play with this and see what you come up with, and how it works for you!

Women spreading tarot cards at table.

The Week in Review

We had a great time at Global Tarot Circle last night. If you missed it, you can watch the replay.

Have you seen my rant about the High Priestess?

From Around the Web

Joy Vernon has shared a tarot reading and a tarot history lesson with “The Great Granddaddy of Tarot Spreads”.

The Tarot Blog Hop wrote on the topic of Ancestors. See what five tarot bloggers had to say.

There is a new tarot blog in town! Check out Tarot Tales by Clumsy Clairvoyance.

Rider Waite tarot cards,the Four of Pentacles card in the foreground.

Guidance on the Journey

The Four of Pentacles typically shows a person holding tightly to their four coins. Classic interpretations for this card include greed, miserly behavior, selfishness, and an unnecessary fear of loss and lack.

This is a card that is sometimes used to shame people by accusing them of holding on to a “lack mentality”. While the Four of Pentacles does sometimes appear to describe a belief of scarcity, this is not the only possible meaning for this card.

The Four of Pentacles has a lot more depth than many people realize.

The Four of Pentacles can tell you to have good boundaries, and to practice good self-care.

The Four of Pentacles can ask you to conserve your resources.

The Four of Pentacles can ask you to consider what you want, and what you need, and to measure that against what you now have.

The Four of Pentacles may warn against a controlling relationship.

The Four of Pentacles may describe a stubborn mindset around desires and resources.

When you see the Four of Pentacles, consider all the possibilities for this card, and see what healing this card may offer you.

Upcoming Events

Consider a Zoom.com party where you can practice Social Distancing and still meet with your friends for a virtual tarot party!
Alternatives to meeting in person are available.
Office appointments and house or office parties are again available by appointment.
Please call to discuss the options.


Christiana Gaudet in her office waiting room.

About Christiana Gaudet

Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.

Christiana Gaudet

3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152

Email cgaudet@cardandcraft.com
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classeswww.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com

Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and in person readings and instruction are available by appointment.

Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.

Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232 x102
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
Schedule online at cardandcraft.10to8.com.

Agent inquiries are welcome.

Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 5 Issue 44
November 2, 2022

Read More
Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet

The Mask, and What Is Beneath

We all wear masks, even when it is not Halloween.

I have always loved Halloween. As a child, I loved dressing in costume and trick or treating in my neighborhood. As a younger adult, I loved costume contests and parties. I remember one Halloween my friends and I dressed in costume and took the train from New Haven to New York City to see a concert in the city. There is something exciting about being able to go to work, or ride a train, or go to a nightclub wearing something crazy that would not be acceptable on any other day.

As I got older, I learned the spiritual practices associated with October 31, and understood the origins of our Halloween traditions. I found meaning in these practices. Yet, I still love a good Halloween party, and I love a great costume.

There is something fun about pretending to be something, or someone, different than what we are. There is a freedom to act with other costumed people in ways that are different from our regular social interactions. Costumes allow us to play a role. Costumes can strengthen our confidence, since, in that moment, we are not being ourselves.

Yet, on the other 364 days of the year, many of pretend to be something different than we are. Sometimes we are hiding something about ourselves that we feel others cannot or will not accept. Sometimes we are hiding something about ourselves that we do not want to acknowledge or accept. Sometimes we truly do not know who we are, and so we pretend to be what we think we should be.

The metaphoric masks we wear day to day do not make us look like kitties or vampires or superheroes. Very often, when we mask our feelings and natural behaviors in an effort to fit in, we also diminish our own energy and personal power.

‘Social masking’ is a term that describe the behavior that neurodivergent people learn to fit in better with neurotypical people. Sometimes it is necessary to fit in. We have all heard the expression, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”.

Yet, if we find ourselves trying to diminish ourselves in order to fit in with others, we need to take a hard look at what is going on. Are we surrounded by people who will not understand us? Or are we simply afraid to be real and be vulnerable? Do we need to find people who are more like us? Or do we need to trust the people around us to accept us as we truly are?

Each situation is different. The important thing is that we each need to know our true selves, and we each need places and people that allow us to fully embrace who we are.

A woman uses tarot to open a door to the other side.

Join Us for Class Tonight!

Tonight, at 7 pm ET, I will present How Spirit Speaks Through Tarot on Zoom and in person in my Palm City office. It is not too late to sign up to attend!

This class is about how spirit speaks in a tarot reading, and what we can do to facilitate and manage this process. A tarot reading should always be an otherworldly experience. You may connect with a loved one in spirit. You may receive messages from spiritual beings, such as angels, saints, deities, guides, and guardians.

In this two-hour class you will learn how to hear the voice of spirit in a tarot reading, whether reading for yourself or others. You will learn to empower your readings with the presence of divine helpers, each and every time you pull a card.

Visit EventBrite to purchase your ticket.

The class will be available at cardandcraftacademy.com after November 2nd.

Visit christianagaudet.com for more information!

The StaarCon 2023 Banner.

The StaarCorner

Episode 3 of the StaarCast Variety Show features an interview with Maria Alviz Hernando, and a panel discussion with Jaymi Elford, Lainie Sevente Wulkan, and Kim Danbert. You will also find a Tarot Conference Survival Guide with Marion Kirk, and a sneak peek at a psychic fair set-up with Peter Coe. Join your hosts, Christiana Gaudet and Frank Kwiatkowski, for a fun and interesting exploration of all things tarot.

You can watch this episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts!

StaarCast Variety Show Episode 3 banner.
Tarot cards in a reader's hands.

A Two-card Spread about Your Mask and Your True Self

If you are caught in a bit of an identity crisis, or if you are wondering if you are being true to yourself, try this revealing two-card tarot spread. Think about the situation, setting, or relationship in which you are curious about your presentation and authenticity.

Shuffle, and pull two cards.

Let the first card describe the energy of the mask you are presenting in this situation.

Let the second card describe your true self, and how you are internally responding to this situation.

Mandel Public Library West Palm Beach Florida building front.

The Week in Review

I had so much fun teaching a beginner tarot workshop at the Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach this past Saturday. I will be returning for another exciting tarot class on March 18.

If you are a member of my YouTube channel and you missed our members-only livestream, Calling in the Ancestors, you can watch the replay.

From Around the (Spooky) Web

There is a new Halloween movie out this year, Hocus Pocus 2. Here is an article from Newsweek about how real witches are standing in support of this movie.

Do you watch Stranger Things? Now there is a Stranger Things tarot deck!

According to Vice, here are the best tarot decks for Halloween and beyond!

Tarot card Six of Cups against a brick background.

Guidance on the Journey

The Six of Cups is a card of happiness and pleasure. This card also represents nostalgia, childhood memories, and reunions. Some people see this as a card of past life connections and soul contracts.

The keyword from which all these various interpretations spring is ‘past’. The Six of Cups speaks of things from the past, and our memories and connections of the past.

As such, the Six of Cups can be a helpful reminder to be true to ourselves, and to know our true self, and present our true self to others.

Sometimes, when the Six of Cups appears, this card can be an admonition from the universe to remember who you are.

Remembering who you are is an essential exercise, especially as you age, and as you feel changed by life’s traumas.

Remembering who you are can allow you to align yourself with your moral compass and make the decision to do the right thing. Remembering who you are can remind you that you are strong and capable. Remembering who you are can offer a course correction, allowing you to follow your best path in life.

Upcoming Events

About Christiana Gaudet

Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.

Christiana Gaudet

3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152

Email cgaudet@cardandcraft.com
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classeswww.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com


Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and in person readings and instruction are available by appointment.

Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.

Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232 x102
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
Schedule online at cardandcraft.10to8.com.

Agent inquiries are welcome.

Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 5 Issue 43
October 26, 2022

Read More
Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet

Is Fear Fun?

Spooky stuff can be fun, but it also helps us process our real fears and traumas.

There are cultural traditions everywhere that involve having fun with scary things, as we do during Halloween. A lot of people enjoy scary movies and thrilling carnival rides at any time of year. Horror stories are some of the best-selling books each year. This is proof that many people enjoy being scared. Why is that?

I think people like spooky fun because there are so many truly scary things in life. Horror stories, haunted houses, and scary movies are clearly not real. Allowing ourselves to be scared in a safe environment, by something we know is not real, may give us strength to deal with our real fears, and to process our actual traumas.

Fear is an interesting thing to unpack. We all feel fear that hurts us and holds us back from doing the things we want and need to do. We also feel fear that protects us and helps us stay safe.

These sorts of real fears are not fun at all, and only some of them are necessary.

This Spooky Season is a great opportunity to think about the fear that we have that is not real and does not serve us. There is no better time to release the fear that holds us back, so we can fully step into our personal power.

A woman uses tarot to open a door to the other side.

How Spirit Speaks Through Tarot Workshop

Plan to join us Wednesday, October 26, from 7 pm to 9 pm ET, for this special seasonal class.

You can join us on Zoom or in person in Palm City. This will be our last hybrid tarot class for 2022.

In this two-hour class you will learn how to hear the voice of spirit in a tarot reading, whether reading for yourself or others. You will learn to empower your readings with the presence of divine helpers, each and every time you pull a card.

Visit EventBrite to purchase your ticket.

The class will be available at cardandcraftacademy.com after November 2nd.

Visit christianagaudet.com for more information!

The StaarCon 2023 banner.

The StaarCorner

StaarCon 2023 is January 20-22, with a thirty-day AfterGlow on Accelevents. During the AfterGlow all ticketholders will be able to view and review recordings of StaarCon 2023 presentations, attend scheduled events with StaarCon presenters, shop in the online expo and gather with friends in the StaarCon lounges.

This year I am particularly excited with the wide range of topics we will be covering at StaarCon. Whether you are a professional reader, an aspiring pro, an enthusiast, or a curious beginner, there will be plenty for you to learn, do, and experience. Beyond tarot, we will be exploring Lenormand, astrology, numerology, divination with natural objects, crystals, mediumship, and much more.

You can attend in person in West Palm Beach or online on Accelevents. You can join us for one day, two days, or the whole weekend. We hope to see you there!

Michelle Barrie presenting at StaarCon 2022.
A reader holding tarot cards near an orb and blurred crystal on a table.

Tarot for When We are Afraid

We often do a reading, either for ourselves or with a friend or professional, when we are afraid. Tarot will often be able to tell us if the thing we are afraid of will happen, and whether it will be as bad as we fear. Tarot can also tell us how to handle our anxiety, and, if necessary, how to get through a difficult time. Tarot can help us find meaning in difficulty, just as tarot can help assuage unnecessary fear.

Sometimes it is best not to ask tarot if the thing you fear will come to pass. Rather, it is often better to ask a question such as, “What do I need to do right now to help the situation?” or “How can I find the strength to deal with this?”

If there is a situation that I am unsure of, I often like to do a two-card spread. The first card is, “This is the best this situation can turn out to be”. The second card is “This is the worst this situation can turn out to be.” The cards that appear here can be quite enlightening.

If we are having a tough time, we can turn to the cards for comfort. You can simply ask the cards to give a comforting message and pull a card. See what comfort you can find in the image that appears.

Old wedding photo, watch, keys, letters, and post cards.

The Week in Review

I shared a short video on my YouTube channel called Processing Our Mortality with Tarot. If you missed last week’s class, Seasonal Tarot Practices, you will enjoy the replay.

Members of my YouTube channel should join us tomorrow evening, Thursday, at 7 pm for our monthly Member’s Only Livestream. This month we are Calling in the Ancestors!

From Around the Web

Ben Libra Does Tarot has created a tarot spread to release the fear of one’s own magic and energy.

If you happen to be in or near Easthampton, Massachusetts on November 5 and 6, check out Bite Size Blends, a Mini Performance Fest at Eastworks!

The New York Post has published an article listing the best tarot deck for each astrological sign. I have never thought about choosing a deck based on astrology, but it is a fun idea!

Spiritual woman reading tarot cards.

Guidance on the Journey

Many misinformed people are afraid of tarot, and many people are afraid of specific tarot cards. There are cards that have names and images that can be scary. However, are there any tarot cards that truly advise us to be afraid?

The Fool asks us to take a leap of faith. When reversed, the Fool can be an admonition to be cautious. The Moon and Temperance can both advise caution. The Seven of Swords can warn of treachery.

In context, any card or card combination might warn against a specific action. But do any of these cards speak specifically of fear?

The Eight and Nine of Swords might speak of anxiety and worry. In these cards we can perhaps see fear. Yet very often these cards appear when we need to release anxiety and find a solution to our worry.

From my perspective, there are quite a few cards that speak of caution and patience. There does not seem to be a single card that advises or welcomes fear.

This may be a lesson we can learn from tarot. There are times that faith should outweigh fear. There are times to be careful. There are times to be on our guard. There are times we must confront our own worry. There are certainly things that we need to avoid. In life, the function of fear is to help us avoid things that can hurt us. The voice of tarot, however, does not usually seem to advise fear. Rather, it advises the wise decisions that safely move us forward.

Upcoming Events

Christiana Gaudet taking notes.

About Christiana Gaudet

Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.

Christiana Gaudet

3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152

On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classeswww.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com

Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and in person readings and instruction are available by appointment.

Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.

Call or text toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.

Agent inquiries are welcome.

Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 5 Issue 42
October 19, 2022

Read More
Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet

Are We There Yet?

We all have so many goals in life. Sometimes it feels that we get stuck along the way. The path forward is never a straight line. The secret is to enjoy the journey.

It happens so often that it has become a familiar joke. Children on a long car trip will incessantly ask “Are we there yet?” even when they are only a few minutes into the ride.

As adults, we often do the same thing on our journey through life. We have goals, internal and external, personal, and professional. We often check in with ourselves, wondering if we are moving forward, wondering if we are doing everything we need to do to get where we want to go.

Sometimes we see clear signs that we are well on our way. Then, something will happen that will make us feel that we have lost ground, or that we are simply standing still.

Sometimes we know exactly what our next step must be. Other times we feel lost, not sure where we are going or how to get there.

When I read for people regularly, either in sessions or on my YouTube livestreams, I can often see their obvious progress. This is so encouraging! Many times, I see progress for a bit, then a time of frustration and feeling stuck. Yet, over time, we can see that after the difficult time, progress resumes.

Life does not move in a straight line. The path to success is twisted, easy in some places and hard in others. We must be patience and proactive in equal measures. We must enjoy the journey. We must remember that as soon as one goal is met, we may set another, and the journey will continue.

Growth, healing, and achieving our goals is a life-long process. In many ways, the question we need to ask is rarely, “Are we there yet?”

More helpful questions are, “Am I doing what I need to do right now?” “Do I know what I want to be working toward?” “Am I enjoying the journey?” “Are the sacrifices I am making worth the end goal?”

These are great questions for meditation, journaling, and divination.

A woman uses tarot to open a door to the other side.

How Spirit Speaks Through Tarot Workshop

Plan to join us Wednesday, October 26, from 7 pm to 9 pm ET, for this special seasonal class.

You can join us on Zoom or in person in Palm City. This will be our last hybrid tarot class for 2022.

In this two-hour class you will learn how to hear the voice of spirit in a tarot reading, whether reading for yourself or others. You will learn to empower your readings with the presence of divine helpers, each and every time you pull a card.

Visit EventBrite to purchase your ticket.

The class will be available at cardandcraftacademy.com after November 2nd.

Visit christianagaudet.com for more information!

The StaarCon 2023 Banner.

The StaarCorner

We are excited to add Tara Greene to our roster of amazing presenters for StaarCon 2023. Tara is an internationally renowned tarot reader, astrologer, dreamworker, and workshop leader, as well as a Certified Transformational Psychotherapist.

Tara will be teaching us about major astrological shifts beginning in March 2023. With this information, we will be ready to take advantage of new opportunities and prepare for important changes as we move through our new year.

You can attend StaarCon in person in West Palm Beach, or online on Accelevents. Come for a single day, the weekend, or all three days.

A photo of StaarCon presenter Tara Greene.
Magic book and tarot cards on a table with other magical tools.

Tarot Over Time

Tracking the tarot or oracle readings you do for yourself, or your daily or weekly single-card pulls, can give you an interesting timeline of your life. Seeing the cards that repeat, and the ebb and flow of the energies around you is a way to chart your course, measure your healing, and make appropriate adjustments.

You can keep a record of your readings and cards in a journal, on your computer, or you can use a special tarot tracker (there are many available online).

Keeping a record of the cards you receive allows you to see your journey in a new way. An added benefit is that journaling your readings will help you more clearly understand the ways the cards speak to you.

Magic hands hold sphere with stars, moon, symbolic attributes.

The Week in Review

We have had two great free workshops on YouTube this week. Watch the replays of Seasonal Tarot Practices and Tarot, Trauma, and Spiritual Bypassing.

Members of our YouTube channel will gather for a members-only livestream, Calling in the Ancestors on Thursday, October 20.

From Around the Web

We have received the sad news that a member of our StaarCon community, Lainie Sevante Wulkan, lost her home and business location in Hurricane Ian. There is a fundraising site set up to help her and her family on their new journey. We wish them healing and love in this difficult time.

It’s October, and Mary Ellen Collins is writing about favorite spooky tarot decks.

Writers will love these tarot prompts!

The World and other tarot cards on a wooden table.

Guidance on the Journey

Major Arcana 21, The World, is a card with many possible interpretations and associations. The World can represent opportunity, attainment, completion, globalism, and world travel.

I often see the World as an invitation and admonition to take a long view. When we look at our accomplishments and our life’s journey, it can be easy to get caught up in small disappointments and in the minutiae of daily living.

The World asks us to use a wide-angle lens and pull back a bit, so we can see the big picture, and the entire timeline.

When the World appears in your reading, see if viewing the bigger picture might be helpful to your perspective and decision-making.

Upcoming Events

Schedule and prepay your appointment before October 15, 2022 and avoid the rate increase!

Christiana Gaudet teaching a tarot workshop.

About Christiana Gaudet

Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.

Christiana Gaudet

3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152

On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classeswww.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com

Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and in person readings and instruction are available by appointment.

Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.

Call or text toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.

Agent inquiries are welcome.

Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 5 Issue 41
October 12, 2022

Read More