Mark Horn, a tarot card expert who uses his knowledge of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) in his readings, has been busy lately.
“People were anxious,” said Mr Horn, who works in corporate marketing during the week but spends much of his spare time on Zoom doing readings. “Everyone is at home, thinking about their lives and what is really important. I get more questions like, ‘What should I do with my life?’ rather than “Is this guy for me?”
The pandemic expanded his client list, as people abroad started looking for him. It also broadened their queries, he said. “People generally want a clear understanding of the big picture, not just what’s happening to them right now.”
TAKE A CARD I’m usually up around 7:30. I hate being up at this hour, but my eyes open and my dog also tells me he has something to do. I take a quick walk with Freddie, then I make breakfast and have an espresso. I meditate and stretch, about 20 minutes each. Then I draw a card from my deck and contemplate thoughtfully, not predictively, the mood of the day. What does the card say about my character? Am I on the defensive? Should I be more expansive? And I write my thoughts in my tarot journal. I write in a notebook and have learned to block the print, as my cursive is now unreadable.
MOVE TO THE RHYTHM I’m quite a sedentary person, so I make sure to exercise on my elliptical trainer. I run about 20-40 minutes and watch music videos. Right now, I’m into BTS, the K-pop group. Then I grab a smoothie and feel ready to take on the day.
BANCED I take another walk, usually to Riverside Park, as it’s less crowded than Central Park. Since the pandemic, I’ve been meeting friends on park benches for a quick chat as the weather has turned colder. I’m part of two synagogues in the area, so the Upper West Side can be like a shtetl, where you walk around and see everyone you know.
TYPE ART I am a big collector. I have about 18 typewriters and keep two or three to use. I like the smell of machine oil and ink. My favorite, or workhorse, is the Olivetti Lettera 22 because it’s what I grew up with and typed my papers through high school and college. I type a letter to another friend about once a week because I like the idea of them getting something in the mail. I also have over 400 pieces of pottery from Japan, where I worked and lived for almost seven years during the Reagan presidency.
FOCUS ON FLOWERS Sunday is my ikebana day. I graduated from Sogetsu school. I love buying flowers, but there are very few flower shops in town now, so I stop at a bodega and make it work. I have an arrangement in place, and it makes me calm and ready for whatever tarot readings I do for the rest of the day.
READINGS I do readings starting around 2:30 p.m. I light candles and say a prayer to increase the light. This is how any card information is an advantage for my clients. I lay down a piece of Japanese washi paper, that’s where I put my cards. Technology has really helped me because now I can connect with more people around the world. This year I have received many requests from clients in Israel, as my book highlights cross sections of Tarot and Kabbalah.
SONG AND DANCE FOR SLEEP Around 6:30 p.m., I am quite exhausted. I could take a short nap and another brisk walk. Then I’m in my kitchen preparing dinners for the week ahead. Later, I often watch a TV series while texting or FaceTiming with a friend. I’m late watching “Schitt’s Creek.” I then read a period mystery novel in bed. But what really prepares me for sleep is listening to and watching videos of Sutton Foster or Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.