The origin of tarot cards is uncertain; the 78-card deck may have been invented in the 15th century in Italy, but it also dates back to Egypt and Israel, and by the 18th century was very popular in France. Three centuries later, the tarot is making a comeback in many places, including Milwaukee.
Recently I started teaching the tarot to Waxwing, 1800 E. North Ave., and it was a truly transformative experience. I never thought I liked teaching, but it turns out I really like it. I was also able to share my knowledge and love for maps with dozens of other people, including Brian Kramp of FOX6Now, who stopped by to shoot a segment at Waxwing last month and while he was there , I drew some cards for him. .
The segment airs today — Wednesday, May 25 — during “Studio A,” which airs from 4-5 p.m. on FOX (channel 6). Kramp and his wife are set to welcome their first child (born Monday) and, unsurprisingly, the cards bear witness to that. (The World card in the deck, drawn upside down, made perfect sense in Kramp’s case because his world is truly about to be turned upside down.)
This is where the cards sometimes get dodgy for some people. They think they are too general like newspaper horoscopes and people go too far to force them to be magical truth. I totally get that, but in my experience it’s been a weird coincidence that the cards we choose are often the cards we need the most to reflect on some aspect of our lives that isn’t working.
To me, the tarot isn’t a divination tool – it doesn’t tell you the exact date of your death or reveal what day of the week you’ll finally find your soul mate or your new favorite sandwich shop. For some readers, the tarot serves more as a glimpse into the future, but for me it’s mostly about the here and now and a tool to understand myself and the people and situations in my life. .
The cards themselves are as special, or even as magical, as we make them. They are, of course, made in factories, and not by fairies or otherworldly spirits, but when studied and taken to heart, the cards – in combination with our minds and intuition – can offer many interesting food for thought.
I started reading tarot cards 13 years ago when a friend gave me my first deck (in tarot culture, their first deck is best given as a gift) and taught me the meaning of the cards. I took voracious notes, which I still have today, and continued to read my cards, other people’s cards, and as many books and articles on the game as possible.
There are many people in Milwaukee who have been reading maps for much longer. Theresa Reed, aka “The Lady of the Tarot“, became interested in tarot 35 years ago.
“One day I was at Walden Books looking for astrology books in the tiny New Age section when I saw a tarot deck. On a whim I decided to buy it. J “had seen tarot cards in movies and thought they looked interesting. I went home, took the cards out of the box, started reading and never stopped”, says Reed. “I’ve been reading tarot professionally for 25 years now and I’m still as passionate and curious about these cards as the day I first got my hands on a deck.”
Today, Reed operates a successful business offering tarot readings by email, phone, and occasionally in person.
“I work with clients from all walks of life – from housewives to CEOs to artists,” she says. “My tarot readings are meant to empower the client. While the cards can show what may be ahead, you always have the option to change course at any time. As I always say, ‘the cards tell a story but you write the end.'”
Reed also mentors tarot students, has written “The Tarot Coloring Book” (published Nov. 1 by Sounds True Publishing), and is currently collaborating with Kyle Cherek (host of “Wisconsin Foodie” and “Chef Talk”) titled “Tarot by the bite“, a series of weekly blogs in which they go through the tarot deck, card by card, and connect it to food.
“I’m not just a tarot reader, but I’m also a foodie. I love to cook and eat,” Reed says. “It was so much fun. I learned a lot about food from Kyle and I think he learned a few new things about tarot from me. We’re almost done with the whole game, so it will end this fall. .”
Jen Cintrón is also a longtime tarot card reader. She bought her first game a few weeks before her 18th birthday at a Borders bookstore in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she was born and raised.
Today, she offers individual readings, in person and also by phone, Skype and email. She also does readings at parties and hosts team building events. Locally, she reads at Ascended Gifts’ Spirit Fair, the Riverwest Farmer’s Market (some Sundays) and will be doing tent readings during Bastille Days this year.
She also created a Facebook group, the Milwaukee Tarot Coterie for Milwaukee Tarot lovers of all skill levels and walks of life or anyone who is just curious about the cards and wants to learn more about them.
“I can’t wait to hang out with you all,” Cintrón says.
Cintrón’s relationship with cards has changed over the years. Although originally in love with the game, she had what she describes as a “crisis of faith and creativity” and studied, then worked, in science-related fields for five years.
After being diagnosed — and beaten — with thyroid cancer in her twenties, Cintrón realized she had strayed from her path of truth as an artist and musician. She dusted off her old tarot deck, realized it wasn’t quite for her, so she bought a few new decks and in 2010 started her business, Intuitive Tarot.
“I have regular clients in San Francisco, New Orleans, Honolulu, and I’ve done email readings for people in India and Germany,” she says. “Thank God I’m a night owl.”
She also became, and currently is, the lead singer of the gypsy swing band, 4th Street Elevator.
For Cintrón, one of the best parts of reading the cards is impressing doubters. “I love it when a skeptic has this expression of cognitive dissonance on their face, like, ‘It’s just a coincidence, but what a striking coincidence,'” she says. “Sometimes I just talk about what I see on the cards, even though it doesn’t make sense to me, and then the customer says, ‘Wow! You’re more right than you think!’ And that’s totally cool. The message was for them, not for me.”