Tarot and the Moon: An Interview with Ethony

Hi everyone! This week, I am so ecstatic to be interviewing the amazing Ethony. Ethony helps Tarot professionals build successful heart-centered businesses through Business Coaching and Tarot Certification, which is one of the reasons I really wanted to interview her today.   I feel like Ethony and I are really kindred spirits in our missions and the type of work that we are here to do on this earth. Ethony is a mother, a practicing eclectic witch, and the creator of many popular Tarot and Oracle Card Decks -- including the Bad Bitches Tarot, which you may have heard of. She's also the Headmistress of the Tarot Readers Academy and has so many more amazing accomplishments. So Ethony, thank you so much for being here with us today. Ethony: Thank you so much for having me. Ashley: Now, I've listened to a number of interviews with you before and I know that you kind of get asked this question a lot, But... How did everything start for you with Tarot? Ethony: I found Tarot through my practicing the craft. So I found Witchcraft, Paganism, and Wicca when I was in high school. I was 15. And I'm aging myself here, but The Craft was very popular. I love that movie still. I was actually doing research for an English paper and I came across this book called The Learned Arts of Witches & Wizards -- a book that I still have. It talked about nature and the connection with the natural rhythms of the moon and the sun and the seasons and the mystical arts. I'd always been absolutely fascinated by all of those things. I just felt like I'd come home; I found home. I loved how accepting and open that practice is. After this, I started to build my tools. The Tarot was one that I found while I was also working in a shop that sold cards. It was a language that clicked because Tarot really is a language. It's the most amazing thing that connects me to my higher self, with my spirit guides. Yes, it claps back at me at times. I mean it’s been keeping me out of too much trouble. But I found that through my spirituality first. Since then, it has become the main tool that I use throughout my life. Ashley: You know that really brings us to my next question actually. Because the way you're describing it is that it started for you just on this path of spiritual self-discovery and Tarot was one of the tools that you discovered along the way. How can the rest of us as modern mystics, as seekers of spirit, really incorporate Tarot as part of our spiritual practice? Ethony: Tarot, Oracle cards -- any form of using cards in any way -- I really find to be a beautiful conversation, a beautiful exchange. So one thing that I find is very helpful, if you're working on a goal or you have something you're trying to achieve or an energy you want to set for yourself for the day, grab your favorite deck. You don't have to know it very well. It doesn't have to be one that is super popular. Just grab the deck that you feel the most connected to. In the morning, give that deck a shuffle. Ask yourself, ask the cards, take some deep breaths, and say, "What action can get me further towards my goal?" Or, "What next action should I take?" Or, "What energy am I being asked to focus on today?" And pull just one card. In that way, you are actually becoming a partner with the universe, with your higher self, with your spirit guides, all to move yourself forwards. You're becoming an active participant in your own spiritual awakening and journey. I've found that has led to so many breakthroughs. Every little, small step adds up to a big step towards making massive change happen. Ashley: That is so true. And to those of you listening, I just have to say from personal experience, I've found this to be a really transformative way to work with cards in my own spiritual practice and in my own just kind of day-to-day routine.