My journey with the Tarot
I fell in love with the Tarot after my first reading almost 25 years ago. It was a simple reading, yet I experienced a "TRUTH" in the answers that the cards revealed… it was profound.
Because I was born into a dysfunctional family, truth was hard to detect as many situations were not as they appeared. It left for a confusing upbringing which made life more challenging than I believe it had to be. Even as a child, I knew something was wrong. Discernment was something I knew nothing about because I never knew who was lying, and who was not, until I got on the road of emotional recovery.
Growing up in the home I grew up in was unsafe emotionally, physically, and spiritually, so I was forced to pretend things were fine, when really they weren't. (And this caused me to dis-associate from my true nature). It wasn't until I entered grief therapy where I began to understand the healing power of processing my repressed emotions. Dr. Patrick Arbore, a grief counselor with amazing gifts, taught me the importance of grieving & getting in touch with these dark emotions. Patrick often said, “embrace these dark emotions, but try not to get stuck in them”. I’ve learned through all the grief work I’ve done thus far, the importance of: “Feel in order to Heal”. And although this has been a painful journey, I believe there’s no journey that’s more important than….
A journey of re-connecting to my true self.
For me, this process of connecting to my "True nature" has been a process that's required Courage, patience, loving myself, self-care and more. There have been certain modalities that have been extremely instrumental in my re-connection, and the Tarot Cards are at the top of my list. These cards have been extremely instrumental in helping me change from the unconscious people pleasing me to a most Authentic Real Me.
During my over 10-year journey working with Dr. Patrick Arbor - grief counselor, mentor & friend, I often shared with Patrick my tarot readings that I did for myself. I would perform readings multiple times a day for answers to my everyday situations. Patrick, to my surprise, also loved the Tarot:) I brought my readings to Patrick during our 55 minute counseling sessions where he used them to aid in our time together. My cards would reveal insights to my challenging situations and Patrick would say: “Diana, what does the Tarot suggest?” He shared,
“Diana, as you can see, these cards are extremely connected to you, your soul… you can truly trust them for guidance”
so I did, and I do!
For Christmas one year, I gave Patrick a deck of my most favorite Tarot cards knowing that he loved them too. Last year (2023) Patrick passed away and I lost the most important person in my life. Not only was Patrick one of the most gentle wise souls who too recovered from much childhood trauma, he was the one and only person in my life that truly understood me. Patrick was able to transform his traumas into helping so many; not only me, but countless others. Kindness was his motto, and patience was his gift. He often said to me: “Diana, just be kind, that’s all you need to do”.
Yesterday I received an email from one of Patrick's long time grievers. After Patrick passed away, one of his clients ended up with the Tarot deck that I gave him many years ago. She heard I gave this deck to Patrick and asked me if I’d like to have it. I am thrilled to receive this most precious gift, the gift I gave to Patrick that’s returning back to me after his passing. I see this as an amazing sign from the universe, a sign that I choose to embrace as a way to help others connect authentically, as that’s the gift Patrick gave to me when he was alive.
I will use this most special Tarot deck when I offer readings for people that are interested in connecting more deeply with themselves. I know I will feel, (and I hope you do too), the extra special love, kindness and wisdom that will be infused in these cards with the healing energy of
Dr. Patrick Arbore.