The Big Shift

I read tarot predictively for nearly thirty years. People would come to me asking what was going to happen in their jobs, in their relationships, in their lives. They weren’t always looking for guidance — they wanted answers. And for a long time, that’s what I tried to give, because that was how I’d learned. I even wrote books about predictive tarot.

But over time, I began to feel disheartened. Something felt missing. I realised I didn’t believe tarot was being used in its most powerful way. For me, the true strength of tarot lies not in the future, but in the present — because the present is the only place where we can make choices and create change.

Think of it like this: if the future is already written in the cards, then what’s the point of having a reading at all? If nothing can be changed, we’re left powerless. And tarot, in my experience, is far too alive, too rich, too layered to be reduced to a fixed script of what will or won’t happen.

So I began reading differently. When I read cards now, I explore them with the person sitting across from me. I explain their core meanings, but I don’t dictate what they must mean. Instead, we reflect together: what feels relevant, what resonates, what can be taken forward. I am no longer the driver handing out directions — I am the co-pilot, sitting alongside you as you navigate your path.

A reflective tarot session creates space for conversation rather than monologue. The cards become mirrors: reflecting your patterns, your challenges, your possibilities. In those reflections you might recognise things you already know, or truths you’ve avoided. Either way, the process becomes an act of self-discovery — not about what will happen, but about how you can respond to life with more awareness and choice.

Hindsight has shown me something important: even though I gave many accurate predictive readings over the years, what was missing was you. The person across the table. Reflective tarot puts you back at the centre of the reading, where you belong.

Introducing Reflective Tarot

When people first hear I read tarot, they often imagine prediction: fortune-telling, forecasting the future, laying out what will happen.

But that’s not how I work. My approach is different. I call it reflective tarot — and it isn’t about handing over your power to a prediction. Instead, it’s about using the cards as prompts for self-discovery. The images on the cards open up conversation. They help us pause, reflect, and see things from a new angle.

Reflective tarot doesn’t tell you what’s ahead. It helps you see where you are now — and how you want to move forward.

How Reflective Tarot Works in Practice

Here are a few examples from recent explorations:

The 2 of Pentacles – Finding Balance

A client came to me feeling pulled in too many directions — work, family, personal commitments. The 2 of Pentacles appeared: a figure juggling two coins while keeping their balance.

We talked about what “juggling” meant in their life. I asked: Which responsibilities genuinely need your energy, and which could be delegated or dropped?

By the end, they decided to block out two evenings a week for themselves and to ask a colleague to share a recurring task. The card became a reminder that balance isn’t about doing it all — it’s about making choices.

The 3 of Swords – Making Space for Healing

A client came to me carrying the weight of a recent disappointment — a project they had invested time and energy into had fallen through. The 3 of Swords appeared: a heart pierced by three blades.

Instead of treating the card as a sign of more pain ahead, we reflected on what needed attention now. I asked: What part of this experience still hurts the most? What could help you move some of that weight off your shoulders?

They realised they hadn’t spoken openly to their team about how the setback had affected them. By the end of the session, they decided to schedule a conversation with a colleague they trusted, not to fix the past, but to acknowledge it and get support moving forward.

The card reminded them that healing often begins with honesty — naming what hurts, rather than holding it inside.

The 4 of Cups – Reframing Opportunity

One client felt uninspired and restless in their career. The 4 of Cups appeared: a figure staring at three cups while ignoring the fourth being offered.

Rather than saying “something new is coming,” we explored: What opportunities are already around you that you might be overlooking?

Together, we identified a training programme through their workplace that they had dismissed before. They committed to applying, realising it could open doors to the kind of role they actually wanted.

Why Reflective Tarot Matters

In each of these examples, the cards didn’t dictate what would happen. They created space for reflection, clarity, and choice.

That’s the power of reflective tarot: it empowers you rather than telling you what’s ahead. It invites you to step back, notice where you are, and discover what feels right for you.

If you’ve ever been curious about tarot but unsure about fortune-telling, this approach might be for you. It’s not about prediction. It’s about reflection — and sometimes, that’s where the real magic lies.