The Other Side of the Tarot Table
By Karen M. Rider, M.A.
Karen Hollis, never intended for a career in the metaphysical arts. Sometimes, the Divine Conductor orchestrates a symphony of an entirely different nature. Clint Eastwood grappled with this very topic in his recent film, Hereafter, starring Matt Damon. Though not quite as dramatic for Karen, who embraces her intuitive gifts and all that it brings to her life. However, Karen was led away from a high-profile career in multimedia-publishing to what has become a thriving practice as a professional intuitive and Tarot reader. Her clientele of more than 1600 spans the globe as her skills transcend both time and space.
Karen too me to the other side of her Tarot table for my very first professional Tarot reading. We spoke about her career, professional ethics and her hopes and fears.
Fascinated with Tarot Art History
While an undergraduate student Salve Regina University, Karen “fell in love with the art, the spiritual and esoteric symbolism of the Tarot.” She also was intrigued by the historical influence the Church had on sending the cards underground, during a specific period in history. Little did she know that this innocent appreciation and curiosity was the thread that would tie together some of the most important moments in her life.
Years later, Karen went on to work for The Knot and a number of other high profile marketing organizations. One afternoon, while traveling her sales route in Connecticut, she happened upon a new age store. “I went in to sell advertising space and wound-up staying for a reading with the shopkeeper.”
“This complete stranger knew things [about my life], which he could not have known from any other source.” The man told Karen she would “have a career as a professional psychic. She laughed and was prepared to leave the store when the gentleman invited Karen to join a psychic development group. “I was still intrigued with the cards. You could say my curiosity got the best of me and I showed-up at the first class.” Soon after, Karen met the regarded psychic, Virginia Randolph, who has been her mentor for many years.
A Reading by Karen
“The Tarot cards provide a source of information that can help people in situations where they are so close to their own issues they can’t see clearly,” Karen explained.
A reading by Karen begins with a prayer to invoke Divine guidance. I recorded my name on the sign-in form and gave my date of birth. Next, Karen prepared the regular deck of cards. I shuffled and split the deck a few times. As she spread the cards, Karen read (interpreted) the patterns that emerged.
