It all started…

…long ago, back in the good ol’ days living in LA. Something led me to Santa Monica’s famed Psychic Eye Bookstore, not sure what. At that age, I had no idea I was at all spiritually inclined. Maybe it was the smell of incense wafting from the velvet draped door that pushed me beyond a feeling of terrified curiosity, but I stepped from the glaring LA sun, into the cool dark of the Psychic Eye, my first step onto a life changing spiritual journey.

I won’t bore you with stories from all the stepping stones between that moment and my first tarot deck, but suffice it to say, there were many, and they weren’t all shiny and glorious; my spiritual seeking was borne of an unknown, deep inner pain. But, one of those stepping stones led me to a renowned psychic, Christina, who told me future tales of my life from the well-worn cards of the famous Rider Tarot Deck, tales that continue to come to fruition all these decades later.

In an effort to save money- Christina was rightfully pricey- I purchased my own deck. And it was okay. Not great. I didn’t exactly fly with it. But that was probably because I naively, or immaturely, thought I could foretell my own future through the wisdom of the cards. After a couple of years, I had moved on to other spiritual ways and means, hopeful to find a glimmer of a future I thought I wanted to see.

It wasn’t until after I had long since moved to Oregon, been a 12+ years practicing Buddhist, come out as Nonbinary, and deep-dove into my first Queer love, that I made a tiptoeing return to the Tarot. It happened one night when, curious of my new partner’s interest in their Tarot deck, I searched the internet to see what was out there. I sort of rebelliously and cheekily typed ‘Queer Tarot deck’ into my browser, certain I would be led to some sort of weird shit, or kinda-relevant MeetUp groups, or maybe nothing at all.

I was amazed and soooooo happy to find the Fifth Spirit Tarot by Charlie Claire Burgess, a fellow NB Queer human, also living in the PNW. I merely read their bio and immediately ordered their deck. It was probably one of the most perfect impulsive actions I’d taken since deciding to fly to Iquitos, travel two hours up the Amazon, walk the two hour hike into the rainforest, and live in community with a Native Medicine Shaman to work with plant medicines back in my late 20s.

Since the day the mail person delivered the Fifth Spirit Tarot to my doorstep, I have felt the sprouting of wings and flown with it in more ways than I ever imagined possible. The fresh, radical, real wisdom offered through this deck has moved mountains and profoundly deepened my connection to the flow of innate inner wisdom. My 15 years of intensive study and use of Master Alfred Huang’s I Ching definitely paved the way for a strong relationship with this new divination tool, allowing me to unlock a meaningful experience of the Tarot, but Charlie’s work in particular is truly impactful, and it has guided me through some of the most difficult transitions of my adult life.

I have loved sharing this deck in readings with others. If you’re seeking guidance that steers clear of all systems of oppression, if you’re wanting a Queer-affirming divination, I would love to work with you. I do not seek to tell fortunes, but rather facilitate deeper connections to innate wisdom through this ancient tool.

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