Every year I'm offered the Gazebo at the Coldwater Steam Punk festival. It's located at the Museum side, on the other side of the highway from town. The festival arranges a bus to transport guests and visitors back and forth from town to the museum side, as there's lots going on at both sides of the festival.

I do love doing readings in the gazebo. Having to set up a tent to read in sometimes gives me a bit of anxiety. I worry about the wind, and is my tent secure enough? The gazebo is big and breezy and solid, and I can focus on my readings. Usually. There IS a lot going on with all of the costumes and music and events.

I bring a little brass cauldron filled with stones to hold down the cards, in case the breeze gets out of hand! I have a little table set up inside with a few chairs. This year I brought a bunch of my art to sell, as well as some gypsy cards and Angel Oracle cards and some metaphysical new age books. I found that so many people weren't brave enough to come up into the gazebo, so we set up a few little tables on the ground level and had a few things displayed there.

This year I only did 8 readings. That's half of what I normally do. There was some singing and even though the couple performing were across the field, the gazebo just grabbed onto her voice and sent it straight into my brain. I couldn't 'hear' the voices, and I found I was having to yell at the clients across from me. I was sad to have to tell a handful of people who were eager to read with me that I just couldn't do it with the singing going on. They all got a business card and I hoped that they would connect with me here.

I was concerned about giving them the best reading possible. And I knew I couldn't do it when it was just so loud. The readings that happened before that were amazing! But the last lady to sit with me was when the singing was going on, and I couldn't get anything for her. (This disappoints me, too. It rarely happens, but when it does, I am let down too.)

I was doing $10 for 10 minute readings on Saturday. They almost always end up going longer, just because I'm not going to leave someone with half a reading. AND I never bully anyone into paying for another 10 minutes, if there's more message for them from Spirit. That is just not my style.

There were so many costumes and I met so many new people! We had a beautiful day for the event.

My friend Wendy does readings also. Her tent is always set up near mine. She was selling handmade wands as well as some beautiful pendulums. I went to visit her during the day to check in, and give us both a boost half way through the day. It's a funny thing to be working all day in such a busy environment. (For the most part for me, it all feels like fun, but there's always that 2pm "i need a break", when I need a snack and some tea!)

This was my third year at the festival. It's so well organized and is always full of amazing things to see! They had a magician doing tricks (and he was so funny!) as well as some people dressed up as knights and vikings who did a bunch of fighting shows, and there were some shows in a big tent that was set up, with a tonne of music and interpretive dance.

If you made it to the Steam punk Festival in Coldwater this year, leave me a note! And if we met there, I'd love to reconnect!

Lori Grace
TheLittleWitch

When ever I get inquiries for email readings or in person readings, I always stress to the client to word their question in such a way that gives us both focus, WITHOUT giving your tarot reader any back story or hints. Personally I feel like even a little bit of information can make me feel like I'm cheating.

I like to read as 'blind' as possible, but still give you the option of asking the question that is on your mind.

It is helpful for you to give the reader some sort of question if you truly aren't looking for a general life read. Why? With my readings, I find my guides like to give the spiritual answer. They will always move straight to the spiritual reason for what's happening in your life, and often that's not what I find my clients are in search of!

I find good questions begin with considering what
has been the first thing on your mind to solve, or something that has just been sticking with you. the thought or situation that just won't quit.

The idea here is to pretend that you've already had ALL the story telling with the reader you are sitting down with. You shouldn't have to explain anything. It's the tarot cards job to tell you the answer to your question. I also think it's my job to give you as many confirmations as I can about what it is that you are thinking about, so we know we're in the right place.

 We then call this THING on your mind, "the situation."
then, you can form your question using a "who, what, where, when, why" beginning:

 "What is most important to know about this situation?"
"What is the best path to follow in this situation?"
"Am I already on the right path?"
"Where can I expect this path to lead?"
"When should I make the change that I'm thinking of?"
"What am I supposed to be learning spiritually from this situation?"
"What is the path of least resistance in this situation?"
"Who is it that I should be looking for?"
"What is the path for the greatest good in this situation?"
"What will happen If I change something in this situation?""What will happen if I do nothing in this situation?""What can I expect as a touchable world outcome in this situation?" (as opposed to spiritual world.)
"should I take action?""Do I chose A or B?"
"If I chose A or B, what is the outcome?"
"How will I know when it is time to take action?"



Questions worded in this way help get us to the heart of your inquiry, without giving the tarot reader any hints.

I hope this note helps you get the most out of your reading, and also helps you feel confident in your choice of readers.

I look forward to reading for you!

Blessings,
Lori-Grace

Winter is coming!

I'm feeling like it's time to finally get organized to be ready for taking phone calls for tarot readings. Winter is on it's way, my home parties start to slow down, and I'm completely set up to do readings over the phone. There's nothing left for me to do but pick up the phone.

Except... for some reason the idea of getting on the phone breaks me out in a cold sweat. This is strange to write, because the phones are really where I got my start, reading for people who weren't already friends and family.

I've come to realize that what makes me nervous about doing the reads on the phone, is more my worry about the per-minute charge. I feel so RUSHED to shuffle and get the messages as they come, because all the client on the phone hears is silence while that is happening. I don't want people to think I'm just sitting there breathing into the phone as they pay a per minute charge.

So, I do like some sort of contact via email or messaging before a phone call, so that I can walk people through the system and also so that I can forward them my "how to word your question well" note. If the clients are better prepared, we don't waste time trying to figure out what it is they want to know.

Plus, I've got my per minute rate set pretty low, in comparison to the other readers on this specific platform I use. I've done that also to put myself at ease about that money hang up!

My plan is to log on and become available when ever I am home and it's QUIET!

Would you prefer phone readings to email readings, if you were unable to come and sit with me in person?

Lori-Grace