Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Desiree Valdez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Desiree, appreciate you joining us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

Working as a tarot card reader, I discovered very early on that most folks have an idea in their minds about what a tarot card reader is and what they do. They picture a woman in bohemian-flowy skirts who is part of a carnival midway, plying their craft to folks in the vaguest way possible and scamming clients left and right. Or maybe they have encountered a card reader at an event or party and were initially impressed with their reading, but in retrospect felt like the reading could have been for anyone. These two examples, along with other ideas and experiences folks have had with tarot readings color the way I am perceived and what insights I can provide my clients when I give them a card reading. In fact, a lot of these negative experiences prevent clients from taking the leap to purchase a reading from me in the first place.

No matter who I read cards for, I have found there is always an expectation on what the outcome will be. Sometimes folks are hoping to affirm a major decision and other times they are incredibly skeptical and want to prove me wrong. Regardless, with every card reading I give, I gain more experience in maintaining compassionate and clear communication with my clients despite the expectations they have of me. Instead of feeling daunted by possible misunderstandings, I maintain clarity about my intentions for my practice, ground myself in reality while honing my gut feelings or instincts, and work on letting go of any outcome for any reading I give to a client

Setting intentions for any activity helps us ensure we can get the most out of any endeavor. For a card reading, I work closely with my clients to determine what they want to receive from the reading. We talk through any immediate concerns or questions and set a goal for our session. Someone may want to know about their current career trajectory, others want to connect with their feelings about a loved one who has passed away, or sometimes a client wants more insight on how the upcoming month will unfold for them. The cards are as esoteric as one wants them to be, so setting an intention about how deeply we will delve into the unseen is important to do. This helps prevent misunderstandings about what service I am performing for them and hopefully provides them with some assurance about the messages I impart based on my interpretation.

Explaining to the client how the cards are telling us a story that the client and I are interpreting together has been a very helpful way to combat expectations about the reading and creates a meaningful session for them and for me. My hope is they walk away feeling excited about the future and they are assured they can harness the power they possess to engage with life. I don’t think that’s too much to expect, do you?

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Desiree Valdez and Tarot a-Go-Go is my tarot and oracle card reading business.

Tarot a-Go-Go is a place for anyone looking for a deep, compassionate, sometimes whimsical card-reading experience. I have been reading cards for over 15 years but have only just recently started offering my services online. By applying my intuitive and channeling skills to the reading of cards, I am able to provide profound insight into my clients’ feelings about their question or prompt. Reading cards in a grounded and practical way is incredibly important to me, too, because all clients have different beliefs about and understandings of our world. My clients and I approach the cards in the way that makes the most sense for their questions or concerns. I firmly believe card readings are a way to assess situations, concerns, questions, or issues we encounter as we navigate our lives.

At Tarot a-Go-Go I provide a cornucopia of readings ranging from a simple card pull for “yes or no” questions to looking at a client’s entire year ahead. I also offer readings to connect the client with their ancestors or beloved dead, and readings to discuss creative endeavors for anyone feeling creatively blocked. I can customize readings to a client’s specific concern or question using a variety of tarot and oracle card decks to provide input and guidance. I have successfully worked with clients to address grief after a loved one passed away, to give them relief and comfort during their grieving process. My annual readings are very popular and I enjoy giving folks guidance they can carry with them throughout the year.

My card reading style is quite in-depth—I leave no stone unturned and go into great detail to ensure you get the guidance you are seeking.

When you place an order to receive an online reading from me, I meditate on your question and then begin to pull cards. The guidance from the cards for addressing what is on your mind comes through to me as I study the cards that come up for you. For online readings, I record my interpretation of the cards and send that audio file to you along with a picture of the cards pulled and an optional transcription of the reading. I also follow up after sending the reading to see if you want me to pull another card to clarify anything.

The opportunity to share my gifts with my clients as they move along their paths in life is a privilege. But I also know clients who receive readings for fun and entertainment, so I likewise try not to take myself too seriously.

Whatever the reason, it’s always time for a card reading at Tarot a-Go-Go!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After working in the field of public health for over ten years, I arrived at a crossroads. There were a lot of systemic issues within the organization I was working and interpersonal clashes in my immediate working environment that were draining me. I felt depleted, lost, and confused. I decided it was time for me to move on from the field for the time being and focus on developing other skills I set aside while working in government. While I was able to use my creativity, emotional intelligence, and intuition in public health and government work, it definitely made me a bit of an outsider.

The pivot I made in my working and creative life is still unfolding. I am working to grow my card reading business, Tarot a-Go-Go, and go back to school to gain more tools and skills to help people on their mental health journeys. Pivoting at this time has allowed me to recover from the grind of a typical office job and pursue new opportunities to grow and learn. By putting my own mental health first, I will be equipped to help others on their path.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The particular goal driving me forward on my creative journey is to operate with compassion and openness to my process. As I pursue new educational goals and spend time germinating the next phase of my working life, I want to remain open to new ideas and ways of working that genuinely touch the lives of others.

Compassion is crucial to the process of learning and growing – compassion for ourselves and for others. Remaining open to the possibilities is another important piece to my development at this time because it allows me to think more creatively about my business and the ways it can change to accommodate everything I will learn.

Contact Info:

• Other: https://ko-fi.com/tarotagogohttps://tarotagogo.etsy.com