About
Em Wooden
I am a Portland-based tarot reader, as well as a synesthete, secular witch, copywriter, and editor. I first discovered tarot when I was going through a breakup. Again and again I asked my deck what I should do, and despite the fact I drew many different cards, each time I got the same answer: it was time to move on. That was when it dawned on me.
Tarot cards can reveal knowledge that is buried deep in your subconscious.
The cards started to feel familiar in my hands as I embarked on a new chapter in my life. I decided to do some serious trauma work to address issues that had been festering for years. My subconscious was hard at work as I did so, and I would often find myself crying even though I didn't feel sad, or overwhelmed by a thundering thought that ran through my head again and again until I suddenly understood what the depths of my mind were trying to tell me. Unlocking the mysteries of my subconscious became my primary goal—one that has paid off in uncountable ways.
I'm not a psychic, and I'm not going to tell your future. My practice is straightforward, introspective, and can work for anyone. When I flip over a card, I ask the seeker to take a look at it and pay attention to their gut reaction.
“What do you see in this image?” I might ask.
Once the seeker has spent some time sitting with their own impression of the card, I explain what the card represents in the tarot, and share some examples of how the meaning can play out in real life, as well as the synesthetic connections that I experience as we're talking. There is an element of collaborative storytelling in my readings, and many sessions involve a lot of back and forth as we craft a narrative together. The seeker's job is to pay attention to everything that comes up for them throughout this process. I encourage my clients to look out for physical sensations, stray thoughts, bolts of emotion, and any associations or memories that arise.
The insight, in short, comes from the seeker. Tarot cards allow us to goad our subconscious into enlightening us, much the way that flipping a coin to make a decision often reveals the choice you really wanted all along. You're either relieved or disappointed when that coin comes down.
With a tarot spread, you get more information than a simple coin flip can provide. I urge my clients to be honest with themselves, even if they stumble across insight that presents challenges. Ultimately, I believe that this practice provides a deeper knowledge of the self, which allows the seeker to face challenges and embrace triumphs. The goal is to reach a deep sense of peace with oneself. Together, we will craft a story that will get your there.