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Fortune Stellar: What Every Professional Tarot Reader Needs to Know
Since its publication in 2010, Fortune Stellar has been a primary resource for metaphysical professionals who count tarot as a personal tool, and for tarotists of all levels of experience with an interest in professional tarot.
The Second Edition of Fortune Stellar includes extensive author notes which reflect changes in technology and social culture. These updates make Fortune Stellar relevant and helpful for the aspiring tarot professional at any stage of development beyond basic tarot reading proficiency.
This second edition includes the original manuscript in its entirety. Far from a dry textbook, the lessons in Fortune Stellar are peppered with amusing anecdotes from the author’s career as a tarot reader.
Fortune Stellar includes eight lessons, each covering an important aspect of professional tarot and microbusiness management. Each lesson includes exercises designed to help the reader create the business that suits them best. Four new tarot professionals perform these exercises as an example and inspiration.
The eight lessons of Fortune Stellar begin with Structuring Your Tarot Business, which includes practical topics such as branding, marketing, fees and venues as well as thought-producing topics such as your vision and mission statement.
The second lesson is devoted to ethics, while the third lesson is about how to structure your professional-quality reading. The fourth lesson offers instruction for handling difficult clients and difficult tarot reading situations.
The fifth lesson discusses continuing education as a tarot reader, and the sixth is about mentoring and teaching. The seventh lesson discusses public appearances, and the eighth lesson is about fostering acceptance of tarot in the community at large.
New in the second edition is a supplemental index which includes brand new exercises for tarot professionals well as interviews with fulltime tarot professionals from many countries.
Tarot is growing in popularity around the world. Never has there been a better time for tarot enthusiasts to turn their passion into a career. Fortune Stellar is designed to help each tarotist create a career path that uniquely works for them, and to help each tarot professional take their career to the next level.
The Second Edition of Fortune Stellar includes extensive author notes which reflect changes in technology and social culture. These updates make Fortune Stellar relevant and helpful for the aspiring tarot professional at any stage of development beyond basic tarot reading proficiency.
This second edition includes the original manuscript in its entirety. Far from a dry textbook, the lessons in Fortune Stellar are peppered with amusing anecdotes from the author’s career as a tarot reader.
Fortune Stellar includes eight lessons, each covering an important aspect of professional tarot and microbusiness management. Each lesson includes exercises designed to help the reader create the business that suits them best. Four new tarot professionals perform these exercises as an example and inspiration.
The eight lessons of Fortune Stellar begin with Structuring Your Tarot Business, which includes practical topics such as branding, marketing, fees and venues as well as thought-producing topics such as your vision and mission statement.
The second lesson is devoted to ethics, while the third lesson is about how to structure your professional-quality reading. The fourth lesson offers instruction for handling difficult clients and difficult tarot reading situations.
The fifth lesson discusses continuing education as a tarot reader, and the sixth is about mentoring and teaching. The seventh lesson discusses public appearances, and the eighth lesson is about fostering acceptance of tarot in the community at large.
New in the second edition is a supplemental index which includes brand new exercises for tarot professionals well as interviews with fulltime tarot professionals from many countries.
Tarot is growing in popularity around the world. Never has there been a better time for tarot enthusiasts to turn their passion into a career. Fortune Stellar is designed to help each tarotist create a career path that uniquely works for them, and to help each tarot professional take their career to the next level.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2010
63 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 19, 2024
Great resource for budding professional readers.
March 12, 2021
2.5/5
I've been reading Tarot since 2018 and recently started reading for others for free on different online places like Facebook groups and r/tarot to practice reading for strangers. I find I generally enjoy it, and have been considering taking it to the next level when I'm comfortable. This isn't necessarily a career path I'm 100% set on, rather I am at the early stages of considering, so felt like the perfect time to read this. I currently own a URL for a website and blog that I still need to go through the pain in the ass of setting up but will eventually do so, (maybe soon now that Mercury Rx is over and also I have a long weekend from work for no discernable reason but that I'm not complaining about coming up.) I only very recently started an Instagram for Tarot related things (shameless self-promo, if you're interested) so I'm still pretty new to online communities surrounding Tarot despite having been practicing for a few years now.
If I'm going to be honest, this book was a bit of a mixed bag. The author mentions having received flack for the previous edition including too much intro material. I agree with this (For example: some very basic overview about how to read reversals is included here, which I would hope serious readers already have a grasp on if they're considering charging people $$.) She states that a lot of people who call themselves professional readers lack a solid knowledge in the practice. This is true, and I'd guess social media has very much made it worse. I see people interpreting cards in ways that are almost opposite or irrelevant of the traditional card meanings on every social media platform I frequent for Tarot related content, and as I mentioned above... I haven't as of yet spent a lot of time in those spaces. That said, the logic in her defense for including it seems flawed to me-- are the same people who didn't bother with picking up beginner books when they started out really going to read this book? I don't know for certain, but I'd say it's doubtful.
Some of the chapters and advice in here read like LinkedIn posts for Tarot Readers and there are draws to that, but as someone already working in the business world I found it to be a little trite. You could google search and probably find as much if not more info on starting your own business and self-employment. For example, you need to network and also invest time and/or money into marketing.... Um, duh? The main advantage here is really just the author's own insight into how to use these tips for a Tarot business specifically, which I did find to be mostly helpful.
I did really like some of her essays that were included in the book. The one on Kabbalah was really insightful as I had just started looking more into that system with another non-Tarot oracle deck that I own that was grounded in that tradition. Her essay on Card 18, The Moon was also extremely insightful and well written, and I enjoyed it.... but I also didn't see the relevance to the topic of this book in particular? This could have been a blog post entirely on its own outside of this book and I don't think it would have changed what I got out of reading it. This wasn't the only example I found of me wondering what the relevance to her overarching message was with some of the things she discussed.
Some of the Tarot exercises at the end of chapters were very useful and I could see myself going back to them as I get closer to maybe making a business out of this. I don't think the examples of her students doing the exercises were all that helpful or useful though? Some of them I also actively did not enjoy or rolled my eyes at.
I think overall ratio of information I liked to did not like or found too basic is probably a 3, but I'm knocking it to 2.5 for presentation and tone.
This book definitely has useful information in it, I doubt that there's a Tarot book out there that does not, but I can't really justify the price of admission for advice that mainly seems like common sense, if not meant for complete beginners, with a few helpful exercises thrown in.
I've been reading Tarot since 2018 and recently started reading for others for free on different online places like Facebook groups and r/tarot to practice reading for strangers. I find I generally enjoy it, and have been considering taking it to the next level when I'm comfortable. This isn't necessarily a career path I'm 100% set on, rather I am at the early stages of considering, so felt like the perfect time to read this. I currently own a URL for a website and blog that I still need to go through the pain in the ass of setting up but will eventually do so, (maybe soon now that Mercury Rx is over and also I have a long weekend from work for no discernable reason but that I'm not complaining about coming up.) I only very recently started an Instagram for Tarot related things (shameless self-promo, if you're interested) so I'm still pretty new to online communities surrounding Tarot despite having been practicing for a few years now.
If I'm going to be honest, this book was a bit of a mixed bag. The author mentions having received flack for the previous edition including too much intro material. I agree with this (For example: some very basic overview about how to read reversals is included here, which I would hope serious readers already have a grasp on if they're considering charging people $$.) She states that a lot of people who call themselves professional readers lack a solid knowledge in the practice. This is true, and I'd guess social media has very much made it worse. I see people interpreting cards in ways that are almost opposite or irrelevant of the traditional card meanings on every social media platform I frequent for Tarot related content, and as I mentioned above... I haven't as of yet spent a lot of time in those spaces. That said, the logic in her defense for including it seems flawed to me-- are the same people who didn't bother with picking up beginner books when they started out really going to read this book? I don't know for certain, but I'd say it's doubtful.
Some of the chapters and advice in here read like LinkedIn posts for Tarot Readers and there are draws to that, but as someone already working in the business world I found it to be a little trite. You could google search and probably find as much if not more info on starting your own business and self-employment. For example, you need to network and also invest time and/or money into marketing.... Um, duh? The main advantage here is really just the author's own insight into how to use these tips for a Tarot business specifically, which I did find to be mostly helpful.
I did really like some of her essays that were included in the book. The one on Kabbalah was really insightful as I had just started looking more into that system with another non-Tarot oracle deck that I own that was grounded in that tradition. Her essay on Card 18, The Moon was also extremely insightful and well written, and I enjoyed it.... but I also didn't see the relevance to the topic of this book in particular? This could have been a blog post entirely on its own outside of this book and I don't think it would have changed what I got out of reading it. This wasn't the only example I found of me wondering what the relevance to her overarching message was with some of the things she discussed.
Some of the Tarot exercises at the end of chapters were very useful and I could see myself going back to them as I get closer to maybe making a business out of this. I don't think the examples of her students doing the exercises were all that helpful or useful though? Some of them I also actively did not enjoy or rolled my eyes at.
I think overall ratio of information I liked to did not like or found too basic is probably a 3, but I'm knocking it to 2.5 for presentation and tone.
This book definitely has useful information in it, I doubt that there's a Tarot book out there that does not, but I can't really justify the price of admission for advice that mainly seems like common sense, if not meant for complete beginners, with a few helpful exercises thrown in.
September 14, 2015
This book is a great resource for intermediate and seasoned readers. I love the card exercises at the end of each chapter to help you gain more insight into each of the topics. I will be referencing the book/ exercises often as I plan my tarot business.
March 28, 2025
As someone who has recently decided to pursue my Tarot practice as a stream of income, this book was just what I needed. Christiana lays everything out, chapter by chapter in a very comprehensive way. Her style of writing is so warm and personable, while still making sure to speak the truth. The exercises and ideas put forth in the book are helpful, insightful, and really fun. I walked away with confidence in myself and my practice as well as myriad ideas for promotion, further learning, networking, and business practices. I wholeheartedly recommend this book, if you're thinking about a business as a reader, or if you're already working, there's knowledge and ideas in this book for so many things that I really hadn't considered.
September 3, 2018
Some common sense tips in here. Good for those ready to take that step.
January 1, 2011
~IF YOU OWN A TAROT DECK~
If you have a Tarot deck you will end up reading for somebody, be it your girlfriend, your brother or your pet. Christiana Gaudet wrote a book that not only helps you to answer all the questions you come across while bringing Tarot to people but the book that is to be your true companion for as long as you use your Tarot deck (i.e, look up the first sentence=for as long as you, even occasionally, read for other people).
To me, the most brilliant technique of the book is in exercises where you draw cards to answer questions about your Tarot business: be it about marketing or fees or mentoring you are going to provide, etc. The author shows you how to interpret them, and provides real life examples.
Conducting the Code of Ethics is the part that I found to be the most timely for the current development of the image of Tarot in the eyes of the world community. It is not a secret that Tarot perceived in a hugely wronged way and there is just one solution: to prove the spiritual core of Tarot and integrity of its readers one client at a time. Developing your own Code of Ethics will help you develop your own set of guidelines, which support you in your element and provide the "safety net" we all need.
This is not a book to read and go through exercises just once. I believe this is a true companion book for the length of your professional career as a Tarot reader or Teacher or a person who talks Tarot with others: doing the exercises on regular basics, once a year perhaps, will help you to discover new avenues of your business, ways to increase your Tarot income, nuances of your devotion to the Spirit and self, ways to connect with others and share the wisdom of the cards.
The lessons in this book are: Structuring your Tarot business; your professional Code of Ethics; structuring a professional reading; difficult clients, questions and cards; growing as a Tarot Reader; mentoring and teaching; appearances and performances; fostering acceptance in local communities. You will also find essays on Tarot art and history, practical exercises, meditations and 15 years of professional wisdom of the Certified Tarot Grandmaster Christiana Gaudet.
I highly recommend this book to everybody who ever plans to give a reading to another person.
If you have a Tarot deck you will end up reading for somebody, be it your girlfriend, your brother or your pet. Christiana Gaudet wrote a book that not only helps you to answer all the questions you come across while bringing Tarot to people but the book that is to be your true companion for as long as you use your Tarot deck (i.e, look up the first sentence=for as long as you, even occasionally, read for other people).
To me, the most brilliant technique of the book is in exercises where you draw cards to answer questions about your Tarot business: be it about marketing or fees or mentoring you are going to provide, etc. The author shows you how to interpret them, and provides real life examples.
Conducting the Code of Ethics is the part that I found to be the most timely for the current development of the image of Tarot in the eyes of the world community. It is not a secret that Tarot perceived in a hugely wronged way and there is just one solution: to prove the spiritual core of Tarot and integrity of its readers one client at a time. Developing your own Code of Ethics will help you develop your own set of guidelines, which support you in your element and provide the "safety net" we all need.
This is not a book to read and go through exercises just once. I believe this is a true companion book for the length of your professional career as a Tarot reader or Teacher or a person who talks Tarot with others: doing the exercises on regular basics, once a year perhaps, will help you to discover new avenues of your business, ways to increase your Tarot income, nuances of your devotion to the Spirit and self, ways to connect with others and share the wisdom of the cards.
The lessons in this book are: Structuring your Tarot business; your professional Code of Ethics; structuring a professional reading; difficult clients, questions and cards; growing as a Tarot Reader; mentoring and teaching; appearances and performances; fostering acceptance in local communities. You will also find essays on Tarot art and history, practical exercises, meditations and 15 years of professional wisdom of the Certified Tarot Grandmaster Christiana Gaudet.
I highly recommend this book to everybody who ever plans to give a reading to another person.
October 28, 2013
This is an invaluable book to any professional tarot reader. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews