My Life Purpose:
“To be a bridge between the spiritual and material realms,
assisting others in knowing their true divine identity and manifesting it.”
assisting others in knowing their true divine identity and manifesting it.”
I thought that an appropriate way to both introduce myself and model the role of the tarot cards in our lives would be to share with you a little about the three powerful feminine archetypes above, who represent aspects of myself that assist me in doing my life-purpose work.
My Journey with the Tarot
I wanted to share with you a little about my personal journey with the tarot and how it has led me to be with you today.
My love affair with these mystical, mysterious cards began in 1973, when my sister showed me her Aquarian Tarot deck—its beautiful, mesmerizing images struck me on a very deep level. I immediately bought a deck for myself and began to learn about the cards and do simple—and very rudimentary—readings for myself.
Fast forward to 1975, when I was living in a tiny community in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Northern California. It turned out that my next-door neighbor, an East Coast saxophonist who was temporarily living there with his family, was studying Aleister Crowley’s Book of Thoth deck (random synchronicity or part of a divine plan?). The colorful images are so full of energy they appear almost three-dimensional, which made the tarot come alive for me in a more expanded and elevated way than the two-dimensional images of the more traditional decks.
In Tarot: Mirror of the Soul, Gerd Zigler describes the profundity of this deck:
- The being on the right is The Star, who brings love, compassion, and hope to the world in moments of despair and tribulation. She is a bridge between spirit and matter. With her right hand, she scoops up the transcendent wisdom, love, truth, and other pure qualities of the spiritual realm, which are translated through her and which she then “pours” onto, or makes intelligible to, the manifest universe with her left hand.
- The being on the left is the Queen of Swords. We see her sitting on the mystic peaks stabilizing the divine ideas as they come to her, beginning the process of their taking form. In her left hand she holds a decapitated head, which represents the old attitudes, patterns, and beliefs that no longer support us and need to be released. She invites us into a new and vital evolutionary approach to life.
- In the middle is The Priestess, who is the direct channel between pure Spirit and the individual aware of his or her divine identity and manifesting it, that is, you. Her “voice” is silence and her revelations come through intuition. She understands the truth directly; our soul knows. She represents a mystical experience.
My Journey with the Tarot
I wanted to share with you a little about my personal journey with the tarot and how it has led me to be with you today.
My love affair with these mystical, mysterious cards began in 1973, when my sister showed me her Aquarian Tarot deck—its beautiful, mesmerizing images struck me on a very deep level. I immediately bought a deck for myself and began to learn about the cards and do simple—and very rudimentary—readings for myself.
Fast forward to 1975, when I was living in a tiny community in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Northern California. It turned out that my next-door neighbor, an East Coast saxophonist who was temporarily living there with his family, was studying Aleister Crowley’s Book of Thoth deck (random synchronicity or part of a divine plan?). The colorful images are so full of energy they appear almost three-dimensional, which made the tarot come alive for me in a more expanded and elevated way than the two-dimensional images of the more traditional decks.
In Tarot: Mirror of the Soul, Gerd Zigler describes the profundity of this deck:
Aleister Crowley’s life’s work was an attempt to extract and unify the essential Truth of all the traditional schools of Wisdom and religions, and make that Truth available in one complete system to help modern Humanity in the search for God-realization and Oneness. [p. 3]
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I purchased the Thoth tarot cards right away, knowing at a very deep soul level that “this was my deck,” though I had no idea of the important, ongoing role it would turn out to play in my life. And despite all of the numerous beautiful, creative, and interesting decks that now grace the metaphysical bookstores and online sites, the Thoth deck has continued to be the deck I use exclusively for the deep, transformational work I do with clients.
Onward. … I was compelled to learn more and go deeper into the practice of tarot. I was first trained in the approach I use in an eight-month course in 1979 and 1980 in—what could be more perfect?—the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco! So much personal growth was unfolding for people at that time, and I “happened” to find out about a course that was beginning that very evening on the Thoth deck. Off I went, and so began an in-depth exploration that weaves mystical wisdom of the Tree of Life of the Kabbalah, astrology, ancient Egyptian symbolism, and the consciousness teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother into the interpretation of the tarot cards. Below, you will see a diagram I refer to in the readings that incorporates these various elements.
In the more than four decades since that time, I have also included perspectives from other consciousness teachers with whom I’ve worked, and, perhaps most importantly, from my personal life experiences. A lifetime goal of mine is to eventually embody all the archetypes and share what I continue to learn about their meaning and “voices” with those who come for a reading. You will not find a duplication of what I do anywhere, even with those using the same deck.
Living from Our Highest Human Potential
I invite you to experience how these archetypal energies can assist you in living from your own highest human potential, right here and right now. We cannot wait for some future time when we will be more true, authentic instruments and expressions of Spirit in form. These unprecedented times of both challenges and opportunities, as well as our beloved homeland, planet Earth, are calling for us to express and give our unique gifts now, honoring and respecting all life forms, visible and nonvisible, and treating them all as sacred.
For a brief overview of the tarot deck and the purpose, process, and benefits of a tarot reading, as well as a sample reading, simply click on the “Tarot Readings” button found above. In addition, the “Tarot Blog” button will take you to my “Voices of Tarot Blog: Exploring the Wisdom and Wonder of Tarot in Our Lives,” where you will learn about the practical application of the symbolism of the Thoth cards in our lives and so much more!
If the tarot cards are calling you, I would be honored to share them with you and see what they have to reveal to you and what illumination they can provide in their in-depth snapshot of your expanded present moment. Be prepared for a good two hours of illuminative personal exploration into the various aspects of your life. You will not be the same after the experience.
Please visit the Contact Us page to send me a message and/or to request a reading. I look forward to our journeying together.
Blessings,
Onward. … I was compelled to learn more and go deeper into the practice of tarot. I was first trained in the approach I use in an eight-month course in 1979 and 1980 in—what could be more perfect?—the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco! So much personal growth was unfolding for people at that time, and I “happened” to find out about a course that was beginning that very evening on the Thoth deck. Off I went, and so began an in-depth exploration that weaves mystical wisdom of the Tree of Life of the Kabbalah, astrology, ancient Egyptian symbolism, and the consciousness teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother into the interpretation of the tarot cards. Below, you will see a diagram I refer to in the readings that incorporates these various elements.
In the more than four decades since that time, I have also included perspectives from other consciousness teachers with whom I’ve worked, and, perhaps most importantly, from my personal life experiences. A lifetime goal of mine is to eventually embody all the archetypes and share what I continue to learn about their meaning and “voices” with those who come for a reading. You will not find a duplication of what I do anywhere, even with those using the same deck.
Living from Our Highest Human Potential
I invite you to experience how these archetypal energies can assist you in living from your own highest human potential, right here and right now. We cannot wait for some future time when we will be more true, authentic instruments and expressions of Spirit in form. These unprecedented times of both challenges and opportunities, as well as our beloved homeland, planet Earth, are calling for us to express and give our unique gifts now, honoring and respecting all life forms, visible and nonvisible, and treating them all as sacred.
For a brief overview of the tarot deck and the purpose, process, and benefits of a tarot reading, as well as a sample reading, simply click on the “Tarot Readings” button found above. In addition, the “Tarot Blog” button will take you to my “Voices of Tarot Blog: Exploring the Wisdom and Wonder of Tarot in Our Lives,” where you will learn about the practical application of the symbolism of the Thoth cards in our lives and so much more!
If the tarot cards are calling you, I would be honored to share them with you and see what they have to reveal to you and what illumination they can provide in their in-depth snapshot of your expanded present moment. Be prepared for a good two hours of illuminative personal exploration into the various aspects of your life. You will not be the same after the experience.
Please visit the Contact Us page to send me a message and/or to request a reading. I look forward to our journeying together.
Blessings,
More Praise for Tarot Readings with Barbara
"Working with Barbara and her understanding of the tarot was transformational. I gained insight into my own issues and also insight into and awareness of what directions I need to take in my life. Her generous offer of time, compassion, and knowledge helped to awaken my inner self and my higher guides. Barbara is truly a light worker. Sharing the tarot with her is an experience not to be missed!" |
“Barbara Doern Drew is a master at sharing her understanding of the tarot. Her readings are sprinkled with the highest spiritual wisdom accumulated from years of study and spiritual practice. She has the gift of focusing on events and trends in the client’s life using the mirror of the cards to bring understanding and integration. I recommend her highly!” |
“I so appreciate you taking the time with me for that reading. It is such an honor to have someone spend a portion of time fully engaged in the process of exploring the depths of my being. You have such a gift for creating a safe and accepting space. And you ask great provocative questions, while remaining open to wherever the exploration leads. That is such a blessing. Thank you so much.” |
“You are an amazing reader. I loved my session with you. I am so excited to tell you that your reading was spot on and so accurate. … I am focused and aligned with newfound energy around the work I am doing. Diving deeper! I have gained much clarity and now am excited to watch it all unfold with grace and ease. I appreciate your talent, and I am so grateful for you. I am sure I will be calling on you again in a few months. Thank you again.” |
“If tarot is an aid in coming in contact with one's higher self, it is best to have a skilled facilitator who can illuminate the messages held in the cards. Barbara Doern Drew is that person. I was amazed by Barbara's breadth of knowledge and her ability to draw out from me how those symbols might relate to me. Her particular articulation and combination of descriptive words applied to the cards frequently connected so deeply within me, causing several ‘aha’ moments. To find someone so imbued with the knowledge of the tarot is a gift.” |
“Blessed by the presence of the Goddess, my reading with Barbara was beautiful—inspirational, clarifying, affirming, and uplifting. Even my ‘challenging’ cards were brought to me and integrated in such a way as to make me feel hopeful. I feel invigorated! She was able to see the many aspects of each card and bring them to me in a balanced and incredibly helpful way.” |
“Tree of Life Meditation”
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Barbara is available for both in-person and Zoom readings.
Please go to the Contact Us page to introduce yourself.