READER SPOTLIGHT: Silver Raven, Tarot Card Reader, Reiki Healer
Silver Raven- Tarot Card Reader, Reiki Healer
Folks, I am so pleased to introduce you to Silver Raven of silverraventarot.com.
I first crossed paths with Silver while attending some online evening classes taught by Theresa Reed (aka The Tarot Lady). Her thoughtful questions and contributions in class made her an instant standout in my mind.
Recently, we collaborated to present a two hour discussion about numerology through her weekly evening series, “Sundays With Silver.” I also purchased a reading with Silver, and I LOVED it!
Whether you are seeking a reading, looking to network with other tarot reader colleagues, or seeking a business mentor to help you on your own professional tarot career path, Silver has something for you.
It is my delight to showcase and share Silver’s talents, story, energy, and services with you. Enjoy!
How did you begin your journey into the metaphysical arts?
Honestly, I think I was into the metaphysical before I even realized it. At a young age, I was fascinated by my paternal grandmother’s old-world ways. She would drop a little olive oil in a bowl of water, the pattern she saw would tell her if someone had given one of us “the evil eye”. If we were ill, she would rub our temples and mutter in Italian softly with what I later came to realize were healing prayers. The soothing feeling of this is something I still remember to this day.
In my early teens I somehow discovered candle magic and would do little spells behind the closed door of my bedroom. Mostly to try to get a boy to like me! lol
A friend of mine turned me onto astrology and I remember my first visit to a local astrologer and how blown away I was by my birth chart and her interpretations. The book Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs” became dog eared from all the use it got.
When I was 16 or 17 years old, I had a Tarot reading done by an acquaintance. It was another thing I discovered somewhere and found fascinating. The experience sort of blew my mind because I could see what she was saying in the cards without ever having seen a Tarot deck up close. I purchased my first deck, the Aquarian Tarot (still have it 40 year later!) and I was hooked. My friend taught me the basics and I just ran with it from there.
In my late 30’s I met a woman who was a witch. Again, it was like an epiphany. I started learning about being a witch from some classes with her and knew I had found my spiritual path, which had always evaded me prior.
In my 40s I was reading Tarot at a local metaphysical store and met a Reiki master who was doing healing work there. Again, BAM, my intuition blew up. I trained with him and now am a second-degree Reiki healer.
It seems like in every decade of my life, something or someone came along that moved me further into the metaphysical world. Coincidence? No. “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”
What led you to professionally pursuing a tarot career path?
It came organically. I was reading for myself, and then friends. Then friends of friends. Turning “pro” just evolved organically from there.
What do you strive to provide and achieve with your clients during a reading?
First and foremost, I try to make my client as relaxed as possible. The more open and calm I am, the easier it is for them to let their energy open them up to the experience. I want it to be a positive experience, even if the reading has some less than positive aspects. Which brings me to another “must do” – I will always be honest about what I am seeing/feeling, never just telling them what I think they want to hear.
I want my clients to be left feeling empowered and armed with the answers they were seeking.
I had such a fantastic time participating in your "Sundays With Silver" event on October 4th, 2020. What a great learning environment you have created! How did this series come to fruition? (And do you have any other projects that we should know about?)
I have come to just love my Sundays with Silver evenings and the community building it is creating! It started out as an idea, feeling the pull to bring together the great people in the Tarot community that I was getting to know through social media. We would communicate by commenting on posts, or taking online classes together, or participating in Instagram Lives. But none of those things were a place where we could just hang out and commune with like-minded people. So that’s how Sundays with Silver was born. An evening to hang out, talk Tarot, exchange ideas. Very casual – I always say “bring a drink and a snack!” and we do.
On a Sunday back in September, someone mentioned wishing they knew more about Numerology. The group all agreed it was a subject they would love to hear from an expert about. And that is when I reached out to you. Everyone loved you and the subject matter and commented how much they learned. I think Amazon’s sales of books on the subject jumped after you recommended a few books to the group!
The same happened with the subject of Lenormand and we recently had a guest who teaches Lenormand. I will be sprinkling guests in the Sundays through the rest of the year.
I am currently noodling around a couple of ideas for projects. Without giving too much away yet, let us just say I see a need in the community and am working on a way to fill that need.
Do you have any advice you would like to give to aspiring intuitive professionals?
Oh, my goodness, that is a big question!
First, I would say “Patience, grasshopper” If you expect to start reading professionally and have a steady flow of income be generated right away, you will be disappointed. Like every other service business, it takes time to build a client base.
Set up a website and social media accounts. A good website will not cost an arm and a leg (I built mine myself) and social media is free. You want to keep expenses at a minimum as you grow. These things will give you a solid base from which to start marketing.
A separate phone line for your business. Whether it is a cell phone or a land line, you need to separate your business from your personal. Do you want calls or texts at all hours?! Don’t you want personal privacy? I use a cell because then texting is easy. Some people prefer the reliability of a land line, as cell service can sometimes get wonky. Whatever your preference, just do it. These days, additional cell lines are cheap on most cell phone plans.
Market, market, market. Remind your client that referrals are an important lifeline for your business. Politely and Gently ask for reviews and post them on your website – do not be pushy!
Keep studying. Tarot is a never-ending learning process. Take classes, Read books. Get readings from readers you respect – a great way to expose yourself to various reading styles.
I could go on and on, but I will stop now. Shameless plug here – I have a Tarot Entrepreneur Mentoring Program on my Patreon page. People can find my Patreon account at patreon.com/silverraventarot