You can catch me here, there and everywhere in the following places:

On Friday, October 17 you will find me performing my tarot readings in the Brooklyn Ditmas Park region's premiere art gallery, Art and Words, at a fundraiser titled It's in the Cards: Tarot for Obama.  A $20 admission fee will grant you access to unlimited readings, plus wine and cheese. Organized by the incredibly dynamic Kris Waldherr, I hope to see you there!

You can also find my latest review online at New Age Journal for Elizabeth Hazel's The Whispering Tarot right here. Here is just a snippet:

I must say that this whimsical deck not only whispers but giggles. The brightly-colored and boisterous images convey meanings that are far less rigid than other decks such as the iconic Rider-Waite-Smith or the more heavy-handed Thoth deck. For example, the normally staid Heirophant is given a new visual: "A guru levitates onto a sunbeam. Beneath him is the scene of a Middle-Eastern city, with onion-domed towers. A temple rises in the foreground..."

Also, I have found out that there is an artist, Deb Oberndorfer,  who designs custom cedar boxes made just for The Whispering Tarot.  These beauties can be found right here. And as I mentioned in a previous post, the deck and guidebook may be found at Kozmic Kitchen.

That's enough for now!

I am a professional tarot reader who has been working with the tarot cards for almost twenty years. I've found that there are all kinds of readers out there, running the gamut from mediocre to excellent. What is the difference between a "just average" reader and an outstanding one? I believe it comes down to five essential traits. Here's what to look for:

1. Practicality. Although tarot cards use an old and esoteric system to divine the future-and so much more-many of the questions clients ask have a basis in their everyday lives. A practical reader listens to what the client wants to learn and provides clear, down-to-earth answers. Being practical also means knowing that it is difficult to take notes and pay attention to a reading at the same time. So, a reader might provide a recording of the session to the client, for example.

2. Flexibility. In my opinion, no reading-and the advice that comes from it-is set in stone. I personally am a big fan of free will. My own philosophy is that the cards show the influences and most likely outcome if the client continues to carry on in the same way without changing his or her behavior. If the influences or outcome are not desired, the client can make a concerted effort to change and this may go a long way to shift "fate."

3. A sense of humor. No one wants a doom-and-gloom reading. Even the most traditionally so-called negative cards have positive lessons incorporated in their themes. It certainly helps to focus on the positive while still remaining realistic. Ultimately, an outstanding tarot reader becomes an ally for the client, often opening up new realms of possibility that haven't been considered before. One excellent way to deliver new information can be with a gentle sense of humor. While readings are not a place for stand-up comedy, laughter can help calm down an anxious situation.

4. Straightforwardness. Wishy-washy or vague answers have no place in a reading where time may be limited while questions might be plentiful. Friends and family might beat around the bush when asked for advice, but clarity is precisely what the client wants from a reader. More can be gained from a tarot reader who takes a firm stand and conveys strong messages than one who speaks in maybes.

5. Nonjudgmental thinking. Most folks get enough flack from the people around them, pressure from popular culture and even their own critical selves. The last thing they need in a reading is to be given the message that the client is somehow a faulty or "bad" person. An understanding tarot reader knows from his or her own experience-not just proficiency in the cards-that life is full of difficult choices and most people make the best decision they can under their own unique circumstances.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR BLOG, EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include the following blurb: Diane Fusco has been reading the cards for 20 years and brings her quirky sense of humor and the wisdom gained from a life full of diverse experiences to her consultations. A certified psychic counselor, she provides most readings over the telephone and can do this from any distance. To read Diane's writings as well as learn more about her readings, please visit her Web site at http://wavelengthtarot.com/.