10 years ago today, I sat down to write my very first blog post for what would become Spiral Sea Tarot.

It’s difficult to put into words what this experience has been, so instead I will share 10 things I’ve learned along the way as a professional tarot reader, navigating digital spaces, creating content and growing in my practice. I will write mostly from my perspective - Julia - however I may use “we” to account for things that Tim (my partner who joined me in 2019) would also agree with.

The Impulse Knows The Way

Pretty much everything I’ve done with Spiral Sea, including starting it altogether, began with an impulse. What a decade has taught me is this: you should never stop yourself from doing something just because you’re unsure where it will lead. The value of an impulse isn’t measured by its outcome. Following it is the point. Every spark opens a door, shifts your perspective, or leads you into the next chapter. It may not be to the expected destination (and maybe rarely ever is), but these instincts have a reason for being all on their own, and we gain so much by listening to them, no matter what the outcome.

Just Because We’re Not “Full Time” Doesn’t Mean We’re Not “All In”

There was a period when I imagined Spiral Sea would eventually become my full-time gig. The truth is, it never has been, and I no longer expect it to be. Earning a living has become a separate matter from the work we do here, and surprisingly, that separation has been freeing. But just because this isn’t our full-time job doesn’t mean we’re not all in. Commitment isn’t measured by hours on a clock or income earned. I’ve learned you can be deeply devoted to multiple things at once without any of them losing meaning. For us, Spiral Sea has always been a wholehearted effort, even if it isn’t the thing that keeps the lights on.

Not Everyone Will Get It

When Tim joined forces with me in 2019, my perspective on tarot, life and spirituality shifted in more ways than I can account for in this space. As such, the type of content we began to produce changed quite a bit. For years, it felt like no one was seeing what we were seeing. Insights that to us felt so interesting, landed with crickets. It was somewhat disheartening, but I insisted that regardless of the reception, we had to keep producing and sharing the things that actually called to us. Not just what we thought people wanted to hear. I have found that, while it may take time to land, if you are passionate about something, you should persist. The point is not to create for applause, but to create from authenticity. And if the world doesn’t “get it” right away, that doesn’t make it any less worth saying.

Less Is More

I have a bad habit of using too many words to express an idea. What I have learned through sharing online, is that less is more. The more distilled a concept is, the easier it is to digest, and the more people will actually engage with it. Being on Threads for the last several years has helped immensely with this. You could have the best idea, but if it’s buried in pages of text, only the most dedicated readers will dig for it. I’ve learned to offer snippets upfront, and then direct people to deeper reflections if they want more. This is an easier approach than attempting the monumental task of lengthening online attention spans!

Trying Everything Works

It’s hard to know what you love - or what you’re actually good at - if you don’t give yourself permission to try a lot of things. There’s a strange cultural pressure that shames us for dipping in and dipping out, as if changing direction means failure. But why waste time forcing yourself into something that doesn’t feel right? Yes, commitment has its place, but so does curiosity. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with starting and stopping. A huge part of discovering the kind of tarot reader I am came from experimenting. I tried everything: in-person readings, email readings, audio readings, live readings over Zoom, parties, markets… all of it. And because of that, I now know what fits, what doesn’t, and what brings out the best in me. I wouldn’t have learned any of that if I hadn’t been willing to explore widely.

There’s No One Way Or Right Way To Do Things

When it comes to reading tarot, whether professionally or just for yourself, there is no one right way to do it. It’s important that you find a style and practice that works for you! When I first started, I thought there were all these rules I needed to follow. The problem was, those rules got in the way of me actually enjoying the cards. The more I insisted on them, the less I wanted to read. Anything that takes away your joy, needs to be reevaluated. These days, I don’t think in terms of “right” or “wrong.” I only care about one thing: Is it helpful?

Transparency Is Key

When you work with others, especially when you offer services, and particularly if those services are intuitive ones, it’s really important to put what you do into words. I have learned that I am not the reader for everyone, nor do I want to be. I would rather read for just a few people and be helpful, than try to be everything for everyone and miss the mark. The more upfront you can be about who you are and also, who you’re not, the better chance you will have at attracting the right people.

A Good Message is Worth Repeating

I used to think that once I shared something, that was it - it became just another thing in the archive. Now, I share messages over and over again. I might shift the tone, the format, or the language, but a good message is worth repeating. This is especially true for content and insights that don’t land right away. I believe that if you feel strongly about a message, there is an audience for it. It just may take time to find it!

It’s Best To Keep Your Eyes On Your Own Paper

When I first started on social media, my instinct was to follow every other tarot account under the sun. It felt like a way to build community and learn from others. Over time, I realized that I do better when I keep my follow list varied. I don’t want to just be looking at others in my field. I’m hyper-aware of ideas and content that get rehashed over and over, and I prefer to draw inspiration from other creative spaces as well. Besides, constantly looking at what others in your field are doing, can lure you into the comparison game. This can get toxic quickly, and it can also make you feel like you’re doing something wrong or are on the wrong path. But, I’d argue this instead: if you look around and don’t see yourself “out there”, that’s actually a good thing! That means there’s space for what you offer! The last thing you want to do is replicate what everyone else is doing because you think that’s what will land. When you try to imitate others (intentionally or not), not only is it unsatisfying creatively, it’s also generally ineffective. Remember, authenticity over applause.

There Is No End To The Learning

If you came to tarot hoping for an endgame - a point where you’ve “mastered” the tool, then you’ve come to the wrong place. Tarot, like life, is an ongoing journey. There’s always more to explore, more insight to uncover, and more layers to probe. Each reading, each card, and each reflection adds to your understanding, but there is never a final destination. Be like a Page, always eager to start again.

For fun, I thought I would conclude this by sharing some of my favourite pictures I’ve taken of the cards through the years (scroll right to see more!). Tarot truly is my #1 muse!