Lil Oracle's Tarot Journey

The Tarot Reader behind Lil Oracle

A Personal Story told by Viv

I received my first introduction to the world of psychics and mediums at the tender age of 8, my mother would often host large themed parties at our home in Welland, Ontario, Canada. These would sometimes be the popular "Tupperware" parties or "Weekender" branded parties of the average 90s stay-at-home-mom but there would also be new-age and Spiritual-themed events. My mother would host Reiki exchanges, Group Meditations, Crystal Healing Workshops and all kinds of events that featured guest speakers and authors. Mostly we (my sister and I) would be asleep during these events, but on one particular evening, I got to meet someone who would influence me in ways I could never imagine. She was a Medium.

I remember her very clearly as if it were yesterday, she wore a very colourful smock and her hair was wildly curly. She bore a large smile when she looked down at me. I remember that her voice was loud and bassy and that her eyes smiled along with her lips. She was older, a senior, AND she was beautiful. She asked me for my palm and I gave it to her. "Oh! You are an Old Soul, like your father," she told me, "You are going to be just fine in your life, you are going to help many people, like your mother. You are blessed with many Spirit Guides and they are always here and they are always helping you." She told me many things in that short reading but those are the things that I remember clearly and that have stuck with me all of these years.

Shortly after this we began taking family trips to Lily Dale. Lily Dale was a magical place with sunbeams that pierced between willow trees and large old victorian houses filled with crystal shops and specialty book stores. There, we gathered as a community and received messages from the Other Side. Lily Dale became a regular occurrence in my childhood. I looked forward to the escape into a place where my family was seen as "normal", where everyone chose to meditate in nature and speak with Spirit Guides. Soon, I was reading books about chakras, dream interpretation and runes and eventually this led me to learn all about tarot and then receive my first deck, the Tarot of the Old Path.

Tarot of the Old Path was created by two leaders of the Wiccan craft. This unique deck serves as a modern approach to what is known as the magical Old Religion, the Craft, or the Old Path of female wisdom. The deck’s vibrant artwork and clear symbolism hold just as much appeal for non-wiccan tarot readers. Sylvia Gainsford incorporated her considerable knowledge of flowers into her tarot card imagery.

The images on Gainsford's cards seemed to come alive for me and tell me their stories, it was not difficult for me to memorize their meanings quickly and then spread their messages to my family members and some very special close friends. I say "very special" because I was not open about my family's spiritual side. In Welland, Ontario, the small-ish Canadian town where I grew up, it was not "normal" to interact with psychics or to see auras. As a teenager, I was so embarrassed when my mother would give "messages" to friends who would come over, or offer Reiki when a neighbourhood kid took a tumble. I felt like we had to keep this side private and I hid my special talent. In fact, one of these "very special" friends gifted me with a hollowed-out book where I was able to store my cards, pendulum and crystals so that they could be kept secret in plain sight.

Something changed for me in adulthood. I stopped wanting to keep my childhood, family and tarot reading a secret! I was ready to show the world. Slowly I began to offer readings for anyone who would set foot in my apartment and friends would seek me out for regular readings. Word spread and I began to give readings for friends of friends and even complete strangers would "hear about me" and seek me out. When Palz (formerly Bunz) Trading Zone appeared on Facebook, I thought it would be neat to offer to trade my Tarot Reading services for bottles of wine (or anything people had kicking around) and that's when things BLEW UP. I was busier than ever, I got lots of positive feedback and thought it would be time to take things to the next level.

This is when I decided to create my business, Lil Oracle. I contacted my good friend, artist Alicia Nauta who created the amazing Lil Oracle pyramids and planets piece that I use for my business card and website. I also asked a very talented Palm Reader named Jessy to come along for the ride. Soon, Lil Oracle was born. 

I was being booked for readings, couple readings, friend readings, coaching, bachelorette parties, private parties and events! Lil Oracle was a great little side hustle for about 4 years -- until the Covid 19 pandemic hit.

When Toronto went into lockdown on March 17, 2020, I was booked to do readings for several upcoming events. Sadly, those events were cancelled and the Lil Oracle tarot-reading business had to be put on hold.

Why not do readings online or over the phone? This is something I began to explore and discovered that they are JUST as effective as in person readings! I began taking on clients as well as students for online readings and lessons.

About the Lil Oracle Shop:

At the same time, I became absolutely consumed with the concept of owning a business and opened up a little store: liloracleshop.com - I learned A LOT of lessons that year about capitalism and the world of e-commerce and very quickly decided that it was not for me (our store was open for about 10 months). The Good: It was such a fun experiment! I designed all kinds of t-shirts and jersey sweatshirts (that were actually printed locally!) and also curated some jewellery selections, sold crystals (that was the best part) and tarot cards ! The Bad: I was supporting the fast fashion industry. I learned the realities of that industry and no longer wanted to participate.