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Some people may write it off as just whimsical hogwash, or vague jabs based on generalisations, yet tarot cards have maintained its foothold as a guiding tool for many years now. Tarot cards have been linked to everything mystical, from ancient Egyptian legends to ongoing planetary movements. Every card contains imagery that present symbolic interpretations that present us with spiritual messages and a peek into how we can choose to approach our futures. Here are a few places where you can get a tarot card reading in Hong Kong.
Spanning all the way back to fourteenth-century Europe, it was originally devised as a parlour card game amongst the rich, before taking on a divinatory purpose around the late sixteenth to the early seventeenth century. Each deck totals up to 78 cards, including four suites (known as the minor arcana) that have been organised according to the key categories of cups, swords, wands, and pentacles, as well as trump cards (the major arcana.)
Typically, you would not need more than just the usual deck of cards for a fruitful session, though some people like to incorporate other means of attaining information helping to gain a clearer insight. To strengthen your foundations, consider calculating your birth chart, which paints a better-rounded picture of your supposed basic characteristics in important aspects of your life. Or pick some more cards from an additional deck known as oracle cards, which are essentially messages channelled through words, quotes, or phrases, as opposed to pictures.
The misunderstanding common to most self-proclaimed sceptics seems to be based on the perception of tarot as giving detailed answers to all your incredibly specific questions down to a tee—that is impossible. Sure, the aspect of divination sets up expectations of fortune-telling, but it is more of a “what if,” based on approximations of how your current and past self may inform your decision making, and what might come from that.
Everyone has a story to tell, and an individual tarot reading is one way for you to flesh out a better narration. Here are a few experts in Hong Kong who can open up the doors for you.
Combining knowledge of astrology with the discipline of tarot deciphering can work to open up new pathways in soul searching. Founder of The Healing Kingdom, Letao Wang, incorporates his skills in counselling to draw upon psychological tactics that make you feel safer and more open to sharing and reflecting. The goal of leading you through this inward-facing quest is for you to rebuild a connection with your deeper psyche, bringing to the surface honest feelings of your wants, needs, fears, and more.
Find out more about Letao’s practice by reading about our time with him here.
The Healing Kingdom, 6/F, 64 Tung Lo Wan Road, Tai Hang | (+852) 9136 0453
If you need some caffeine-induced excitement to get on board, pay a visit to The Soulroom (一草一木) which mainly functions as a café. Their serene white walls and wooden stools host sessions as somewhat of a supplementary to fresh bagels and hand-pour coffee. A gleaming lamp that realistically replicates the patterns of the moon looms over a small tree encircled by an accordion bench, emphasising the importance of lunar patterns in influencing our internal shifts.
The Soulroom Coffee, 102 Ki Lung Street, Sham Shui Po
No, you haven’t just entered Harry Potter’s bedroom in the Dursley abode. Behind the rich teal doors of this miniature unit lies a low key and comforting cubby built for deep introspection over tarot cards. Shuffle inside and you will find the tenet “perfectly imperfect” printed front and centre in gold, cheekily referencing the slightly crooked finish of the sloped over nook ceiling, whilst speaking to the attitude to embrace when approaching a reading that tells us something about ourselves that we prefer to remain hidden. Book a reading via direct messaging their Instagram, or drop by to grab a smudge stick or some calming manifestation candles.
Little Little, Shop 15A, 15 Wong Chuk Street, Sham Shui Po
Led by practitioners Rachel and Sai, who both specialize in a view of tarot shaped by Zen philosophy, this pint-sized shop is truly a cave of wonders. Dazzling bright on their lit-up signage is the slogan “The cards tell a story but you tell the ending,” a sort of forewarning and a reminder of your free will in interpreting the cards’ messages. The colourful spread of mystic items mixed with cutesy collectables and plush toys add extra touches of whimsicality, making for a backdrop that adds to the plush blue chairs and purple cloaked table where reading sessions are carried out.
We Luv Tarot, Shop 443, Rise Shopping Arcade, 5–11 Granville Circuit, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 5408 8058
A powerhouse in the local tarot scene, Fanny Wu of Twinkle Tarot was one of the first full-time readers in Hong Kong, having been in business since 2001. She has also banded with other tarot enthusiasts to establish the official Hong Kong Tarot Association, with a drawn-up list of ethical guidelines—that are currently only available in Chinese—that ensure the credibility of vocational mystics. Step into her space to receive a Celtic-cross-style low-down on your queries, gathered by bridging together intuition from astrology, cartomancy, and numerology. Do note that she currently only offers readings in Cantonese and Mandarin, so bring along an interpreter friend if you speak neither!
Twinkle Tarot, Room 618, 6/F, Eton Tower, 8 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay | (+852) 6336 8106
Perhaps you don’t feel ready yet to lay your primaeval thoughts bare for anyone to see, but would like to become acquainted with the tools that can break down those walls, maybe you should take a chance at becoming a tarot reader yourself! Established in 2002, this association centre arranges frequent meet-ups, workshops, and informational talks aiming to guide novices on their tarot journey. Numerology professionals are also frequent guests at the centre. At the headquarters, you will find a well-stocked library on an array of spiritual topics, where you can pick out tarot manuals or guides that match your level of expertise.
Hong Kong Tarot Centre, Room 911, Kowloon Bay Industrial Centre, 15 Wang Hoi Road, Kowloon Bay | (+852) 2772 3644
If dipping your toe into the world of intuition and self-understanding has sparked your excitement to ask for more, why not buy a deck of your own? It is recommended for beginners to stick to a Rider-Waite system, as it is the most commonly used and has more supporting materials to assist in learning. No matter the art style and type of symbolism in your deck, the main consideration to keep in mind is to really listen to yourself, and feel a pull or connection towards the set of cards you choose.
Stocking all kinds of spiritual items and books, this checkpoint is definitely your one-stop-shop for all things mystic. You can find over three hundred varieties of tarot decks that show various art styles, all infused with the different creators’ vision, providing you with new perspectives. Accessories such as table cloths and delicate bags or boxes for storing your cards can also be found here.
Purple Moon New Age Shop, Room B, 10/F, Prosperous Commercial Building, 54–58 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay | (+852) 2508 9001
Housing a wealth of books of all topics and delicate designer gifts, this grand retailer is an easy option for tarot card shopping. Other than your standard variety of cards, there are also usually several special decks with extra designs. Take some time to circle around the stationary section, as a notebook to jot down your inner thoughts and feelings from the readings would be a great idea. Tracking and looking back on fluctuations in your life, emotions, and thoughts can be particularly helpful for tarot readers as much as it is beneficial for self-understanding.
Bringing a trendy twist to an age-old art, this online platform is a super convenient yet still affordable source for you to purchase tarot cards and oracles from. Founded by a pair of friends based in Hong Kong, who discovered a connection to inner well-being through alternative forms of self-care, Omsa offers products curated according to your emotions, chakra needs, and zodiac sign.
Always down for an adventure, Alisa’s general approach to life (and anything, really) is to “just go with the flow.” She believes that the most unforgettable moments are the most spontaneous ones. One thing she will always be certain of, however, is her love for the band My Chemical Romance and potato-based food.
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