When Hannah Wolfram started reading tarot over a decade ago out of a Rowan University dorm room, the spiritual community in South Jersey looked very different. Today, she runs Virga, a tarot and Reiki practice serving Mount Laurel and the surrounding area. In a recent exchange, she shared her approach, her cautions, and her hopes for those exploring energy work.
A Reflective, Not Predictive, Approach
For anyone booking a first tarot reading with Hannah, the experience may not match the popular image of a fortune-teller peering into a crystal ball. She is clear about her philosophy from the start.
"I never use tarot in an absolute sense. The future is never set in stone; because everyone has free will, any choice can and will change the direction of their life by opening and closing off various paths forward."
Instead of predictions, her readings focus on the past and present. "My tarot reading style is more reflective and tends to focus more on past and present events rather than on the multitude of futures available to the person I'm reading for," she explains. This makes her a fit for those seeking self-understanding rather than a fixed destiny. "If someone is looking for a prediction of their future, I'm not the right person to see. But if they want to understand themselves and their life in a deeper way, my door is always open."
Blending Tarot and Reiki
While tarot and Reiki are distinct practices, Hannah offers them together as an option for clients. The combination is not standard but an addition she provides when requested. "I usually give my clients the option to use a tarot or an oracle deck in their session; the tarot is more symbolic and thematic, while the oracle decks allow a more focused intention for the session."
The cards bookend the Reiki session. "We pull a card at the beginning of the session to lend some focus to the energy, and then we pull another card at the end of the session to give the client something to carry with them into their life outside of our session." This helps clients maintain intentionality between treatments. "The cards really help to provide direction and guidance both during and after the session, which helps the client live more intentionally even between Reiki treatments."
Dispelling the Demonic Myth
One of the most persistent misconceptions Hannah encounters is that tarot is demonic or opens portals to malicious spirits. She addresses this directly. "This could not be further from the truth." Her practice includes protective measures: "Before every reading, I give my clients a piece of selenite to help cleanse their energy, and then I charge our connection with positivity and light to help make the reading something that is for their highest good."
She emphasizes that she does not invoke spirits and that the cards themselves do not open such portals. "Because I do not invoke any spirits and the cards don't inherently open portals into the spirit/demonic realms, the risk of a malignant spirit attaching to one of my clients is very slim - so slim, in fact, that it has never happened in or after any of my sessions." She also performs a cord cutting after each reading to ensure a clean slate for both client and reader.
Starting Out in Mount Laurel
For locals curious about energy work, Hannah suggests starting with community rather than diving into tools. "I would first recommend that someone connect with a community of like-minded people, or even just someone to be a mentor to them, before jumping in headfirst, though. Spirituality is not nearly as satisfying when you're on your own with no outside support."
When ready to explore, she points to specific local resources. "I would recommend that they visit Aradia's Treasures in Merchantville, the Venus Moon Crystal Warehouse in Glendora, or some of the antique stores in Rancocas Woods." She also notes that mainstream options exist: "Another suggestion would be to visit Barnes & Noble - they have a huge selection of mass market tarot and oracle decks, as well as books on several aspects of spirituality including astrology, tarot reading, dream interpretation, and witchcraft." For more on her practice, you can visit her website.
A Growing Community, With a Caution
The South Jersey spiritual scene has expanded significantly since Hannah's early days. "There used to be very few options for finding community as a spiritual person, but now the options have grown exponentially, and there are even some local street fairs dedicated to like minded people." She cites Mystical May in Merchantville and The Witches' Bazaar in Mount Holly as examples. "Now, tarot readers are everywhere, sharing their gifts and insights!"
However, she warns of bad actors. "When trusting a tarot reader with your energy, make sure you really feel like it's a match. You should feel at ease with the person, and if they try to upsell you something else - especially something like spellwork or something that will break a 'curse' that only they can cleanse you of - run. They are never acting in your best interest and most likely will not keep your energy safe."
Despite this, she remains optimistic. "Even with these bad actors floating around, though, most of us out there just want to help heal the world, one person at a time. If you feel the same, well... maybe, just maybe, you're meant to explore this path with us." For those interested in learning more about tarot and Reiki, resources like the American Tarot Association and the International Center for Reiki Training offer foundational information. Hannah's own testimonials provide insight into her work.