Q 1: Please tell us about yourself. What is your connection to unconventional ways of knowing?

My name is Natalie Vartanian. I am a certified life coach specializing in all things sex, love and relationships. I am also a professional tarot reader and have been using tarot as a tool for self inquiry, self knowledge and a guide for personal fulfillment for the past 8 years nearly. I am a pretty intuitive and psychic person. It took me a while to fully own the psychic part but I have had flashes of knowing since before I was 9. My unconventional knowing is definitely tuning in to my wisdom, as well as my connection to the ‘bigger picture’ and energy,
whatever that is. Tarot has provided me with the most amazing opportunity to hone my intuition, sixth sense, and knowing in a powerful way. If I thought my intuition was good before, it has caught on fire since reading professionally.

Q2: Tell us briefly how you found your Lost Art.  

I still remember the deck that my best friend purchased when I was 17/18 and she was 18/19. I always saw it as her thing but I was fascinated. Anything of the occult nature drew me. I never thought Tarot would be for me, but finally it called to me (as it is known to do when one is ready). I picked up a deck that I affectionately called my “Tarot for Dummies” deck because it had one to two lines written right ON the card describing the main meaning of the card (both in the upright and reversed positions). I used those for a while until one of my dear friends and soul sister gave me a beautiful deck of King Arthur of the Round Table inspired images. This had me graduate to doing readings and using a book with a bit more extensive of descriptions for the cards. I did love how it felt as if the meanings of the cards were focused on gaining more knowledge and using that information to better align your life with your goals and dreams and desires. I have been reading Tarot Cards for my friends for nearly 10 years now. It was not until another dear friend of mine suggested I do it professionally (a few times) that Iopened up my ‘doors’ and it has been a wonderful whirlwind of magic since then.

Q3:How have you integrated your innate talent and your Lost Art practice into your life?  What challenges  did you face in this integrative process?

My first step was to accept and share my talents with others. My goal is to serve and share and so when I truly got how powerful my readings werefor my friends in the healing, inspiration and clarity department, I couldn’t ignore anymore how Tarot was wanting to support me in that
mission. I could go way deeper with folks using Tarot than I could coaching them right off the bat. Eventually I found a lovely balance place where I could pull cards, use my intuition and then coach around what is here and what is next. I also use Tarot for my own self
development practice in that I pull cards when I feel stuck and need some guidance as to what to focus on. The other way in which it shows upin my life is connected to astrology and forecasting as I pull a Tarot Card every week for my TarotScope subscribers. It helps me know what thetheme for the week is and how I get to be intentional and powerful with
my time. For a little while I was challenged by being SO open, to trulyfeeling others’ pain and confusion and frustration in really personal ways. It was hard. I felt drained and resentful of my talent. I tried toconvince myself that this was why I kept it to myself this whole time, because it was not safe to ‘come out’. I used to be more concerned aboutbeing received as a weirdo, for using Tarot so frequently for personal development and self awareness. However I realized the thing I was more frightened of was how it would affect me energetically, to open up those channels in a bigger way. It’s been a process to get to a good healthy balanced place here to of replenishing my spiritual cup and allowing it to fill others up.

Q4: What does your Lost Art practice look like on a daily basis?

Asmentioned above,  I will pull cards when I feel stuck and need some guidance as to what to focus on. The other way in which it shows up in my life is connected to astrology and forecasting as I pull a Tarot Card every week for my TarotScope subscribers. I will do one on one tarot readings with clients around their career paths, self development/care practice and relationships. I write monthly for my TarotScopes that are available for everyone to read on my site. I incorporate Tarot into coaching sessions as well as writing (I write a monthly advice column and I use Tarot Cards to confirm the advice). I also use Oracle Cards, however Tarot is my love and my gift. It paints such a picturesque storyof what may be ‘up’ for us and how to move through it in a way that has you wiser and confident.

Q5:
What important lesson would you share with an earlier version of yourself, or to somebody who is just now exploring what a mystical path might mean to them?

If it calls to you at all, follow that. Answer the quiet yearning. Experiment. Play. Explore it in as many ways as you can. Staying open isthe key to life and so don’t make anything bad or wrong or trivial, simply stay curious and follow what feels good to you (because usually that is the divine call).

Q6: If there was only one thing a person could find the energy and resources to make a priority, what should it be?

SEX! I kid. Sort of. I do think sex is connected to our creativity and is completely shamed as the red headed stepchild of the spiritual and mystical worlds. I believe that connection to such a primal, root, core part of ourselves grounds us and allows us to reach out, inquire, grow, experiment in bolder ways. A lot can be connected to sex and when we unlock our ‘stuff’ around sex, it will open up a whole new world (mystical one included as it is a way to exercise all of our senses, including intuition, as well). I’ve done tarot card pulls around sex andsexuality and were those powerful or what!? They helped to unlock some pretty deep feelings and created some profound shifts as a result. So yes, actually I am not kidding. Make sex a priority and see how things shift in every area of your life as a result.

Q7: What is your favorite inspirational quote?

I have two, because of course I can’t pick just one. I definitely am a rebel in that way.

Okay,

first one is by Mack Douglas: "Dedicate your life to a cause greater than yourself, and your life will become a glorious romance and adventure."

Second one, which is definitely a battle cry for my life and the hearts of
others, is an excerpt from ‘A Return to Love’ by Marianne Williamson:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”