Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Cynova.
Melissa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started reading tarot cards when I was 14 years old, but it didn’t become more than a hobby and pursuit until I moved to St. Louis. I started doing readings at birthday parties and at the City Museum. Before I knew it, my little tarot blog became my first book, Kitchen Table Tarot. Then one book became four, and I found myself teaching tarot internationally, and at the Omega Center.
I think that my history as a social worker and over 30 years of reading for people has made me an encyclopedia of human experience. It didn’t happen overnight, for sure, but it’s given me more compassion and taught me to talk less and listen more. Especially with folks who are often marginalized – queer and trans kids, people of color, and Black folks. My work helps me have a platform to bring attention to the folks who need it, and I’m grateful for that.
My tools – the cards – are starting to look more and more like our community, too, so it’s refreshing to see my cards updated as we all learn better.
So, I read my cards and do my podcast, and raise my kids and my animals and hang out with my husband. It’s a good life and I’m happy to have it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all. Have you ever tried to be a weird kid in the Midwest who grew to be a weird adult? And a woman at that. I’ve had things thrown at me, have been aggressively prayed upon, gotten death threats, and have been threatened with doxxing. I’ve had to reassure folks that tarot cards are not the Devil’s Uno, and that’s just because I’m a witch doesn’t mean I have the time or energy to hex every Karen who wanders my way.
No one has time for that.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love writing. I’ve wanted to be an author since I was six years old, and I was finally published when I was 40. I’m now on my way to reading cards and writing full time, and that’s the dream come true. I’ll have to think of something more wonderful to ask for next because this is the dream, folks. What do you do when everything you wish for shows up?
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I’ve learned that small things became big and that that’s ok. It’s more important that my son snuggles with me when he’s having a bad day. Taking ten minutes to pet my old dog means so much to her, and now I don’t take it for granted either. I’ve learned to be more present because the future is truly not promised to us.
Not even to me.
Pricing:
- Phone reading $150
Contact Info:
- Email: mcynova@gmail.com
- Website: www.melissacynova.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissacynova/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissacynova/?show_switched_toast=1&show_switched_tooltip=0&show_podcast_settings=0
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelissaCynova
