About Toby

Summary

My journey into the profound world of tarot divination began during a time of spiritual crisis which coincided with the 2020 global pandemic. After giving over 2,000 readings to the public (close estimate), I decided to start mentoring students.

Looking around at existing tarot courses and mentorship trainings, what I found surprised me. Information on tarot basics was abundant but structured pathways to deep, ethical proficiency were surprisingly scarce.

I founded the Tarot Apprenticeship project in 2022 to offer the kind of comprehensive, ethically grounded, and personally guided training which I believe is essential for anyone serious about mastering the art of tarot divination.

Consubstantial to this course is the Pro Bono Tarot Guild: an association of tarot diviners who provide affordable (free and low cost) readings to the public. All Tarot Apprenticeship students join the Guild automatically and you should only apply for the Tarot Apprenticeship course if you agree with the Guild ethos.

Writing in May 2025, Stages I and II are available for testing whilst Stage III is undergoing behind-the-scenes development.

My Tarot Journey & Experience

My intensive engagement with divination began in late 2019. Driven by a severe existential crisis, I immersed myself in study and practice of oracle card divination before quickly moving on to tarot cards due to needing a pack for a spiritual curriculum that I was undertaking. I was soon fortunate enough to receive mentorship from multiple experienced tarot readers (including from Avery Woodbury of Seldom Dreams and my Mother) to assist me in my learning.

By July 2020, I was reading for others. Over the next two years, I conducted over 2,000 readings on the public (both free and paid) – allowing me to gain extensive experience with diverse querents and situations. In May 2022, I began guiding other tarot learners, accumulating hundreds of hours of teaching experience, refining my teaching philosophy and developing a comprehensive, apprenticeship style tarot training.

Developing The Tarot Apprenticeship

My practical experience in tarot reading and teaching revealed gaps in much contemporary tarot education – often a lack of depth, insufficient focus on tarot reader ethics, or an absence of structured, long-term support. Over three years of dedicated development, my work has included:

Analyzing existing tarot courses and mentorship programs to see what works and what can be improved.
Keeping up with the tarot community on social media (Reddit, YouTube etc.) to see what issues the current generation of readers is struggling with.
Studying and staying up to date with the tarot literature (websites and books).

Considering how tarot divination actually works for practical insights into effective reading.
Based on all this, developing a comprehensive online tarot course from apprentice (beginner), to journeyman (professional level), to master (advanced professional level).
Writing in May 2025, you can now apply for Stage I (with the option to continue to Stage II afterwards) whilst Stage III is still under development.

My Teaching Philosophy & Approach

My role within this apprenticeship is that of a tarot mentor and tutor, not a spiritual teacher. I am here to share knowledge and experience (of tarot divination only), provide structured learning, offer personalized feedback on your readings, and support you through the challenges inherent in mastering this art. My approach emphasizes:

Tarot as Divine Communication: Reading tarot to gain insight and guidance from the Divine (however you conceptualize - or refuse to conceptualize - it). This includes predictive readings but always contextualized within a greater spiritual scheme.
Ethical Ethos: Instilling a deep understanding and application of ethical principles is essential - not just for responsible practise but for more effective divination.
Long-term training: Currently (mid 2025), the course is under testing and development and you can take Stage I, Stage II or both. However, once the course is complete (all III Stages developed and tested) you will be required to commit intentionally to the entire course.
Deep Learning Over Rote Memorization Or Quick Gimmicks: Assimilating the card meanings and correspondences (Kabbalah, numerology, astrology) through modern memory science, rather than just memorizing keywords. At the same time, strictly avoiding the use of shortcuts that would lead to superficial learning.
Mentored Practice: Utilizing regular 1-to-1 sessions (~180 on average over the course) for tailored feedback, troubleshooting, and deep understanding, based on your specific progress and assignments.
Sustained Effort/Hard Work: Whilst I will mentor (and tutor) you extensively, apprenticeship style courses require students to be self-motivated, dedicated, and take responsibility for their learning journey (meeting the ~300 hours per year workload).
Realistic Attainment: The course will train you beyond mere professional competency, towards genuine mastery. Thus, the title of Master Tarot Diviner will be an indication not that you have reached mastery but that you are now working on attaining it.
Philosophical Stance: Taught through Emanationist and (non-sectarian) perennialist philosophy with a twofold focus on; 1. how tarot divination actually works 2. pro bono tarot divination, the course may appeal to Western Esotericists on the Right Hand Path (e.g. Theosophists, Rosicrucians). However, I wish to make it absolutely clear that the course is open to ALL who possess the necessary ethics, discipline and resources to feasibly undertake it. If you have questions or concerns about the course framework then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Note on definitions: Broadly speaking, Emanationism is an idea with two premises a) that everything in reality comes from a singular Divine source b) that this Divine source “overflowed” itself, so to speak, into different levels of reality (like a water fountain), becoming less and less pure until it reached the material world. Perennialism (sophia perennis, perennial philosophy, ancient wisdom) is the idea that all religions and philosophical belief systems are basically different ways of expressing the same underlying (inner, esoteric) truth.

Qualifications/Affiliations

Extensive tarot divination experience (2,000+ professional tarot readings on the public).
Mentorship received from experienced professional readers (including Avery Woodbury of Seldom Dreams)
Former member of TABI (Tarot Association of British and International Members).
Hundreds of hours of tarot teaching experience via 1-to-1 lessons and online tarot forums.
50,000+ words of tarot divination articles written (public and unpublished).
Ongoing spiritual practise within the Western Esoteric Tradition since 2019.
Founder of the Pro Bono Tarot Guild (2023).
3,000+ hours spent on the Tarot Apprenticeship project so far.