About Toby’s Tarot Apprenticeship

A Path Forged in Experience

My journey into tarot began in the middle of an existential crisis. It was not merely a hobby. What started as divination by oracle cards quickly intensified into dedicated divination by tarot cards. This was soon supported by mentorship from multiple experienced readers, including Avery Woodbury of Seldom Dreams. My mother, a former hypnotherapist, also helped me with the ethical side; particularly with issues related to professional boundaries and dealing with difficult situations. By July of 2020, I was reading for the public. Over the next two years, I completed more than 2,000 readings for diverse querents and situations. In 2025, I began offering free readings to the public again.

This deep, hands-on experience is the backbone of my teaching. I do not teach theory in a vacuum. Instead, I draw on real prediction examples, difficult reading scenarios, ethical quandries. I make these lessons available through an expanding library of in-depth articles and video lessons rather than a one-off course. The training consists of a multi-year Tarot Apprenticeship (with actual, hands-on experience rather than a short-term programme or practice group forum) precisely because this is what I searched for - but could not find - when I was starting out.

From Reader to Mentor

In May 2022, I began formally mentoring other tarot learners. I have steadily refined a structured, apprenticeship-style programme built for serious Western occultists. Writing in late 2025, I have invested over 3,000 hours into designing what is now a five year curriculum (at 35 weeks per year). It leads students from beginner or intermediate levels to the equivalent of an advanced professional standard. This includes more than 50 hours of 1-to-1 sessions to 7 students. I have also provided hundreds more hours of support across social media, such as reading interpretation help forums.

Right Hand Path, Occult-Scientific Approach

My work is grounded in neo-Hermetic mysticism (a form of Right Hand Path occultism) which I have practised since 2019. I present tarot divination as a white magical art and a form of communication with the Divine. This is taught through Emanationism and non-sectarian perennial philosophy with a twofold focus on 1. how tarot divination works 2. pro bono tarot reading.

My developing expertise is specifically in divinatory tarot reading from this occult scientific and Right Hand Path perspective. I use the cards as an oracular technology of service and divination, rather than purely psychological tarot or for personal gain.

I place particular emphasis on advanced topics such as shuffling and card-selection metaphysics. I also cover predictive methods, reader bias, and knowing when to refuse a reading. A key pillar of my tarot divination teaching is showing students how to responsibly integrate predictive power within a broader spiritual framework. This framework respects both fate and free will, allowing querents to discern what is actually within their locus of control rather than to assume that they can achieve any desired outcome when the evidence says otherwise.

Service, Ethics, and the Pro Bono Tarot Guild

In my opinion, authority in divination is measured by service, not just skill or client count. Consubstantial with Tarot Apprenticeship is the Pro Bono Tarot Guild (founded 2023). The Guild is a decentralised association of readers committed to offering affordable tarot divination services to the public. This ensures that ALL sincere seekers can receive divinatory guidance, irrespective of their financial circumstances.

All of my Tarot Apprenticeship students join the Guild automatically. Tarot Apprenticeship students are guided through 400+ hours of public practice readings in Stage II (and further hours in Stage III). This combines vocational training with a lived ethic of service and ongoing 1-to-1 support. A shared code of ethics protects both readers and querents.

I should be clear that I am not a therapist, doctor, or lawyer. I encourage querents and students alike to seek appropriate professional support for medical, legal, or psychological issues. I encourage them to take responsibility for their own decisions. Also, I am a tarot mentor and diviner, not a spiritual guru or religious leader; my focus is strictly on teaching the magical art of tarot divination rather than spiritual enlightenment.

Why Students Trust This Programme

Students who work with me receive mentoring from someone with:

• 2,000+ readings done for the public. These were both online and in person, free and paid. I read for people from all over the world (although over 50% of the audience was from the UK, US or India).

• 300+ hours of teaching and 3,000+ hours of programme development. This includes 60+ hours of 1-to-1 mentorship, delivered mostly for free, tens of thousands of words of article writing, a YouTube video lessons series and 500+ contributions to Reddit’s r/tarot and r/occult.

• A neo-Hermetic mystical practice since 2019. I also participate in the wider tarot community. This includes former membership in TABI (The Tarot Association of British & International Members) and ongoing engagement in online spaces where my ideas are debated.

Alongside this, there are testimonials from my public tarot practice. Prospective students can review these to see how my work has landed with real querents. The result is a demanding but rewarding path. There are no shortcuts or initiation promises. I offer only carefully structured divinatory training. This is aimed at producing Master Tarot Diviners who read accurately, ethically, and in service to others. Note: the 'Master' title is framed as the beginning of the journey towards mastership (like how Journeyman means one can begin their professional practice).

Rider Waite Smith Cards In Context: Modern & Original Meanings

In late 2025, I completed a full 78 card Rider Waite Smith meanings series, blending traditional and modern divinatory interpretations across life areas, common spread positions and key combinations. Readers regularly use this series as a reference in their own tarot practice; within just the last 3 months, the Major Arcana hub page has had 1,000+ views whilst the whole series has had 3,000+ views.