When I first started pouring tea, coaching was just getting started in Aotearoa New Zealand and it tended to have an American influence. There was a lot of links to things like the Law of Attraction and making the universe out to be a short order cook. It was also a time when more people were accessing counselling and the impacts of trauma were coming to the fore. What I found was a need for some grit among the vision boards, some good hearty discussions about how to get things going in our lives that didn't involve ungrounded magical thinking. There was also a need for post-counselling support, the kind of kick arse advice sessions that help us kick our lives into gear. I found my place with tea, sometimes some crayons and paper for notes, and tissues and laughter in about equal measure.

The tarot cards are an optional part of any Soul Chat They tell their own stories, sometimes reaching past what we think we know and giving insights in ways we don't expect.

It's important to arrive at a session knowing what you want to put on the table to be looked at - and also being willing to veer off to radical versions to test the waters. Is it about work, relationships, family, not quite being sure what to be when you grow up (especially important at transitions like turning 50). Because we churn our way through quite a bit of 'stuff' along the way, I offer to record the session for you to listen to later.

There's often the tea pages created as well with little comments and ideas to take home. These are done in crayon so they don't look quite so scary.

If you are having cacao with your session, please don't eat for the two hours before your session if your health allows this.