Tampa Tarot Reader Offers Career and Faith Advice to Burned Out Professionals

Caroline Debruhl, a Tampa-based tarot reader, has built a practice around answering the specific, often overwhelming questions of local residents.

In a column published in Creative Loafing Tampa Bay for the week of Nov. 5 to Nov. 11, Debruhl addressed two distinct inquiries regarding personal direction.

The first letter came from a reader who described a lifelong pull toward spirituality despite a career in progressive politics.

This individual, identified as "Soul on a Journey," noted a past interest in becoming a pastor but a current uncertainty about whether a left-leaning church community was the right fit.

Debruhl responded to this query with a four-card spread: Temperance reversed, First Quarter, Six of Cups reversed, and The High Priestess.

She interpreted Temperance as a sign of an empty cup, suggesting the reader needed to revive their spiritual engagement to find balance.

Debruhl advised the writer to start with small, consistent actions, such as reading religious texts for 20 minutes in the morning or meditating.

She recommended testing these habits for 10 days, then 20, and finally 30 days to see if they stuck.

The First Quarter card, unique to Debruhl's deck Uusi’s Pagan Otherworlds, emphasized the need for action and self-challenge in daily life.

Referring to the Six of Cups reversed, Debruhl suggested the reader look to childhood memories for guidance, specifically moments like singing in a choir or listening to a pastor.

She noted that art, including painting, dancing, and music, can serve as a channel for accessing the divine, a point reinforced by the appearance of The High Priestess.

The second letter came from a professional who had quit a job in their field after 15 years due to severe burnout and soul-killing stressors for a "New direction, who dis?" identity, as they described themselves in the submission. This reader had savings but no clear plan for a new field, aside from working on their music. Debruhl drew the Seven of Cups reversed, Seven of Pentacles reversed, Wheel of Fortune, and The Hermit reversed. She described herself as an "aggressively supportive Art Auntie" and encouraged the writer to record an album or go on tour immediately. However, she warned against rushing into a new job just because an opportunity presented itself. She identified the Seven of Cups as a deceptive card, cautioning that ideas like grad school required serious exploration of their long-term implications. The Wheel of Fortune, which she described as a card of divine chance and potential bad luck, paired with The Hermit, suggested trusting the universe. Debruhl advised the reader to remain open to surprising paths and to look for work that was adjacent to their art or required zero thought after hours. She emphasized that the chosen path should feel fulfilling and enriching to the soul, contrasting this with the state of being burnt out. The column invited readers to email questions to oracle@cltampa.com or DM @theyboracle on Instagram. Debruhl's services are listed on carolinedebruhl.com.