Tarot reader Katie Graham shares her work focused on personal healing and problem-solving, closing her tarot card reading series at Gray Owl Coffee this Saturday.
Graham takes her business, Crystal Gazers Collective, across the state and often does readings at various art shows and vendor events, including the Norman Art Walk. Graham hosts an "artist closet" to share donated supplies with artists and features monthly interviews on her Instagram page.
“I'm trying to create a platform for small scale artists,” Graham told the OU Daily.
For the past three months, Graham partnered with Gray Owl Coffee to read tarot every other weekend inside the coffee shop. Saturday is Graham’s final day of her residency.
Katie Graham's "artist closet" of donated supplies free for artists.
“(Gray Owl) has helped me make a lot of connections and meet a lot of very interesting people,” Graham said. “Being here has opened up people to knowing that there's somebody who wants to help them.”
Graham’s art and tarot reading center around problem-solving and personal traumas. Her readings tend to be emotionally intense, but have the goal of furthering healing and development.
“From my art to my tarot reading, I want to promote inner healing and growth,” Graham said. “I just want people to find their authenticity by connecting with me.”
Reading tarot requires a deck of 78 cards divided into two sections: the major arcana and minor arcana. When shuffled and displayed in a row, the spread of cards represents a person’s past, present and future.
Each tarot reader has a different reading style based on their interpretation of the cards. Graham’s question-and-answer style focuses on developing the self and facilitating healing from past traumas.
Graham read the cards of Gray Owl Coffee worker-owner Erika Barker. Though initially nervous to have her cards read as she expressed vulnerability, Barker said Graham’s calmness put her at ease and allowed her to receive clarity in the cards.
“(Graham) was really good at interpreting and helping me figure out what the cards were trying to say," Barker told the OU Daily. "At explaining what questions I was getting answers to and at helping me self reflect on what I was curious about."
Graham requires a question when receiving a reading from her, preferably one that guides self-reflection. Though broad questions are accepted, she said more precise questions will lead to clearer answers.
“Instead of asking why things happen, I want people to self-reflect,” Graham said.
Graham’s tarot readings are donation based, and she is open to whatever people can afford. She hopes her readings show people that healing and moving on from hurt is achievable.
“I think a lot of us will try to do the work and think that we're in this perpetual state of healing, like we always need to fix ourselves,” Graham said. “But you actually get to a point where you are healed. You are a better version of yourself than you used to be.”
Over the past five years, Graham has built a clientele of strangers, friends and returning customers. She values the meaningful connections made through her business and finds providing answers to be her favorite aspect of reading.
“When people come back for more readings, I get to build this relationship with them and it's usually very deep,” Graham said. “I'm not a therapist, but I like to say to my clients that I give them the questions they should ask in therapy.”
Barker said her first and second readings from Graham provided her with valuable insight and reassurance, and that the reading process resembled a productive, guided journaling session.
“The focus is on trying to help you figure stuff out in your life,” Barker said. “I really feel like this is a very genuine calling for her and that it's more like talking to a therapist than talking to someone super mystical who's reading the future.”
"Big Bad Wolf," a piece from Katie Graham's upcoming art show, "Revisiting Folklore."
Graham said Crystal Gazers Collective allows her to channel her creativity, not just by creating art, but also by helping others grow based on adversity similar to her own.
“My artwork is very reflective of my own emotional trajectory and also my own healing journey,” Graham said. “I think getting to read for people, it's not just for the other person, but it is a reflection of the healing that I've been through as well.”
Tarot readings with Crystal Gazers Collective can be booked through Instagram or email. Graham’s final session of her Gray Owl series is from 12 to 6 p.m. Saturday Sept. 30.
Graham's upcoming art show, "Revisiting Folklore," will be presented during Norman Art Walk from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday on Oct. 13 for Gray Owl at 223 E. Gray Street.
This story was edited by Emma Blakley. Grace Rhodes and Avery Avery copy edited this story.
