Echoes of Old Gardens
About me
Dear Reader,
Let me tell you something about myself. I am a Norwegian/Dutch European, a historian, researcher of old wisdom, a dedicated cartomancer, medium in training, a forager and herbalist. I honor the mystic traditions while applying the knowledge and practices for this day and age. My name is Janne. It is so nice to have you here on my site.
My relationship with the tarot counts more than 30 years. You can read more about my tarot story HERE. It was only after I started to really develop, refine and trust my intuition, that my tarot journey became real and trustworthy to me. Over many years now, I have been dedicated to develop the feminine, intuitive side of me, and I now know that my intuition it is in fact just as valuable as my rational mind.
Herbs, teas and tinctures came later, but flowers always touched my heart and soul when I was a child. I rarely picked them - I knew they would wither if I did. Instead I sat with them, admired them and thanked them. In summer, one would often find me in the back of the garden, under the lilacs. As I grew older, I sort of forgot about the flowers, until I didn't! They came back into my life as teachers, friends and helpers.
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The result of the effort I put into this work is a deep respect for the hidden knowledge of the Earth and the Plant world. It is not for everyone, it takes time and dedication, but the secret feminine wisdom whispered through the soul, is accessible for those who are called and willing to listen.
The feminine and intuitive approach is the approach of the High Priestess (intuitive wisdom and sacred devotion), the Empress (fertility and nature) and Strength (courage and compassion). More carriers of this wisdom tradition is greatly needed, so much welcomed you are, if you feel called.
My offerings
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​Writing this magazine/blog/collection of articles as a resource page
- for anyone who feels drawn to developing their intuition
- for anyone learning, practicing or teaching divination
- for anyone interested in tarot and cartomancy
- for anyone interested in botanicals, herbs and ancient apothecary
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Running the You Tube Channel Echoes of Old Gardens: www.youtube.com/@echoesofoldgardens
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Posting to the Instagram page @echoesofoldgardens
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Teaching tarot, theory and practice in courses and workshops
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Offering readings through this site or in person
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MY TAROT STORY
I was born into a family of card players. My brother and I became keen card players already as very young children, enjoying the social aspects of playing card games both as children and adults. My grandparents started teaching us how to play, and how to handle the cards with care and respect. They were themselves keen bridge players in organized bridge rings. From them, we learned every game there was. We played canasta, bridge, rummy, old maid and many solitaire games - everything except for Poker, which was not at all allowed to play!
Quite quickly I developed a relationship with the suits. I felt the different energies of the suits, the court cards and the pips. Whenever I held a deck of playing cards in my hand, I felt a rush of history, magic and more-ness coming over me. I knew from within that the deck was more than games. When I at one point met an old lady, with long grey hair in a knot and a crystal ball (yes, she actually had both the knot and the ball), I knew I had found my muse. She was giving me a psychic reading, a card reading (divination with playing cards) and she used palmistry (reading the palms of the hand). The old Swedish lady of Roma blood has gone into history now, but her readings I will never forget.​
I bought my first Tarot deck when I was 15. There was no internet then, only bookstores. I was lucky to be living close to a store in Oslo with a considerable collection of spiritual books. I went there often and stayed for hours. They had four different tarot decks in their stock, as I recall. I was both intrigued and scared of the Tarot, and I did not really know if it was "good" or "bad". My veil was very thin at that time, and I was sensitive to energies (as I am still). It took me some time to find the courage to buy my first deck. I did not know anyone then, who knew the Tarot. I became a self-made reader from books and intuition, and I read cards mostly to myself.
In my 20s, I started travelling Europe, trying to understand myself and the world around me. I brought my deck everywhere, it was as important to me as pen, paper and toothbrush. During my 20s, I read many, many books on spiritual development and ancient wisdom as well as doing my undergraduate university studies, a BA in history and religion. By opening the Tarot daily, I learned that the Tarot was uncompromisingly honest. Neither my ego, nor my heart, was ready for the shadows the tarot showed me, or the deep transformational work it suggested.​​
During my 30s I settled geographically, but my inner travels became deeper. I had used my teens, my 20s and early 30s to explore different mystic, spiritual and religious circles and communities (of many I was very disappointed). I slowly returned to "my own stuff", my simple meditations, nature wisdom, embodiment practices and listening inwards. I developed a deeper relationship with the Tarot, realizing it was bringing me directly to the source, no need for a mediator. All I needed was practice and staying my ground. From this point I knew I could trust myself in this work, but I also understood that I needed time to mature.​
When I turned 40, I had been through some life experiences and periods of my life often referred to as "the dark night of the soul". I realized how wisdom comes with age and experience, but only when the person is dedicated to grow, deepen, learn and evolve. My experience is that years lived is needed in order to "collect data" to be able to understand the world and oneself on a deeper level. During my 40s, I have developed intuitive skills in a way I had never done before.
​Today I practice not only intuitive reading, I am also dedicated to train my mediumship skills, my bond with the animal kingdom and my cooperation with the plant world. By the time I am turning 50, I have a feeling a lot of things have shifted.
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Instagram: instagram.com/echoesofoldgardens
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