Joe was first introduced to astrology at 15 years old by a friend’s mother and self-proclaimed Witch. She provided him with books about Horoscopes and he became deeply absorbed in Zodiac profiles. He attended college at SUNY Purchase in 2005 to study Painting & Printmaking. It was there that he met a Scorpio who led him into the world of tarot cards and readings. He received his first tarot deck as a Christmas gift from his sister.
After completing his BFA he spent months traveling and hitchhiking across the county to experience wide-open spaces and freedom—to experiment and veer boldly away from trends and traditional social norms. His journey brought him to a monumental destination: the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico, to the Rainbow Gathering. The Gathering consisted of 30,000 people, counterculture “tribes” from the Pacific Northwest that congregate in the woodlands. Over the course of a week, he gave over 400 readings at the trading circle.
When he returned to New York he accepted an Art Teacher position at St. Catherine’s Center for Children working with high-risk youth. He worked with the homeless and mentally ill. He is currently employed as a caseworker for Albany County, protecting those who cannot protect themselves.
Some refer to tarot reading as fortune-telling, but Joe describes his practice as a tool; to conjure divine information about a person’s circumstances. His lifelong admiration of all things spiritual, Pagan beliefs, and work experience in human services have given him a deep aptitude to listen, especially to those who have been ignored. The ultimate goal with every reading is to make sure the client feels some sense of hope, purpose, or clarity. For Joe, interpreting the sacred messages in the cards is the most significant and worthwhile way to reach and help people.