Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jessica, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
When I was a little girl, my family lived in a two-bedroom condominium in Moorpark, California. One rainy day, my mom came home with some houseguests—an unhoused migrant family: a single mother and her children—that she’d happened across on her way home. They lived with us for a while. I can still smell the frijoles on the stove that the mom would cook, wearing a wide grin…
My mom is the one who taught me generosity through action. My father is also generous—I believe that gift-giving is one of his love languages. Once a week, we’d pick up any bread and pastries left from the day at a local French bakery and distribute them to people in need of food. We’d religiously hoard sample-sized toiletries and make care packages (I think that this is also where my affection for hotel soaps began) to distribute to the unhoused on Skid Row in Los Angeles.
Over and over again, I was taught that it is “better to give than to receive.” Now, my brand, My Taropist®, does something that I call #TarotForGood. We highlight causes that are on my heart to support, donating proceeds from sales, bookings, or donations to the YouTube channel. The last #TarotForGood fundraiser was for a local children’s home here in São Miguel, and 5% of proceeds from September’s private bookings were donated to To Write Love on Her Arms. Before that, we donated to some families and individuals affected by the fires in Los Angeles County. One day, we’ll do more and more…because generosity, to me, is one of the most profound ways to show love. It’s selfless. And it has the power to eradicate the darkness permeating our culture and world.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
It’s tough to define what I do, because I don’t believe in boxing up one’s abilities, hopes, and dreams into one cardboard box and slapping a label on it. I relate to the Jo March line from Little Women, “I should have been a great many things.” Instead of lamenting the passing time, I’m just trying to be intuitively guided towards what sparks the most joy at the moment.
I acted professionally for nearly a decade, and being on set is still the happiest place on earth. In the middle of the 2020 pandemic, I started my own business, which provides content and communications strategy to small businesses, creatives, and advocacy organizations. In that capacity, I also write copy and utilize my creative writing skills (I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Literary Writing).
Currently, however, most of my energy is being channeled into the mission and vision of my brand, My Taropist®. As an intuitive reader and spiritual adviser, I believe tarot is more than a prediction tool — it’s a mirror, a conversation with the Divine, and one of many holistic forms of therapy. I have a heart for helping others heal, grow, and find clarity in times of transition.
Having done thousands of hours of tarot readings over the years, I’ve become increasingly frustrated with people conflating reading tarot with fortune-telling. I want people to walk away from a reading with tools that enable them to effect real change in their lives. I’m excited to now offer 1-on-1 sessions that include downloadable Soulwork Guides. The guides include journal prompts and pages for reflections, a tarot spread, affirmations, and DBT-inspired exercises. Ultimately, I’d love to offer personalized guides that facilitate the integration of the messages that clients receive during readings.
My Fall Reset Special is available now: fallreset.mytaropist.com/fall-reset-special-landing-page. On MyTaropist.com, my blog is now live, and we recently sent out the first edition of Lightbean Letters—a monthly newsletter. The My Taropist® Shop is also being revamped. A new Numerology-themed collection is coming out called Signs + Numbers. There’s much more in the works, but I’m really looking forward to all that we have planned for both the shop and our intuitive readings that will include more transformative tools.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I’m still learning (and relearning) these:
– Be a Risk-Taker. I used to be so risk-averse. My life has taught me that if you don’t take the leap, you’ll always wonder, “what if.” I tell my subscribers all the time, “Just do it! Grrr!” (mimicking the viral Shia LaBeouf motivational speech). Never let great ideas live and die in your head.
– Embrace Change. Oooh, this is So. Hard. I live deeply in my comfort zone. However, my mom has always told me, “The only constant in life is change.” And my life has definitely proven this to be true. Change will come whether we like it or not. Nothing is shielding us from the inevitable. The question is, do you want that change to be something that you’ve influenced or something that you’ve allowed to happen to you?
– Empathy. I’ve learned that empathy isn’t something that we all possess inherently from birth. The challenges that we face in life provide experiences that help us to develop empathy. As an actor, one can fake an emotion, but a performance is all the more powerful when it is truly felt. And an emotion can only be felt through lived experience. Fully embracing life allows us to truly be human and empathize with one another and our diverse experiences.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I pray. Prayer is the most powerful spiritual tool in my arsenal. God has never let me down, and connecting with Spirit takes me out of the problem to the Source of the solution. Breathe. Pause. Pray.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.mytaropist.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mytaropist
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/c/mytaropist
- Other: http://www.mytaropist.shop
Image Credits
The image in the blue jumpsuit with pink scarf – @MuktiBird
The 2 images in Lisboa – Jade Stevens
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
