Interview with Danu of Sagittarian Download Tarot!

Danu is a beautiful Goddess-Witch whom we feel very connected to at Gaia Rising....

"I am always so impressed with how every tarot reader has their own, unique approach to reading. Everyone has their own style! But if you like a little bit of a slap in the face (in the kindest way possible) Danu's readings will really set you straight if you are floundering. At times, I personally fall into the trap of being too much in my head. Danu's reading reminded me in a direct way to take responsibility for the situation I was inquiring about! Danu is definitely gentle & feminine, and the information is communicated with the utmost respect & love, but me, being a Sagittarius myself, can appreciate the blunt & traditional delivery of information. I highly suggest booking with Danu!" -Dannika Soukoroff (Gaia Rising)

Gaia: We are so excited for our Sagittarian Download! Tell us a little bit about yourself Danu....

Danu: I’m Danu. I’m also known as Danie (Jeanes). Danu is the name of the Irish Mother Goddess (akin to Gaia) and is a nick-name gifted to me by high school friends for my incessant Mothering and relentless pursuit of Motherhood as my prime purpose in life :)

I’m a BC girl – grew up in the lower mainland, went to a Fine Arts School, and have been coming to Nelson to visit my Dad (and do summer theatre at The Capitol) every holiday since he moved here when I was 3. I moved to Nelson from Victoria in 2012 and was a co-parent of Raw Magic Chocolate (a hand-made chocolate company featuring “fortune cards” in every bar) till 2018 – you may have seen me at the local markets.

I’m a straight-shooting Tarot Reader ;) Offering various readings in person around Nelson or virtually. My readings are “Sagittarian Downloads”, meaning they’re to-the-point/frank – sometimes they deliver a “cosmic bitch slap” if you need it. Hence, Tarot reading business name is Sagittarian Download.

I’m also a fabulous Spa Therapist at Aura Spa in The Hume Hotel.

Gaia: How old were you when you started reading tarot?

Danu: I was gifted my Tarot deck (the one I use for readings for others) when I was about 8. I had been scoping out the decks at Dragon Space on Grandville Island (Vancouver) with my Dad and had chosen The Tarot of the Old Path as my favourite. It arrived anonymously in the mail awhile later, but wrapped in a donuts bag so I knew it was from my father. He always had a Raider-Waite deck that we would play with – sometimes for divination, sometimes just pulling out the “pip” or minor arcana cards to play card games with. He told me that his grandmother (from Northern Ireland) read Tarot cards, using the Raider-Waite, and always kept a Bible on top of them to keep evil spirits out of them…. A practice I have not continued, though I do keep my cards wrapped in silk, and regularly cleanse them with sage, to the same effect.

                             

Gaia: What was your learning process in learning to read the cards? Some people read solely intuitively without focusing on the historical or fundamental meanings of the cards, what has been your approach?

Danu: My first deck came with a book that I used to learn some basic spreads and translate the cards when I drew them. I drew daily cards and did readings like that (using various books for definitions) for myself and others for a decade before I realized that I had their meanings memorized and could very proficiently read without aid from a book. The books I studied were mostly (though not all) traditional in their definitions of the cards. I also learned a lot by receiving readings from others and having great conversations with more experienced readers. My Dad also shared what he remembered of his grandmothers interpretations – which were very literal and traditional. I once had a Medium tell me that she could see my father's grandmother standing by my right shoulder when I read my cards, telling me their meanings. Now I’d say that the cards “speak” to me – I hear their meaning for each individual in each particular reading in a Clairaudiant way. It’s generally very clear, concise, even blunt in it’s messages.

Gaia: Are there any other personal spiritual practices you have? Do you mind sharing about them?

Danu: I’m a Celtic Pagan/eclectic Witch, so I celebrate the 8 seasonal Sabbats around the Wheel of the Year (Solstices, Equinoxes and the points between) with my family, close friends and community. I usually celebrate the Full Moon with a Circle of like-minded ladies, or my partner and kids. I love ritual and community celebration as ceremony. Daily: I pick cards to focus on what I’m evolving in myself that day, and do a quick meditation, grounding and protection ritual (I’ve got a 14 month old so these daily this don’t always happen atm). I also try to take a moment of gratitude before eating a meal. The Hawaiian tradition of “Honoponopono” is one of my all-around favourite adopted practices for anything and everything: “I love you, I’m sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you”. Also, the affirmations by Louise L. Hay have been transformative in various aspects of my life.

                    

Gaia: Are there any spiritual philosophies, beliefs or paths you are drawn to that you would like to learn more about?

Danu: Truly, I just want to re-study everything I’ve dabbled in so far! I’ve been a student of Witchcraft and the occult for most of my life, I’m an Initiated Pagan Priestess, but I’ve been a dedicated Mother as well for the past 18 years so the bulk of my formal study is now getting a bit faded... I want to re-read some Starhawk, Z. Budapest, Scott Cunningham and DJ Conway, as well as delve deeper into Runes with Dawn Ravenwind's “The Illustrated Book of Runes” (This book is stocked at Gaia Rising) and the formal roots of Wicca with Gerald Gardner and Dion Fortune.

Gaia: How do you think you have grown as a person in the last year?

Danu: 2022 was my year of Maternity leave with my last child, that’s what gave me the space to fully come into giving Tarot Readings professionally with Sagittarian Download. That’s been huge. I’ve been giving readings as gifts ect. for 20+ years and it feels SO GOOD to now be promoting and offering my skill to my local (and world – thanks to the internet) community.

Gaia: What is one thing you would like to grow about yourself in 2023?

Danu: Having my third child has brought me a sense of completion in the child-bearing part of my Mothering destiny. Now I’m stoked (really for the first time in my life) to focus on prosperously supporting my family with my skills.

Gaia: What is your sun sign and do you feel you relate to it? If you know what your moon and ascendant signs are, do you feel like they reflect in your personality?

Danu: I’m a Sagittarius (how’d you guess?!?!) and I’m pretty typical – fiery, honest to a fault, fun-loving and flirtatious. My Ascendant is Aquarius – which is why I stick out like a sore thumb in any crowd and am “such a hippie”, and my moon is in Cancer – hence the Mama focus.

                       

Gaia: Where can we find more information about accessing your products and or services?

Danu: You can find me @Sagittarian_Download on Instagram and Facebook. My business card and menu/price list are at Gaia Rising. Or you can just call/text me directly at 1-778-962-0989. I offer various readings, all at about $11 per card, as well as gift certificates.

Gaia: What would be in your shopping bag at Gaia Rising?

Danu: OOOOO! Jewelry! So much jewelry! And I love those Lunar Intention journaling sheets from November Wild (You can find these in our Witchcraft section at Gaia)…. And I’ve always wanted that big, rainbow, meditating cat statue that you have in there…..