By Valarie Willhoite

Wendie Gustafson, a UA psychology senior, anxiously unlocks her car door as she explains how scared she is to experience her first tarot card reading.

During the ten minute drive to Metaphysics World, 2559 E Broadway Blvd., she bites her bottom lip as her hands clinch the steering wheel. She believes in paranormal ability, but is skeptical of those who charge for their services. With slight disbelief, she is fearful her reading will bring bad news. Her statements are a string of what if’s.

“What if the cards show my boyfriend is cheating on me? What if I get bad news I’m not ready to hear?” Before she fully decides whether she is ready or not, she finds herself in the parking lot. The car comes to a stop and the look on her face makes it clear she is anticipating the worst. After five minutes in the car, she convinces herself the tarot card reading can’t be all that bad. Gustafson is ready to walk into Metaphysics World.

When she opens the shop’s door, she is slightly calmed by the immediate smell of incense that fills the room. Her eyes bounce from wall to wall as she tries to absorb all of the mystical items. The first thing she sees is a wall full of tarot cards available for customers to buy. To the left, tucked away in the corner, is a glass case filled with crystal balls making the store shine. The price for one, whether you break it or buy it, is a hefty $100 or more.

As Gustafson admires the corner filled with crystal balls and tarot cards she is interrupted by the edgy shopkeeper’s reluctant, “Can I help you?” Still tense, Gustafson tells the woman she has a 4 p.m. appointment with Fatima, the tarot card reader. The shopkeeper turns her head over her shoulder and points her finger to the back of the store, guiding the customer’s attention to one of the two closed doors where palm, clairvoyance and tarot card readings take place.

Gustafson walks towards the back of the room and a short woman with jet black hair steps out of one of the doors and meets her halfway. With a Thai accent and a gentle handshake she introduces herself as Fatima and leads Gustafson into a dimly-lit room.

Unsure of how to handle her first reading, the first-timer puts her belongings on the worn-in couch and continues to stand as Fatima settles in. A beaded lamp and an elephant figurine sit on the black cloth covered table. The elephant is Ganesha-God of wisdom, being of inner luck and the clearer of obstacles.

Fatima instructs Gustafson to cut the deck of tarot cards. Tense and on the edge of her seat, she reaches for the cards with her right hand. Fatima quickly says, “No.” Gustafson snaps her hand back and listens to Fatima say, “Use your left hand, it’s closest to your heart,” as she places her hands on her chest and says to select ten cards to start the reading.

Fatima analyzes the ten cards and tells Gustafson they are about a romantic relationship, who responds by biting her bottom lip again. She is nervous and her wide eyes show she is waiting to hear Fatima confirm her what if’s. Fatima tells her, “You have a man that loves you and can make you very happy.”

Before arriving at Metaphysics World, Gustafson was tense, but Fatima gives her reason to relax. With a sigh of relief, she finally leans back in her chair, as her first reading brings the good news she did not expect. She enjoys her thirty-minute tarot reading and buys thirty more.

Gustafson’s upright posture turns relaxed and her forced smile becomes natural. The hour is over and she stands up with Fatima as they joke about how tense she was at first. They shake hands and walk toward the door discussing future readings, but only Gustafson will see what her future holds and if Fatima was right.