Theresa Reed is a Milwaukee-based Professional tarot reader and author of The Tarot Coloring Book (Sounds True). I met Theresa a few years back when we worked on some headshots for her, and we've been working together and plotting to take over the world ever since! I interviewed Theresa to pick her brain about bearded men in the Tarot, and other delights.

Interview by Jessica Kaminski

Headshot of Theresa Reed by Jessica Kaminski

Jessica: Who is your current Celebrity Beard Crush?

Theresa: Jidenna! I love his beard, his style, his confidence. SWOON.

J: What's your favorite type of beard?

T: Truthfully, I like ‘em all. They hide a multitude of sins and give men a bit of swagger. I would probably say that the Van Dyke is my favorite because it gives men a devilish look. I like that. I also adore Clint Eastwood’s scruffy beard from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly days. That look still drives me nuts to this day.

J: As a woman, do you like it when men use beard oils or balms, etc? If so, are there any scents that you particularly enjoy?

T: Oh yes! I love a good smelling man! I especially like woody, earthy scents like sandalwood, cedar wood. or vetivert. I do NOT like vanilla anything though. Bleh. I don’t want to smell something sweet and assume you’ve got cookie crumbs in your beard. Keep it woodsy, guys.

J: Are there any Tarot cards that depict bearded men? If so, can you tell us more about that card?

T: In the traditional Rider Waite deck (the deck I prefer) there are few bearded dudes! Most of ‘em are clean shaven. Not sure what that’s about but perhaps the artist wasn’t a beard aficionado? Anyhow, I found four: The Devil, The Emperor, The Hermit and one old guy in the Ten of Pentacles. In tarot, beards were a sign of maturity and wisdom. I probably prefer that Hermit because he embodies mystical wisdom! Not sure how “mature” the Devil would be - in that case, I think the beard is a sign of mischief - which may be why I like those Van Dyke beards so much!

J: Do any of the Zodiac signs involve people or characters with beards?

T: If we had to put a beard on a zodiac sign, it would probably be Sagittarius or Capricorn. Sagittarius is the archer and he’s often depicted as a centaur with a beard. And Capricorn is the goat - most goats have little beards. (PS I’m a big goat fan. They are rebellious creatures and I like that.)

J: What do you think a beard says about a man?

T: Beards say "I’m grown. I know stuff. I might just be a badass. Watch me."

J: What is your prediction for bearded men in the year 2017?

T: I pulled a tarot card: Ace of Cups - this is the symbol of love. More people will be loving on bearded men. This is the year for those men to wear their beards with pride! Keep in mind that an Ace also symbolizes a beginning - could this be the year when more men start to let those beards unfurl? Might media be giving bearded men the love they deserve at long last? It appears that way. This might be the start of a beard-loving craze that gives hairy-faced men their due - and gives us beard lovers more bearded dudes to love! All hail the beard in 2017!

To learn more about Theresa and her work, you can find out more here:

http://www.thetarotlady.com

https://www.facebook.com/thetarotlady

https://twitter.com/thetarotlady

https://www.instagram.com/thetarotlady/

You know those days where you just feel overwhelmed by the world? I know that you do - we all have those days. But how do you cope? Some people like to have a drink or two, or get lost in some sort of Netflix marathon.

Sometimes I just need to be held.

The other day I was having just such a day, when my boyfriend pulled me to him. He is taller than me, so his beard became kind of a pillow for my face. Suddenly, I decided to turn my head and burrow myself more deeply into his chest, and I found myself in a magical new place: the intimate space BEHIND his beard.

It was quite a revelation, really. His beard is black, so it blocked out a lot of the light, but not all. It felt like a dark veil over my eyes. I was able to know that the world still existed beyond it, but that I did not have to partake in it. It was like a fort, or a tent, in which I could hide. My boyfriend takes care of his beard, so it was soft, but textured at the same time, and smelled like some sort of masculine smell that beard oils attribute to men: perhaps it was pine mixed with leather - something bold but inviting.

I also took great comfort in knowing that the special place was a place just for me.

When I was a little girl, I had quite the stuffed animal collection. And back then, they used to sell these triangular-shaped nets that you could hang in a corner and store your toys in, so they were off the ground. One of my parents set up a net like this in the corner of my bedroom. I remember once making some sort of fort out of this corner. I hung a blanket from the net, and laid down more blankets and pillows on the ground within it. I even remember making a little sign out of paper and crayon. It read: My Own Little Corner of The World.

It's nice to know that even as an adult, I can still find these special places. Places that are safe. Places filled with love.

Interview: Theresa Reed, The Tarot Lady

My Bearded Safety Blanket