What is Volo Noscere?

The phrase is Latin for “I wish to know” and the magical motto of George Cecil Jones (1873 – 1960), a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and co-founder of the A∴A∴.

Under this moniker, I’ve provided esoteric services & hosted an occult lodge at various times over the years.

Who are you?

As a student of the Western Mysteries, I was tested & certified in Tarot at a school of Hermetic Arts & Sciences in Los Angeles, where I eventually became a faculty member and on-staff reader.

I taught classes and tutored private students in various aspects of Tarot, Hermetic Qabalah and Ceremonial Magick while performing divinatory services for a more general client base.

Eventually, I left to pursue a new path and paid my way through barber school as a wizard for hire, joining that storied barber/occultist lineage stretching from Jean-Baptiste Alliette to Paschal Beverly Randolph.

Is divination dangerous?

Whether you believe in the Divine forces invoked or simply believe in the utility of lateral thinking, divination is no more and no less dangerous than asking anyone for advice.

You can think of it as your “spirit guides” using me to tell you what you need to hear. You can think of it as a creative exercise to think outside the box of your normal and limited perspective.

The process works for people who think either of these things (or any number of other theories) about what’s going on during their Tarot reading.

How you interpret and what you do with whatever information you get is ultimately your responsibility.

What kinds of readings are available?

I currently offer four reading types for querents to choose from:

Three Cards

This is the layout I use for my personal daily divinations and requires that the querent ask a specific question. The three cards will provide an answer and I will pull additional cards as needed.

Relationship Spread

This is a format I use to examine the querent’s relationship to anything imaginable, whether a friend, a career, a habit, etc. I pull additional cards when necessary.

Pulling for Options

This is a method well-suited to comparing choices and can be adapted to any number of other uses. Some examples include: “Where should I move to?” “Which job should I take?” “What’s really going on with the people in my life?” The querent makes a numbered list (in their head or on paper) and I pull a card for each number. This works even if the querent makes the list without telling me what’s on it.

Full Diagnostic

This layout involves a 12-card past/present/future spread and lasts up to two hours. The diagnostic process is highly interactive and the querent is encouraged to ask questions throughout. I will bring in various techniques from the above-mentioned reading types as needed to paint a full picture for the querent. This option is preferred and booked twice a year by many of my most long-standing clients.

Anything else I should know?

There’s no right or wrong way to get a Tarot reading, but I find that querents get better results when they’re sober and bring pen and paper to write down the things that occur them during and after.

I don’t sugar-coat my readings so if you’re uncomfortable with the notion of being told something you might not like, I’m not the reader for you.

What is Qabalistic Induction?

A technique involving trained will, imagination and esoteric philosophy to affect change for a client. Based on the work pioneered by Israel Regardie, the technique I call Qabalistic Induction can be used to help find a lost item, prepare for an important meeting, avoid an unsavory person or improve well-being in general, as well as an almost unlimited number of other applications.

Another way to think about it is as the creation of a talisman in which the talisman is the client.

How does the technique work?

There are many theories as to how or why such a technique might work. One is that the channeling of Divine force into the Qabalistic meridians of the body stimulates positive development, which can lead to a ripple effect achieving far-reaching results.

Another is that the only thing happening during the process is the placebo effect, which is often misunderstood as another way to say “an ineffective modality.” Meanwhile, published scientific research demonstrates the placebo effect being just as effective as standard medical treatment procedures.

For me, either of these theories works as enough of a reason to proceed with the technique. I have clients who can attest that they got the results they wanted “like magic” and in most cases, they don’t bother worrying about how the results came about at all.

Does the technique always work?

Yes, but not always in the way intended. When the intended result doesn’t come to pass, the client’s will isn’t in alignment with the will of the universe. It doesn’t mean the technique didn’t work, but that the technique worked and the result wasn’t possible, like the technique of submitting a resume and the result of not getting the job.

Appropriate next steps include divination (see above) and meditation to sort out how to move towards alignment.

I’d like to learn more about esotericism…

I offer one-on-one consulting for anyone with questions about occultism, struggling with their practice, or looking for a place to start.

Why are your services so expensive?

People take their time (and mine) more seriously when I set prices somewhere that gives them a slight pause to think about why they’re doing this.

Sometimes thinking a little harder about the reason why negates the need to even employ someone like me in the first place!

Will you curse my neighbor?

No.

I still have a question…

Send me an email.

Site Credits:

Photos by me

ATCWhitney

Model: Carlos Sprung

carlossprung.com

Testimonials:

“Whitney's skill is undeniable. He is pulling from a deep well of knowledge from lifelong commitments to both rigorous academic betterment and an intuitive and empathetic curiosity towards others. Tarot scratches the surface of his talents and because of that, you'll struggle to find a reader who can drop into the root of a matter so easily.”

—Ben Flohr

“When my wife and I separated, there were problems between us, our kids, and my new partner, and I went to Whitney for help. He did some sort of spell and all of a sudden, my ex-wife and new partner started getting along, and we were co-parenting like nobody’s business. It’s been five years and everything’s been great ever since. He knows what he’s doing.”

—Jim Rooks

“Whitney is a wise man and his readings ring in my ears for months. He emphasizes how free you are to make your own decisions, and his readings help me remember to make the choices that are in my best interests and keep me on the path I'd like to be on. He empowers you, acting as a conduit, and never takes advantage of the power dynamic that is inherent between the querent and the reader.”

—Taylor Johnson

“Whitney has been reading for me for years and has helped guide me through relationships, career changes and health challenges. His ability to predict the future is scary accurate, down to the smallest detail. I have the receipts in my journals to prove it. I can’t let anyone else read Tarot for me.”

—Janine Friedman

“I took a 9-week Tarot course from another teacher and left feeling confused about how to actually use any of it. I hired Whitney to teach me to understand Tarot in a way that would make sense and give me something to work with. After two sessions, everything clicked and I’ve been reading professionally ever since. Whitney has a gift for explaining difficult concepts and detangling knots to make these complicated subjects actually approachable. I can’t thank you enough.”

—Sandra Fuller

“I came to Whitney stuck in my life and searching for clarity and comfort. Being an older father navigating sobriety and wondering what to do about my career, I asked my questions and he gave me options for the future–jump off the cliff for my passion or remain stuck in the stable job I hated. He pushed me in a direction that has made me a better father, brother, son, and partner. I’m no longer angry at the world. I love you so much, Whitney. You have done wonders and I will always turn to you as one of my best friends and confidants.“

—Justin Bohorquez

“Whitney is a truly authentic person who wishes for everyone to be the best version of themselves. Whether you're at a major crossroads, need a compass check, or simply want a little more magic in your life, Whitney is the real deal.”

—Sam Allen