Today we’d like to introduce you to Trina Peng.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
For as long as I can remember, I have always been steeped in spiritual practices. As a child growing up in a Buddhist household, my parents taught me how to make offerings on our altar, chant mantras at the temple, and speak prayers for the benefit of those who I loved. I was always around people of different faiths, observing and participating in different religious practices. Communing with the divine, seeing colors, listening to my intuition, reading my surroundings, and creating things with my hands has guided me as a modern-day ritualist. Creating sacred spaces and performing ceremonies are a part of my vernacular. My love for such things has lent itself well to reading Tarot and oracle cards, and I have been doing so for over 20 years, with ten of those years actively reading for others. Predictions are inspired, guided by my conversations with beings of other realms, and I enjoy being able to help my clients find clarity in their life.
These days, I spend most of my time in Occupational Therapy Assistant school. I believe in seeing the world holistically, as we are a sum of many parts, and I take this perspective with me in all of the work that I do. Balance stems from our ability to address our priorities, daily occupations, and roles. Likewise, the Tarot and oracle cards I work with are like a picture book for what’s going on with my clients. I am honored to be able to provide insight reading these intimate stories, with a growing clientele for annual forecasts, ancestral work, custom rituals, and self-marriage ceremonies.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been particularly rough or smooth, but the personal landscape from when I started to present day has definitely changed. When I first started, I was unsure of my own abilities. Slowly, over time, I realized the more faith I put into my work, the more confident I could be about my ability to channel messages through the cards and whatever spiritual activities I was performing. I also had a limiting belief that I shouldn’t charge for my services, that as a “messenger” I couldn’t keep the channel pure if I had people purchasing my time or work. This changed when I realized that I needed to actually value my time and the messages coming through to actually bring value to those receiving my services.
Know your worth, and have faith in the power of your magic.
You may have to undergo a learning curve regarding how to price services and where the sweet spot is for people to those receiving your services, but don’t undervalue yourself. This means offering your best and teaching others how to treat you. Because of this, you may have to say, “No” to clients, but that doesn’t make you any less valuable, nor does it have to harm your bottom line. For those clients you do say “yes” to, especially for those seeking spiritual counsel, you will find that they will put a greater amount of trust, paying you exactly what you feel you deserve. I love my regulars that come to me every year, and the rapport that has been established has boosted my ability to provide higher quality services. You have to pay your dues, no doubt, but there is a great sense of accomplishment when people visit you year after year for that annual reading that has steered them towards achieving their own dreams.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
My staple work has been Tarot and oracle card reading. I am known for my single-card ice-breakers where I go to events and have random people draw one card for quick reading. The guidance has always been inspired and heartfelt, and clients often come back for more. When they do, they either has for a classic three-card pull, intuitive spread, or a chakra reading. For others who are willing to spend the time and money, I do a massive annual forecast using the Tea Leaf Fortune Cards by Rae Hepburn with a monthly focus or meditation, about 60 cards get drawn, detailing potentials per week and guidance on how to navigate difficulties. I offer spiritual counseling through dream interpretation as well as divination through cledomancy.
I have a few other offerings as well, including the following:
-Discover Your Gifts: An exclusive, 5-7 hour-long ceremonial day for those seeking to find their own, personal magic and ways to access it. I have to check in with my guides to see if this is a good fit, and clients must book at least 45-days in advance to their session. I collect sacred objects, offer readings, and nourish my clients for the day. The main focus of the client is to *receive* on that day, organically settling into the many messages the Great Beyond has to offer. Clients get to take all of their “gifts” home with the intention to create individual practices for magical self-exploration.
-Self-Marriage Ceremony: This is for anyone looking to build a better relationship with themselves, honoring both the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine inherent within all of us. The ceremony has a series of rituals and requires witnesses (much like a wedding ceremony to someone else). Sessions are offered in collaboration with other people looking to self-wed or as a private party intentionally set by a single client.
-Smoke and Incense Blends: I currently offer two sacraments for herbal smoking, Lotusohms and Te Fiti blend. Both can be used in herbal smoke or incense for ceremonial burning, custom blends are available upon request.
-Women’s Retreat: Offered 2-3 times a year, I gather women for a day of blessings, readings, sharing and communing with the Divine. These gatherings leave clients refreshed and restored, with tools to support self-care and a vibrant way of living.
If anything, I am humbled by the clients who trust me with delivering messages from the Divine. For those that have sought to increase their spiritual awareness, I have been so proud to see them create practices and rituals for themselves based on what I have shared in the work that I do. The work I do is rooted in a desire to help raise the collective consciousness. When a client takes something that they’ve learned from me and develop ways to make it their own, I know that I have done my job. I believe in helping people achieve their highest expression. After all, as one who also immerses herself in occupational therapy work, I believe that everyone should be able to do what they are meant to do functionally and independently. I am happiest when I can be of service to the Divine within all of us.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
I would say that the biggest barrier to female leadership is the spirit of competition. Being able to delegate services is a part of upgrading our spiritual consciousness. So giving shout-outs to people you admire and believe in is key for success. Make allies, not enemies.
I often find myself referring people to a network of talented women who have specialties beyond what I have to offer, and I find that these women are often referring people back to me for certain levels of expertise that I have as well. When I have faith that those that need to work with me will come to work with me, I have an abundance of opportunities that come without fail. I end up attracting people into my circle that I want, and the support is nothing short of miraculous.
Pricing:
- Tarot/Oracle Readings: $1.85/min, (Specials/Sliding scale available, Email for details)
- Dream Interpretations: $1.00/min
- Discover Your Gifts: $555 per session
- Self-Marriage Ceremony: $222 for public ceremony, $333 for private party
- Lotusohms/Te Fiti Smoke Blend/Loose Incense 0.5 oz packs -Email for prices
Contact Info:
- Email: lotusohms@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lotusohms/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lotusohms/
Image Credit:
Trina Peng, Elise Cardwell, April Chludzinski, Jenna Rose Katlik
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