Wonder what’s in the cards for the new year? Rockford tarot reader sees annual business uptick

By Mary Sisk
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The start of a new year brings a lot of uncertainty, and it brings customers to Tarot by Shelly
Michelle Johns, owner of Tarot by Shelly at both 2314 Charles Street and 120 N. State St. in Belvidere, says the start of a new year marks one of her busiest times.
“A lot of people want to know where their future is beginning in the new year,” Johns said. “They want to know where they are going to be at in their journey with a relationship, or with their business or just in general as far as where their mental, spiritual and physical health are at that point.”
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Johns is a third-generation tarot card reader, starting her career at 15 years old and labeling herself as a psychic clairvoyant, afformationist and medium.
Johns said some of her clients see her daily, others only at major milestones.
“Some people do it for curiosity, some people live by it,” she said. “It’s just like reading your horoscope daily.”
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She also faces skepticism and occasional hesitancy.
“Sometimes I do kind of strike them with something they do know or something that has happened to them and they sit right down and get a reading done,” Johns said.
How to get a reading

Where: Tarot by Shelly, 2314 Charles St., Rockford, and 120 N. State St., Belvidere
Phone: 815-999-6954
This article is by Mary Sisk. Email her at msisk@rockrivercurrent.com or follow her on Instagram at @maryrrcurrent