Tarot and Treats: The Ultimate Mystical Dinner Party

I had the tarot and treats dinner party idea last year without ever having been to a tarot reading. It seemed like the perfect fall dinner party to get into the Halloween spirit.

Fast forward to now, and I have been to my first tarot reading. Besides crying every time I talked about going back to work after maternity leave, I did enjoy it!

The first thing she said to me was that my husband is quiet and soft-spoken, which was a rocky start. He is…not that. I always joke that he likes all the loudest things. Favourite sport? F1. Favourite cocktail? Martini. Favourite hobby? Woodworking.

My personal perspective is that it allows you to be self-reflective, so even if you take it with a whole heaping spoonful of salt, there may be some positive takeaways. Turns out I was harbouring a lot of guilt around going back to work (shocker – what a unique experience I was having).

Now, cost is something that you need to consider before getting the wheels too far into motion. Are you going to cover the cost, or are the guests? Some people are interested enough and happy to do so, whereas others are very much against the idea.

This is where I have a confession to make. In all my other posts, we actually did the dinner parties I wrote about. This one, however, I was not able to get buy-in and am not currently able to foot the bill for all six of us to get a reading done.

Still, I know this would make for a fun night, so hopefully there will be a part two of this one day after we try it ourselves!

Now, lets talk readings, decorations and menu!

The Tarot Reading: Cardiology

What exactly is a tarot reading? Great question.

According to the article A (very skeptical) beginner’s guide to reading tarot, tarot is intended to help explore your feelings about the present. There are 78 cards total, with a leaflet providing each card’s meaning. However, what is more important is what you feel each one means rather than the definitions.

I was a bit puzzled when I read that it was not supposed to be a crystal ball into the future. My tarot reader had gone as specific as to the career my one-year-old daughter would have and the type of man she would marry.

If there is anyone well-versed in tarot, I would love to hear your thoughts on that!

Now that we have the basics, let’s get into it!

Guest Preparation

The only thing you want to have your guests prepare for is what they want the reading to be about. Love? Work? Returning to work?

You can suggest to your guests ahead of time to record the reading if they’d like. Some people like to listen to them later on.

Your Preparation

There are two options for tarot reading at your home. You can have someone physically come in and do the reading, or you could opt for a Zoom call. Whichever you are more comfortable with or is accessible to you.

Each person will have a reading done for some set amount of time. Twenty minutes or half an hour should give your guests enough time to get into it without it being a full eight-hour affair.

You will want to have a separate space for the reading that is completely private. You should not be able to hear what is being said. Proving to your guests that it is the case before the readings start may help put everyone at ease.

The Decorations: Deck the Hall

I love a good prop, and this dinner party can have a lot of them. Crystals, gemstones, old books and even a tarot deck itself make excellent decorations.

You can use rich jewel tones with gold accents, as well as a mix of fabrics like velvet and satin. Mood lighting is key, so bring out your candles and twinkly lights.

The Menu: Fortune Flavours the Curious

Depending on how many guests you have, you could be looking at three hours of readings. I went with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law, and the three of us alone were over an hour and a half. Keep that in mind when you are designing your food courses!

For that reason, we opt for a more casual appetizer style meal that can be enjoyed in a more casual, comfortable setting. For bonus points, we tie in some of our favourite tarot cards to the dish or drink.

Stagger the dishes throughout the night to keep the food and drinks flowing.

Bites

Wheel of Fortune (chance, change) – charcuterie served on a round tray

The High Priestess (intuition, hidden knowledge) – stuffed mushroom caps

The Emperor (structure, power) – garlic steak bites

The Empress (abundance, nature) – strawberry salad with balsamic dressing

Drinks

The Hermit (solitude, reflection) – cup of tea

The Sun (joy, success) – mimosa or pina colada

Justice (balance, truth) – black and white Russian

Desserts

The Devil (temptation, indulgence) – devil’s food cake

The Lovers (desire, duality) – chocolate-covered strawberries

The Star (hope, inspiration) – star-shaped sugar cookies

Gifts for Your Host: Thanks for the Magic

Of course you need to gift your host a special tarot deck! There is an old superstition that your first deck must be gifted. You could find a deck that reminds you of your host or hostess.