In Conversation with Jan Tetteroo

Druid, Tarot Reader, Life Coach, Spiritual Mentor

I'm thrilled to welcome Jan Tetteroo to Creative Soul Tarot today. Not only is Jan a huge inspiration to me when it comes to Tarot, but I'm also honoured to have him as a dear friend. With over 30 years experience in insight and transformation, I'm excited for the wisdom Jan has come to share today.

Jan Tetteroo in action at a holistic fair. Details of his appearances are advertised on Jan's website.

Hi, Jan! Welcome to Creative Soul Tarot.

JT: Thanks for having me, Julie!

My pleasure! To begin, please share with the readers a little about yourself and your roots.

JT: My name is Jan Tetteroo, I was born in 1956 in The Hague, Netherlands from a family line documented over 24 generations. It dates all the way back to a person who passed away in 1295!

I lived in the Netherlands most of my life, and throughout that time, was an entrepreneur, starting up businesses. The most interesting of these was one of the first Internet Service Providers of the Netherlands that I started in 1995, and stayed involved with for 8 years. The company is now one of the 3 major ISP’s in the country. Over the years that followed, I’ve worn many hats: life coach, tarot practitioner, druid, and spiritual mentor.

I have been married twice and have 2 children form my first marriage and 6 grandchildren. Together with my wife Karen, I fostered a girl for 7 years up to the age of 19. After she left the nest, we decided to move, and we are now living in the beautiful Southwest of Ireland, in Killarney, Co. Kerry.

Kerry is a magnificent part of our beautiful land. You chose well! What enticed you to Ireland?

JT: I have always been interested in the Western European Myths, Mythology and its old ways. Living in a country where the local traditions were based on Norse-Germanic Paganism, I had a clear connection with that pantheon. Besides that, I have always felt the pull of the traditions of Ireland, Brittany, and Great Britain. When visiting Ireland for the first time in 2009, both Karen and I immediately fell for it. This was Home. A place where we felt the connection with the land, its people, the traditions, the culture and the unseen world of the Tuatha De Danann and the Sidhe. After visiting Ireland for many more times, like 3-4 times a year, we felt it would be better to relocate and find a place here. The home we found is Annagh More in the Cork and Kerry Mountains near Killarney. Here I ended up finding a deep connection with the Irish landscape and its spiritual traditions. Ireland has become my heart’s home, offering me both the peace of nature and a thriving community of seekers.

A friend who visited in 2016 wrote this poem about it:

Between the shrubs, the Green Mother whispers:

Be careful, humans, with your words,

be careful with your thoughts,

be thoughtful of your hand and feet.

Be humble with your deed.

For strong and holy is this place.

T’is Mother earth watched over her for many many silent years,

to show you how to live in peace and sacred harmony.

Cherish this Holy Placet,

his ground of Annagh More.

Awaken her most tenderly,

and she’ll revive in joy.

(Abel Drent, Sunday July 10th, 2016)

Jan with his beloved Thoth Tarot

That is beautiful. As someone who has been lucky enough to experience the magic of your home and surrounding land, I can attest to the peace and energy of Annagh More.

Let's talk Tarot now. Can you recall your first experience with tarot and how it impacted you?

JT: I got my first deck sometime around 2001. It came to me by accident in a package of spiritual supplies I got from the US. As a bonus they added a RWS deck. I started playing around with it, and pulled a single card to see what would happen. The card that came out was The Tower. The Little White Book that came with the deck foretold me big and unexpected changes were coming in my life. These changes actually happened, so my faith in Tarot grew.

More decks and books then came, and I started to study Tarot and the corresponding topics like Astrology, Kabbalah, and Hermetic wisdom more deeply.This has been of great impact in my life, since I found out Tarot integrates very well with my other spiritual practices and offers a lifelong learning trajectory. Furthermore, I discovered the impact that my readings had on my friends. From there, I started offering readings professionally.

So, very much a natural process from reading as a hobby into offering professional readings.

JT: Yes. The big breakthrough came when I got the opportunity to join the Irish Holistic Fairs as a Tarot Reader. With this organisation I travel all over Ireland and show up at more than 30 fairs each year.

That's a hectic calendar for you, and I know just how in demand you are. Clients book in advance of the fairs to get a reading with you!

Can you recall which first caught your attention; Tarot or Druidry?

JT: Druidry came to me in 1983 when I was gifted the book Mists of Avalon by Marion Bradley. In it, I connected deeply to the druid/wizard Merlin and the mythical island of Avalon with their Priestesses of the Goddess. From there, Druidry became my gateway into the world of inner wisdom and unseen connections.

Can you briefly share what your Druidic studies included?

JT: As part of my Druidic studies, I learned the basics of various types of divination like Tarot, Oracle Cards, Runes, Ogham, Pendulum, and Akashic Records. Tarot therefore emerged naturally, connecting my spiritual practice with the land, and the seasons. It became my favourite way of divinatory practice. Today, they feel interwoven: Tarot for insight, Druidry for grounding and connection.

You and your wife, Karen Tetteroo, run The Druid Grove of Anu. What inspired you to create this online and physical space?

JT: Before we moved to Ireland, we ran a druid community in The Netherlands. This more or less dissolved after moving to Ireland in 2017. Building up our new life took all our attention during the first 2 years, but at the end of 2019, we started playing with the idea of creating a community around us. Then in 2020, the lockdowns came and we had to change course. The Grove of Anu was born from a simple idea: to create a space where people can explore Druidry online in a grounded, welcoming way. Karen and I saw a need for both an online Druidic studies group and a real-life community that honours Irish tradition—but relevant in a contemporary setting. We offer both free and paid courses because we believe spiritual growth should be accessible. Our goal is to nurture a vibrant, living community both here in Ireland and beyond.

Jan & Karen Tetteroo

How does a typical week unfold for you—or is there a typical week in your busy life?

JT: Honestly, no two weeks are the same! But lets look at a “normal” week starting on Monday. Since I work most weekends, especially Sundays, Monday is my day off, so I take some proper rest, meditate, and read. Tuesday to Friday switches between online tarot readings, coaching sessions, and online grove classes. On Wednesdays, I record the YouTube Live for Luna and the Druid, the channel I run with Luna, and the remainder of the week, I focus on content creation for my websites and socials.

My schedule flows with the seasons, the Holistic Fairs and with client needs. Some days I’m deep in one-on-one sessions. Other days I am quietly working on course materials. But every week is anchored by moments in nature that’s non-negotiable.

Luna & The Druid

Luna and The Druid is a welcoming, informative, and fun space on YouTube for seekers to gather every week. I shared it with readers here in December 2023, and now, almost two years later, how do you and Luna envisage the channel expanding over the next year?

JT: We want Luna and The Druid to become a place where people come not just for Tarot insights, but for honest conversations about life, growth, and the mysteries of the unseen. In our live shows we give much attention to the Live Chat. We have an active community of visitors who love to comment. Over the next year, we hope to expand our reach supported by a steady growth of the subscriber base, interviews with guests, and deepen the community aspect. It’s about building a space where people feel both inspired and at home.

Let’s talk decks now! Can you share your top 5 favourite Tarot decks?

JT: Only 5??? Okay, here goes...

1. Thoth Tarot: for its depth, symbolism, and sheer intensity. It’s my go to deck for deep and honest readings

2. Beyond Lemuria Oracle: A mystical and whimsical Oracle Card deck that helps people find their true life’s passion and purpose.

3. Alchemical Tarot: beautifully crafted, with layers of meaning that challenge and inspire.

4. Tarot Illuminati: its elemental wisdom speaks to me deeply. The book that is available additionally has the deepest background stories I ever encountered

5. Telos Tarot of 777: a ritually created study and meditation focussed deck. I turn to it when I want to dive into esoteric layers and tarot magic.

Jan and I both attended the Tarot exhibition in the Warburg Institute in London earlier this year, where Jan got to immerse himself in the original Thoth Tarot paintings

The Thoth Tarot

I have 3 of these 5, but as you know, I've never worked with Thoth. For readers unfamiliar with the Thoth deck, can you briefly explain the difference between it and the Rider Waite Smith system?

JT: The Rider Waite Smith system is straightforward, and narrative driven. It's great for intuitive reading and perfect for tarot study as a beginner. Many readers use this deck and system for the rest of their lives as it's so deep and inspiring. It held up very well, so is still an inspiration for modern artists in helping them to create decks. A good example of this is the Light Seers Tarot; a modern and inclusive deck with clear imagery that makes it very easy to read and that is picked up by many professional readers and hobbyists alike.

I'm a huge fan of The Light Seers, and agree it's a wonderful deck for anyone who's familiar with the RWS.

JT: Exactly. The Thoth deck, on the other hand, is steeped in esoteric symbolism, astrology, and Kabbalah. In its major arcana it invites you into a world of deeper archetypal forces. Here we also find that the cards representing the virtues have changed name and meaning. For example:

1. Justice becomes Adjustment. Focusing more on Karma and spiritual balance

2. Strength become Lust. A move from mental and physical strength into the power of will and finding one's true purpose.

3. Temperance is changed into Art. Moving from tempering life’s highs and lows into a more alchemical type of transition. Turning our spiritual burden (lead) into gold.

Another big contrast with the RWS system is with the minor arcana, where the clear pictorial attributes of the RWS are replaced with more abstract imagery that focuses on geometry and colours. While both systems are powerful, the Thoth requires (and rewards) deeper study. It’s less about scenes and more about colours, correspondences and energies. If readers are interested in learning more, here's a blog article I wrote about my connection to the Thoth.

What’s on your wish list for Tarot and/or oracle decks right now?

JT: I’m intrigued by some modern decks that explore shadow work and inner alchemy. Anything that pushes the boundary between insight and transformation catches my attention.

1. The Tarot of the Abyss by Ana Tourian: a great deck for shadow work and inner transformation due to its core concept and aesthetic. Mostly black & white decks aren't usually my taste, but this deck is very well done.

2. Inner Shadows Tarot by Hattie Thorn: created as a shadow work tool. The cards come with prompts for deep self-reflection, aiming to illuminate repressed aspects of the psyche. I am attracted to its evocative, sometimes haunting or dark, but deeply symbolic imagery designed to bypass the conscious mind.

3. Oracle of Pluto by Aubrey Houdeshell: named after the planet associated with the deep subconscious, transformation, death, and rebirth, it is specifically created for the process of shadow work.

Some other examples are the Urban Tarot, Deviant Moon Tarot, and The Brotherhood of Light Tarot.

Ooh, I love this wishlist! Some of these I'm unfamiliar with, so I'll have to check them out!

Let's shift towards your readings now. You offer so much more than simply reading Tarot for your clients, so what unique experience do you feel you bring to the table?

JT: I bring a mix of Tarot wisdom, life coaching, and Druidic insight. This offers a holistic approach that looks beyond fortune-telling. My sessions aren’t about prediction alone; they’re about uncovering potential, facing challenges, and empowering clients to take meaningful action, especially when on the crossroads of life. With my years of experience in both the spiritual and personal development fields, I meet clients exactly where they are and help them see new opportunities to get “unstuck” and finding their true purpose.

And now, looking through your crystal ball, what lies ahead for Jan Tetteroo in the next 12 months?

JT: I see the upcoming year 2026 as a time of both anchoring the achievements and slowly move forward discovering new alleyways both personally and professionally.

I’m focusing on deepening The Grove of Anu’s reach, launching a new community platform that will bring:

1. Druidic teachings in a modern and self paced environment

2. A community with a frequent pagan cafe/ open mic where ideas can be exchanged and thrive.

3. Guided meditations that are grounding and inspiring

   
   

I continuously work on refining my Tarot offerings. New readings will include Oracle, Runes and Akashic Records, as well as a strong focus on using WhatsApp video for readings, as requested by my clients! I also plan to weave more community-focused work into my calendar, including live events like Druidic Seasonal Ceremonies, Handfasting, and other Life Rites.

I'll be watching with interest—especially your work with the Akashic Records. I've no doubt this will open up a whole new perspective. And finally, where can seekers find you?

JT: Across my websites and socials, and of course mobile and email:

• Personal Tarot and Coaching Website: https://jantetteroo.com

• The Grove of Anu Website: https://groveofanu.com

• Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/jantetterootarot

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jantetteroo

• Luna and The Druid YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lunaandthedruid

• Email: info@jantetteroo.com

• Phone: +353 (0)89 4622 115

I'd be delighted to chat with anyone who might be interested in working with me, so don't be shy about reaching out!

Jan, it's been an absolute pleasure chatting with you. Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule. I wish you every success for the year ahead!

JT: Thanks again, Julie.

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I hope you've enjoyed In Conversation with Jan Tetteroo. If you'd like to feature as a guest on the blog, reach out to me at julie@creativesoultarot.com Being able to share the wisdom and practices of our community is important to me, so don't be shy!