HER STORY ⟡ Cathy Warrier
Hello!
I'm Cathy and I've lived in the Cleveland area for 13 years with my husband, two boys and a cat. One of my sons is now loving life as a culinary student in Chicago, and the other is in his senior year of high school. My background is in science. I have a PhD in auditory neuroscience on how brains process music and worked for a cochlear implant company for many years. My cat has black fur with an undercoat of white that makes her shimmer when she walks. We call her Mercedes because she was rescued from a parking lot. One of my favorite things about living here is the easy access to nature. There is a string of beautiful local parks I can walk to and there are loads of beautiful hiking trails throughout the Metroparks, all a short drive away.
I bought a deck of tarot cards on a whim as something to do near the beginning of the pandemic and started searching online to figure out how to use them. The first time I sat down to answer a real question, the cards seemed to provide real answers. That blew my mind! My scientist brain was telling me that the cards should be random, this really shouldn't work. But it did work. Over and over. I joined a school to learn how to read the cards better and found that I really enjoyed reading for other people. Friends and family told me that my tarot readings were helping them see their situations more clearly and the advice given was helping them deal with challenges better. They encouraged me to provide readings to a wider audience and Forest Empress was born. Through Forest Empress I have been able to read for people all over the US and even have a couple clients from overseas. I also read tarot at parties and events in the greater Cleveland area, something I really enjoy.
I recently expanded the business to include sound baths, a sound healing practice. During a sound bath, you simply lay down and relax while the vibrations of musical instruments wash over you, cultivating a meditative state. They have been shown to calm your mind, release stress, tension and anxiety, boost your mood and improve sleep. These are things so many of us struggle with. How amazing is it that simply lying down and relaxing like this could have such positive effects? I'm thrilled to be able to contribute positively to people's well-being in this way.
Why I started:
I started Forest Empress as a way to expand my tarot readings beyond family and friends. The advice I was getting from the cards was consistently insightful and I wanted to share it with more people. It started out as a side hobby and has grown into its own business.
What I love about being a business owner:
I love the freedom of being my own boss and being able to focus on the things that bring me the most joy. I can do things my own way in my own time in ways that work well for me and my family.
What type of impact do you hope to have on those you meet and/or who purchase your products?
My mission through Forest Empress is to offer people tools that can help them improve their life. Sound baths can benefit you by inducing a sense of peace and calm. Many of us have excess stress and tension, and sound baths are a great way to release that. I also offer tarot readings. Tarot is a wonderful tool for helping you organize your thoughts and find your best way forward through any situation. Many people think tarot is only used to foretell the future. They tell me they don't want a tarot reading because they don't want to hear that something bad is going to happen. I tell them that we don't have to ask about the future at all, and in fact I find tarot's biggest advantages are found in its ability to give advice on what to do now to shape the future you want to see. I use an approachable, down-to-earth style of reading without any "mystical woo woo" distractions. My aim is to leave you with practical advice on how to best deal with whatever issue you are dealing with. If we do ask about the future and the cards show things aren't going to work out well given the path that you're on, we can ask for advice on what you can change to improve the outcome. The future isn't set in stone, you always have other paths available to you.
Who or what inspires you?
Being out in nature inspires me. Music inspires me. But I'm most inspired by the many people who are out there spreading love and compassion throughout the world. The news sometimes makes it seem like everything and everyone is falling apart, but it's not true. You don't have to look far to find people taking care of others, lending a hand, and supporting people in need in ways big and small.
What is your favorite piece of advice you've ever received or favorite quote?
Don't worry about what other people think, it only matters if you let it matter. You be you!
What does BEAUTY mean to you?
Beauty is the goodness inside you shining out into the world.
What advice would you give your past self just starting your business?
Get out of your head and go for it! You know you'll love it, just do it.
What would you like our Beauty Boost members to know?
I appreciate the love and support of the Beauty Boost community that I've received and have seen given generously to others. What a wonderful group of encouraging, forward-thinking women! In this spirit I'm offering you 20% off an in-person or online tarot reading booked at ForestEmpress.com with code TBB20. I'd love to meet you and see what the cards have to say to you!
Where can our community find you?
Website: ForestEmpress.com
Instagram and Facebook: @ForestEmpressTarot
Email: ForestEmpressTarot@gmail.com
