What the City Taught Me About Listening

New Orleans is a city that rewards patience. It is loud and quiet at once, and it teaches you to listen under the noise. That, more than anything, is what a good reading needs.

Listening before speaking

Celeste reads every question twice before she touches the cards. Often the real question sits underneath the one that was written.

A listening exercise

1. Sit outside or by an open window for ten minutes.
2. Name five sounds, near to far.
3. Then write your question and ask: “What am I actually asking?”
4. Rewrite it. Usually it becomes kinder and clearer.

Respect for what came before

The city honours its ancestors openly. That respect runs through everything at Celeste's table.

When you want Celeste to do the work

Everything above is yours to practise at home. If you would rather have Celeste prepare the work for you, you can send your question directly to her — composed by hand at her table in New Orleans and delivered privately as a PDF to your email. Visit Celeste's shop.