Today we’d like to introduce you to Ilse Colchado
Ilse, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey began in the spring of 2024, during the early stages of my divorce. I felt an urgent need for change, which brought forth a confidence that I sometimes forget exists within me.
I had been reading tarot cards since the pandemic, and one card kept appearing—the Tower. It’s a card that many fear, notorious for its graphically violent image: two people leaping from a burning tower struck by lightning. Looking back at the time leading up to the spring of 2024, I recognize how much fear lingered in everyone’s lives, including my own. I feared the unknown and, more profoundly, a large part of my identity that I could barely admit to myself. I was a queer woman, longing to be free and love who I truly wanted to love.
The Tower card became a constant reminder that building a life on a false foundation—one that denies your true self—will inevitably come crumbling down. Amidst the upheaval, I chose to pursue a lifelong desire: to be in front of a camera. I began sharing daily tarot readings on my personal Instagram, and to my surprise, they gained a bit of popularity. Encouraged by the response, I decided to officially create a dedicated tarot page.
My mission is simple—to help others on their healing journey through spirituality.
I like to say that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. Or, as my grandma says, “We are the dreamers, and this is the dream.”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In my personal life, I’ve hit some major bumps along the road—starting from scratch, including this Instagram page. But I like to think that these challenges have sparked deep reflection on who I want to become and where I want to take this business.
Working two jobs—one full-time and one part-time—does take up a significant amount of my time, making it harder to fully dedicate myself to this craft. However, I find it inspiring. It reminds me that this, too, is part of my journey. I believe everything in this world happens for a reason, and in this season of my life, I’ve learned the value of hard work, resilience, and my own inner strength.
Continuing the conversation on tarot, I would say this phase of my life is best represented by the Nine of Wands. The card depicts a figure standing in front of eight wands, holding the ninth one with both arms. It is clear that this person has been through something—wounded but still standing—nearing the end of their journey (or, in this case, a cycle). This feels especially true for 2025, a year of 9 in numerology (2 + 0 + 2 + 5 = 9). Nine symbolizes completion, endings, and lessons. As younger generations say, this is the year to really “lock in.” Whatever ongoing threads continue to throw us into turbulent waters, they are here to teach us something.
All this to say, it hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve faced job losses, housing insecurity, financial instability, and waves of grief. But through it all, I’ve become a stronger woman. I’ve proven to myself that I can overcome anything that comes my way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I think of myself as a content creator who happens to do tarot readings, share lunar cycle updates, and offer spiritual guidance. Being a Queer Latina from the border—the 956, representing Laredo, Texas—who is also involved in higher education makes me pretty unique.
Even during my undergraduate and graduate studies, my research heavily focused on spirituality in education. In addition, I am a first-generation college student who grew up in poverty and went on to graduate not once but twice from The University of Texas at Austin. That is something I am deeply proud of.
Although I sometimes feel a lack of success or a looming sense of imposterism, I remind myself that I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams. As cliché as it may sound, it is profoundly true. Two generations ago, my grandmother, at my age, had barely a second-grade education. She couldn’t read or write, except for religious prayers. She never had the opportunity to go to school, let alone leave her family in another city. She is a reminder of how far my family has come and a symbol of the immense gratitude I hold for all that my ancestors sacrificed to get me where I am today.
For this one, the Star card. A renewal of hope and a reminder of healing.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 10 years, I think more and more younger generations are going to be more involved in spiritual activities. We have seen a decline in people attending or following religious institutions. I am aware that in the astrological discourse, the Age of Aquarius will bring about philosophical changes and approaches to our daily lives. I would not be surprised if career or life coaches would utilize instruments that involve tarot cards or manifestation candles.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarotplantlady/
