The Brigade That Builds Brands: Nupur Heda Patil crafts a Tarot practice around an Army life

Hello folks! Today, we’re back with another interesting fauji wife/military spouse entrepreneur interview in our The Brigade That Builds Brands series. Meet Nupur Heda Patil, a Tarot reader, Angel Healer and Reiki practitioner + relatively new Army wife. She is passionate about her work, is happy to set up her practice wherever her life with her fauji hubby takes her and has a positive outlook to work-life balance.

Here’s what Nupur and I chatted about setting up a brand on the move, doing work you’re passionate about and juggling the fauji life & our calling in life.

C. Please tell us something about yourself – what do you do, where are you based and how long have you been a fauji wife.

N. I am Nupur Heda Patil. Born and brought up in a traditional Marwari business family, it was a dream to start something of my own when I grow up. My idea of marriage was a choice based union. I met my soulmate in 2010; we were friends for a long time when we decided to take a step ahead. With two different cultures and families coming together, lot of hustle bustle finally with the blessing of everyone we believed in, tied a knot on 1^st Dec 2014. Being a fauji wife is not only about being married to the man in uniform but it also brings a lot of responsibility towards my soldier and his life. Thankfully my husband helps me in every single step and he is my friend, mentor and my life partner.

Post marriage I kept juggling between jobs. Picked up teaching at one station, counseling at the other. The only constant job profile I have had is my Tarot. I have regular telephonic clients and events in the city which keeps me busy. Planning to set up an office at the next station so that I can take face to face clients in future. Right now enjoying the best of spiritual growth and a sense of fulfillment in Nilgiris at Wellington.

C. What has been your business or creative journey been like: how & when did you start your venture?

N. I started Tarot when I was 17. Ever since I was a child I have been fascinated by everything mystical, magical and fortune telling. Indeed it was during childhood that I experienced many strange visions and experiences which left a strong and lasting impression on me. My father was a great support as he is my first and foremost teacher who introduced occult sciences to me.

I started Tarot Rani in 2015. I saw the name in my dream and the next morning I spoke to my husband about it with a project idea in my mind; with his support I started looking for professionals I can collaborate with. Initially it was a video journey for Tarot; later it took shape and became my stage name. Tarot Rani is a dream mission for me. My spiritual quest in life is to serve and help those who seek to rediscover their true self; those who may have stumbled on their journey or lost their way in life.

C. Were you in a different profession and re-trained for the current one? If yes, can you share how/where you learned the skills required for your current profession?

N. I am a post graduate in Human Resources. My previous careers found me working as an HR professional in a giant corporate company for 3 years. I took an Art of Living class in 2007 and met my Tarot teacher Dr. Jain there, took a couple of classes and started reading cards for my hostel friends. Only practice can make you good and intuitive with the cards. As a Tarot reader, I was just ignorant about my spiritual journey. My father kept on telling me to focus on Tarot but it took me years to realize my inner calling and act upon it.

A Tarot professional, Angel Healer and a Reiki Practitioner, I am a counselor and a healer. In my years of Tarot journey I have been a student, a teacher, a mentor, a seeker and a learner. For me learning never ends. I also wrote for a Hyderabad based lifestyle magazine as there forecast columnist for 4 years. Got a corporate category award for Tarot in 2017 Global Achievers Award "Emerging In Class" in Chandigarh. Have been a part of many events.

C. Fauji wives make their home in an assortment of obscure places across the country. Our lives are about living in the moment and doing what we can, when we can. Can you share how you stayed creative or found work that satisfied you while moving across the country?

N. My focus post marriage was to make a happy family first. I married for love and desire to live for love. Its only post marriage the idea about having a business of my own popped up. As the major part of my business is online, it hardly makes a difference in my earning capacity and the new places open up doors to experiment Tarot events. I get to meet people from all parts of the country. Interestingly enough, every part of our nation believes in Destiny and Karma, which is the basics of my practice, so providing me with work wherever I am. The only constraint is making place in the local market for events which takes time and efforts. On a brighter side, by the time I settle down permanently, I will know the entire nature of business across the country.

C. How do you market your business and products while moving from base to base, place to place, and often to remote areas?

N. I understood it in the initial stage of the career that I have to focus globally than local. The business is a different line all together and there is no product line to depend upon + there is no capital investment. The best part is that all I need is my pack of cards and I can begin anywhere, anytime I want. The marketing strategy I am concentrating on is social media. I get maximum clients through Facebook, Instagram and references. My clientele is exclusive and I don’t share my personal contact on a mass level, thus keeping the client list niche.

C. How do you juggle that load of social commitments & welfare activities that are an integral part of the fauji community, while nurturing your passions and meeting work deadlines?

N. My work style is simple and my craving for success is balanced. I take 3-4 clients in a day which takes up 3-4 hours and 1 hour a day I invest in researching, rebuilding and reinventing my work strategy. I am very social and concentrate on my duties as a fauji wife. I participate in all the activities and keep my workload divided between intervals throughout the day.

C. As a creative/entrepreneur + fauji wife, is there something that you cherish very much about being part of this community? And is there something you feel must/can change for the better?

N. The most amazing fact of the fraternity we belong to is that we get support and encouragement from the system. When I joined the fauji wives club, I realized that most of us are passionate women working in the fields we love and excelling in the same. It not only helped me in forming my career but I also get lot of ideas from my fellow ladies. The only change we need is mentoring for each other and Mrs Banerjee, it might be out of place in here, but you are really excelling in that area and I am thankful to you.

C. What challenges have you faced in balancing work and fauji life?

N. I know this may sound like a diplomatic answer but I entered and blended into the role of a wife with a Tarot reader very smoothly. Tremendous support and love from the senior lady mentors and lot of guidance on board made my life happier than it was before.

C. What tips would you give to fauji wives out there who’d like to pursue their dreams while living at small and busy bases (many still believe or lare ed to believe that you can either be a fauji wife or a professional, and that’s not true)?

N. Oh!! I am still in the phase of receiving tips. So young in the life of a fauji wife and still learning stuff. What I have learned so far is that, have a passion for your personal life first and the rest will follow. There is something I have learned in depth when I became a fauji wife “part of a whole”, try fitting in to the amazing role and celebrate life with your husband. Happiness is the only doorway, which opens up ideas and ways to pursue your passions. If you have zeal, you can work and earn from any part of the universe - all you need is a laptop and internet.

C. A parting quote or philosophy that helps you stay calm and do what you do?

N. A book changed my life. It made me a Tarot reader and introduced me to find a path and follow it. One small lesson from the same book I cherish:

“Don’t bother trying to explain your emotions. Live everything as intensely as you can and keep whatever you felt as a gift from God. The best way to destroy the bridge between the visible and invisible is by trying to explain your emotions.” 

― Paulo Coelho, Brida

Thank you for joining us here, Nupur! J

For those of you who’d like to know more about what Tarot is all about, here’s a short write-up from Nupur aka Tarot Rani.

Note from TarotRani: Even if you aren’t into the art of divination or fortune telling, chances are you’ve probably heard of Tarot or have seen people handling a strange deck of cards and shuffling them. In its most basic form, the art of Tarot reading is using a special deck of cards to read someone’s future, provide insight into their past, or help guide someone towards their right path. The art of reading Tarot is often cloaked in mystery, myths, and misconceptions.

Each deck of Tarot consists of 78 different cards. The cards are split into two categories: the Major and the Minor Arcana. There are 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana Cards. The Major Arcana cards represent the larger events in life which are going to have a long term impact. The Minor Arcana cards represent the more practical aspects of life and show us the things that happen in our day to day. Each individual card has its own meaning and interpretation. Although there is a structure or suggested meanings assigned to Tarot cards, ultimately the readings of the cards is up to the individual Tarot reader and their interpretation may differ from another readers.

Did you enjoy this interview & would like to read more about the fauji wife life? Check out our stories here.

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