Astrology, Tarot, and the Map That Makes You Uniquely You
Today we’re turning the spotlight on one of our Live Track presenters for StaarCon 6 and StaarCon 6 Virtual: Karen Winkel. Karen describes herself as an Electrical Engineer by degree and a Metaphysician by heart, and that combination tells you a lot about who she is. She has been studying astrology and tarot since the mid-1980s, spending decades honing her craft while building a career in engineering and raising three children. She stayed quietly in the broom closet for a long time, but in 2016 she stepped out, expanded her skills, and began the work of building a full practice. Today she offers astrology, tarot, Reiki, and chakra healing through Inner Quest Metaphysical Guidance, the business she opened in 2018.
Karen brings a rare combination of analytical precision and genuine spiritual depth to her work. The same mind that spent years as a corporate engineer now helps clients navigate birth charts, tarot spreads, and energy work with clarity and care. She is a Reiki master, a certified hypnotist, and a practitioner of crystal healing for manifestation. When she is not working or continuing to deepen her craft, you will likely find her spending time with her husband, her children, and what she affectionately calls her three FAAs: feline administrative assistants.
What is she bringing to StaarCon 6?
On Saturday, October 3rd at 2:00 pm on the Live Track, Karen is presenting Astrology 101: Meet Your Big 3! This is a session designed to open up the birth chart for anyone who has ever felt like astrology was bigger and more complicated than their sun sign alone could explain.
Most people can name their sun sign and rattle off a few traits that go with it. But the natal chart holds so much more. In this workshop, Karen will walk you through the Big 3: the Sun sign, which shapes your core identity and drive; the Moon sign, which governs your emotions, instincts, and inner life; and the Rising sign (or Ascendant), which colors how you show up in the world and how others first perceive you. Beyond defining each one, she will show how these three placements interact with each other to make you genuinely distinct from every other person who shares your sun sign.
Karen encourages attendees to bring a copy of their natal chart if they can. Free charts are available online at many sites, so there is no barrier to coming prepared. Whether you are completely new to astrology or you have been dabbling for years and want a more grounded understanding of the fundamentals, this session offers a warm, accessible, and genuinely fun entry point.
A StaarCon veteran returning for her third year
Karen has been a StaarCon presenter since 2024, and each year she has brought a workshop that reflects the full breadth of her practice. At StaarCon 2024, she presented Moon Magic: Using Astrology, Tarot, and Crystals to Manifest Your Heart’s Desires, a session covering the moon’s phases and astrological signs as tools for intentional manifestation, complete with guidance on building a manifestation altar using tarot cards, crystals, candles, and symbolic tokens.
At StaarCon 5 in 2025, she went deep into one of astrology’s most mysterious territories with Twelfth House Astrology: Shining a Light into the Shadows. That workshop explored the signs and planets associated with the twelfth house in the natal chart, how to lean into its positive influences, and how to work with the challenges it presents. Both sessions are available to watch on StaarCast for those who want a preview of her teaching style before October.
This year, with Astrology 101: Meet Your Big 3! Karen is taking a different approach, offering something that meets people at the beginning and gives them a strong, practical foundation to build on. It is a natural complement to the deeper dives she has offered in previous years.
About Karen
Karen Winkel is a Healer, Astrologer, and Tarotist who opened Inner Quest Metaphysical Guidance in 2018 after decades of studying astrology and tarot alongside a career in electrical engineering. She is a Reiki master, certified hypnotist, and crystal healing practitioner with a teaching style that is precise, warm, and grounded in genuine depth. Karen has presented at StaarCon since 2024 and returns to the Live Track at StaarCon 6 on Saturday, October 3rd.
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