When visiting Singapore, a walk down Haji Lane is a wonderful way to connect with this city’s history and culture. Here, you’ll also find a Tarot-themed bar that you must visit! It’s called 3 of Cups, and in August, we dropped in to meet the friendly owner, Shamini.
Apart from the cocktail bar’s name, Tarot runs deep in its nature. The artwork on the bar’s walls and the staircase leading to the upstairs meeting room is decorated with paintings by talented artist Tarn Ellis, each one relevant to the 3 of Cups card. And the cocktails are Tarot-themed. You can order them off the menu by their (mainly Major Arcana) card titles, or you can use your intuition and draw a Tarot card from the hands of Shamini to discover the drink that is perfect for you on that evening.
The 3 of Cups website says,
“Throw your inhibitions to the wind and let the cards dictate your journey with us.
The divine voices shed light on your personality on the night.
Are you an enlightened one like our Hermit or seeking inspiration like the Star?
Is the world rose-tinted and romantic as Lovers, or rich and powerful as our Emperor?
Does the Moon call for your soul, or are you ready to dance with our Devil?”
I drew Justice, so my drink was a delicious blend of gin, white rum, passion fruit, and lemon juice. The card my wife chose was The Sun, which was appropriate for her sunny and optimistic mood, especially while on holiday. Her tasty cocktail included tequila, St Germain, and tangerine.
After chatting with us for a while, Shamini offered to organise a meeting with Rowen Ong, an author, artist, Tarot teacher, deck creator, and the Chairman of Singapore’s Tarot & Cartomancy Association. A few days later, we met with him for a drink, and he told me about the origins of his organisation and his interest in Tarot, I Ching, astrology, and the runes. We shared information on the types of Tarot meetups and activities we both organise and the levels of interest shown in Tarot in Singapore and Australia. We both sensed that apart from young women’s fascination with Tarot, men were now showing a growing interest in divination. The difference, however, is that in Singapore, men want to use Tarot, I Ching and Feng Shui to discover ways to improve their financial status. And Rowen seemed bemused by my question of how many people in Singapore use Tarot as a spiritual tool…for Singaporeans, it’s more about unveiling future events rather than exploring pathways to spiritual progress.
Rowen also talked about a deck he created with a group of artists. It’s called SEAMS Tarot and is based on Asian legends. The idea behind this deck is to celebrate Southeast Asian artists and their cultures. Even though this deck is from a collaboration of artists, the beautifully illustrated cards have a harmonious nature that collectively binds it together. Rowen is a clever and knowledgeable man, so it was an exciting way to spend the evening.
The Tarot Association of Singapore sometimes uses the 3 Of Cups bar as a venue to hold their meetings. Readings are available at the 3 of Cups on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights. When you travel to Singapore, make time to drop in for a drink and spend time chatting about the cards, or simply visit this delightful bar for its Tarot-themed ambience.
For more details about the 3 of Cups bar, see their Instagram page: @3ofcupssg
To get in touch with Rowen Ong, follow him on Instagram: @shimure
And to follow the artwork of Tarn Ellis, connect through @tarnellisart
