Sometimes the projects I take on keep me in knots.
Again and again, I questioned myself:
Is this wrong, or right?
Am I making a huge mistake?
Am I deluding myself?
Is this a complete waste of time, or does someone actually need to hear what I have to say?
This is the emotional rollercoaster that comes with talking about money.
And in spiritual work, money gets weird.
Why?
The roots can run deep and stem from a range of beliefs and feelings. Some spiritual practitioners, including tarot readers, feel guilty for charging for their work. They aim to help as many people as possible, burning themselves out in the pursuit of their labour of love rather than creating a fair exchange of energy.
It doesn’t help that in this industry, there are plenty of potential clients who are happy to take advantage of guilt-ridden, people-pleasing practitioners. Have you ever heard someone say that it’s wrong to charge for tarot readings because diviners have been “given a gift from...
A common trait that many tarot readers share is that we want to help other people.
Whether you still consider yourself a student of tarot, or you read professionally, I’d bet there’s a good chance you’ve been called to read cards out of the desire to be of service in some capacity.
But good intentions can backfire. Sometimes, the desire to help can actually leave your querent feeling insulted, put down, and unheard.
Why? Whether you’re reading tarot for practice or professionally, you’ll have to navigate the numerous perspectives and beliefs about tarot that are out there.
Some people see tarot as a predictive, psychic tool.
Others see it as a psychological one.
Some use it for self-exploration, healing, and reflection.
And some people seek out tarot readings for fun, entertainment, and curiosity.
In short, there are a lot of reasons why people seek out readings. And the more you read for the public, the more you’ll realize that your average tarot...
Not everyone wants to read tarot at a professional level.
It’s more than okay for tarot to be a hobby, an interest, and a personal outlet.
But it’s also okay to want to read tarot for other people, and even build a business out of it.
One of the reasons why I talk so much about reading tarot for others is because I meet so many people with a deep desire to do just that.
There is something about tarot that attracts compassionate helpers. We see the potential that tarot has when it comes to bringing clarity to a problem, opening up new perspectives, and holding space for meaningful conversation.
A lot of us want to use tarot to do something good in the world.
But there are differences between reading tarot personally versus professionally. Pulling out tarot cards for fun with friends comes with different expectations than reading for a paying client.
Those expectations don’t just happen on the client’s side. You, as a tarot reader, have to put new expectations...
Every so often I close my calendar and take time off from one-on-one readings. This gives me breathing room in my practice, and I come back clearer about how I want to use tarot when I am working with clients.
Recently, after taking a longer hiatus than usual, I got clearer than ever about what my work aims to do - which is not to entertain, but to inform, guide and support.
I know that depending on where you live, a reader may be required by law to say that tarot is for “entertainment purposes only.” Which is something we may need to say for optics, but does not necessarily align with a personal truth.
I used to do a lot of tarot parties and had awesome experiences that way, but also had some terrible ones where people really did expect me to be the entertainment for the night.
Some people want their tarot readers to be entertaining. They want the esoteric to provide recreation, not reality.
But that’s not all that my work is about, and I know the same goes...
Boundaries are a big part of your success as a tarot reader
There are TONS of things I could say about boundaries (and will in subsequent posts) but today I will focus on three main ones that I think are key for professional tarot readers:
Stick to your schedule. Time management is really important in appointment-based work. It doesn’t matter if you do tarot full-time or on the side. Your time is valuable no matter what, and clients should respect it.
That means following the start and end times of appointments and adhering to rescheduling and cancellation policies.
It also means that as readers, we need to be reliable and be able to stick to our commitments, too. If a reader is always late, their clients will not be motivated to show up on time, either.
You don’t have to share everything about yourself. Openness and authenticity are valuable in this line of work, but you don’t have to be an open book to your clients.
Sometimes I have had clients ask about things...
People talk about tools like tarot and other esoteric practices as though they are shortcuts or hacks that will accelerate their paths to success.
Which is why I always feel so boring in that broken-record-kind-of-way when I say that learning tarot doesn’t come with any shortcuts.
To get good at tarot, it takes practice, commitment, and consistency.
Like anything else, if you keep showing up for it, put in the time, and push yourself to improve, things will change.
Which is what happened to one of my students last year, Nat. In early 2020, she sent me an email worried that her progress was slow: “I don’t think I’m very good at this.”
I told her to keep practicing, keep going.
I know that’s the key, because when I was in Nat’s position, I hit walls, too. And I have had to embrace the same learning curves in tarot as everyone else.
So I know how much can change with practice and consistent effort.
And now, a little over a year later, Nat is...
People are often attracted to esoteric practices like tarot because they want to know the fastest way to get from A to B.
And the occult seems to promise short cuts and hacks to fast-track your success.
While I don’t think it hurts to throw in a little bit of magic into your life now and again, it’s important to remember that spells, prayers, meditations and affirmations can only get you so far.
If you don’t have the right attitude, mindset, or structure in place in your life to hold onto what you want to create, then all the magic in the world won’t save you.
This is a big mistake I see tarot readers make when they are trying to build their skills.
Whether you’re brand new to tarot, or you’ve been studying for years, if you’re relying too much on the “woo” to do the work for you, then you might not be seeing the progress you want.
There are three things I think everyone needs to nail if they want to get good at reading tarot...
Happy New Year!
I hope you are doing well, all things considered.
Thank you so much for joining me here. I’m excited to start the New Year off with you!
What intentions, hopes, dreams, and changes are you bringing with you into 2021?
Personally, I’m bringing in a few new and old plans: I’m going to take clarinet lessons, for one.
Two, I’m bringing back my annual resolution to read all the un-read books I have at home before buying new ones. (It’s the third year in a row I’m setting this resolution – let’s see if I can keep it this time around.)
There are also a few spiritual trends and beliefs that I would be happy to see disappear in 2021:
1. The belief that tarot readers, energy healers and other intuitive workers shouldn’t charge for their “gifts.” This idea only serves people who don’t believe in paying someone for their labour.
Energetic and intuitive work are skills like any other, and many people who...
This year, many tarot readers have transitioned online in response to pandemic regulations and health precautions.
Which has left many people wondering, "Do tarot readings still ‘work’ over the phone or online?”
The short answer is: OF COURSE!
I have been doing readings on Zoom since 2015 and let me tell you: Where or how your reading is delivered has no bearing on its accuracy or effectiveness.
Not only do I know this from my job as a reader, but also as a client. Most of the readers and intuitives I have worked with have been by distance.
When booking a reading, remember:
♦A reader’s skill is what matters - and that has nothing to do with the vehicle you are using to commutate with them;
♦ Distance readings make it possible to work with people all over the world, so you are not limited by geography when it comes to choice;
♦ You don’t have to touch or physically choose your tarot cards for them to “work” for you....
It is my belief that tarot is for everyone, and that it can be beneficial in many situations when used appropriately.
Like any tool, it will only work she applied with the proper skill and intention.
If you are getting a tarot reading, your emotional and intellectual perspective will also play a role in how that reading goes. It’s important to be in an open state of mind, ready to receive information.
I have had clients in the past who were clearly not ready for tarot and sometimes, I have had to cut sessions short because querents were so nervous or scared.
As a tarot reader, I won’t always know where you are at emotionally when you book an appointment. It is up to you to know whether you are ready and willing to give tarot a try.
Here are 3 signs you might not be ready for a reading:
1. You have immense guilt about it, to the point where you can’t enjoy your reading. I once had a client break down in tears because they felt like they were going against their religion...
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