Going Professional As a Tarot Reader
I have been going through tarot guidebooks lately to clear out my library of books that no longer serve me, and I have been noticing a common trend with a lot of them: They discuss briefly about becoming a professional tarot reader, but they never offer any insight or guidelines of what a professional needs. Instead, it’s often “Go pro when you feel ready!” Honestly, there are a LOT of readers on the market who, in my opinion, are not quite ready to become professionals. I have gotten readings from people that have been quite sub par and while there’s no governing agency of tarot readers, I thought I would lay out my guidelines of what I would expect from a professional reader. Obviously, these are my opinions, and you’re more than welcome to disagree.
While definitely not the norm and I want to emphasize that fact, these are just some basic scams that I have seen from people who are claiming to be professional readers. I just want to cover these briefly because if you see any of these red flags, RUN: – Using tarot as a gateway to other services (Spell removals, “curse” or “hex” removals, reiki services, etc) – Making bold and questionable claims about “attachments” the client may have – Advertising purely based on whatever is trendy at the time (i.e. FIND YOUR SOULMATE NOW!) – A sense of urgency in their advertisements – An inability to explain tarot in their own words
Now I want to cover the milestones in your tarot journey that, in my opinion, should be reached before reading for others and requiring payment: 1. No longer using the guidebook to look up cards for a reading. This is definitely absolutely key in being a professional reader. For starters, reading from the guidebook will most likely cause your credibility to take a hit with your clients. When people pay for readings, they are not paying for a bedtime story of someone else’s interpretation of the cards. They’re paying for you to have your own unique take on the cards. You should have a personal relationship with whatever deck you’re using to read for other people. You should not be depending on someone else’s voice, even if it’s the creator of the deck, to dictate your intuition and your relationship with the cards. You should be able to offer an in-depth reading with different perspectives, know how to reword clients’ questions so they get the most of their reading, and have a spread arsenal ready or know how to create your own tarot spreads. 2. Know how to properly address “negative” cards with your clients. When Death, the Tower, etc. show up in a reading, you should not be discouraging to your clients if they’re paying for a reading. I have had some readers pull these cards and their interpretation was just “Well, guess you’re fucked.” These people thought they could be a professional reader. I can wholeheartedly assure you that, if you give a client a reading like that when they’ve paid you, you’re going to have one unhappy client. When you’re in an informal setting, reading for friends, a reading like in the previous paragraph would be fine. But when you’re addressing someone who is most likely a stranger, who is coming to you for help at a vulnerable time in their life, you cannot conduct a reading like that. You should have a game plan for what to say if a “negative” card comes up in a reading and a way of addressing your clients’ fears about the card. 3. Know how to set boundaries and handle different personality types. I compare professional reading to customer service jobs. Those same people are the ones you’re dealing with on a day-to-day basis, the context is only slightly different. You need to know what boundaries you are setting as a professional reader and how to enforce those boundaries. There are also going to be people you may not vibe with and you need to know how to handle those situations. Will you still conduct the reading? If not, how are you prepared to turn down the client? Can your actions be viewed as discriminatory? Do you have a code of ethics for yourself and the readings you conduct? How will you enforce your code? If a client becomes explosively angry towards you, how will you handle that situation? If they are reading on something where they really need a professional or where you are concerned for their safety and well-being or they become obsessive with readings, how are you going to approach that situation? 4. Know your local laws and required disclaimers. Sure, adding a disclaimer to your readings may make you feel fraudulent. But not only can that save you in the event of a lawsuit, it may be required depending on your state or local laws. Especially if you will be doing in-person, public events, you need to make sure that you are following your local laws. Also, some types of readings are most likely illegal in your locality. Examples of this would be readings making decisions regarding legal advice, medical or mental health advice, or financial investment advice. These fields require degrees and licensing to advise people accordingly as there are ethics codes and strict laws that need to be followed. Make sure the readings you conduct do not go against any malpractice laws. Reading for minors without parental consent may also be illegal in your locality. Additionally, if you make over a certain amount annually, you may be required to pay taxes and possibly register as a business. Failure to adhere to these laws can result in hefty fines, civil lawsuits, or worse, jail time. 5. Know your niche and method of delivery. What sets you apart from other readers? What makes your reading style unique? Have you even developed a reading style? These are important questions to ask yourself before setting out into the world of professional tarot readers. With the rise of tarot in popularity, readers are a dime a dozen, especially online. What makes you different from other readers on the market? What can you offer that other readers may not? How will you advertise yourself? Will you be doing in-person events or strictly long distance reading? If long-distance, will you be offering phone calls, Skype sessions, email readings, etc? What platforms will you use? Who is your target demographic? When will you accept payment and via what methods? These are important questions to ask yourself when establishing a business.
If you’re ever not sure about a reader you’ve found online, please check the reviews before booking with them. And if there’s anything missing, let me know and I might make a part two.
