when is it time to turn professional?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 31 May 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

HOLMES	31 May 2002
I read the tarot from a soul level general sometimes but other times can get deep into a reading and reveal what they are hiding from the tarot reader. yet i stutter. and when i read it is like my brain is going a hundred miles per hours as i dont' want to lose the energy and i just speak my impressions and then after that we can go back and seek the energy of a card . I have alwasy thougth of a tarot reader as an older person and all my studies have been towards going pro at one time in the future. i was in winniepeg and a tarot reader charged me 45 dollars canadien for an a reading yet other charged 20 for a reading. as it is only recently in the last two years i been charging 2 to 5 dollars for those who come to my house for a reading and they all say i been accurate and make sense. i still got a steotype in my mind as a old person in some old book shop dressed in robes , on a table with a cloth , in a lightly dimmed room with incense going and slight music playing in a room. i got into that stereotype when i was just going to do readings and some person said to me you have to get a costume and i said a costume ? yes you don't want to look like some joeblow off a street and i was crushed and they said to me and who would you listen to some young person stuttering or an old dignified person and i gave up trying to read professionaly at the time. i was thinking like i posted in my introduction to myself to get certified in bota and ata and the tarot certification board so when a client comes for a tarot reading they can see all the certificates on the wall to give me some substance is that the way to go ? anyone can share stories of when they went professional ? to give me some insight ?

Butterfly	31 May 2002
Hi, Holmes. To my way of thinking being professional is an attitude, not a certificate on the wall! If the reading was authentic, spoke to me of truths and revealed new insight, it truly wouldn't matter if the reading was from the man on the moon. I personally prefer readings from younger readers, who are dressed normally. I feel they are coming from the same place as me- turn it into a marketing tool! Having said that I like the occasional prop- crystals, a little oil burning. Turns it into a magical experience for me. But, it's not what I go to the reader for. If they can't back it up, with wisdom and knowledge- forget the props!

HudsonGray	01 Jun 2002
I agree with the regular clothes. Bastille Days festival last year had 7 tarot readers in a tent, and one had dressed like everyone's idea of a mysterious gypsy lady from the movies -- with the blouse, skirt, hoop earrings, and 5 pounds of rings on her hands. She looked ridiculous. Everyone else was dressed normally, in casual clothes (some in jeans) & I think they got more business than the one in costume. I've seen that most readers have a spread cloth to cover the table, some have a candle, or a crystal, or just a flower floating in a bowl of water (I suspect the purpose of most of those is just having something for the other person to look at). Don't let someone else's idea of what a tarot reader should look like influence you (even my opinion), if it doesn't sit right with you. Dress normally if you want. Wear a costume if you want. But be yourself. Expectations & visual ideas people have can be strange. I'll tell you, one of the worst things anyone ever said to me (and it was meant as a complement) was the lady who cut my hair 8 years ago, I'd told her I was a waitress (at the time I was), and when she finished, she swung the chair around so I could see in the mirror & said "There, now you look like a waitress". GAWD!!!! Last thing I wanted was to be identified by what job I did, a job is only to make money to live on--and I certainly didn't WANT to look like a waitress! So beware people's ideas of what someone is supposed to 'look like'. They can be really off the mark!

Jenny-Li	01 Jun 2002
I have to agree with the others: the reader's clothes are really irrelevant - and to be honest, even though I probably have that image somewhere deep down too, an image of an older woman (but hey! There's tons of men reading Tarot too, what about them??) in gypsy-ish clothes and jewelry... On the other hand, I know that image is false (obviously, just have to take a peek in a mirror and say "No, that's not what I look like!"), it might as well be a blond, chic girl in her 30's, dressed in normal clothes. Regarding the other question, about when to go professional, I've always though the only thing that would make me do readings professionally would be to be able to spend more time doing that, and less time on my regular work. If there was a way to get certified in this country, I would - just to have that piece paper, and know - for myself - that I have it. Would not hang it on the wall though... They who want to see it would have to ask...! :D If I were you, I'd focus on my readings, if other people want to have their stereotypes about what readers should look like, let them - I still think most people want to be able to level and be comfortable with the reader, instead of being kept at a distance. That's what a costume does, it says "Look, I'm not like you!" - personally I want a reader to say "Hey, I'm just like you and I know how it feels, so come here, let's see what the cards have to add!". The Tarot stuff has to go "on top" of the human aspects, not replace any of that... (Don't know if this makes any sense, hope you know what I mean...!) Wish you luck, whichever way you choose! Light and love, Jenny :)

Kiama	01 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by HOLMES [b] you don't want to look like some joeblow off a street and i was crushed and they said to me and who would you listen to some young person stuttering or an old dignified person and i gave up trying to read professionaly at the time. IMO, what you look like, what age you are, and how you talk do not affect the quality and your ability of reading the crds... I am 17, and, wearing my normal scruffy clothes, can gurantee a better reading than say,The Queen, who talks perfectly, always wears nice cothes, and is old and dignified... Quote: i was thinking like i posted in my introduction to myself to get certified in bota and ata and the tarot certification board so when a client comes for a tarot reading they can see all the certificates on the wall to give me some substance is that the way to go ? I think that the only qualifications you need is ability.. There are so many good readers out there, without any certficates whatsoever. I believe it was Tarotbear who once said that the Tarot certification boards make you read in a certain way, and don't let you develop your own way: There are certain guidelines you need to stick to... And, after about 3 years I think, the certificate runs out and you have to do the certifcation course all over again... To me, this is pointless. My certificates are in-depth knoweldge and undertanding of Tarot, and the compliments from those I have read for... Whenever somebody tells me I hit the nail on the head, or they really worked things out, that is another certificate for my 'wall'... And after all, isn't that what Tarot is about? Helping people through your understanding? I wish you all the luck in the world on going professional... I will hopefully be doing that when I move to Cardiff in September... A good tip would be to research prices of other Tarot readers in your area: You don't want to be too extortionate, but you don't wanna be too cheap either... You might wanna look into advertising, eg- How, where.... And also location... If you will be doig the readings at your home, make sure you have a nice quiet backroom or something, or do the readinsg when nobody else is home... Make the place look welcoming and warm.... That's all I can think of at the moment! Kiama

HOLMES	01 Jun 2002
to set up a internet reading service but differnt then others, 1. they email me their question in depth and tell me the gernal back ground about their question not a lot of depth but enough to know the five ws so i can better focus . why do i do that ? well i used to try those 21 tarot spreads where you just lay them out and it was too much impressions don't know where to look for this and that .. too confusing for my old nogging so a specific questions helps me to zereo in, plug in and i can get more into depth. 2. with their credit card order for let;s say 30 bucks. which entails them to 3 questions which i will email them. each will get a long write up using one of the postional spreads i liek the celtic cross and i adapte the inner cross to be that below is the distant past , the left card is the recent past the upper card is the present and the right card is the possible futre. and i still use the 7 to ten meanings the signifactor i pick randomely out of the deck to get the general spiritual lesson. 4. then they get to email me questions to me about the reading which i will send them and which i will answer and send them off. and tell them do not get another reading til about 3 weeks at least til let your present energy clear and change. dont want them to become a reading junkie but to learn from the reading and process it :O) 5. since i can currently do three readings a day depending on a good night sleep and such i will set the credit card/question taker for a three night limit. and i can do readings everyday, cept for holidays :O) and if i have an emergance i will put a block on the question taker all together til it is resolved and post why on the website. 6. this is what i been working through on my head though some questions still reside in my mind 1. could it work? 2. is 30 too much or too low 3. .. COULD IT WORK ? i keep asking myself that. hell i don't know if a three question taker, and credit card pay information is possible. 4, i dont want to end up abusing people like miss cleo service. interesting thing about that i got an emial that i won her tarot deck and i tried to phone the number i was given and it was not in service, and i sent a emial and it didnt' get a reply yet. and my ultimate goal is 1. be able to get enough abundance to follow through with some of my dreams like pursuing my tarot stupdies, and body work studies. i never read this 78 degress everyone else did and i feel like i am missing out badly :O) 2. get a lot of pratice, 3 to help people.

silvereye	01 Jun 2002
I think they are having some arguments. It is said that John Gilbert the chair person owned the Certification Board...Something like that... So beware! Am I allowed to post the Open Complain Letter here?

Diana	01 Jun 2002
edited

joya250	01 Jun 2002
hey Holmes. Personally, I would rather go to a "live" reader than do it via the internet. I know it is totally possible to do "long distance" readings -- but I would be too wary to send money to someone I never even met. There are too many people out there screwing people online. that's just my two cents. I think going professional is a GREAT idea -- and one I would love to do one day too -- but maybe you could figure out how to do it some other way? I dunno. Good luck. :)

HOLMES	01 Jun 2002
the internet idea seemed safe to me you know venture forth but not much scared of falling off the tower :O) ah i lived in a small town which is not spiritually aware but is very much a christian town and i fear going live here a past life fear of proscution

jmd	01 Jun 2002
Personally, I agree with Diana's opening words in her above post: 'I think Certification Boards are dangerous'. A while back, this thread discussed this very issue of certification. ------------- Silvereye, my understanding is that the 'Open Letter' remains the property of its author. Its contents, however, can legitimately be paraphrased or even quoted... but please give its source (who wrote it and where it was 'published' - eg, TarotL).

HudsonGray	01 Jun 2002
Jump on over to this site: http://www.tarotconsultant.com/cgi/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID18&conf=DCConfID4 They've got several different subjects on their bulletin board selection about starting up in business for yourself, how to begin, promote, deal with people. I also found some nice stuff by going to www.google.com and typing in 'tarot ethics'.

Kiama	02 Jun 2002
Thanks for that site, Hudson Gray! I spotted several familiar faces amongst its members! Its a small world after all! :D Kiama

catlin	03 Jun 2002
Indeed it is Kiama.

purplelady	03 Jun 2002
Aye Kiama , maybe the Queen is secretly a great tarot reader ;) ;) ! Holmes, I see in your profile that you're a virgo. I have a lot of virgo in my chart and a virgo moon, and I can totally relate to how Diana said "putting the cart before the horse", and worrying about #20 on the list before you even get to #1 because I am Exactly , exactly the same way! I make lists , I go over it in my head a million times , I think of all the reasons it won't work , and then I worry about whether it will or it won't! I worry about 2 yrs from now before I get to tommorrow, and I try to think of every possible thing that could happen between now and then. After all that, I end up nowhere! or doing nothing. Anyhow , I don't have any great advice , but just know you are not alone!

Umbrae	03 Jun 2002
Holmes, you can turn professional, only when you know in your heart you must. Do you have to seek the advice and approval of other people? They will steal your dreams. You must believe in your dreams, otherwise you are nothing. Allow your dreams to speak their truth to you.

catlin	04 Jun 2002
Ehmm, HOLMES, just a short question: For how long are you into tarot? How sure do you feel with the cards? Besides, ask yourself honestly if you are deep enough into the matter to offer advice to others.

HOLMES	04 Jun 2002
1. 12 years, 2. i feel very deeply, but i always want to know more and if there is nothing new to learn i get depressed , example i dearly wish i had allll the good tarot books in the worlds and all the decks and courses so only then i will i feel good enough to create the deck .. kind of like that movie high fidelity the guy listend to all the music in the world or so it seems finally the critic created something. some day when i have done enoough i feel i will create my own deck i already had a picture in my head for the past 6 years, 3. as for how well i can offer advice it will depend on the feedback i get in the readings exchange as i just offered to read tarot and if it goes well i will feel confident enough to continue

DeLani	05 Jun 2002
Hi Holmes, If you feel comfortable enough with your knowledge in the cards to go pro, do it. I've been "pro" now for about 7 yrs. I still have to work a regular job, but I occasionally get clients. The best "gig" I got was a local student apt. complex hired me for a full week to give the residents readings as part of a resident appreciation week. It was tiring, but I made a good deal of money. 2 tips: First, see if there are any psychic or intuitive arts fairs/festivals nearby, and start there by renting a booth to read. Secondly, if there is a metaphysical bookstore or something similar nearby, you could ask them if they would let you put up a flyer, or if they would refer people to you. At the store where I work, a lot of people come in asking where they can find a Tarot reader. So I gave the store my card, and I usually get about one referral a week from them. Finally, if there is nothing like that anywhere near you, you might consider relocating. You have to be where you will be accepted and happy. And I agree with being yourself. Being honest is the most important thing you can give your clients. If you act all fake, they will pick up on it, and it will compromise their reception of your reading. Good luck, DeLani

HOLMES	05 Jun 2002
the time to relocate is almost upon me but i am trying to hold it back for another year i am resisting the death card hoping it doens't turn into the tower on me .. why ? another year to study , to grow, to get confident and to accomplish some things i have to take care off however my mom might have a job in thunderbay and need my help to look after the grandchildren if she goes and so the change will come sooner then i want it to come but if it does i have to embrace it ( you can only hold death off for so long before you have to embrace it :O) there is more population in thunderbay i think a newage bookstore and such. it will go good but that is only one of the options

DeLani	05 Jun 2002
Hi Holmes, It sounds like the move would be a good thing for you. No need to wait and learn more - you will probably meet people and have a lot more opportunities to learn in a larger, more diverse city. Anyway, that's what it seems like to me. Good luck, DeLani

The when is it time to turn professional? thread was originally posted on 31 May 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.