Tarot as a way of living

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Ariana	12 Apr 2003
I was wondering how many of you make of tarot a way of living, being this the only way of support you get in your life. - How have you decided to consider being a tarotist as a profession? - Was it difficult to take that decision? - Did you feel guilty at charging your readings? - Did you have another profession you had to abandon in order to pursue your career as tarotist? Well these are some of the questions that come into my mind. I would love to hear your experiences. Ariana

Page	13 Apr 2003
Hiya Ariana and welcome to the forum, Well I just woke up on 11.9.2001 and said to myself. I am not going in to work again. I hate the backstabbers that I was working with and said to myself that I shouldn’t be feeling like this about my job. I was getting more angry with the dog eat dog Co that I was in and had worked for in the past. The design and music world are full of ego maniacs, it was making me ill, aggressive, which is and I needed to but my health first. I wanted to be that happy, cheeky, bubbly person again with no fear. So I didn’t go back. I was very happyJ I should of done it months before but I had to save up some money. But I wouldn’t say it was planning it was more of the last straw breaking the camels back. I’ve been dong readings for years, just for friends and as a profession. I wouldn’t recommend doing fairs etc. or starting out without any money for ads or something to fall back on. You need to be established and that does take a long time. Also it does cost to advertise.I also work for a well known Psychic who does TV, has celbs etc. Something that I can do when and where I want. But I don’t poach any clients!!! When I started of as a prof, I was very young (19) many years ago I had a regular clients but not enough. I felt that some of the clients that I saw had the attitude of “what does this young girl know about life” but just settled for the spot on things that I was telling them and kept coming back. Some clients need to see a therapist of some sort as well I always make it clear that I’m not a Dr’ lawyer, God etc. and I can not give out winning lottery numbers or make your ex come back to you.This may seem a hard but I remember from my own experience of seeing a tarot reader who took advantage big time. I only tell clients what I get from spirit, guides, auras etc. and not what I think. If I can’t pick up anything I’ll tell them. I also was going back and fourth to my old jobs in between as a Graphic designer/ design production worker. I still work but on my own design work and tarot projects. I never want to work in a office again!! I mainly do clairvoyant/medium readings as I like that better. I would like to go back to a development circle, mainly to be around likeminded people and I find circles FUN FUN FUN, and it makes a change from being at home. Did you feel guilty at charging your readings? Yes of course I did, that’s another story. You will find that if you don’t charge people you will have 100’s of people saying that they are your friend. I have to pay my taxes, ads, rent etc. so why not charge, I won’t be taken for a muppet. I had to be more assertive and stick to time the as you do get the odd one trying to bleed you dry. Saying all that I do give free readings when I feel like it. But I don’t feel guilty for saying that I can’t give you a reading because I’m not up to it or I don’t want to. I do exchange clairvoyant/meduimistic readings with other clairvoyants weekly. Some people tend to think that clairvoyants, tarot readers etc. live their life problem free ……not I also give the clients back their money if they have booked in advance and I can’t get anything from them. Something that doesn’t happen a lot but I don’t want anyone coming to me leaving only to be felt ripped off. I’m happy now doing my sittings but I just want be fixed at one place as I keep moving around Europe.

Kiama	13 Apr 2003
Maud: Thankyou for posting this. A while ago I nearly went pro, but the shop I was going to be reading in closed down last month, so I am back to the drawing board, and must say, I'm not as confident as I should be. But yesterday I went to a small psychic fayre, and listened in on some readings the readers were doing there... They wre charging what I consider an extortionate amount (Considering there space at the fayre didn't cost them anything!) of £20 (I could feed myself for a week on that!) but their readings were simple, quite wishy-washy, very suspicious, and I suddenly reaslised that if they could do something like that, so could I, albeit I could probably do it much better, with a much lower charge. I'm only 18, so I feel a bit worried about what clients will think of me, and now that I don't have a place I can read, my only other option is to read in my home, which I am not too sure on. Where did you do reaidngs, Maud? How long were they, and how much did you charge? Kiama

Marion	13 Apr 2003
Maud, that was a very inspiring story to read, thank you for posting that. Kiama, I think you could do excellent readings right now. I would hesitate quite a bit before actually having people come to your home. Keep looking, you will get your chance.

Aerin	13 Apr 2003
Kiama, it is a sad truth that people often do not value what they don't pay enough for. Setting your fees too low doesn't help: people who have invested a reasonable (not extortionate!) amount in something put enough energy and attention into it to receive something back that's of greater value than their outlay. Do some research to find the range of fees being charged: also ask yourself what you need to live on and work out what you need to charge from that. I have experienced this in coaching work, I've pretty much given up giving introductory free sessions/ cheap sessions since they are just not as effective. I do trade coaching for other things sometimes though e.g. a feng shui consultaion, a coaching session. That works. (I still discount for people funding themselves as against their organisation paying, I always tell them what discount I'm giving though.) Money back guarantees are also good. In coaching, I've never refunded as a result of this. Aerin

Page	13 Apr 2003
Thanks for the comments! I had one top Meduim telling me years ago that I would do the sam ejob as her, she was really good and was sooo FULL of it I could of made a few mud houses. Anyway..... When I’m working for the psychic the reading arte done via phone, that’s why I can work when I want where I want. The price is £50 for half an hour at first I thought Jesus CHRIST…….but he helped me to understand that each reading is taped and posted out with a crystal. I have to pay for postage and tapes etc. and I get a small cut from the reading. It’s not a ripp off as the client has the right to ask back for their money. I work from home in London, France and The Netherlands When I work for my self I charge £30 for half an hour, 1-2-1 for 1 hour. £45. I don’t go more than one hour as much as I like to talk because I find myself going around in a circle + I start to lose contact and feel a tad drained. Personally I would pay up to £70 an hour for a clairvoyant/medium reading. it’s not because I’m touched in the head but if someone is really feeling sh:t the cost does not matter, just as long as I’m not sh@fted. I even thought £45 was a bit toooooo much but I don’t think so weighing things up. When I first started of I was charging £10-15 for half an hour. + its always good to get feed back, weather it’s good or bad. You need to keep your feet on the ground. I always tell clients to have faith in them selves and that’s what I say to you Kiama and any one else out there. Even tough it’s easy for me/ someone else to say. I did have a few tried and failed, but that’s just like anything in life. The thing is to shop around with a accountant and back just to make sure that you can relate to them etc. Don’t be worried about paying tax or anything, just make sure what ever you work you declare. I think Dutch even if I’m British. In the first 3 months of doing that when I was 19 I only had a few clients and I didn’t have to pay my account as I didn't have a lot of clients. Anyway getting back on track You really have to forget about what other people think of you ( see my thread/poll about people making judgement- chat) I know that I can be full on 99% of the time but that’s me and I don’t care. When I was unconfident I was thinking opps I’d better not say/do this or that. I was doing church demos in my 22 hole Dr Martin boots, tie die dress and my hair in pig tails when I was 21 but old aunt Nelly didn’t care. You really have to set your standards = Service, time, price with out being up yourself!! also prepare for the bulk and no clients., they do tend to come in waves. I had one woman that I was visiting years ago cooking me dinner after her reading and kept asking me questions about her reading. PPl really do take the P?ss given the chance. Oh…. I did start of going to see people at work and at home even known Co's. I also worked from home but only saw women and men recommended. I would do it again but I will have a hidden camera as I did have things stolen from my place. Good luck to them as the needed my spoon rest and other stuff …… how sad eh? If anyone has any questions please feel free to mail me. It would good to hear from others out there too hmmmmmm tons of spelling errors today! who cares eh

HudsonGray	13 Apr 2003
"I'm only 18, so I feel a bit worried about what clients will think of me, and now that I don't have a place I can read, my only other option is to read in my home, which I am not too sure on." Kiama at Bastille Days Festival there were two 9 year old boys there in the tent doing readings, forget the 'age' thing. The boys were holding their own with the rest of the 6 readers. AND they charged $15 for 15 minutes. Go to some small bookstores & ask to speak to the manager--present yourself as a reader & ask if they'd like the idea of once a month (or every other week) having a reader in for their clients on, say, a Saturday. A notice put up about it will notify their customers (you or the store can do that) and you just bring 2 folding chairs & a small table if the store doesn't have any. Plan on how long you'll be there (9-2pm?) and give it a try. The store may or may not want a cut, but don't give over more than 50%. You can check out Farmers Markets as another possibility. Or think about contacting a health food store, coffee shops, a new age shop, anywhere that might be a possibility for a reader to do their thing. The large bookstore chains like Barnes & Noble and Borders may not be allowed to do this, but the smaller ones are individually owned & you have a better chance. Bring a table cover, and your decks & away you go.

azuremariposa	14 Apr 2003
for the longest time i was never comfortable w/charging for readings...somewhere i had gotten the idea that it was wrong, even to take a penny... i had mentioned this to my grandmother (a woman who has my utmost respect) and she said i was crazy, that it was perfectly alright to charge b/c i was both using a skill and a gift...(she specified what was ok & not ok to charge for...:) whatta gramma!) anywho, so gradually i became "ok" w/the idea of charging... unfortunately, my first foray into the world of charging came w/working a 900#! ugh...blech...ptui! i didn't know where to start, and didn't have transportation to get to any shops (and no good major trans available where i was)...so, i did what i thought to be the next-best-thing...it was hideous, awful, and it made me feel like sh:t, repeatedly...i just wasn't used to reading for strangers and it came through on the phone...in either case, that lasted all but a month or so...went back home to NJ (where it was easier to get a job) and continued to work at a bank...friends found out i did readings, and i did a few for co-workers there (but never 'THERE'...lol...my manager would have crapped his pants!)...but didn't really get in the swing of charging for awhile...then sometime last year, while preggers w/my daughter and unable to work, i said, screw it! i'm going to make a site, tell all my little online friends they get a discount and see what happens (my little online friends included people who read my journal on one site..had almost 200 people subscribed)...so, i made my site but agonized over how much to charge...i think the rates i've come up with are very reasonable, but people (family, friends) always tell me i need to charge more...don't know about that, but i'm comfortable w/what i charge...anywho, in the first few months i made a good amt of money, but then it died down for a bit, and i let the website go...i recently put another website up and i'm quite happy w/it...i've only had about 4 orders since it's been up (almost a month), but i'm hoping for more... i think that once you make the decision to charge, you really just have to find a "comfort zone" for yourself...how much do you think your time is worth? how much would you be comfortable charging? these are very important questions to answer before you start... now, to answer the questions originally posted: - How have you decided to consider being a tarotist as a profession? it's something i love doing, it gives me a way to help people (which has always been a goal), and at the moment, i have two little ones to take care of, so it is ideal to staying home and being w/kids, and still make $$. - Was it difficult to take that decision? it was difficult to decide to charge and what to charge...what to charge was my hardest obstacle... - Did you feel guilty at charging your readings? sometimes, but i often give away freebies as well...one client has referred about 6 people to me, so i've told her that she no longer has to pay me (so long as she doesn't abuse it! lol i'm NOT doing readings everyday!!) and questions afterwards are always free, so i feel the person get's their money's worth - Did you have another profession you had to abandon in order to pursue your career as tarotist? not really...i had to abandon my other career, and tarot just grew out of the void... if i had the space, i'd consider reading at home, but i don't...plus, i don't want to expose my children to all sorts of strangers...i've thought about going to a few little shops and seeing if i could read there one or two days a month, but haven't done anything about that...i also visited a few flea markets here, but i just wasn't happy w/the vibe there... Kiama, i don't think your age would hinder people wanting to come to you for readings...i think that if you found a shop or two that you would really do quite well...(that's just my inner noise-maker talking...;) heh) will somebody shut me up already!! LOL...:D well, i think i threw in more than two cents, but there ya go! many blessings to all! ~azure

Ariana	14 Apr 2003
Thanks all of you for sharing your stories. Though I am not living from Tarot I must admit that I have been thinking about it, or at least to make of Tarot a profession. But unlikely many times in my past, when I decided just to quit my job and start making readings with no firm base; now my idea is different. I have started to work again, in my first profession, in foreign trade - which I really like by the way - ; with this job and the peace of knowing that I have a fix job I have started working slowly in my future Tarotist career. Things have not been easy in my country these last years. Crisis have hit all of us very hard, and most of us lost their jobs making us to re consider our whole life and what we really want from our lives. I must admit that I feel tired of working in an office, 9 hours daily, suffering the changing humour of my boss, and dealing with people who think that all their lives pass for how many money they earn or how many clients they get a day. But today I know what I want to achieve in my future. My aim in life is more than staying in an office eternally, I want to develop my spiritual side more and more everyday, and I have re discovered in Tarot the tool for doing it. Since I started reading Tarot I have been reading for friends, co workers, family. If I had charged my readings three times in these 12 years it is much to say... I find it so difficult! Anyway I will do things smoothly, thinking them carefully and trying to offer the best of me, in a professional way. I don't know when I will start, where or when... but I know I will do it some day. Ariana

anjocoxo	15 Apr 2003
I'm also starting to become really tired of my job, even though it is a part time job. I like my job, and my colleagues, but I don't like the company I work for and I'm tired of earning so little. Thing is, I don't know what else to do. I would love to become a "professional" tarot reader but I think I simply don't have what it takes (here comes my pessimist side). I don't have the courage to charge for a reading, especially because I have a feeling no one will pay for a reading, you know? We are also trying to handle a big crisis here in portugal, and to charge 15 € for a reading (even being an hour).... it's tough. I also don't have the guts to go to a bar/pub/whatever and speak with the owners, trying to make an agreement and asking them to let me read tarot cards... but I know that it is my problem, I'm too shy... My third problem is my confidence: what if I'm wrong? what if what I'm saying is totally disconnected? what if...????? Yet I know that it is in my head... If you feel like you can do it, just do it (even if you feel that people won't listen to you because you're 18), and best luck. Anjo

Ariana	16 Apr 2003
I am shy as well Anjo, and I also feel that sometimes I won't be accurate in my readings, though nobody told me the opposite so far....

anjocoxo	17 Apr 2003
...that most of the time my readings are accurate, and probably if I went to a cafe and started reading to my friends, people would come to see. Once I went out to an Irish pub (we have lots of irish pubs in lisbon) with my friends and they were asking me readings. I asked the waiter if there was a problem and she said no; I started reading and I saw people looking at us. When I was in the middle of a reading came the waiter and started looking to the cards with that "curiosity" look. I knew that she wanted a reading, but I didn't had the courage to ask her if she wanted me to read her the cards..... it was just a simple question that I had to do, and I couldn't (damn shyness!). People wouldn't even mind paying for a reading, but where's my guts to charge for them???? Anjo (silently retreats to her corner....)

Kiama	17 Apr 2003
Anjocoxo: I had a similar experience... I went to Glastonbury for the Spring Equinox, and was in the pub one evening with the group of friends I went there with, and one friend asked to see my cards (He loves looking at the pictures) My boyfriend went up to the bar and was ordering drinks when the pub owner who was serving him saw the cards and asked who's they were. My boyf told her they were mine, and she asked him a few things, to which he called me over to talk to her about. She asked for a reading, and I was happy to oblige even though there was no talk of money. Usually if it's just one person I don't mind giving a reading cuz it's really no skin off my nose, and I get some practice in. So, we sat down, and I did her a reading: Quite a good one actually, I was very pleased with myself. Halfway through the reading though, I noticed that there was a queue of about 6 people looking, watching, talking excitedly about how they were going to 'get their cards read'. I could easily have charged £10 for a reading, and I could have earned £60 within a few hours. But I didn't, and actually avoided giving them readings at all! I tried to stretch the landlady's reading so that the queue of people eventually got bored waiting and went away...! I just got scared...! (Silly Kiama!) I don't even know how I would have said 'It'll cost £10' to them. Anyway, I had friends to be with that night, so I couldn't too more than that one reading, but for £60.... Hmmm... Might go back there at some point! }) (When I get some guts that is!) Kiama

Phoenix Rising	12 Mar 2004
I used to do healings a few years ago and I found it so hard to charge, or else I would take a donation, or sometimes the clients would bring food. But now I've got a totally different perspective of charging now(Although I'm not doing professional readings at the moment, but would like to one day) but that thinking came from past lives, of devoting my life for spiritual service, and sacrificing, and taking oaths of poverty. Back then we were conditioned that the universe will provide. Well this century the universe means for people to pay. We can't live on air alone, we need money to survive. We have to learn to receive, just as much as people have to learn to give.

thanatos	12 Mar 2004
while I am only new to tarot reading and have not tryed to do a big reading for some one ( have done 1 card readings ) it is my belife that the abilaty to judge what the tarot cards are telling you in relation to a question that has been asked them is a "gift " and if in useing this "gift" you seek payment for it then you loose the gift ..... it is true that by doing a reading you are doing a service for the questioner and if they offer money then you can take it .... but it is my belife that the gift was freeley given and should be used free or for a small ( under $5) donation

DeLani	12 Mar 2004
I have always wanted to be able to support myself doing readings only. I have a monthly gig at a local metaphysical store, but a few $$ a month won't cut it. We are in a recession (if not a depression) here, and people are losing their jobs, businesses are shutting down, etc. I haven't made much $$ in a while. AzureMariposa: How do you do it via the internet? Do they send you a check and you send them back a printout of the reading? I like the idea of sending a crystal with the reading! (I could never do the phone readings. I hate talking on the phone. But I could see myself doing a reading, then writing it down...). If it's too technical, you can pm me or e-mail me. Kiama: Girl, you were in the right place a the right time! Were you at or near Glastonbury or Avebury? Because I know a lot of us American Pagans consider it a pilgrimmage to go to the old circles for Summer Solstice. You could make a fortune doing readings at that time! This thread is inspiring me to get more serious about reading for pay!

tmgrl2	12 Mar 2004
I see this is an old posting with some new ones added on....Hey, Kiama...you are still here and as wondeful as ever ! I think I read a very old thread when I first joined last month when you answered a thirteen year old girl who seemed upset that others were bothered by her age...you mentioned your age...I was shocked! See the stereotype..You are wise beyond years..I usually don't read profiles as a matter of course...but have read many of your postings...you are very creative, intuitive.... I could go on and on...as I could about so many of you I have come to know and love this past month? that 's all it has been? I'm definitely going to get caught by the posting police! Years ago I did color readings and handwritings and studied with a psychic...in my early thirties...and I also did work with Lucid Dreaming and Remote Viewing. Now, as I approach 62 years of age and have just found Tarot (not by accident, I might add, since I believe in sychronicity)...I realize that this "sensitive" part of me has always been active. I am always "reading" people. I am a loner, somewhat shy, although most people wouldn't say that. I place no judgment on anyone choosing to read for money or charge for it or how much. I may not go to them. Or I may. I may trust the reading. Or...I may not. There is no right or wrong. When I retire, I may not need the income and if I do, I will do some sessions in my profession as a speech pathologist. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't read for money ...just that I don't choose to for now...there is a point about people not valuing if they don't pay or exchange somehow. I often have teachers, friends ask me for my opinion on an evaluation done on a family member who has had a stroke or a child who has difficulties with speech/language or cognition. Mostly, I just offer to review everything and I never charge. I just say "I'm happy to do this as a friend." Also, I never do charged evaluations for someone I know. Somehow, it doesn't seem right. This is a professional judgment in my field...I know I would never charge someone I know for a reading. But down the road, who knows....not right, not wrong...we just need to be ethical and moral about our choices and motives. terri Umbrae, are you out there...would love to here what you have to say on this...

Macavity	12 Mar 2004
I am currently doing an Email interview with a F2F professional reader, who describes the work as being on the "spiritual front line"! With offices in a busy holiday town, it's not hard to imagine... But I didn't ask too directly. It certainly gave ME cause to reflect though. I suspect it depends GREATLY on the (chosen) environment. Me? I've had enough hassles with "Joe Public" for one lifetime :laugh: But I am starting FREE readings via Email, under the auspices of my national association. Somehow I think I'll be quite happy with distance reading... ;) Macavity

Umbrae	12 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by tmgrl2 Umbrae, are you out there...would love to here what you have to say on this... The most important mental hurdles are AGE and MONEY. The former is difficult. People will pay money for 12-year-old boys to do readings because it’s a novelty. Whey the boys turn 20, they will not be a novelty, they will be too young to be readers…unless you carry obvious racial stereotyping that sets you apart – then you have enough novelty to overcome the ageism. Folks will simply not believe your readings. The older you get, the more they believe your readings. It’s not guilt over money that that will get you…it’s the ‘is it worth what they are paying me’ guilt about money. Questioning yourself about your own quality of readings…can you really ask $75 for a half hour reading? People in the US are used to getting paid by the hour…so they want to know how much for a half hour or an hour reading…. But honey, sometimes a 3 card reading lasts an hour and sometimes a 14 card 7 position reading lasts 10 seconds! So for myself, I have to charge per reading, and not by time or number of cards. There’s a bar down in the Northgate area, a Chinese Restaurant bar that has a Tarot reader twice a week. Now my bar readings were always cheaper than my outside readings, you’re providing a pull for the bar – but those folks ultimately want to drink, the bar wants them to drink, so you can’t remove that ability by overcharging – but you make up for it in volume (Bar folks as a rule don’t want an hour reading…. Money is a tough one. To know you can read is only part of the decision…

tmgrl2	12 Mar 2004
Thank you, Umbrae.!! When I was much younger, it scared me that people listened in awe as I analyzed their handwritings...this was scarey to me, because I thought, It's just a bunch of lines and squiggles on a piece of paper and some interpretations I read in some books. But as I have grown older, I have discovered it was never about the writing, the colors, the dreaming....it was about the spiritual guidance, the sensitivity, intuitiveness....it's there inside of us and some people want someone else to tell them about themselves...really believe so many people have not tapped into themselves ....just gotten older and maybe richer...but wiser? And later, with color, the same thing...then for a whole bunch of years, I got caught up in career and getting two advanced degrees...Now I have age and money and the two degrees and the professions have brought me both satisfaction and a pension. I feel blessed ...as I have said, my husband is 75, blind, and needs someone to help now with most things...but we both feel so blessed to still have each other...we just joked today about my being home sick for a whole week and how well we get along (even when he calls out the Tarot police once and awhile)....So I know Tarot came along for me now and I'm going where it takes me...t

The Tarot as a way of living thread was originally posted on 12 Apr 2003 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.