Question about the ATA

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 10 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

contrascarpe	10 May 2004
Was curious to see if anybody here is a member of the ATA and what you thought of it (opinions also from those who are not members). As I begin my endeavor into professional reading, I was considering joining. A local reader advertises it as his badge of honor, although all one has to do is plunk down twenty bucks and you are in. My thought is that it may lend some credence to my bio, even though in my mind it is superficial. Personally I plan on playing up the AT portion of my bio, hehe. Thanks, Dan

dolphingirl	10 May 2004
Hi Dan I am not a member of the ATA although I have thought about it some. For me it comes down to $$. I really have to pick and choose where my money goes. I just can't see paying the money for myself in order to say "hey I belong" and I just don't think that i would get $20 worth of enjoyment out of belonging. That amount of money is enough for me to pay a bill or buy a new deck :) lol. Most people that I read for don't even know what ATA it is to be impressed. When I do a reading for a person, if they ask me what are my qualifications I tell them a bit about my self and how I see tarot then say "well now you know abit about me, lets do the reading and see what you think" Of course I am also alittle different than most readers out there in that I do the readings and have a jar for donations but I do not charge a fixed amount. For most people that may not work out but for me it works great. That way people pay what they can afford (or what they think I am worth to them ) and I don't have to feel bad that I may have earned more than they thought I was worth. Most people that are not into tarot think that tarot is a secret mystical thing and a certificate hanging on the wall isn't going to mean as much to them as how you yourself come across. If you are interrested in the ATA I would say that it would be up to you to decide if you can get $20 dollars worth of use out of all that they have to offer. They do have alot of things becides a certificate and maybe they have other things that you would be able to get to tip the scales one way or the other. You also might want to look up some of the old threads on tarot certification to see how others that have gone through and got papers feel about them. Good luck!

Arnaud	10 May 2004
I am curious, you said you have a jar for donations. How many people pay usually ? Everyone ? One out of ten ? How much they usually pay for a consultation ? I am curious to know what people think is fair when they come to see a Tarot reader. Arnaud

dolphingirl	10 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Arnaud I am curious, you said you have a jar for donations. How many people pay usually ? Everyone ? One out of ten ? How much they usually pay for a consultation ? I am curious to know what people think is fair when they come to see a Tarot reader. Arnaud Hi Arnuad it is like a tip jar when you go to a late stand. I don't think I have ever had anyone not put anything in the jar (unless we had worked out some other trade say a reading for a batch of homemade cookies lol) . I don't check the jar at the end of every reading but just when it gets full. I know that doesnt make for strict records but it also allows me to just relax and not wory about "making money" Every once in a while, I will run into a person who needs a reading but doesnt' have the money one week. The person has always made it up to me the next time :). I might make more money charging a fixed fee per reading but this way works for me. Most people probably want to charge a fixed fee. Fee's range wildly depending on where you live, the overhead fee's that the reader might have to pay (fee's to a store if they are reading at another espablishment, advertising, business cards ect...) and what amount the reader wants for their time. Alot of places around here do short readings on certain days for $5.00 a reading. Or $5.00 for a first time reading. I usually end up making about $20 for a half hour but keep in mind that I am not a pro and don't do the readings for a living. Good luck :)

closrapexa	11 May 2004
I'm clueless... What is ATA,? Aeclectic Tarotholics Anonymous?

contrascarpe	11 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by closrapexa I'm clueless... What is ATA,? Aeclectic Tarotholics Anonymous? Although it should be (and I should definitely join that one), the ATA is the American Tarot Association. Link to the home page: ATA

smokey	11 May 2004
American Tarot Association: I am a Former member, but please bear w/me as that's been 7 yrs. ago & somewhat foggy. The only thing that kept me from renewing was a death in the family @ that same time of their renewal & I didn't have time 4 them. I think I Can recall t/fee being within reason. I worked hard under the guidance of one of their licensed(? I dunno 'bout this one;made her a CTM, I think...their term...mentor) by mail their Tarot reading course where she advised &graded me & won my respect thru her more than reasonable suggestions & humble wisdom. This was all voluntary on my part,of course & took a few months. My learning experience(I mean;what I was seeking @ this time) w/Tarot improved a lot(& there's room 4 lots more !!!) The one thing I do recall clearly is looking 4-ward to their Tarot news/updates which I eagerly devoured all too quickly, then there was nothing else to look for 4 the next 2 months! Soo, in my humble opinion,these didn't come often enough(6 reports per yr. & weren't long enough...)I kept up w/latest Tarot decks this way, & knew nothing about Aeclectic,or running a pc @ this time. Above everything,I'll always be grateful to someone on their board for taking time & trouble to mail me my beloved "Cosmic Tribe" set for half price.(no...this is generally Not Done!!!) It was just meant -to- be... My general all-around experience w/ATA was nice,but my time w/Aeclectic is soo much better...but...whether or not a client will be impressed...I'll bet my eyebrows would raise a tad if I were a client, thinking you belonged on a board or somethin'...but;(shrugs) that's just me! If nothing else,you can always have had "broadened -your- horizens", huh?(chuckles)... go for it or you'll never know,IF it don't hurt the wallet much! The Very BEST of Luck, Dan, Sincerely,

Cocobird55	13 May 2004
I am a member of the ATA. I joined just about the time there was all kinds of internal conflicts. The problems seem to have been resolved. I did buy their new course, which seems quite good, from the quick look that I took. I joined before I found Aeclectic, hoping to find a tarot community there. I didn't, but I haven't paid a lot of attention to it, either. I do get newsletters e-mailed to me every so often... For some reason that I can't remember, I joined for two years. I don't know if I will renew or not... Sue

The Question about the ATA thread was originally posted on 10 May 2004 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.