Reading Tarot as a full time occupation?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 07 Oct 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

IDN	07 Oct 2004
Hi, May I ask, who on here reads Tarot as a full-time job? Obviously I wouldn't dream about asking about earnings / income. etc. Just interested to know if it is a viable full time occupation? Or do most professional readers do it in addition to a full time job? Many thanks, Regards, Ian

floracove	07 Oct 2004
Interesting question! Quote: earnings / income Though, if possible, an approx. figure would be nice... Or just an idea... (just for our inquiring minds) ;)

IDN	07 Oct 2004
It certainly would be interesting! But I appreciate a person's income (ie. the amount) is really their own business- I am just intrested in the concept viability of reading cards for a living. Regards, Ian

Lee	07 Oct 2004
I don't earn my living doing readings, and I don't know anyone who does, so this is entirely guesswork on my part. I would guess that, first of all, no one is going to make huge sums of money doing readings. So I would think it would be possible to earn one's living, but it's not going to be a very comfortable living. My guess is that it's similar to astrologers. There are astrologers who make a living doing astrology, but I think most of them are people who really devote their lives to astrology, and most of them (I would guess) are published authors and teachers as well. They probably spend a lot of time and energy trying to promote themselves in order to drum up business, such as maintaining websites, writing books, teaching classes. Also, my understanding is that business is very sporadic. You might have busy times and not-busy times, so the income is in no way regular. I would think it would be better if you had a spouse, for example, who had a regular income, and then your reading income would supplement it, rather than depending on the readings to pay the rent or mortgage. Here is an amusing and informative article about a day in the life of a professional astrologer, by Bruce Scofield: http://www.onereed.com/articles/Daylife.html I would think all of this probably applies to tarot reading as well. If you're really interested, you might want to check out this book, which is an excellent look at professional tarot reading: http://www.tarotpassages.com/professional.htm The author, Christine Jette, rightly emphasizes the amount of attention that must be paid to things like marketing, promotion, accounting, taxes, business licensing, legal issues, etc. If you wanted to increase your chances of actually being able to earn a living, you might consider studying other disciplines as well. I notice many professional readers offer other services, i.e. astrology or reiki, as well. -- Lee

floracove	07 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by IDN I appreciate a person's income (ie. the amount) is really their own business As do I, that's why I said, Quote: an approx. figure Or just an idea... :)

Mesara	07 Oct 2004
Oh, how I would love to be a full time tarot reader! Ive been thinking about it, but im realistic in understanding that I will not make very much money. People tell me all the time that I should do this and open up a metaphysical shop or something, but Im really not all that business savvy. The professional tarot readers I do know of don't seem to be raking in the cash. Mostly they are only available a few days a week, so they must supplement their income with another job. Another thing that holds me back is this- If I immerse myself as blissfully into tarot as I would like to, meaning quitting my job and using tarot to make money so I could essentially do tarot 24/7; although it sounds like heaven, I think it could be somewhat damaging. For an anti-social book worm geek like myself, my job is often the place where I receive the most social interaction. Work is the place where I see my friends/colleagues, where I get all the *gossip*, people there come to me with their secrets and problems (and yes, I do sometimes do tarot readings at work), I am privy to the most joyous and, sometimes, devastating moments of people's lives (I work at a hospital where life and death happen simultaneously). I see human nature at it's best and worst. I think being exposed to these things makes me a better tarot reader of sorts, keeps me connected to the *outside* world. Otherwise I think I would be living a very sheltered, very naive existence.

Red Emma	07 Oct 2004
Until recently there was a member, Mojo, who does earn a healthy amount. At least that's the conclusion I came to after reading some of his posts. The viability of the concept could be related to where one lives, and I think Mojo is somewhere in England. HHmmm. I could have looked up his profile before I posted. Perhaps he's still listed. If so, he seemed to be one of the good guys and might reply to queries.

Nevada	07 Oct 2004
I'm not a professional Tarot reader, in fact I've never been paid for a reading, and haven't even read for many people outside my household. That said, I have learned over the years that many of those dream occupations we would love to do fulltime simply do not pay well enough to support oneself, except for a very few people. For every bestselling novelist, for instance, there are tens of thousands who never make a living writing novels, even though they're published numerous times. I hate to sound disappointing, and I'm not saying I don't think it can be done, but my guess is that for a Tarot reader it would take many years of experience and building up of clientele and reputation to be able to make a living doing only Tarot. But the only real test is to try doing it parttime, and see how it goes, keeping in mind that you would want to see a steady pattern of income developing over a significant period of time before you decided to chuck the day job and risk doing Tarot exclusively. Nevada

Lee	07 Oct 2004
It occurs to me that one might also consider the possibility that tarot reading may not seem like such an appealing activity if one had to do it for a living. -- Lee

Flavio	07 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Nevada I hate to sound disappointing, and I'm not saying I don't think it can be done, but my guess is that for a Tarot reader it would take many years of experience and building up of clientele and reputation to be able to make a living doing only Tarot. I disagree on the many years part, from this thread I've thought how would be doing Tarot full time, it might require a lot of discipline, smart movements, right marketing and some idea of how to do business. It might be hard at beginning as in any other business but after adjustments and getting used to it, I think a Tarot parlor might work very well by itself or as a Tarot Cafe in a few time. Anyone having its own Tarot business has to consider that the business will be more than only readings, now you have all the day to put your energy on your business so flyers distribution around your area, puting a cheap advertisement in the newspaper and other activities should be considered also part of the Tarot job. At last doing Tarot full time doesn't mean stay in the Tarot parlor all the time, I would also do parties, corporate events and online readings, the idea is to work hard on every place and opprotunity you had to use your Tarot hability. Anyway, as Nevada and Lee said test the waters doing part time Tarot job is a good idea to know if you would be able to make a living out of Tarot and still feel it rewarding.

blackroseivy	07 Oct 2004
I am aiming to do just this very thing; but it's going to be as a (under-the-table!!!) supplement to my SSI, which barely exists - it's a handful of pocket-change. I hope to at least break even, & then, maybe, make a few extra bucks... I *love* doing it, so it's the easiest living I could make. I'm a pushover - ask me to read, I will!!! ;)

MeeWah	07 Oct 2004
I read part-time to not only supplement a full-time job but also as a means of service & for the love of Tarot. Long before I knew about Tarot, I knew as a pre-teen that reading would be a lifetime interest & work--so 'tis never been strictly for the money. The part-time readings not a reliable source of income due to a highly fluctuating level of business that ranges from feast to famine. As the financial head of my household, my regular job provides a dependable source of income & benefits I would not otherwise access. For me to make any time spent on readings lucrative, I would have to charge high fees which would make me inaccessible to a majority of potential clients & I have no interest in serving an elite clientele. As 'tis not only about an additional income but a view of life, at this time I choose to not. That is not to say I would not be interested in reading full-time, but for the current purposes, better for me to have a foot in both worlds for the balance offered by the different endeavours.

Ace	07 Oct 2004
I am a full time reader with no other income. I DON'T do a lot of private detailed readings. If you look at my web site, you will see I do 95% parties and events. I DO real readings, but very fast (usually 5-10 minutes) without much depth. If this is something you want to do, and you can hussle, market yourself and be very very reliable. AND VERY VERY VERY LUCKY! (as I have been) you can make a living at it. You won't get rich, but I make ends meet, have money for a few treats, and I love my job. BUT Medical insurance is at least 17% of income-and climbing. Other psychics enter the market, and my business can fall off. If we have a depressed economy, I could find my income going down. It is like all home businesses, risky. I pay taxes, social Security, and fund my own pension (but not often!) I write contracts, collect my fees and do my own bookkeeping. The biggest thing is I can't really do deep nuanced readings that go 30 minutes or more. Doing tarot as a business has become a cul-de-sac, I haven't time to really learn about tarot and explore it well. But I do love my job! To make a living doing private readings, on the 'net (with www.keen.com for instance) or in person can be done, but it is hard on the body to do tarot that seriously for long. Even doing several parties a week (such as I might do this season) can be so exhausting that I am recovering for a week or more after November 1st. I have talked to readers that do make a living doing private readings and one that I know of that is VERY busy is also making herself sick doing it. Thanks but no thanks! Someday, I will get a small pension from an old job, maybe I will cut back and just do parties when I want, and try to do some more serious readings, which I want to do. But I would never go to work doing that full time!

MeeWah	07 Oct 2004
Ace makes a very succinct point about the wear on the body readings entail, particularly of the private detailed readings. I can personally attest to this, since that type of reading demands an intensive investment of energy & an extensive investment of time. The majority of my readings are of that type & are priced accordingly. Though it does not always occur, reading can be exhausting despite any techniques to avoid same.

Beelady13	07 Oct 2004
No, I am not a straight Tarot reader, and no I don't make a lot of money. In fact I only make enough to survive, but I would rather do what I do , than work for someone else ever again. i moved out on my own when I was 16 and quickly started making good money as a retail manager. After, 10 years and 2 injuries I decided to never work for anyone else again. I live on Treasure Island in San Francisco witch gave me the idea of starting a Pirate crew. This means a group of people who work for themselves, by doing whatever they can in a positive non threatening way. I started this movement within my circle through my readings. I started telling people to stand up for themselves and do what was best for them. In turn I followed my own advice and became a full time Tarot reader/healer. I give about 15-200 readings per week, depending on what else I'm doing that week. I read on the street, in my home and at cafe's. I currently have one client that I do nutrition and herb work with, whom I cook for twice a week. I also, do spell work and beauty products on the side and this year I'm apprenticing under a successful alchemist who is getting me into a Shaman training camp in a couple of months. I do work at the farmers market 1 day a week to help cut the costs of food. The key is to work your butt off. I put up flyers, pass out business cards, do trade, make deals and go out of my way to make my business work. Some months it's hard, but usually that's because I didn't try as hard as I should have. I do on the other hand always make my rent and bills. And as of now I'm on a diet, so I'm not starving..... You can do it if you really want to, this applies to more than just Tarot..... Good luck to anyone who is brave enough to try, it's always worth the effort to do something you really love.

Mesara	08 Oct 2004
Wow Beelady, you are an inspiration to us all! I love your pirate movement. Are you still accepting pirate applications? I WANT TO BE A PIRATE TOO!!!!

Phoenix Rising	08 Oct 2004
Beelady Very impressive, I've only just come back to the forum, so am interested in reading what eveyone is up to..anyway back to the subject. Where I live in Hamilton NZ a small city. There are a few readers here, they are full time and making a healthy living out of reading fulltime. The average cost of a reading is $45 for a one hour reading. They have many years of experience, and are worth it all. They normally make over $1000 per week, which is bloody good. So I think depending where you live, does make a big difference to how much business is drummed up.

The Reading Tarot as a full time occupation? thread was originally posted on 07 Oct 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.