How do you know?

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

Gypsy Mama	10 Dec 2004
Hello there! My name is Gypsy Mama. I introduced myself awhile ago but was then busy moving and taking care of my new baby girl. So I have a question. I have been studying the tarot and I hope to try going professional in the future. I am trying to decide my best plan of action. I would like to start looking into shops that may need someone but I am worried about the not so ethical places and obviously the people. I sometimes make snap judgements (translated as poor ones) and I am working on that. (I am an Aries.. go figure!) I have thought about maybe trying a psychic fair, or something along that line,as well just to get my feet wet. Besides of course reading for friends and family. Sometimes people in this line of work are shady. That I think we all know. But to those who have a higher understanding and a true desire to learn/ teach/counsel in an ethical way, do you have any advice how not to be taken in by these people or things to watch out for? I just thought perhaps the best way to describe it is that my mind is open but how do I protect my heart? I am not planning on doing this tomorrow either because I still have alot to learn. But I know it's time to start looking. Thank you

jmd	10 Dec 2004
I would suggest definitely reading at a fair or the like as a way by which to gain experience. Your own sense for what is ethically correct needs to be held. With regards to shops, be clear: what are you offering, for how much, and what will the shop get? What kind of advertising will they provide, and what kind of facility will they give you (room, bookings on your behalf, etc). Aries may perhaps make quick decisions - so step back, and breathe in whether or not it senses as though it is correct (if you had been an aquarian, I would have said 'whether it smells right').

emillkim	10 Dec 2004
Hi, The most talented Tarot reader that I've met started reading for friends and family (like you). Her accuracy and success lead to more interest from others around them. Soon friends of friends and family started asking for readings. Next they she invited to parties....So on and so on. The thing is...she spent years and years learning and working her craft as a passion. First from her grandmother than from her mother. Her success as a professional wasn't planned but something that had its own inertia. In fact, only until recently had she decided to make it a career (due to overwhelming demand). My advice is just be the best Tarot reader possible... Word of mouth, reputation, and ability will establish you more than location or advertising. Good Luck!

Ace	11 Dec 2004
Gypsy Mama wrote: I have thought about maybe trying a psychic fair, or something along that line,as well just to get my feet wet. Besides of course reading for friends and family. Sometimes people in this line of work are shady. That I think we all know. But to those who have a higher understanding and a true desire to learn/ teach/counsel in an ethical way, do you have any advice how not to be taken in by these people or things to watch out for? Asking around to see what fairs some of your clients have gone to might lead you to one you want to work at. Visit places and see what your gut feeling is. Get a reading if you want. Talk to shop owners about reading in their shop. Around here it is customary for the owner to take 20% of your business done in the shop. Network wiht other readers if you can (besides us!) and listen to emillkim and jmd. that is good advice they gave you.

Gypsy Mama	11 Dec 2004
Thank you for the advice. I appreciate it. My goal for the next year is to get out there and expose myself. It has taken me awhile to get settled here as I am in a country away from home. I feel a bit wobbley because life here is so fast compared to where I come from. We do have alot of friends and I know they are interested and will pass it on. I think it will be OK if I just keep my feet on the ground and breathe! I am really excited! So much to learn! Thank you again. Gypsy Mama

Webwitch	22 Dec 2004
Gyspy Mama I have PM'd you. Cheers, Webwitch :)

HudsonGray	22 Dec 2004
Gypsy, if you're in a large city you can check online for tarot meet up groups in your area --- http://tarot.meetup.com/ -- and get together at the monthly meeting to talk it over with locals who read. (Just saw you're in the UK, they have meetups over there too, check out the worldwide section on that site). Starting with friends/family and psychic fairs & spirit fairs are a good way to get a feel for things. Check with new age stores in your area, they usually have a reader on call who will arrange to read on Saturdays or some such, that's another way to get your feet wet. Also check rock shops, a lot of those are getting into tarot & spirituality stuff on the side because of the crystals pulling in the NON-stone collector people.

tzuki	23 Dec 2004
I thought I'd add my two pennorth worth about psychic fairs....BUT I hasten to add, this is just my opinion & absolutley not to be taken as gospel!! I can't imagine ever wanting to read at a fair again!! Eek!! I have read at music festivals, motorbike rallies, women's day fetes, & psychic fairs & of all these the psychic fairs were amongst my worse ever experiences. Oh I'm sorry to be so gloomy, but I just found many of them to have a fair share of people on some personal ego trip, & so hard to relax into the flow of it.... and having to interrupt readings to ask for privacy and the kind of feeling that there's an impatient queue If I were to give you some advice it would be, to do your first fair with a friend who could step in for you if you find you are struggling. At festivals, I used to have a little tent, but if you are sitting in the church hall, then its not good (for me, that is!) I might be being a bit too precious? Don't even get me started on Psychic nights down the pub! Maybe I should point out that I am a Sun & Moon Virgo, with 4 other planets in Virgo, & apologise if I have offended anyone. Let me clarify: I could, if the mood was right, read well in a crowded pub, but I think it would be involving the magic of spontaneity. Psychic fairs can be so.......phoney. Better to read privately, I think myself. (sorry again! to all well-meaning, sociable, braver than me, psychic fair readers & organisers everywhere!!)

jmd	23 Dec 2004
I see again some of the cultural differences coming into play: I would not have imagined that people would come and listen or in other ways intrude during a reading for another, which I sense is what happens in some instances at psychic fairs in the UK as tzuki presents it. These are quite interesting local variations which we each face, so thanks also for adding to our communal picture of the international scene :)

HudsonGray	23 Dec 2004
I've seen people leaning in to look at the cards out of curiosity if it's a reading being done next to an aisle, but the kind of spirit fairs where the room is sectioned off with little tables like a coffee house has privacy for each reader. In the first instance, usually a look from the reader gets the people to back off, and at worse they're asked to please step back because of privacy issues. But usually it's not a problem at the places I've been to. I think there's so much curiosity from people who want to see tarot cards in action that they don't even think that the reading might be personal.

tzuki	24 Dec 2004
re: privacy. My usual solution was to offer a private, follow-up reading (free of charge) to the client, if it seemed appropriate. Many clients were just wanting to satisfy their curiousity, or have some fun, so I didn't always feel it necesary to do that for everyone. Perhaps I am just thinking how I should feel, I prefer privacy,if I am on the recieving end, but that isn't true for everyone, every time!

The How do you know? thread was originally posted on 10 Dec 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.