Tarot reading in USA

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Jun 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

scholar	23 Jun 2005
Hi everyone, I'm based in India, and I've been reading the tarot since a year. I will be visiting USA in July, and I was hoping that I would be able to do readings while I'm there... it will be a good experience, relating the cards to people of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Anyway, someone told me that to read in the US I need to be registered with some association, or be a certified/"professional" tarot reader. I would like to confirm this. If I do have to be registered, where and how? How much does it cost? I don't want to get into trouble in a foreign land, so please let me know! Thanks a ton! -Scholar

tarotbear	23 Jun 2005
First of all, you do not need to be 'anything' to be a Tarot reader in the USA. That is a line someone is handing you. The places that tell you that you need to be certified are the places that sell certifications. However -- My first question to you is WHERE are you going to visit? THAT could have a lot of bearing on what to expect. Going to large cities on either coast will have places that won't blink an eye. Going to tiny towns in the mid-west where they might be skeptical of strangers could be a big no-no. Going to tiny towns with tiny minds in the Bible Belt would be a big mistake ... period. Some towns have ordinances against tarot reading ... yes! they do! In fact, it was technically illegal to read cards in Connecticut until the laws were repealed in 1992 - that's 1992, not 1892. If you are visiting friends here, it might be best to ask them for help. If they have a favorite shop they frequent, they might be able to talk with the owners about you doing readings as a novelty to attract business... Good Luck! Only in America could Jack Daniels whiskey be made in a county where alcoholic beverages cannot be consumed. You can't drink it anywhere in the town that makes it...

scholar	23 Jun 2005
Thanks tarotbear! I will be visiting NYC, where I have a friend. I will also be in small towns in Pennsylvania and upstate NY (Chatauqua). I was talking to someone the other day, who has lived in the UK, and she told me that tarot readers have to be registered there apparently. And then I spoke to someone else, and she told me "in the West, you have to be registered" and she seemed pretty sure of it. She claimed that some friend of hers who had been abroad recently told her this. Anyway, I was planning to keep it low profile- by doing it for my colleagues/friends there, and their friends/family in turn, rather than strangers. Also, I'm quite clueless about this, but how much do tarot readers charge in the US? Since I believe in the karma theory, I do not believe in being obliged to others, so when I do a reading, I don't charge usually, but ask the querent to give me anything they please in return. This system works fine here, but may not work well in USA. So just wanted to know about the rates as well... Also, I will be in Manhattan for a few days. Any good bookstores where I can get a variety of tarot cards and books at low rates?

contrascarpe	23 Jun 2005
scholar - I agree with most of what tarotbear said. You do not need any certification, etc. Your friend probably is saying that you need a license or something to charge for any type of services in the town he/she is in. Regarding NYC, there are a couple of stores and I can't remember their names offhand. This has been discussed on the boards before - perhaps do a search using New York and shops as keywords? NYC is surprisingly devoid of good metaphysical shops. Depending on the route you take to Chautauqua (which is south of Buffalo near the Pennsylvania and Ohio borders), it may be worth your while to make a side trip to either Syracuse (which has a shop with well over a hundred tarot decks and sets) or Poughkeepsie (another good selection, but I haven't been there in awhile). Rates vary all over the place. I read at a shop in Central Mass and all the readers make their own rates - anywhere between $60-$80 an hour on the average. I have also had my cards read up in Burlington, Vermont and they have a set rate in their shop of $30 per hour. I assume that people in their homes charge more. Dan

scholar	23 Jun 2005
Thanks Dan. I will probably be driving to Chautauqua from Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Since I will be travelling in a group, I'm not sure whether I will be able to stop on en route to Chautauqua. Do you know the name of the Syracuse shop? Will do a search on NYC soon. As a last resort, I'll probably drop in at Barnes and Noble or Borders to pick up a couple of tarot packs. Thanks again! -Scholar

contrascarpe	23 Jun 2005
The shop in Syracuse is called Seven Rays. If you visit Borders and Barnes, you will have a bigger selection to choose from at Borders. Barnes can be hit or miss.

scholar	24 Jun 2005
Thanks Dan! I'll keep that in mind. I already have certain packs on my wishlist, hope I get them! The choice here is very limited. But due to some strange trend, almost every third person here is suddenly reading the tarot, or learning it. In my city at least!

rosyelf	24 Jun 2005
Best wishes for your American trip-it sounds great ! As for needing a certificate to read Tarot in the UK, I've never heard of one. Some Tarot readers POSSESS a certificate of one kind or another, but it is not a requirement.

tmgrl2	24 Jun 2005
I read in my home....$80 an hour... At shops and fairs on Long Island, New York...it runs about $100 an hour... Also, since "fortune telling" in New York is illegal, if you have flyers or cards...good to include...something like... "for your enlightenment, enchantment and entertainment"... That's what my flyer says... Just to be safe.... Up to you, though.... Welcome!! and hope you have a great experience with Tarot in U.S. terri

scholar	25 Jun 2005
Thanks rosyelf. Terri, how can fortune telling be illegal??!!! Now that's a first!

tmgrl2	25 Jun 2005
There's a wonderful thread somewhere around here about how many weird and unusual laws we have (and other countries).... .....it's just one of those things....LOL... Anyhow...just to cover myself... my flyers have the disclaimer... terri

The Tarot reading in USA thread was originally posted on 23 Jun 2005 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.