Okay, first I'm not a pro. I also hate to be tested or expected to prove myself to anyone. But of course, when one is in business, one must expect that at the beginning of a business relationship -- within limits.
I think your questions won't really tell you how good or how honest a reader you're getting. The answers would set some readers up for possible judgments that might not be fair or have that much to do with honesty or quality of the reading. It would also matter to me, as a reader who was trying to make a living, whether you expect these questions all answered for free. There are a lot of them, and it would take some time.
But here goes. I know many of these answers will seem harsh, and let me say up front that they're not meant to offend you or hurt your feelings. You asked for feedback, and these are my honest reaction to your questions. I also want to say up front that I'm sorry if you've been swindled by bad or con artist readers. It's a shame they made you feel you have to ask all these questions.
How did you come into this profession?
I'm not sure why that should matter to a paying client, or what it would tell you about the reader's ability or honesty. I came into tarot because of a passion for it. If I were to read professionally it would be to make money, clear and simple. I can read for people for free, after all, if I just want to help people, or just do it out of joy of reading. But doing that would take a lot of my time, which I feel is valuable, so yeah, if I did a lot of it, I'd feel a need to make it a paying business.
Why do you read for other people?
Someone could have altruistic leanings and enjoy the interaction with people, and yet not be an entirely honest or talented reader.
Do you believe that you can solve other peoples problems via "spell work"?
This might be a good question if you don't believe in spell work. But only if you feared that would be part of the reading process. Someone might believe they can solve problems via spell work, but not necessarily make it a part of their professional readings. When you get into the others' religious beliefs, be careful to only ask how that will affect you. Otherwise it's really none of your business unless they volunteer the information, and judging a reader based on their religion is religious bias.
What type of deck will you use and or will I have the option to choose my own deck?
I wonder why this matters. If it were me paying for a reading, I'd hope the reader used the deck they worked best with, no matter what deck that happened to be.
Are you comfortable with the fact that I do read for myself and I am aware of the "book meaning" behind each card?
As a reader, I wouldn't care whether the client was aware of the book meaning. But I might not use the book meaning, and I wouldn't want to read for them if they intended to take over the reading, though I wouldn't mind their input as to book meanings after the fact. Does that make me a "bad" reader? Why do I feel I'm being tested?
How do you think that the tarot works?
Does this matter? Really? Doesn't that again have to do with one's religious or other beliefs? Clearly you have your own ideas about how tarot works. Isn't that enough for you? I can turn on a light switch as well as anyone else, but we might have different ideas about how it works.
Do you use reversals?
Again, I don't see why this would matter. Each reader has their own methods and technique. One thing works well for one reader and not for another. I use reversals with some decks and not others. Some days I do, some days I don't. I don't see why it should matter to the sitter as long as I give the best reading I can for them.
Do you allow any particular religious beliefs to influence your readings?
Again with their religious beliefs. Everyone's beliefs affect their readings. It's how those belief affect what you'll get out of the reading that you seem to be concerned with, and perhaps that shouldn't matter. Does it really have much to do with reader honesty or talent/ability?
Do you believe that the cards themselves hold any kind of "power"?
Again with beliefs. See above.
Have you studied psychology (Such as Jung) and do you apply that to your interpretations of the cards?
Ah, well at least this isn't about religious beliefs, but it is about beliefs. This would feel like a trick question and make me wonder why it mattered -- as, by the way, would all the religious questions before it. If you really want to go to a Jungian and that's why you're asking this, then I suppose you'd look specifically for a Jungian before getting to this point. If you don't like Jungian psychology, then would this be the deal breaker? Those thoughts would run through my mind. But I think long before this point, I'd have decided I didn't want to read for you. If I'm any good, I just don't need the bother of answering all these prying questions. Either you want a reading, or you don't.
Do you believe yourself to be psychic? If so, explain to me how that will come into play during my reading.
I personally think we're all psychic, some more than others. So this would be a sort of meaningless question to me, as both a reader and sitter. How does one measure one's own psychic ability and relay that to the client? It's almost like inviting the person to lie to you in order to impress you. Not a good way to find an honest reader.
Are you comfortable with my active participation during the reading?
This is a better question, though I think the reader should call the shots as far as how the reading is conducted. Some like to invite participation from the start, others prefer to go through at least an initial interpretation first. Some don't want any interaction at all, though I think most invite at least some, at some point. In any case I'd likely give that information before the reading began, whether you asked or not.
Are you put on the defensive by sitters who have a prior understanding of the tarot?My answer would be no, as long as they let me do the reading. You're the customer, but this is my business. I don't want someone instructing me how to read, even if they're paying me for the reading. I mean, unless Umbrae or Thirteen, or Mary Greer sits down at my table and offers instruction, if I'm any good as a reader, I likely wouldn't think I needed your money that badly.
What type of spread will you be using for my reading if any are used at all and why?
This question is the most sensible of the lot, in my opinion, but it still won't tell you whether the reader is honest or capable.
Maybe it's a good thing I'm not a professional reader. But I think if I wanted to get a reading, and I felt I needed to ask all these questions of the reader, I'd just go home and read for myself, or come here and offer a reading exchange -- without the Inquisition (your word, not mine).
But look, I understand why you feel uncertain about getting a reading from a stranger, if you've been burned. But I think there are better ways to learn whether the reader is for you. Maybe ask for a low-rate one or two card reading to get a feel for their reading style, or get word of mouth recommendations from others? But these questions will, I think, put some perfectly good readers off, and still allow some dishonest ones to go ahead and reel you in.
Nevada