Helpful Tarot Love Readings
Here are helpful best practices to explore when we look to the cards for advice and information about love.
Read MoreTarot Grandmaster
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Tarot is a book of spiritual wisdom in picture form that tells the story of all human experience.
With tarot, we connect with Spirit to discern wise guidance for the present, develop understanding of the past, and learn ways to work to manifest our goals and possibilities for the future.
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Here are helpful best practices to explore when we look to the cards for advice and information about love.
Read MoreThe tarot blogosphere has been interesting this week. Read my comments on provocative posts by Benebell Wen and Ste McCabe.
Read MoreHere is some material from a class I teach on Tarot Ethics and Professionalism. You can use these ideas and questions to help you form your own sense of what it means to be an ethical practitioner.
We define “ethics” as the moral principles that govern our behavior.
We define “professionalism” as the competence and skill expected of a professional.
In the world of modern tarot and psychic work there are divergent beliefs about what is ethical and what is professionally appropriate. Perhaps the most important part of each person’s commitment to ethics and professionalism is this. We must each examine our own beliefs, priorities and behaviors to create an individual code of ethics and professionalism that will govern our own behavior. We owe this to ourselves, our clients and our community.
Let these questions challenge you to define your own professional and ethical values as a tarotist.
Define your purpose and goals as a reader and you are well on your way to defining your ethics.
Are there some basics upon which we can agree? What about:
Referrals: Always refer to appropriate professionals (mental health, doctors, attorneys, etc.).
Confidentiality: A tarotist or psychic has the same responsibility to confidentiality as does a priest or a doctor.
Are there others?
What constitutes professional behavior?
Appearance (in person, reading area, online presence)
Courtesy and Respect (toward clients, colleagues, competitors, community members, business associates)
Knowledge, Skill, Expertise
Fair Business Practices
Common Pitfalls: Gossip, “Witch Wars,” Personal Opinions, Oversharing. What else?
Questions:
Is it professional to express a political opinion in person or on-line?
Is it professional to share something about your personal life with a client during a session?
Is it professional to work and market yourself under an assumed name?
How do you define your tarot profession? Are you a fortune teller, a tarot reader, a psychic entertainer, a tarot counselor? What are the differences? Are there different ethical expectations?
What should be considered when defining your tarot ethics?
Charges Will you charge? How will you charge? What will you charge?
Services What services do you offer?
When defining your services, there are some specific questions to consider, including:
Future Predictions: Do you predict the future? With what certainty? What do you tell your client about future predictions?
Magick: Do you do magick-for-hire? When is this appropriate? What constitutes ethics here?
Children: Do you read for children? Under what circumstances?
Boundaries
Is it appropriate to date clients?
Is it ethical and professional to share your personal stories with clients?
Topics
Death: Do you discuss death? In what context?
Health: Do you discuss health issues? In what context?
Questions: Do you answer your clients’ questions as they are presented? Do you rephrase questions?
Religious Beliefs: Do your religious beliefs affect your readings? In what way? What happens when your clients’ have different beliefs than you do?
Third-Party Readings: Will you answer questions about people in your client’s life?
Representation of Tarot: What do you tell people about tarot itself; its history, power and uses?
If you have a question about tarot, email me!
Today we have another question from Matteo. He writes, in part:
Today I would like to ask you another question that is bugging me. In your opinion, when may a person be considered a "tarot slave"? And how would you deal with him or her? I like to read for my friends, but I've noticed that some of them have become totally unable to make their own decision without asking my deck's advice, often over and over. Now, I think tarot is a great tool for self-discovery, and it’s priceless when it comes to giving useful insights, even on the future. But isn't it dangerous to rely solely on tarot reading? In other words, doesn't it defeat the purpose of a tarot reading? I would love to know your opinion on the subject.
That’s a great question, Matteo. I’ve never used the term “tarot slave,” but I know what you mean. I might call it a tarot addict, or a psychic junkie.
With this question you touch on the very heart of something that is both a blessing and a curse with tarot. Whether or not we like it, whether or not we focus on it, and whether or not we can explain it, tarot can work in a predictive way. When get hung up on the idea that tarot might give us a glimpse of the future that we desire, or the future that we fear, we can become a psychic junkie, or a tarot slave.
The real work of tarot is, as you say, self-discovery and introspection. But that is not the part that people become addicted to. People are sometimes motivated by their anxiety to seek readings to confirm or assuage fears about the future.
Beyond their own concerns and anxieties, when some people they have a profound experience with a predictive reading they assume they have found an inside track on the Universe. They have, but not in the way they think, because they are thinking too small! They aren’t taking the time to contemplate the subtleties of fate, karma, destiny and free will.
Most addictions are born of laziness; the search for easy answers. Psychic junkies want to use the cards, and readings, to get easy answers, without ever using the cards to contemplate the really important questions.
Another type of tarot slavery is born of folks who have found tarot to be helpful to the point that they don’t trust their own decisions, and want to consult the cards about even the most trivial matters. To me that’s like killing a mosquito with a machine gun. You can do it, but why would you?
Often the folks who become tarot slaves in this way have some core self-esteem issues. When they learn to trust themselves they won’t feel the need to use the cards in such an anxious way.
It’s important to remember, and to remind these folks, that a good tarot reading aligns with reality and common sense. The truth you see in the cards will be reflected in life – the cards are not the only source for that truth. The more we see truth in the cards the more we learn to simply see truth around us.
On a professional level, there are some unscrupulous readers who take advantage of these kinds of clients. There are other readers who, when they identify this type of client, will “fire” the client so as not to contribute to the addiction.
Each reader needs to be aware that they will encounter these “tarot slaves,” or psychic junkies. Each reader needs to have plans and policies in place for handling these situations.
One thing I keep in mind is that sometimes people go through phases where they may have a lot of readings. If they are using the readings to help process a difficult situation, sort out emotions and stay focused on positivity during a difficult time, I am happy to read for them, no matter how frequently. When they get the closure they need they will no longer seek out readings so frequently.
I also think a person becomes a “tarot slave” because of an imbalance in their own thinking. Call it anxiety, call it fear, call it lack of faith; people put inordinate faith in something outside of themselves at times when they really need to have faith in themselves and in their Higher Power.
Often when the client is barraging you with anxiety-laden questions you have the opportunity to refocus the reading onto the real problem, which is the client’s anxiety, fear, and lack of faith.
Be ready to ask questions of the cards such as:
What is the real problem here?
What does the client need to do in order to feel better?
Why does this situation upset the client so much?
What can the client learn from this?
This technique will also work for us tarot readers when we find ourselves anxiously consulting the cards again and again, rather than listening to their counsel. We must change our line of questioning from the anxious rephrasing of the same question to questions that help us get a handle on why we are so upset and how we can using the situation as an opportunity for growth.
Divination, cartomancy and psychic work can give us guidance, support and inspiration most of the time. They can give us a glimpse of the future when it’s appropriate. Psychic junkies are looking for the predictive fix, the assurance that they will get what they want.
Tarot slaves are often best served if we use the reading to help them understand their attachments and anxieties. Sometimes we have the opportunity to turn a tarot slave into an empowered tarotist.
Enjoy the video!
Video of Christiana Answers a Question about Tarot Slavery
On Tuesday, August 27th I will be presenting an online class for the Tarot Guild entitled “Defining Ethics and Professionalism.” The contents of this class will be available in archive on the Tarot Guild website.
Whether or not you are a Tarot Guild member, defining your ethics as a tarotist is extremely important.
Since we all have different perspectives, beliefs and skills, we all have a different code of ethics. The purpose of the class will be to get people thinking about their code of ethics – answering the hard questions about what is right and wrong for them.
Here is the text of the class material I have developed for this class. Use it to help you define your own tarot ethics.
Defining Tarot Ethics and Professionalism
A Tarot Guild Class with Christiana Gaudet
We define “ethics” as the moral principles that govern our behavior.
We define “professionalism” as the competence and skill expected of a professional.
In the world of modern tarot and psychic work there are divergent beliefs about what is ethical and what is professionally appropriate. Perhaps the most important part of each person’s commitment to ethics and professionalism is this. We must each examine our own beliefs, priorities and behaviors to create an individual code of ethics and professionalism that will govern our own behavior. We owe this to ourselves, our clients and our community.
Let these questions challenge you to define your own professional and ethical values as a tarotist.
Define your purpose and goals as a reader and you are well on your way to defining your ethics.
Are there some basics upon which we can agree? What about:
Referrals: Always refer to appropriate professionals (mental health, doctors, attorneys, etc.).
Confidentiality: A tarotist or psychic has the same responsibility to confidentiality as does a priest or a doctor.
Are there others?
What constitutes professional behavior?
Appearance (in person, reading area, online presence)
Courtesy and Respect (toward clients, colleagues, competitors, community members, business associates)
Knowledge, Skill, Expertise
Fair Business Practices
Common Pitfalls: Gossip, “Witch Wars,” Personal Opinions, Oversharing. What else?
Questions:
Is it professional to express a political opinion in person or on-line?
Is it professional to share something about your personal life with a client during a session?
Is it professional to work and market yourself under an assumed name?
How do you define your tarot profession? Are you a fortune teller, a tarot reader, a psychic entertainer, a tarot counselor? What are the differences? Are there different ethical expectations?
What should be considered when defining your tarot ethics?
When defining your services, there are some specific questions to consider, including:
Future Predictions: Do you predict the future? With what certainty? What do you tell your client about future predictions?
Magick: Do you do magick-for-hire? When is this appropriate? What constitutes ethics here?
Children: Do you read for children? Under what circumstances?
Is it appropriate to date clients?
Is it ethical and professional to share your personal stories with clients?
Death: Do you discuss death? In what context?
Health: Do you discuss health issues? In what context?
Questions: Do you answer your clients’ questions as they are presented? Do you rephrase questions?
Religious Beliefs: Do your religious beliefs affect your readings? In what way? What happens when your clients’ have different beliefs than you do?
Third-Party Readings: Will you answer questions about people in your client’s life?
Representation of Tarot: What do you tell people about tarot itself; its history, power and uses?
It’s no secret that there is a lot of misinformation about tarot reading floating around. What makes matters worse are the many psychic scam artists that give tarot reading a bad name.
Even worse, sometimes we ourselves make our jobs harder.
There are many full-time, part-time and aspiring professional readers. Most of us are quite good at what we do and quite dedicated to the study, compassion and hard work that is required.
But even the best of us sometimes make decisions or cultivate attitudes that may make our jobs harder.
How many of these things have you done?
1. Automatically Assume Lack of Support
How many times have you pre-judged someone, thinking they are not familiar with or do not approve or believe in the work you do? So often it is those very people who have a tarot collection, seek monthly readings and attend classes.
Likewise, some readers preface their introduction of themselves with an apology, “I know not everyone believes in it, but I’m a tarot reader.”
If you want support from the people you meet, assume you already have it.
2. Fictionalize your Profession
There is a recent trend amongst tarotists to use words from Harry Potter and the like to describe their life. Readers who work a day job may refer to it as their “muggle” job, for instance. Some refer to their “powers” as if they were Samantha Stevens.
Tarot is real. The work we do is real. Don’t compare yourself to fictitious characters. Fiction doesn’t have to be believable. You do.
3. Be Undependable
If you are the kind of reader who can’t perform when you have stress, a headache or aren’t in the mood, be a tarot hobbyist. Professionals keep their commitments and never let their clients know if they are not in tip-top shape.
4. Be a Diva
I know readers who have a list of rules for house parties that make Mariah Carey’s performance rider look simple. If someone is willing to bring us into their home to read for their friends and family we need to do our best to suck it up if they don’t have a ready supply of Voss Water for us.
5. Be Apologetic about your Prices
Set a fair price that makes sense to you. Then, be proud of it. Don’t hem and haw, and don’t apologize. You know you’re worth it. Make sure the rest of the world knows too!
6. Neglect Current Technology
Do your best to make it easy for your clients to find you. Have a website that reads well on a mobile device, for instance. Use a good email service and have good payment options. Make it easy for your clients to connect with you and pay you.
7. Fail to Have a Sense of Humor
By all means, take yourself and your work seriously! But not so seriously that you can’t find the humor in things. Laugh at the psychic jokes told by nervous clients, even if you’ve heard them a hundred times. Tarot can be funny, and that’s ok.
8. Become Intimate with your Clients
Having sex with a client is just abusive. It happens more often than you would think. A reading is a very intimate thing, but have good boundaries. Don’t let the reading lead to true emotional and physical intimacy.
9. Misrepresent Tarot
You would not believe the number of professional readers who have not bothered to learn tarot basics. That is, basic tarot history and traditions. It is ok if you have different theories and practices than the norm, but you should at least be well-versed in current thinking. Don’t be guilty of spreading tarot superstitions or untruths to your clients and students.
Our profession as tarot readers is very flexible. Each of us is unique in the way we do what we do. We honor ourselves, each other, our clients and tarot when we do it the best way we can!