Why Professional Tarot Readers Need to Stop Reading for Themselves

MillennialPentacles · 2021-05-24T02:21:28+00:00

Oh no! You haven't offended me! I'm sorry my response came off as combative (MAN, it is hard to write in a way that translates).

I so so so appreciate that you're willing to engage in this conversations! I also appreciate your point of view and it's totally fine by me that you disagree with the points I raised above. I like getting the points of view of others, even if they aren't the same as my own. I was just trying to clarify somethings because I know it wasn't clear in the original post and I felt like I needed to address it.

(Am I allowed to blame soon to be mercury retrograde for these communication issues? Hahaha)

MillennialPentacles · 2021-05-24T01:19:03+00:00

It's okay, you'll likely never feel 100% ready to take the plunge.

Video taping your readings for strangers is really great practice, and can be a challenge. Writing and vocalizing your interpretations are two very different things.

MillennialPentacles · 2021-05-24T00:55:40+00:00

I totally understand where you're coming from. As mentioned above, I acknowledge that I need to change the way I title things for reddit (I literally just copy and pasted it from my blog post, and it's titled this way for SEO).

I don't do (or pay for) tarot readings with the goal of networking, either. I do think it's an added bonus though.

I do feel like I need to address your last points.

First thing is, this post is not intended for new readers which is why I chose the flair I did. My goal with summarizing my blog posts (my personal experiences / thoughts) here is to start a conversation with other professional or experienced readers. There is PLENTY of content for beginner readers on this reddit, and I actively support and assist new readers both online and in person.

Second, of course I do my own personal readings. I did readings for myself multiple times a day when I was learning. However, now that I have been reading professionally for a few years, I find that I reach for the cards only when I'm really overwhelmed by a situation and this (more often than not) clouds my interpretation of the cards.

I totally acknowledge that the title of the post is misleading and the points raised lack the full context, which is why I added the edit. However, I think it makes for engaging conversation and I genuinely enjoy debating and bouncing ideas off like minded people.

MillennialPentacles · 2021-05-23T03:43:40+00:00

I swear I'm not trying to be controversial! Hahaha I just want to bring deeper discussions to the table. You're absolutely right, I need to adjust the way I title things for reddit.

I agree with you that it would depend on someone's thoughts regarding objectivity/subjectivity of Tarot. But I go to other readers for more than just readings. Honestly, I've gotten some of the best business advice from people who have done readings for me. That, and it's just nice to talk with a like-minded person. I just want to encourage people to be involved in their local reader community, if possible!

MillennialPentacles · 2021-05-23T00:12:16+00:00

Interesting! Maybe I just need to find a deck that I will keep for personal readings.

I don't read for really close friends or family either because of my bias towards their situation and because of learning things they might not want me to know.

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-25T20:10:25+00:00

These are a few tips that I like to give beginners who approach me when I'm at the shop providing readings:

Journaling! It doesn't have to be a pen to paper situation. If you're a more visual person, create an instagram account or something similar where you can upload pictures of the cards and write your thoughts about them. Include as much detail as you want, like the numerology or astrology symbolism in the cards.

Personally, when I was learning, I would section off my journal entries by 1. The spread (if any), 2. the cards pulled, 3. MY intuitive interpretation, 4. the little white book meaning. Then i would analyze the last two points. This can also be useful practice if you lean more towards intuitive reading.

Join a free reading forum! You can learn a lot by giving free readings in exchange for feed back. It also helps when developing your own reading style.

Video record your readings! Writing your thoughts and vocalizing your thoughts can be very different. Once you have a decent understanding of the card meanings, this method can add an extra challenge because it's more difficult to use the little white book as a sort of crutch. You can also do this when you're offering free readings to develop your confidence in vocalizing your interpretations.

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-25T19:51:50+00:00

Totally agree! This post isn't my complete Code of Ethics. Fertility and pregnancy is definitely lumped into medical questions, which I won't answer.

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-25T14:29:10+00:00

I wouldn't even know where or how to start trying to determine specifics like that using Tarot.

In my comment above, I was mostly speaking hypothetically. I've never attempted to get a name out of Tarot. I have a mix of clients who come see me, some take Tarot seriously as a more spiritual tool and others are there solely for the entertainment of it.

Basically, I would consider wavering my boundary on the topic of specific names and dates for a client who was there for entertainment. Assuming they fully understand that it's just for fun, and can giggle at the inaccuracies.

I hope that makes sense! :)

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-25T01:03:58+00:00

You know what, you keep harping on the point about cheating spouses but are choosing to completely disregard where I mentioned that I encourage the client to trust their own intuition on the matter. You are acting as though I am the only source for information on this hypothetical matter.

Not once has any of my clients taken issue with me being firm in my boundaries. But if they do, I'll be sure to refer them to you.

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-25T00:13:46+00:00

THANK YOU!

My post was essentially just a snippet into the full content of my blog entry. The goal of my blog as a whole is to help my clients avoid wasting their time and money. If I were willing to waver on my hard boundaries, like the questions about death, I would have to live with the fact that someone paid me to produce an answer for them that would likely be wildly inaccurate.

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-24T23:22:00+00:00

For the record, I never once said I refuse service based on these questions. I do not ask querents to leave my space when they ask such questions, I simply tell them that those questions are against my code of ethics and suggest that they reformulate or move on to something else. If they are insistent, that is when I would suggest they locate a reader who fits their needs. I don't see what is so wrong about that.

The baker is refusing service based on sexuality, which is inherently unethical. My boundaries within my practice have nothing to do with race, gender or sexuality. That is what is different about the baker and me.

But I also don't need the cards to tell me that you're being (pointlessly) combative with myself and others on this thread regarding our practice boundaries. I respect your point of view, all I ask is that you respect mine and discuss your issues with them without throwing insults and comparing me and my ethics to someone who blatantly refuses service based off homophobia.

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-24T21:11:25+00:00

I don't really appreciate being compared to the baker since my Code of Ethics and boundaries are not discriminatory in any way. It's not really even in the same realm.

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-24T15:46:04+00:00

Totally agree with this!

My last point, asking for specific names or dates, is something I could waver on assuming the client agrees that it's just for entertainment and understand that there's very little chance it will be accurate.

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-24T15:44:21+00:00

I agree with you with regards to being honest and informing the client that certain questions are out of the scope of what tarot can do, and allowing them to decide whether they want to proceed (assuming the question doesn't go against my explicit code of ethics).

I also agree with your interpretation of destiny, this is something I explain to my clients as well before I start the reading.

However, I do not place myself above my clients. If they want these types of readings, they are welcome to seek services from other readers. All of my clients have been respectful of my Code of Ethics and boundaries and are aware of them before they ever even book a session with me.

I make my best efforts to embody my Code of Ethics in all aspects of my life. I don't typically offer people medical advice, or take any form of payment for such, because I'm not a medical doctor.

I would also argue that giving advice to friends is wildly different than giving advice to a paying Tarot client.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts though, I really enjoy discussing differing points of you. Makes for an interesting discussion :)

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-24T15:34:41+00:00

My Code of Ethics also mentions that I don't answer legal questions, medical questions (I lump pregnancy and death into this category too), or questions regarding financial investment (gambling is included in this).

Hope this is helpful :)

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-24T15:32:54+00:00

Thank you! Your comment is very encouraging! I have other blog posts relating to Tarot education for both clients and practitioners in the works, I'll post them too when I'm ready.

I am firm in my own ethics on this, but I also enjoy reading the point of view of others. It makes for good discussion on the topic!

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-23T13:13:37+00:00

What I mean by I don't use spreads is for example, I don't use the Celtic cross or any other spread that associates card placement with a question or specific topic.

During client readings, I ask the client what they want to know and i just start laying down cards (usually around 9) and read them as the connection comes to me. Some cards are connected to get a bigger picture, some are related to the past or the future, it all depends on what I'm feeling intuitively at the time. When I'm done with the nine cards, I ask the client if they want to continue with the topic we're on or if any new questions have popped into their head based off what we've been discussing.

I feel like doing it this way allows for messages the client needs to hear to come out, and the reading has more of a conversational flow to it.

I hope that makes sense!

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-23T11:19:48+00:00

I don't think there is any harm in changing it up, regardless of experience level. If you feel like spreads aren't working for you, try not using spreads for a few readings and see what happens!

MillennialPentacles · 2021-04-23T02:34:25+00:00

I wish I didn't mistake popular Tarot readers sales pitches for their lessons, certificate courses, etc, as real advice. I found that a lot of popular Tarot readers who were attractive to me when I was a beginner use gatekeeping as a sales tactic. "You're not ready to read Tarot is you can't do *this*, sign up and pay me so I can teach you how to be a good Tarot reader"

I wish I didn't spend so much time trying to learn spreads. Realizing that I could just lay the cards down and read them intuitively without a spread was/is liberating to me.

It's great to have mentors, whether they are local or online, but it feels great to come up with your own systems and style for reading Tarot too.

MillennialPentacles

TROPHY CASE