Thoughts On Free Tarot Readings

[Zinc2104]

So, I'm kind of a newbie in tarot readings, even though I've been practicing for a year. Like, I can learn all the tarot cards meaning really fast, but when it comes to tarot spreads and connecting all the cards' meanings together, I could not do well. So I think I have to practice a lot, I read books, I offer free tarot readings to my friends. 

And here comes the problem. I'm from the East, and we Eastern people kinda have a lot of mysteries in the spiritual world. Some say that when you're gifted in fortune-telling, you have to do it for free or give the money you earn to the charity. When you do it for a living, like most psychics in my country, you have to follow a lot of rules so that your destiny is not affected. On the contrary, some say that you have to take something from the customers, anything from a gift or money, so that you won't be affected.

 

What do you guys think about these opinions? Should I stop giving free readings, and instead receive something (maybe just a small gift, or a meal)?

 

Sorry for my bad English and interpretations.

Edited July 27, 2019 by Zinc2104

[Raggydoll]

(Your English is great! ❤️)

 

I don’t think there can be any general guidelines (or a ‘right or wrong’) here because as you say, culture, spiritual beliefs, different personalities etc will influence the way a person feels about this. In the past I used to work professionally and I have also accepted gifts or other types of compensations for my readings. I don’t think it’s bad for anyone to charge money when they are offering something worth paying for (it’s true that some people charge a lot of money for very low quality readings while other people give incredible readings away for free or in exchange for a reading/feedback in return - just take a look around this forum and you’ll see what I mean. We have some amazingly talented readers here.) So I don’t have a general opinion here. But I can say that as a part of my spiritual practice, these days I do offer ‘free’ readings (= for feedback) regularly on the forum. I see it as holding space for spirit and giving back. It’s a sacred kind of service that I want to offer for my own spiritual reasons (I feel called or urged to do so). 

 

Also, you don’t actually have to choose on one way to always do things. Why not accept money/gifts when you want to and still offer free readings if whenever you feel called to? You could offer readings for feedback and/or for a reading in return here on the forum. That could be a nice way to start getting something back. The feedback is so valuable to help a reader to develop and become even better. Plus it’s very encouraging to have confirmation of how well you did!  

 

[DanielJUK]

Zinc you expressed yourself beautifully and clearly! 🙂

Someone once asked for a reading from me, outside of the tarot forum and really wanted to pay me for it. I felt anxious about taking money for my reading because it puts pressure on it, this is a hobby and interest for me and I wasn't sure I wanted to go professional. So I asked if they would donate the money to a charity and good karma for both of us. The second time I read for her, they really wanted me to take the money and I did accept it. But mine is the opposite problem to you.

 

My suggestion, could you ask for something in return for your reading? I really believe in getting something back for it. On this forum, people give readings for free, with their time and energy but get feedback in return and feedback is compulsory like Raggy said above. Could you accept something in return (it does not have to be money) like an item or food or a divination reading in return? Or could they give you a gift of money, what they think the reading is worth, if you don't give an actual price for it and ask for a gift of money for the worth. Some people I know online take vouchers for their readings, like amazon vouchers.

 

I know there might be cultural and spiritual beliefs at play here but you deserve to make a business and living from it and to get something back for the work and energy you put into it. Could you market yourself as a spiritual advisor or life advisor (like a counsellor) and not a psychic or fortune teller? 🙂 just some ideas!

[Zinc2104]

42 minutes ago, Raggydoll said:

Your English is great! ❤️

Aww it's very kind of you to say that ❤️

 

I think you're right. Maybe I'll start to ask for feedbacks on my readings. Thank you very much for your advice. I really appreciate it!

 

Just to tell you a story, in my country they also believe that people involved in any kind of spiritual practices will have a rough time in their love life or would be alone after all. I choose to not believe in this. I think it comes from the fact that many psychics/ fortunetellers here have a really secret life, they are busy doing their work, using their gift to help other people (and sometimes harm others too). They have many daily rituals, and maybe they're not willing to share their lives with others. Or maybe for some spiritual reasons that I don't know.

The 'giving - receiving' back something belief I said above also comes from this belief. They say that when we intentionally interfere other people lives (by fortune-telling) we have to have some kind of consequences. And by receiving something from the querents, we would be fine. But I think tarot readers are different, and Tarot is just a near future fortunetelling/ advice practice. We don't get involve much in other people's destiny 😄

[Raggydoll]

Thanks for explaining the context! That’s very interesting to hear. Things can be so different from culture to culture. 

 

Oh, and if you ever decide to offer readings on this forum you will always get feedback because that’s required by the forum rules (just thought I might mention that 😉)

[Zinc2104]

14 minutes ago, DanielJUK said:

Zinc you expressed yourself beautifully and clearly! 🙂

Someone once asked for a reading from me, outside of the tarot forum and really wanted to pay me for it. I felt anxious about taking money for my reading because it puts pressure on it, this is a hobby and interest for me and I wasn't sure I wanted to go professional. So I asked if they would donate the money to a charity and good karma for both of us. The second time I read for her, they really wanted me to take the money and I did accept it. But mine is the opposite problem to you.

 

My suggestion, could you ask for something in return for your reading? I really believe in getting something back for it. On this forum, people give readings for free, with their time and energy but get feedback in return and feedback is compulsory like Raggy said above. Could you accept something in return (it does not have to be money) like an item or food or a divination reading in return? Or could they give you a gift of money, what they think the reading is worth, if you don't give an actual price for it and ask for a gift of money for the worth. Some people I know online take vouchers for their readings, like amazon vouchers.

 

I know there might be cultural and spiritual beliefs at play here but you deserve to make a business and living from it and to get something back for the work and energy you put into it. Could you market yourself as a spiritual advisor or life advisor (like a counsellor) and not a psychic or fortune teller? 🙂 just some ideas!

Thank you very much ❤️

 

I appreciate your advice, especially the idea that I would market myself as a spiritual advisor or life advisor. Just like you, I don't want to put too much pressure on my readings and the outcomes by thinking that I have to give the service worth the fee the querents pay or that my readings would affect their lives' choices (or even make them give out wrong choices) by revealing their future problems. And as you suggest, being an advisor, I would give them advice to go through tough times or just guide them on an easy path to confront the problems.

[Zinc2104]

8 minutes ago, Raggydoll said:

Thanks for explaining the context! That’s very interesting to hear. Things can be so different from culture to culture. 

 

Oh, and if you ever decide to offer readings on this forum you will always get feedback because that’s required by the forum rules (just thought I might mention that 😉)

Thanks! I will consider it.

[Grizabella]

I've done it many ways over the years. Sometimes just for a donation the sitter felt the reading was worth or just what they could afford to pay. Some people couldn't afford to pay anything. I found that sometimes I made more money than I was expecting by doing that way. Sometimes I made money and sometimes not. I've also done readings for barter and that's good, too.

 

It's interesting what you said about readers being single. I've been a widow for almost 20 years and single that long, too.  I'm past menopause, which some believe makes a woman more spiritually in touch. I've found that to be true, too. Being in a committed relationship and having a family does use quite a lot of a person's spiritual energy, but being single has proved that being single does clear the way for more connection to readings and spiritual things. 

 

I suggest you give it some  thought and maybe you'll find that you do want to either charge something, barter, take donations or something else you find you want or need. I know it's a cultural thing for some people and that whatever path they're on, they live a pretty aesthetic life and I respect that but I need to charge for my readings now so that's what I do. I don't feel badly about it, either. I also read for people without pay sometimes if I  feel I should do under their circumstances. 

 

My own habit I've always had is that, if somebody gives me something, I give something back to them. For instance, a lady across the park from me gave me a nice easel awhile back. So then I made her a little pin that was my thank you gift to her and I gave it to her the next week.

[chongjasmine]

It is completely up to you whether you want to receive some sorts of compensations for your efforts,

As for me, I prefer to do it for free,