Professional Tarot Ethics: Copy-pasted Readings?

[PageOfCups]

TLDR: I bought a 12-month reading for 60+ bucks, and while it was "long", you could tell the reader just copy/pasted tarot meanings from her personal master list. A year later, I ordered a second product from her and this time she got my name wrong on it LOL (not misspelled, but literally a stranger's name was on it, although the Solar Arc was definitely mine).

 

If you don't have time to read the whole story, feel free to skip the quoted bit and jump straight to my questions.

Quote

 

Hey, I know a lot of TT&M members are practitioners who read professionally.

So... I was wondering what your thoughts on this might me.

About 2 years ago, I ordered a reading from one of the biggest names in the tarot community.

I picked her because she's known for her extensive/in-depth knowledge of esoteric meanings & was hoping she'd help me (I was very depressed/heart-broken after a shock event).

It cost me quite a bit for a 12-month reading (although you were allowed to ask about particular concerns). And she did attach a couple of helpful files so I could do a DIY reading for myself next time I needed help.

Well, when I got the reading, apart from being impressed with her generosity giving all the DIY instructional files, I have to admit I was a tad underwhelmed (maybe even disappointed).

The card interpretations looked copied/pasted to me (I wish I could provide screenshots so you could see what I mean, but doing so would reveal her identity and that's the last thing I want to do to her).

It was like:

1. She had this master list of all 78 card meanings on file. And a "formula" (for a "prescription" like, X crystal for Y person/situation). Which is great that she sticks to the standards, but for a "personal reading", nothing about it felt personal. It was the most emotionally-cold reading I've ever gotten from a pro.
2. She drew 12 cards, took a couple of photos of them, and copied and pasted 12 of her formulaic meanings for every month.
3. She charged US$60.00+ for this.

 

If I wanted a textbook meaning of the cards, I would've just drawn my own cards and bought a tarot meanings book. You can get 4 tarot meaning books for US$60 (with ALL 78 meanings each).

I mean sure, it was 40+ pages long (it was fancy, had a foreword/closing remarks, etc).

But you could just *tell* that the reading was not done with the client in mind.

For a 60+ dollar 12-card personal reading from a busy reader, I wouldn't have minded a 3-page reading (!) as long as she had my concerns in mind and typed in every word with me in mind. As long as I was treated like a living, breathing human being.

I wouldn't even be shocked if she had a software so it for her.

The pattern of the card interpretations became so predictable I could almost guess with accuracy what she would say the next months (especially with regards to the court cards). This wasn't even the repetitive writing of a jaded tarot reader, it was literally a "custom 12-card textbook" (with your name on it).

Maybe she should just write tarot textbooks instead of selling personal readings? And IMO that's FINE! I mean we're all different (I'm more of a textbook-writer than a "counselor" type myself).

For a 12-month yearly reading, I didn't reopen it much because it felt so impersonal (and didn't resonate). I ended up keeping it tucked away where I couldn't see it. Maybe I was in-denial because I used to look up to her... I had to actually dig it out to take a 2nd look at it before posting it, just to be sure.

Anyway, I "forgave" it, and a year later I stupidly bought another product from her (this time she got my name wrong—somebody else's name was on the product, although the Solar Return chart was mine).

Apart from it being Mercury retrograde shadow, this old memory resurfaced after having a bit of an "interesting" interaction with this individual on social media (in which she spoke of ethics and basically semi-accused me of having intentions of doing something illegal with a deck of cards she designed, which I would NOT have been stupid enough to do anyway—I had ZERO intention of doing that it never even crossed my mind, and I mostly can't believe she actually thought I was that STUPID).

 

I was so embarrassed that she would react to my harmless compliment on her deck that way that I deleted my comment (after taking a screenshot).

And I thought to myself, "that's rich coming from a person who sells copy-pasted readings for a load!"

 

I'm curious:

1. What are your thoughts on this?
2. Do you think what she's doing is okay?
3. Is this common practice?

Sorry that was long!

Am I right to be disappointed, am being too entitled, or am I just butt-hurt because she said something unnecessarily mean to me this morning? Am I over-reacting?

Edited October 18, 2019 by PageOfCups
Spell-check REALLY hates me and wont let me speak English...

[PathWalker]

Personally I don't read like that, but I don't think there's a law about it, only personal ethics.

 

As you've no prove that she 'copy and pastes' rather than having a repetitive and unimaginative style  - you just don't like her style of presentation - I don't think you have grounds for a complaint, note with your feet.

 

Honestly, buying a second reading form someone whose style you don't like or feel is genuine is a bit silly.

 

That's my take on it

[PageOfCups]

@PathWalker I have no intention of complaining. (It's been years.) I just wanted to know how common this is and if it's a thing.

 

The second product wasn't a reading (it was something else, it was a personalised item but with your name/Solar Return chart on it and she put someone else's name on it).

 

I thought since the 2nd item wasn't a reading, there was little that could go wrong... She still put someone else's name on it. And yeah that makes ME the fool. Should've figured she never cared the 1st time around...

 

The first time I ordered from her, she also seemed to have forgotten to send the reading. I emailed her and she said she already sent it "two weeks ago." And then she resent it and said, "hahah okay maybe not two weeks ago."

 

I wish I could post some screenshots of the reading so people could assess/understand why I think it was copy-pasted.

 

It's certainly not proof that she copy-pasted, but at least I could get a second opinion.

 

But doing that would out her.

[PathWalker]

Ah, I mis-understood, I'm sorry.

 

I guess if folks are very busy readers (and I'm not, so this could be sour grapes n my part LOL) they might have resources they had written themselves that they use sections from. It wouldn't work for me, but maybe they do?

I don't think you'd find many people who admitted to doing it - not that I think anyone here DOES do it, but folks wouldn't say, would they? Because then you're not paying for an actual reading, it's false, so folks wouldn't admit it.

It would be like getting a reading from a computer programme.

 

Interesting topic though; it's always a case of "Buyer Beware" I think 

Edited October 18, 2019 by PathWalker

[PageOfCups]

On the bright side, I have had recorded readings where the reader sounds in a hurry. But they're nice and I really don't mind those at all.

 

I also have a friend who's really blunt and doesn't mince words, but he always has your best interest.

 

There are tons of good readers. More good ones who mean well than not.

[gregory]

I'm not a nice person like Pathwalker (I'm not being sarcastic - she is very nice indeed) so I am considerably less "forgiving" of this stuff.

 

I think that sounds really tacky. Not least the accusations. - though, as you say, they may colour the way you feel this morning There are a couple of stellar tarot names I feel are not as wonderful as their reputation suggests. This sounds like one I would add to my list (if she isn't already there.)

 

Is this common ? Probably, sadly. There are some obviously formulaic readers out there. In my book a reading shouldn't be that generic.

 

But I'm not sure it's any worse in terms of ethics as the stores who sell clothes that fall apart, or can openers that won't open a can.

 

Just avoid her - and if anyone asks if you would recommend her, say no. That's not something any good reader could object to.

 

Spoiler

(Evil thoughts - now I should ask you over and over if you would recommend Miss Xyz till I hit the right name )

 

Oh - I hope you asked for - and got - got a replacement product with YOUR name on ?  A genuine mistake is OK - but not fixing it is definitely not ethical if you asked for one

Edited October 18, 2019 by gregory

[Saturn Celeste]

@PageOfCups I removed your last post because the staff  is aware of this thread and feel it is inappropriate to discuss other tarot reader's business practices (even anonymous ones) on this forum.  These types of threads can devolve into very negative feelings and this is not the atmosphere we care to have in this forum.  We feel this type of incident is best reported to the person involved and not laid out for a one-sided discussion.  This is a learning forum, we advocate members to do their readings and if this reading was off as you feel it was, then think about getting your books out and reread it and make an opinion so that way you can then take it up with the reader.