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Should I Charge For Reading Tarot?

6/30/2013

2 Comments

 
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Not long ago I received an email from someone who was highly upset with the fact that I read Tarot for profit and “personal gain”. This individual accused me of “commercializing what she held as sacred” and that I was “selling the religion of Wicca and spiritual practices as a business.” After recovering from the initial hurt I felt, I contemplated what my own views of my Tarot business were. This is what I’ve discovered ...


I view Tarot as a sacred tool for divination. I use the cards to tap into The Divine Source in order to attain knowledge and retrieve messages meant for myself as well as others. I relay the messages I receive to the person I am reading for (my client). Are those whom I read for able to receive their own messages 

without my help? Yes, indeed they are. It is my belief that everyone has the ability to connect and communicate with The Divine but just because an individual has the ability does not mean that they use the ability. When someone sits across the table from me and asks me to read for them, they decided not to utilize their ability and access mine instead. Why do people do this? Well, the reasons are as numerous as the individuals: sometimes they may feel that their connection to Divine Source is weak, sometimes they may feel that their connection is clouded and sometimes the individual doesn’t believe that they possess the ability. Regardless of the reason – at that point in time they sought out my guidance. Should there be no expectation of an equal exchange between the two of us? 

I know there are those who believe that any ability born of spirituality should be free. They believe that if it originates from The Divine Source – it shouldn’t cost anyone anything and while I can understand their point of view – I don’t resonate with it when it comes to readings. I believe that because I (or any other Reader) am providing a service for my clients then they will compensate me for the time that I spend with them. I do not charge a price for my ability. Consider for a moment, the days when there was no concept of currency in the form of cash/money and the people bartered for what they required. I’m sure we can all recall the village mid-wife, cunning woman or medicine woman. These women would make “house calls” when their services were needed. She would go to a dwelling and deliver a baby, treat a wound or cure an illness and in return the family would give her a meal, a loaf of bread, a blanket, or some wool. She was compensated for the service she provided and no one debated n whether it should be done without an equal exchange. True, at that time in our history it wasn’t cash but in 2013 people don’t trade like they used to. They pay with currency. Now, this is not to say that if I were offered a service or item I’d turn it down, on the contrary – I would welcome it however I am required to pay my rent with money.

My husband recently sent me an email from work, which included some information he found on a site about Qi-gong, a Chinese meditative practice. On this site there was information addressing this exact topic of paying for healing or spiritual teachings. The idea expressed on this site was that healing or spiritual services are priceless. You cannot put a set price on either. They could cost millions or next to nothing. The decision of price is between the one giving and the one receiving. Both parities have the privilege to accept or reject it. I tend to agree with this point of view. 

I have also come to the understanding that there is more than money that I gain from reading for others. I find meaning in the work I do. I find meaning in the connections I make with my clients. This service I provide isn’t a technique that I was taught or skill that I learned. It is a relationship that I nurtured. It is a relationship between God Herself and me. My service recognizes that I work with other human beings. These people aren’t just clients or customers or even “problems”. Each of the people I interact with is a sacred being. He or she is connected to Divine Source just as much as I am and when I read for them I am also reading for myself. I receive meaning in my work through this service and it means more to me than a profit ever could.
2 Comments
Willow link
7/26/2013 12:26:20 am

My opinion is that it's subjective and should be left to the individual providing the service without judgment from anyone. I know other people see it differently. We're carving out our own path, guided by our own guidance so who other than yourself has the answer? It's got to be a personal choice. We're getting better at allowing others to take their own path without judgment, I *think* ...little by little I see big changes. Everyone's doing what they think is best and likes to feel understood, but it can be hard to be understanding when others don't agree lol! You could always hand them one of Byron Katie's "Judge Your Neighbor" worksheets - kidding!!! Whatever we decide, we can learn to be confident enough in our decision that the opinion of others has no depreciating effect. It may even add to our growth and excitement!

Both choices to charge and not to charge are totally valid & equally upright. I sometimes wonder what's at the root of this idea that all spiritual work must be done freely. What is at the root? This is a talent/craft/art worthy of gifting or commissioning at the artist's discretion, just as it is with any gift we spend time pursuing from carpentry to tarot : ) Each uses a physical manifestation or 'tool' of an inward inspiration.

These abilities are something we all possess in varying degrees. Anyone may spend time developing and honing the skill, but most do not for one reason or another. That's what makes a good community - everyone doing their part whether spiritual or otherwise. We can make use of each others talents and function as a unit more effectively if we follow our own excitement and see each gift as a worthy trade. A body needs many parts, including the spiritual, each with their own skills & needs. A grand give & take.

If we're requested to give our time and skills (whether labeled 'spiritual' or otherwise) to another, there is no more ill gotten gain in requesting compensation than a painter receiving commission for her time, skill and resulting art.

So that's my .02 anyway : )

Reply
CricketSong
7/26/2013 12:50:32 am

Yes, exactly!

Reply



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