Are You a Tarot Professional?

Becoming a professional tarot card reader is an exciting journey, but it’s not something that you should take lightly. Changing from reading for friends to getting paid for your readings is a big step. Many tarot readers go into doing readings for clients and find that they are unprepared.

To help you decide if you really want to be a professional tarot reader, here are some things that you can look at to help guide you!

Why People Want Tarot Card Readings

Many clients will get tarot card readings when they are dealing with changes in their lives. Others seek them when they have emotional problems or they aren’t certain about where life is taking them. The person might be vulnerable and sensitive and in need of some kind of clear direction. A professional tarot card reader will not only just give information but will also be caring and supportive as they listen to what their clients need.

Here are some of the types of clients you will see as a professional tarot card reader:

• The Storyteller: Some clients will pour their hearts out, sharing their life stories in vivid detail.
• The Silent Seeker: Others may prefer minimal interaction, focusing solely on the cards and your interpretation.
• The Emotional Explorer: Some clients may become emotional or cry during a reading as deep feelings are unearthed.

Understanding how these clients work is important if you want to be the best kind of tarot card reader.

Professional Versus Friendship Readings

Going from a tarot card reader who does it for friends and having fun to being a professional reader is a big step. Even though there are many opportunities, there are also a lot of changes. When you read for friends, this is a casual thing, and it's more relaxing. You are usually familiar with them and their life, so interpreting the cards is easier. The biggest problem, though, is that when you do this type of reading for friends, it can cause you to be more biased and can cause you to let personal knowledge influence your reading.

A professional tarot card reader has to have a different approach. The clients are now paying for the services so the information that they get from you must be meaningful and accurate. Unlike doing this for friends, clients come with different expectations, personalities, and even emotions. Some will share their life story, while others won’t say hardly anything. This means you have to interpret the cards sometimes without much information. With that said, you have to have strong intuition and good communication skills to make the reading go smoothly.

Ethics also change when you are a professional tarot reader. You have to make sure that you are impartial and that you aren’t telling the client that something is set in stone. You have to set limits, stay focused, and deliver the message from the spiritual world. This makes a professional tarot card reading more structured and you have to be more disciplined than with family or friends.

Managing Your Nerves

One of the hardest things that you have to do is to handle the pressure that comes with doing a client reading. You need to be accurate and responsible, and this can make you feel overwhelmed. Before you start the reading, take time to ground yourself. Do this by meditating, doing breathwork, or listening to calm music. That can help you to get rid of anxieties. Here are some ideas:

• Meditation: Take 10 minutes to sit quietly, breathe deeply, and visualize yourself surrounded by a calming light.
• Affirmations: Repeat positive statements like, “I trust my intuition to guide me” or “I am confident and prepared.”

Doing these things can help to calm your nerves and allow you to connect better with the cards and with your client.

Working Within Time Limits

As a professional tarot card reader, you will have time limits that you won’t have with friends or family. Most of the sessions don’t go past 30 minutes. This means you have to give the reading and stay on topic so that you don’t go over the time limit. Try these things:

• Ask a friend to ask a question.
• Conduct a fake reading, aiming to complete it within your target time frame.
• Review your approach, noting where you could change your interpretations to stay within the time limit.

Some clients might try to make the reading longer by asking follow-up questions and by changing the topics. You have to make sure that you are kind and compassionate but also that you set boundaries to wrap up the reading and stay within your time limit. Here’s what you can say:

• “We’ve covered a lot of ground today, and I encourage you to take some time to reflect on what we’ve discussed.”
• “I’d love to continue exploring this in another session, but our time is up for today. Let’s schedule a follow-up reading.”

Important Skills for Professional Tarot Readers

Being a professional tarot reader is more than just knowing the meaning of the cards; it requires you to tap into your intuition as well. A good reader has to be able to communicate well and compassionately give information. They also have to listen to what is on the client’s mind while offering a safe and supportive place. There might be sensitive questions asked and strong emotions, and you always have to be calm and caring during these things.

Ethics are equally important. A professional tarot reader needs to respect the privacy of the client and offer guidance without telling them what they have to do. This allows the client to tell you what they need. Some clients will be talkative and open, while others will be quiet. By using your own skills and understanding what the tarot cards mean, you can trust your intuition to guide the reading.

Active Listening

To become the best tarot card reader, you have to do more than interpret the cards; you have to be an active listener. Here is what active listening means:

• Give your full attention to the client.
• Reflecting their concerns back to them for clarity.
• Asking open-ended questions to encourage deeper exploration.

For example, if a client shares that they feel stuck in their career, you might say:

• “It sounds like you’re seeking more fulfillment. What do you envision for yourself in an ideal work situation?”

Taking a basic counseling or coaching course can greatly enhance your ability to listen and communicate effectively.

Developing Boundaries and Ethics

Always have clear boundaries and ethics. These guidelines are important to keep a professional reading from becoming something else. Here are some things to consider:

• Repeating Readings: If a client requests multiple readings on the same topic within a short period, consider setting limits. For example, “I recommend giving this situation some time to unfold before revisiting it.”
• Third-Party Questions: Decide whether you feel comfortable answering questions about someone who isn’t present, such as an ex-partner.

Write down a list of ethical guidelines and share them with your clients before you ever start your reading.

Practical Ideas for Tarot Card Reading

Starting a professional tarot card reading business is more than just knowing the cards. You have to plan and prepare. You need to decide how you want to do the reading and where you will do it. Do you want to do online only or include in-person readings? Each type of reading has its own requirements. If you do an in-person reading, for example, you have to create a space that is inviting and calm.

Next, consider how you will price your readings. Some readers offer options based on length and the type of reading the client wants, allowing the clients to stay within their budgets.

Market your new business by building a website or by using your social media to find clients. It’s important that you outline your policies, such as cancellations, refunds, follow-ups, and more, to make sure that you stay professional. Remember, being a psychic can be overwhelming, and you need to manage your own self-care. Take breaks so that you don’t get burnt out.

Setting Up Your Space

The space that you set up for your readings should be free of distractions, calm, peaceful, and welcoming. This should be the same whether you do it online or in person. Pay attention to these things:

• Lighting: Soft lighting creates a relaxing atmosphere.
• Decor: Incorporate soothing elements like candles, crystals, or calming artwork.
• Privacy: Ensure your space is quiet and confidential.

For online or phone readings, test your technology beforehand to avoid interruptions.

Pricing Your Services

It can be hard to determine your rates at the beginning, and you should research what other tarot card readers in your area charge. Consider things like this:

• Your experience level.
• The complexity of your readings.
• The format (e.g., in-person vs. email).

You might start with lower rates to build your clientele, increasing your fees as you improve your readings.

Ending on a Positive Note

Tarot card readings often touch on sensitive topics, and not all messages will be easy for clients to hear. This makes it extremely important to end each session with something positive. You can do this by ending your reading with an Oracle card. After you discuss something emotional or challenging in your tarot card reading, draw a card from the oracle deck such as the Goddess Guidance Oracle card. This can give your client something positive to focus on as they move forward from their reading.

Improving Your Tarot Skills

Improving your tarot skills requires a lot of understanding and a lot of practice. Of course, you should use your intuition to connect with the cards, but you also need to know the traditional meanings. Take time each day to practice and this can be doing a single card pull or doing a spread. Let the cards guide you throughout your day and help you to develop your reading skills.

Journal the cards that you pull and notice if there are any patterns or symbols that you feel connected with. Track your progress. Always study the meanings of the cards and do your own interpretation as you practice.

Another way that you can practice is to try different spreads. Doing a Celtic Cross or a three-card spread can help you to understand the cards more but also try to create your own spreads. Take some workshops, read books, or talk to other professional tarot card readers to get new perspectives on your readings. The more you practice, the better you will be.

Practicing With Different Clients

The best way to become more professional is to practice. Offer free readings to people who aren’t friends or family so that you can learn about different emotions and energies and gain practice.

Exploring Advanced Techniques

Once you’ve mastered the basics of the cards, try more advanced spreads and interpretations. Here are some to give a try!

• The Celtic Cross: A classic spread for exploring complex situations.
• The Year Ahead Spread A popular choice for clients seeking guidance on upcoming events.

Study the symbols and meanings of the cards, and then try to add other tools, such as numerology or astrology, to your readings and practice.

Final Thoughts

Becoming a professional tarot reader is a journey of growth, discovery, and service. It requires you to have both technical skills and also to have compassion and integrity. If you want to help other people, you should practice your skills regularly, set boundaries, and do what you can to expand your knowledge. By doing this, you can inspire and guide those who need help. Trust your intuition, and let the journey guide you!