Ethics
Lesson Three – Reading Methodology
Lesson Content
- Why Ethics?
- Examples of Abuses
- Exercise
- Ethical Practices
- Ethical Challenges
Exercise
Why Ethics?
One woman told me she had been asked by a reader to pay $800 up front to remove a curse that she believed had been put on her years earlier.
One woman was told by a reader that she should leave her husband or she was going to die.
Another woman was told by a reader that she would lose everything in the near future – her house, her family, her job.
These are all considered unethical practices.
Ethical Practices
Do offer your clients privacy; don’t do readings for clients in the presence of anyone they haven’t invited to the reading.
Do answer your client’s questions with as much honesty as you can. By answering truthfully and saying what the client needs to know (as opposed to what the seeker wants to know) you will never have a false frame of reference or get caught in that tangled web when first we practice to deceive).
Do be conscious of your own tone, body language, and phraseology. Ie. When you refer to “change” as revealed in a reading, do you smile, frown, react with fear or enthusiasm? Your reactions to the cards revealed during a reading will be the guideposts for the client
Do be straightforward about what your reading can and cannot reveal. Tarot cards cannot predict a fixed and fated future. The Tarot illustrates influences, opportunities, and hidden motives, which the client may then try to understand and work through in as creative a way as possible. Clients do not benefit from statements such as, “You or someone you love is going to die”, or “You will be financially ruined”. Clients should never walk away from your reading feeling afraid, depressed, or vengeful. Your clients should leave feeling more enlightened about themselves and their situation, with hope for the future, and empowered to face obstacles.
Do have a plan about how you will deal with client’s reactions to suggestively negative cards. Ie. How will you talk to the client about the Devil, the Tower, and Death cards?
Do know what are the signs that will indicate to you that your client is fragile. The following are a few of the early warnings that your client may not be strong enough to go through the process of a reading;
- Dramatic swings in emotional expression such as inappropriate laughter, crying or anger,
- Asking you odd questions or requesting that you do things like curses (or remove them), evil eyes, or charms. These questions might point to a serious mental illness and result in disastrous legal entanglements for an unsuspecting reader.
- Nervously fidgeting, pacing, inability to make eye-contact may point to escalating degrees of anxiety,
- Asking you about when they can see you again and then phoning you later or the next day may indicate dependency problems. Some clients may express a desire to see you again the next week for follow-up which is fine, but be mindful of people who seem unable to decide anything for themselves without a consultation.
Do have a plan about how to cope effectively with clients who are argumentative. Avoid taking a defensive posture. Stay firm with what you believe and trust in your own integrity. If you allow a skeptic to place you in a position of having to “prove it works”, you’re opening the door to a long debate that you cannot win. The Tarot’s validity does not depend on her approval. Go through the reading process, as you would with anyone, calmly and confidently. Acknowledge her comments and questions, interact with the skeptic as seriously as you can without being a doormat or threat. Try to keep the flow of communication as open as possible.
If your skeptic is determined to challenge every card and unable to find any way of relating to the cards, let the reading go. Simply tell them that it’s clear that you disagree about the value and purpose of the Tarot and that it’s okay to disagree. You have no investment in making her agree with you. You have no investment in proving it to her. It works for you. You are not out to convert others, only to share with those are also interested.
Do read to empower your clients with choices. The primary reason people come for a reading is that they are worried, anxious, or feeling depressed about something that feels out of control in their lives. They are feeling insecure and everyone has periods of insecurity. Ask yourself, “What are the cards pointing to that they CAN do?” This puts the power right back in the hands in the client.
Do give your clients something to take away with them that they can use to follow up on what you’ve told them in a reading. For example, what could they meditate on? Where else might they go for help with their particular issue? Is there a ritual they could perform at home that would help them do closure or open up to new opportunities. Offer helpful advice drawing upon your experiences and the things you’ve found helpful in the past. You want your clients to go on leading a long and healthy, fulfilling lives so make sure they leave your reading space feeling optimistic and empowered to face their issues.
Do utilize the cards for your own personal development and read regularly for yourself. Your self knowledge feeds your intuition – the more I am in tune with myself the more likely I am to be able to hear my clients without my own projections blocking what I’m hearing. The more in touch I am with my own insecurities, fears and wishes the less likely I am to project these onto a client whose issues are entirely different from my own. When you are sitting across from a woman who is the same age as you and has been through a number of similar experiences as you – consider how this connection you feel towards this person might affect your reading. What will you become vulnerable to? Projection is inevitable. It’s the way we operate as human beings. You’ll learn to go away from your readings pulling out your projections – wrestle with them – hopefully lessen them for your next reading.
One initiate asked about doing readings for her children and grandchildren – fearing that she will “project” into the readings what she wants for them. This is true. We are the most vulnerable when doing readings for loved ones to projection or influencing their perceptions and decisions in some fashion – intervening in their destiny and karma – beware! This is why it can much easier to do readings for strangers. If you are reading for someone and you see yourself in the reading – you have wondered into the territory of projection.
One initiate was doing a “make believe” reading for her daughter while the class listened and she read herself into the reading as the “wise advisor”! She missed this opportunity to empower her daughter by reading her into the reading as having a “wise inner advisor”.
Do be aware that a Tarot reading is a personal experience which is often a surprise for most clients. I read for 3 sisters who would have happily been far more interactive, but found themselves quite stymied and muzzled in front of their sisters. One daughter in a mother/daughter duo wanted to go back to her husband but didn’t want to ask the question in front of her mother who thought he was a cad she was well rid of.
When clients ask, “Can so and so sit with me during the reading?” I always explain that I have no problem with whomever they wish to invite but I also caution them that the reading may be quite personal and if they are comfortable sharing in front of whomever they have invited, that’s fine. About 50% of the time, clients reconsider and decide to opt for a private reading.
Do aim to become “clean readers”. Be the best channels possible which means you aren’t colouring and altering this information as it’s emerging. The best way to insure this is to continue working on your own journey to wholeness. Your best teachers have been your personal experiences in facing tests and difficulties with compassion, strength and love.
Do resist the urge to take power away from someone. Gifts abound to those who sacrifice their own need to be seen as special, powerful and perfect.
Self Awareness
Don’t deny your own potential for evil. The only way I can combat evil in this world is by wrestling with my own inner evil first. So be conscious of temptations to power which is the hard work of making it to Magical readership! We are always tempted to say, “They love power!” Projecting our own will to power. The Tarot affords us that opportunity to look at our own shadow. Being a good reader requires confidence and assurance but not arrogance and pride. The Tarot is playing with fire, so be respectful and honour the gifts it grants you.
Don’t sugar coat the Tarot’s tougher messages. Your clients won’t thank you if you tell them everything is going to pop up roses and it doesn’t. On the other hand, you’re not there to scare the bejesus out of your clients either. Look for the words of wisdom in your reading – advice, guidance, suggestions for future directions that are more healthful and fulfilling for her.
Don’t offer your services only for financial reward. Be generous in offering your Tarot reading expertise to not-for-profit organizations that are aiding the less advantaged in your community. Establish a percentage of your practice on a sliding scale (fee geared to income of client)
It’s always important to share your gifts with others without a concern for what you will receive in return. It doesn’t mean you must always offer your services free of charge (we all need money to buy food and shelter!) but it’s ethical practice to contribute positively to the good health of your community. This way of practicing your craft transmits a message to your physical and psychical community that you and the Tarot are not just all about making money; that you honestly care about the work you do. Your spirit world will dance with joy that you are appreciative and grateful for the gifts they bestow upon you psychically, spiritually and soulfully. It also contributes significantly to the positive ways Tarot readers are perceived generally. If we all do these simple things in our communities, Tarot readers all over the world will be regarded with respect, and admiration rather than fear and distrust.
Exercises
Name 3 examples of abuses that readers have committed (ie online complaints of Tarot Readers). What would you do differently?
Utilize this Lesson Six on Ethics to formulate your own Code of Ethics. Print these off your computer and put them in a place where you can see them regularly.
Do the following reading to Formulate Your Mission Statement.
| Position One at the upper L | What is my greatest strength that helps me in my use of the Tarot? |
| Position Two upper Centre | What areas in my life are still being developed that would not be helpful in my work with the Tarot? Is there anything I should be concerned about or especially cautious about when doing a reading? |
| Position Three upper R | Show me an element/image from the Tarot that represents the element most likely to help me understand my path the Tarot. |
| Position Four lower L | What is MY INTENT for the use of my Tarot deck? What do I perceive as my purpose in working with the Tarot? What do I hope to accomplish with the Tarot? |
| Position Five lower R | What is the UNIVERSE’S INTENT for me when I use the Tarot? What does Spirit want me to know about how best to use the cards? |
Answer the following questions in your journal,
- How am I not being faithful to my soul’s callings?
- What do I fear the most?
- What are my pet peeves in people?
- How would I like to change the world if I could?
- What am I tired of giving that people always seem to ask of me?
- What is the most common criticism that people levy at me?
- What embarrasses me?
- What do people say that makes me defensive?
- What am I trying to change the most in myself?
In answering these questions, you should have a clearer path to your shadow material.
Along with the insights you gained in the development of your Mission Statement, this shadow work should help prepare you for the formulation of your personal reading Ethics.
After you have completed your Code of Ethics print them off your computer.
You might add several more, or in some ways alter your Codes throughout your practice.
Lesson Three – Reading Methodology