Tarot Reader, Tarot Reader, Where Does Your Money Go?

Read This If You Have the Expectation That Metaphysical People Shouldn’t Charge

Back in 2013, I attended Readers Studio, which is a yearly occurrence and one of my mandatory yearly conferences as an attendee. The conversation became heated during a Breakfast Roundtable moderated by Theresa Reed in which that age-old debate came up: the assertion that spiritual or metaphysical people shouldn’t be charging for their services. Beth Owl’s Daughter calls this phenomena the “purple-collar ghetto”.

I’ve come to realize that even after almost ten years as a professional tarot reader that the concept of the purple ghetto is still alive and well, and is propagated by tarot readers and non-readers alike… which I find stunning. Language such as bartering, sliding scale, discounts, spiritual calling. Guilt trips from OTHER readers for those that charge for readings, in a “how could you turn away someone that NEEDS your help with a reading?” tone. [An aside: a tarot reading is a want, not a need… which I’ll cover in an upcoming post.]

This kind of sentiment manifests in other ways, and usually leads to devaluing of time and disrespect of what a tarot reader does. Some things I’ve heard, from friends, from relatives, and from complete strangers [yes, these are taken from life verbatim]:

• “Well, don’t you enjoy giving readings? Shouldn’t that be enough?”
• “Oh, I thought it was just a hobby.”
• “Can’t you just read her cards casually?”
• “I’ll buy you a drink in exchange for a reading.”
• “I’ll give you a massage in exchange for a reading.”
• “I’ll [insert name of whatever service THEY do] in exchange for a reading.”
• “I didn’t know you charged that much! Can I get a discount?”
• “I need your advice, do you have your cards with you?”

So, in an effort to pull back the veil of secrecy over what a tarot reader spends her money on, I’m dishing the details… and specifying the whys of it all. I’m listing some things that don’t currently apply to my business, but COULD apply to a tarot reader, such as office space rental or rent for a brick and mortar store. Because hey, most things in life are paid for with MONEY… not with a song, not with a sandwich, and not with a promise of a hamburger tomorrow for a hamburger today. But I’ll try asking my cell phone provider if they’d like a tarot reading in exchange for this month’s usage and get back to you on how it goes…

And in keeping with that adage of “Time is Money”, this post really can serve as a summary of where my TIME goes as a tarot reader as well.

Money

• Office space rental (for those of us readers that need a roof over our heads, business-wise)
• Home (rent or buy)
• Tarot decks (what are we reading with? How do we keep up with new decks if not by using them?): for use with clients AND for review purposes (if you happen to be a deck reviewer)
• Books: for education, and for review
• Education/conferences/classes: both attending them and teaching them
  • space rental (where are you holding the conference or class?)
  • printing handouts, teaching materials, workbooks
• PO Box (necessary for those of us who send out newsletters, electronic or otherwise)
• Domain name and web hosting (because every business needs a website… it’s a must today, not an extra)
• Business cards and brochures, signage
• Logos and web design
• Phone and internet services (how are you communicating with your clients?)
• Audio equipment (if you record your readings for clients)
• Tolls and gas money (if you happen to make housecalls)

Time

• travel/commuting to clients (for those that do not have an office space): even for those of us that do have an office space, for special events like private parties or corporate events, or going to our clients’ homes
• Card of the Day: Each morning, I pull a Card of the Day and post it and my interpretation to social media (facebook, instagram, twitter, and google plus)
• writing: blog posts, facebook status updates, tweets, classes, planning out my editorial calendar
• recording and editing tutorial videos: not so much something I do now, but I have been recording behind the scenes
• reading: the latest, the greatest, in tarot and divination
• mentoring: monthly phone check-ins and weekly status emails with my apprentice Amelia Quint of the Midheaven
• scheduling clients, responding to emails, and email readings
• editing: I am also a copy editor by trade, and I love editing metaphysical things, most recently Jenna Matlin’s Have Tarot Will Travel and Mellissae Lucia’s Tarot-Sized Oracle of Initiation Guidebook PDF.

I’m sure I’m missing something from these lists, but you get the gist.

In closing, this year in particular I attended 2 events that were a sizable chunk of change: Readers Studio in April, and Soulful Proprietor in October. One event had me furthering my tarot skills, and the other event helped me sharpen my business skills (and helps me operate from a heart-centered place in the sometimes clinical side of doing business as an entrepreneur).

Why do I spend this money? Because it results in this:

My fourth Certificate of Advanced Tarot Training from attending Readers Studio

Your work should be a joy, yes, but you should also be paid, and well, to do it. When I go to a service provider, I expect that that person is keeping up with their field of service through continuing education and classes, always striving to better themselves in their career. Therefore, when my clients come to me, I want them to know that I’m doing what I can to better myself in MY field, thereby providing them with the best service I can provide. Every time I have spent money for my business, I have done so gladly, because it is a reinvestment in myself and my business. Yes, when I was about to launch this site over 3 years ago, I realized that the “it takes money to make money” adage was true [#4 in this list], but since that realization, I welcome that energy with an open heart.

Blessings,
~*~Hilary~*~
www.tarotbyhilary.com

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Join in the discussion: What do you spend your money on? Why? Talk about the frivolous, the retail therapy, and the necessities. Leave your thoughts in the Comments section below.

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