Tarot Ethics - In Business & Practice
We’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to conduct an ethical tarot business/practice. It’s a topic we’ve touched on before, and one in which many other practitioners have lent their perspective. I think it’s important to regularly come back to it though because as with all things, our ideals and principles evolve over time. This way we can reassess how those evolving values impact the work we do, and determine if our conduct is still in alignment, or if some tweaking is required.
In this post, we have 4 main objectives.
To examine the role our values play in the context of our business and practice.
To explore 13 common areas of a tarot practice and look at how ethics may apply (yes, many of these are obvious, but we want to be inclusive).
To provide prompts for further consideration.
To emphasize the need for ethical exploration without needing to police the practice of others.
Examining these concepts helps to build boundaries into our own practice which not only keeps us safe, but helps keep our clients safe too. Let’s face it, there is a lot of responsibility in being a reader or spiritual practitioner - a lot of trust that gets handed to us. We hear secrets, hold space, provide guidance - and all of this without some overseeing body making sure we’re doing any of that “right”. Standards and accountability are on us to uphold, so it’s important we at least consider what those standards of practice might be!
While we obviously can’t control how others conduct their business/practice, or those blatantly scammy accounts designed to rip people off, we can set ourselves apart and contribute positively to the reputation of this work we do. We can do this by contemplating what our own code of conduct looks like, operating from that place of integrity and communicating those ideals transparently.
As you’re reading through the headings below, take a moment to consider how (or if) each plays a role in your current practice. The most important thing is not that you arrive at the same conclusion as other practitioners, but that you have reached your own conclusions by thinking through exactly what you feel and believe to be true for you.
Remember also that within and around all of these general principles is something called nuance. That's why we wouldn’t advise you to take an ethical stance at face value or without thinking about it further. You need to really look into these things and decide for yourself if they fit into your practice and if so, where and how. For example, there is a big difference when it comes to third party readings between: "What do I need to know about having a better relationship with my boyfriend?" and "What is my ex thinking about me?" Both of those inquiries involve uninformed and non-consenting third parties - but the intention behind them is quite different, as are the risks involved.
Before we get into it, I will preface this to say that we (Julia & Tim) probably lean a bit more toward the overly cautious side of things. I tried to keep our personal opinions aside, but it’s inevitable that you’ll get a sense of where we fall on these topics even if I’m not overtly saying it. It’s not the purpose of this post, just a difficult thing to avoid. Let’s begin…
1. Inquiry Types (“Am I Qualified?”)
We know in this line of work we’re asked questions that cover just about every area of life. And I don’t necessarily think you need to have an arsenal of accreditations to provide insight from a spiritual perspective. However, as a practitioner dealing with the general public, it is important to have a sense of what you’re comfortable to read on and what you’re not - what you’re qualified to read on and why.
Part of what might inform your decision making here are the risks involved. For example, does answering the question pose any potential risk or liability to yourself or the client you're working with?
Another thing to consider is how you’re approaching the inquiry. Are you claiming to have more experience or expertise than you truly do? Have you clearly stated appropriate disclaimers? Do you feel comfortable and confident to say “I don’t know” or “I’m not the best person to provide this type of advice”?
For example, I am not a healthcare worker, I am not a lawyer and I am not therapist. And even if I did have some credentials in these fields, I’m not bringing them to my spiritual practice and acting as my client’s doctor, lawyer or therapist - I am a spiritual practitioner when I am showing up here.
We don’t know what we don’t know. Working with tarot or Spirit doesn’t usually make us open to suddenly receive information that would ordinarily be out of scope. In other words, I’m not going to flip over a card and see a medical condition in my third eye that I’ve never even heard of before (I mean, anything is possible…but is it likely?).
Now, this doesn’t mean you have to write off every inquiry of a particular topic. It is possible to work with your client to reframe the question so that it is more accessible. For example, if a client wants advice about treating physical symptoms and you’re not a qualified medical professional, then you could potentially reframe the inquiry to look at ways they can care for themselves spiritually, while also encouraging them to seek a professional to assess the physical issues. Personally, I believe the work we do with Spirt is in complement to, and not a replacement for, more practical interventions. But, that’s me interjecting my own bias into this. Fellow practitioners need to consider for themselves what makes the most sense (legally and morally) and as importantly, why.
Ask Yourself:
What types of questions am I qualified/comfortable to answer?
Do I properly disclaim this and set clear expectations with the client’s I work with?
Do I understand the risks (legally or reputationally) involved?
2. Readings Involving Uninformed Third Parties
Third party readings have always been a hot topic. It’s generally accepted that reading on a person who isn’t present is not best practice. With that being said, it may also depend on how the question is posed. Take these two examples: “What do I need to know about having a better relationship with my mother?” and “What is the likelihood that me and my ex will reconnect?” Both of them involve other parties, but the focus isn’t necessarily on what that other party is thinking or feeling. If, however, the question involved digging through the heart or mind of an uninformed third party, we may be getting into trickier territory.
Something else to consider when it comes to third parties is that when we do a reading for a client, that information can be shared. Would you be comfortable if what you said about someone who wasn’t present got into the hands of that person or was used as a bargaining tool i.e. “see, look, my psychic says you still have feelings for me!” Maybe this wouldn’t be an issue for you, but it’s worth considering the impact or possibilities if you are averse to getting in the middle of interpersonal dynamics that aren’t your own!
Ask Yourself:
How much am I willing to say on a person who isn’t present and isn’t aware of the reading
Would I be happy to discover that someone went to a reader about me and the reader obliged?
3. Confidentiality
Confidentiality means protecting our client’s information and the personal and sensitive things they share with us. Most practitioners regard this as an obvious component to any good practice, but even so, is there more that we can do? Consider where and how you uphold confidentiality in the context of the services you provide. On the surface, confidentiality speaks to keeping information private, but it may also include ensuring cyber/system security, and being mindful of the experiences shared publicly about the clients we serve (even when names are omitted).
I would even go so far as to suggest we consider what we’re giving away when we have a referred friend or family member come to us. In this line of work, it’s not uncommon to have a new client land in the inbox with a “my sister says you've helped her so much and I have to get a reading with you!” When these scenarios come up, I don’t doubt for a moment that’s what’s happened, but with confidentiality in mind, how might we proceed? Do we a) gush about all the work we’ve done with said sister, revealing details about their personal life because we assume the sister must be in the know b) politely acknowledge the referral and say how much we love working with the sister or c) thank the client for getting in touch without mentioning the sister at all? I’m not saying there is a clear right or wrong here, but I am suggesting it’s a point worth considering before you find yourself in that situation.
Ask Yourself:
What measures do I take to ensure confidentiality where my clients, and their information is concerned?
4. Transparency
What kind of information do you share with the public about your services, style and philosophies? Before someone books a session with you, would they have a good sense of what they’re getting into and what they can expect as an outcome? What we do may be obvious to us, but that doesn’t mean it’s clear to others. Consider what might be helpful to state upfront, and what “goes without saying”.
Some believe it it is the job of the reader or practitioner to lay the foundation of their services and set the proper expectations. Some may believe that the onus is on the client to ask the right questions and do their own research. We believe it’s a bit of both. But, we can probably all agree that no practitioner wants to end a session and hear something to the effect of, “well, that’s not at all what I was thinking this was going to be…”. For this reason, transparency may have its place on a list of ethical considerations, but it also occupies a very practical spot as well.
Ask Yourself:
Am I finding myself frustrated by client’s who just “don’t get” what I have to offer?
Have I outlined my services and philosophies in a way that clearly expresses what a session with me looks like?
Is there too much room for interpretation about what I do or what a client should expect?
5. Identifying Conflicts of Interest
At some point when you’re working with a client, it’s quite possible they will bring a situation to you that presses a button, touches a nerve or full on triggers you. We are all human beings with out own opinions, preferences and leanings. Many times in readings we can (and should) separate our personal tastes so that we can provide objective and unfiltered insights to our clients. However, if a topic so strong comes up that you cannot separate yourself from it, you should consider how you will proceed.
Will you forge forward and if so, will you still be able to act as a clear channel? Are you confident that your feelings will not get in the way of the messages that are trying to come through? The last thing a client wants to experience when working with a reader, is a sense that this is now about them (the reader) and something they’re working through. It is totally natural to have reactions to things our clients bring to us. But, what we do with those reactions and how we proceed is our responsibility to determine.
Ask Yourself:
Am I able to assess when an issue becomes a conflict of interest?
How can I protect my clients from my personal bias’?
What will I do if I do not believe I can separate myself from the topic at hand?
6. Giving vs. Pushing Advice
Providing tarot readings and other spiritual services can put practitioners in the position of giving advice. We are, in many ways, advice givers by the very nature of the roles we occupy. Often, the messages and insights that come forward have a splash of “try this” or “refrain from that”. But, there is a big difference between providing suggestions and insisting you know what’s best for your clients. It’s possible that you’ve developed a very close relationship with a client and feel very strongly that what they’re embarking on, for example, isn’t good for them. You might even be right. However, we need to also consider how much influence we should have and if we’re trying to have more, we can ask ourselves - why is that?
When a client comes in for a reading, does this immediately put the reader in a position of power or authority? I think the answer to that is probably (hopefully) "no”. So, if we can assume that our clients are the experts on their own lives, we need to also consider what our role actually is. In other words, are we there to steer the car or are we there to be a guide?
Ask Yourself:
How much influence do I want to have over the client’s I work with?
How do I tend to approach advice giving in the realm of my practice?
7. Honouring Boundaries
Just because you have a gift or a skill doesn’t mean it’s helpful to use it anytime, anywhere on anyone. In the context of this work, it is important for us to protect our boundaries as well as our client’s and even potential clients for that matter. Protecting our own boundaries could look like any of the following:
Setting clear operating hours and not answering emails or texts after a certain time.
Not reading on certain topics or answering questions that are uncomfortable or out of scope.
Having the right to refuse service when not comfortable to proceed.
Saying “no” when it’s appropriate.
Ask Yourself:
What are the boundaries that I expect my clients to respect?
How can I acknowledge and protect the boundaries of my clients and others?
8. Compassion, Care & Respect
We all have different personalities, communication styles and ways of being in this world. Some of us like to deliver the news straight up, no sugar. Some of us feel the need to saturate our insights with lots of positive messaging. There are no right or wrong ways to show up in this work, only things to consider.
As a spiritual practitioner, it may be helpful to evaluate the attributes you appreciate in others as well as yourself. For example, what place do the following traits have in your practice?: Kindness, empathy, compassion, patience, the ability to give and receive space, acceptance, honesty, clarity, respect for cultural/spiritual/religious differences and honoring the unique identities of those you serve. When we can define the characteristics we value, we can then work to cultivate them within ourselves and the services we provide.
Ask Yourself:
What is my communication style?
What can client’s expect from me?
Do I know how to gently navigate the difficult emotions and experiences of others?
9. When the Work is No Longer Helpful
Many of us have repeat clients. This is a normal part of business and it’s not usually an issue. However, every once in awhile we encounter a situation with a client where we get the sense that the work we’re doing is no longer helpful. Some indicators of this may be a client returning often and quickly, not allowing time to pass between sessions. Or, a client asking the same question(s) over and over again. If we feel we are taking money from our clients, but not providing anything in addition to what’s already been done, this may be something to take note of. When this happens, we have some choices. We can continue to work with the client assuming they know what’s best or, we can suggest to them that we don’t think another session would be helpful or we think they should wait for more time to pass.
I can see this one from multiple angles myself. On one hand, I don’t want to tell someone what they do or don’t need. On the other, I don’t want to feel like I’m charging someone and not providing any value. It can be a really tough situation to be in and one that requires delicate hands. At the very least we should explore those gut feelings we’re getting and then take a moment to consider how it would be best to proceed. It may be wise to take all variables into consideration so you can approach things with clarity, compassion and a readiness to provide options and next steps.
Ask Yourself:
What are some indications that a service I’m offering to a client is no longer helpful?
How might I proceed with that client if that is the case?
10. Age of Consent
When providing spiritual services, you need to determine if there is an age of consent that would be appropriate to adhere to. You will also want to make yourself familiar with any applicable laws to help inform those decisions. Personally, I state in my disclaimers that readings are for individuals 18 and older. I have read for minors, but that was with parental consent and even in some cases, parental presence.
Ask Yourself:
Am I aware of my region’s laws?
Am I comfortable reading for minor’s without their parent’s consent and if so, why?
11. Solicitation
I think most would regard this one as bad form, but I’ll mention it anyway. When running a spiritual business, or any business for that matter, you may want to think about what is and isn’t considered solicitation, and what you will or will not participate in. It may seem harmless, but just dropping yourself into someone’s DMs or emails can be considered intrusive and pushy. Of course, it’s up to all of us to decide what kind of “marketing” tactics we’re comfortable with. Also keep in mind that direct solicitation is something that many of the scam accounts on Instagram use to manipulate people into giving them money. For this reason, many legitimate readers have adopted a strict “I will never reach out to you to purchase a reading” policy.
Ask Yourself:
What forms of solicitation, if any, am I comfortable to participate in?
How do I feel when someone sends me a message or email about their business unprovoked?
12. Advertising Tactics
Not my favourite thing in the world, but advertising, promoting and marketing are sometimes necessary components to running a spiritual business. So, knowing this, how can we approach these avenues in a mindful way that still complies with our moral compass and personal values? One way to figure out how to forge forward is to observe how other businesses market their services and ask yourself - “does this appeal to me?” “Does it feel authentic or sleazy?” “Do I feel like I’m being manipulated or spoken down to?” Personally, I have an averse reaction to tactics that attempt to elicit strong emotions, tap into scarcity, play on fear or a sense of exclusivity. Here are some taglines I often see that personally put me off:
“Time is running out - buy now!” (playing to urgency)
“Only a handful of people will be selected” (suggestive of exclusivity and prestige)
“Mary P. just put this in their cart!” (appealing to desirability)
Of course, if you’re cool with all this, that’s fine. But, if something about the way you’re marking your services doesn’t sit well with you or gives you pause, then that could be an invitation to reflect and possibly make some changes. It can be difficult to come up with effective copy that clarifies what we do, while drawing interest, without playing with emotions. I think maybe we’ve come to believe that we need to employ some of these tactics to make a sale. And, if we don’t, we’re somehow missing out? Isn’t that funny? The same strategies that rely on scarcity and play on fear tend to elicit those same feelings in us when we opt not to use them.
Ask Yourself:
What types of marketing strategies turn me off as a consumer?
How do I market myself and my services currently?
Do these tactics align with my value system?
13. Ongoing Development
Like with all roles we adopt in life, there is always the opportunity to continue to develop and refine ourselves. This may look like taking complementary courses to increase your skillset, working with a counsellor or mentor, reading and studying areas of interest or just cultivating a practice of ongoing reflection and self-inquiry. In your tarot business and practice, the idea is no different. How are you growing and adapting, and then applying that learning to the work you do?
Ask Yourself:
How important is ongoing development in my work?
What am I currently doing to enhance or refine my skills?
There you have it! 13 ethical considerations for all the tarot readers and spiritual practitioners out there! If you made it this far, my hat’s off to you because it is clear you take the matter of values seriously and likely want to do the best by your business and practice.
And while this list isn’t conclusive, it’s a start! In this field, there isn’t some grand association watching what you do, holding you accountable and enforcing a certain set of credentials. In many ways, this is a positive thing, but it also means we are solely responsible for ensuring our work at least meets our own standards of practice. Applying an ethical framework allows one to ensure they are doing the best by themselves, their clients and the reputation of this work as a whole.
And again, the point of all of this isn’t to tell anyone else how to run their business or practice. It’s to provide some things to consider so that however you choose to proceed, you have a clear idea as to why you’ve chosen that.
Until next time,
Julia & Tim