Recently, I’ve been totally absorbed in writing my book about learning to read the Tarot and it has made all sorts of memories resurface about my early experiences as a Tarot reader; how I became the reader, the person even, that I am today. Then yesterday I read an excellent article by one of my favourite readers Joanna, from Sun Goddess Tarot about Upholding Ethics As A Tarot Reader. The combination of the book-induced walk down memory lane and the article brought back one memory in particular.
Well over a decade ago, when I had only been reading the cards professionally for about three or four years I was invited to take part in an online psychic group. The group was a select number of psychics and readers and each week one person in need of help and guidance would consult the group with their problem for free. I was honoured and excited to be asked to take part in such a group and I remember sitting in front of my computer at the agreed time, with my tarot deck and eager to read and help. I was more concerned with which spreads and readings would be best and I had not even thought about the question we would be asked. What I quickly discovered was that the group was a psychic detective group. The questions all related to crimes that had been committed and the first person up was a lady whose young child had been abducted.
At first I went into reader mode and pulled the cards just as for any reading. Due to the intense emotions surrounding the question and no doubt the influence of the group of other readers, it was quite probably one of the most detailed and vivid readers I have ever done. But that was a huge problem. Here was a woman in pain and what I saw, what we all saw was that things were going to get a lot worse for her. For the first time as a reader I questioned how much I was supposed to tell. I’ve always believed that I am just the messenger and that it is not my job to edit the information received but what do you do when the message is so awful and gruesome? Well, I’m ashamed to say I did not have the heart or the courage to tell the lady what I saw. I gave the information to the group leader and left the group and never returned. He did pass on the information and later told me that everything I had seen in the cards had transpired.
This experience taught me that not every question and situation is suitable for a reading. The insight the woman received that day did not help her and there was no way that it could have helped. As readers it is important that we have a code of ethics that we work with, just as Joanna states in her article. This differs for each reader, but we have to know what questions we are willing to read for. My experience with the psychic group was a one off and it taught me so much, but even in every day readings we can be asked about health matters or financial concerns. I had one client contact me about mutual fund investments advice. The thing is, no matter how clear or detailed the reading that a reader receives, how does a Tarot reader give medical advice or investment advice? The lack of knowledge in these areas would mean that any information given could never be a substitute for expert advice from someone in the field.
If you’re a reader, my advice is to have a well-defined idea of what you will and will not read about. If you are someone looking for a reading, be clear on what information you require and how that knowledge will empower you.