Tarot Reader

Key skills/talents

To excel in Tarot you'll need a diverse skill set. Here are some key skills required for this role:

• Encouraging approach. We all go for a tarot reading session to get led to the ‘correct’ path in our lives. So, a tarot card reader should be able to encourage and reassure you after every tarot reading session. Always remember, a good tarot card reader is one who makes clients feel encouraged and high-spirited by making the most of their skills and expertise.

• Impartial perspective. This is yet another tell-tale quality that a tarot card reader should have. A good tarot reader does not judge people based on their societal status; they should make accurate predictions about the past, present, and future without being judgemental.

• Truthful, but careful nature. Many cartomancy readers cite flimsy reasons to claim their predictions as flawless, but a ‘true’ tarot card reader should tell what lies ahead of you based on genuine readings, and in effect, say what they see/feel. That said, most tarot readers will tread cautiously if they pick up on anything worrying.

• Compassionate demeanour. Most people seek guidance and motivation when they feel low and discouraged. A tarot specialist should speak to a ‘client’ politely and compassionately during the entire reading. A compassionate cartomancy reader can (in theory) help to heal any person’s soul, mind and body. 

• Calm and composed mannerism. A qualified tarot card reader shouldn’t come across as impatient or rude. Instead, they should remain calm and composed from start to finish. Listening patiently to the odds and challenges clients are facing sets apart an adept tarot reader from an amateur one.

• Self-explanatory personality. This is undoubtedly the most notable trait of any tarot card reader out there. A deft tarot reader always emanates a divine aura and their appearance should be a positive reflection of their skills and expertise.

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​Qualifications required

Naturally none are ‘required’, however, it helps to demonstrate to both existing and new/potential customers that you have put in the ground work with your skills, so here are a few courses you ‘might’ want to look into:

 

https://book.gatewayworkshops.co.uk/products/tarot-online-course-accredited-diploma

https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/courses/tarot

https://www.libm.co.uk/course/tarot-card-reading-diploma

https://www.tarotassociation.net/free-tarot-course

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Rules and regs

The Tarosophy Tarot Association gives a great back story and the history surrounding the UK laws of Tarot and Witchcraft, and gives great info on what a prospective reader should be mindful of: https://www.tarotassociation.net/uk-law-regulation-regarding-tarot-divination-witchcraft

 

The ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) also offer up this intel for Tarot work: https://www.asa.org.uk/static/uploaded/39684a29-6499-4de6-be34c05b41a99a17.pdf

 

In terms of insurance, Salon Gold (The ‘Hair, Beauty & Holistic Insurance Experts’) offer liability insurance for Tarot readers, so again, depending on how seriously you want to take things, give this link a click to understand what you should be looking for with insurance: https://www.salongold.co.uk/holistic-complementary-therapist-insurance/tarot-card-reading

 

More information surrounding insurance can be found at the bottom of this page.

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Remuneration framework

‘Readers’ charge anything from £30 to £120 per hour for a reading and it completely comes down to experience and geo location. Anna’s prices can be found here: https://www.timewithanna.co.uk/offering

 

Assuming you charge ‘an average’ of £45 for a reading (depending on whether it’s 30 or 60 mins), and you do 4 readings a day, this is £180 a day. X 5 days = £900 a week, which works out at £3,870 a month, which isn’t bad. However, this type of work fluctuates a lot, plus, it’s unlikely you could mentally do 4 readings a day, 5-days a week, consistently. So like Anna does, it’s probably worth doing it either as a ‘side hustle’ alongside a main hustle; or doing it as your main work, with another form of £ side hustle, to top you up and give you more financial (and mental) freedom.

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How to get started

First, and perhaps obviously, you’ll need a tarot deck. The most ubiquitous collection is the Rider-Waite deck, drawn by Pamela Colman Smith in 1909. Since the cards’ meanings are highly recognisable and generally intuitive, many people recommend the Rider-Waite deck for beginners. 

 

Alternatively, google the Modern Witch Tarot Deck by Lisa Sterle, Mystic Mondays Tarot by Grace Duong, and Ethereal Visions Illuminated Tarot Deck by Matt Hughes. What’s most important is picking a deck with imagery that interests you and with symbolism you can interpret. You’re the one who’ll be using them, so they should fit your personality and style.

 

When looking at decks, ask yourself whether the imagery confuses you or pleases you, i.e. does it make you feel warm and excited, or cold and trepid?

 

When you lay out all of the cards in a tarot deck, you find all of life hidden within them. The tarot is made up of two sections called the Arcanas (the word means “secrets”) - there’s the Major Arcana, which contains 22 cards, and the Minor Arcana, which contains 56.

 

Within the Minors, you find four suits, just as you would in a regular pack of playing cards, but with the difference that each suit is associated with a different element and aspect of the self. 

 

The suits are:

• The Cups, associated with water and the emotional self.

• The Pentacles, linked to earth and the physical self.

• The Swords, the cards of air, which are all about the mind.

• And the Wands, the suit of fire, which are about how you apply your energy.

 

Meanwhile, the journey of the Major cards contains seismic shifts in life, telling a dramatic story of beginnings and endings, discoveries and losses, stillness and growth. It is often the Major Arcana cards that newcomers to tarot recognise - The Hanged Man, for example, or The Lovers. And when you combine all of these different cards you’ve got all of the ingredients for a thousand unique narratives.

 

Once you’ve got your deck(s) and understand their Arcanas, here are some basic steps to follow to get going…

 

1. Start with friends and family and do basic ‘learning’ readings with them. It’s an obvious one, but an important one, because…

2. You need to start reading for strangers. Being able to read tarot cards with confidence is essential and providing this service to paying customers is a very different experience to friends and family, so you may want to consider a professional course to build on your experience. There are colleges that offer these, such as The College of Psychic Studies: https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/courses/tarot and the London School of Astrology: https://www.londonschoolofastrology.com/collections, plus the others that we have listed above under ‘qualifications’. Remember, you won’t simply be telling your client what each card means – you’ll have to have to bring everything together in order to respond to their questions.

3. Develop coaching and listening skills. Tarot reading can be an emotional experience for both the reader and the recipient, so developing your coaching and listening skills could be useful. This will help ensure your client feels heard and understood. It also gives you the tools you need to put clients at ease, set boundaries, and keep calm and professional, even if a client has an emotional reaction to your reading. There are HEAPS of online coaching courses you can do, to help with these skills (if you want to); way too many for us to link, so do some research and see what resonates with you - without costing the earth! Key things to remember include maintaining good eye contact, paying attention to non-verbal cues, providing feedback, and staying open-minded. Avoid interrupting your clients and only ask questions that will help improve your understanding. Taking a beginner’s counselling course is one way you could work on improving these skills.

4. Once you’ve put in the ground work and you’ve done your courses and lots of practice(!), you’ll need to set your prices. You may think it’s hard to know how much you should charge for your services, but remember that this is something every new business grapples with at the start. The first thing to do is see what other tarot readers are charging in your local area and compare these businesses to what you could offer. For example, you don’t technically need a certificate or qualification to prove you’re a good tarot reader, but this could help boost your credibility. Similarly, as a new tarot reader, you may not be able to get away with charging as much as more experienced competitors. Also talk to friends and family members who are interested in tarot to see what they’d be willing to pay, and try networking with tarot community groups to see if its members can offer you any advice.

5. Sort out the legalities. Make sure all your paperwork is in order before you launch your business. That means registering the business with the government, checking you understand all your tax implications, and sorting out suitable tarot card reading insurance. For instance, public liability protects you from unexpected accidents during your working day, so this is definitely worth considering if you want to deliver face-to-face tarot readings. Malpractice cover is also important because this protects you against claims related to your professional services – such as someone taking legal action as they believe you have given bad advice. More information on setting yourself up ‘professionally’ is at the bottom of the page.

6. Find your clients, which of course means social-social! Get good social accounts set-up and post regularly, with content that you can see works elsewhere, and gets likes and comments, but is also unique to you. In addition, you could offer to do readings at a discount, to help build your profile and gain client feedback that you can use in your future marketing efforts. Also start to think about whether you have a USP you could promote. For example, perhaps you’re interested in dealing with specific topics, such as pregnancy, illness, or death. This could help you stand out and give you a more key demographic to target, which could be more effective than targeting the whole market.

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Associations or official bodies to register with

Whilst there are no official bodies to register with, there are HEAPS of groups you can join, and subscriptions you can sign up to, so do your research, check a few out and see what resonates with you. It’s definitely worth ‘finding your tribe’ with this kind of work, however that looks and feels for you.

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Job site links

N/a

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Progression pathway​

This one very much comes down to how far you want to take it - and how well known you want to be with it. Because (a level of) notoriety is key to success in this field, which in turn = greater financial reward.

 

We would definitely recommend pushing ahead with your socials and perhaps seeing what works for you, and how comfortable you are with it all - how comfortable you are showing up online and being seen as a ‘face’ for tarot… I.e. Do you eventually want to be on (daytime) TV with your work, or linked to some mainstream media outlets?

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Additional Information/links

First things, first, a good link/read is: https://www.thecut.com/article/tarot-cards.html

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If you want to start a Tarot reading business, the first thing you need to do is get the necessary permits. Depending on your location, this may involve getting a business licence and/or a permit to operate a Tarot reading business. You can usually obtain these permits by contacting your local city or county government office.

 

Forming a Legal Entity

 

If you want to start a Tarot Reading business, you will need to form a legal entity. This will protect you from personal liability and help you raise money for your business. You can choose to form a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation. Each type of entity has its own pros and cons, so you will need to choose the one that is right for your business. 

 

If you are the only owner of your business, a sole proprietorship may be the best option. This type of business is easy to set up and you will not have to deal with much paperwork. However, sole proprietorships offer no personal liability protection, which means that you could be held responsible for debts incurred by your business. 

 

Partnerships are similar to sole proprietorships in that they are easy to set up and offer no personal liability protection. If you decide to form a partnership, with some other readers, or similar field workers, you will need to choose a business partner who you can trust and who has complementary skills. It is important to have a written partnership agreement that outlines each partner's roles and responsibilities. 

 

A limited liability company (LLC) offers personal liability protection and is a good option for a small group of founders. 

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Opening a Business Bank Account

 

When you’re ready to start your Tarot Reading business, one of the first steps is to open a business bank account. This will help you keep your personal and business finances separate and will make it easier to track your expenses and income. To open a business bank account, you’ll need to have the following information and documents:

• Your business name and address

• Your Social Security number or Employer Identification Number (EIN)

• A list of the owners, officers, and directors of the company

• Articles of incorporation or a business licence

• A voided check or deposit slip from the account you’ll be using for your business

 

Once you have all of the required information and documents, you can visit your local bank or credit union to open a business checking account.

 

And of course, keep track of your income and expenditure. Make sure you keep accurate records of all money coming in and going out of your business, so that once a year, you can file a tax return for your business.

 

Setting up Business Insurance

 

As a business owner, it is important to protect your company with the proper insurance. When setting up a Tarot Reading business, you will need to consider the following types of insurance:

• Product liability insurance: This will protect you in the event that a product you designed and printed causes injury or damage.

• Professional liability insurance: This will protect you in the event that a client suffers damages as a result of your work.

• Business property insurance: This will protect your equipment and premises in the event of damage or theft.

• Business interruption insurance: This will protect you in the event that your business has to stop operations due to a covered event.

• Employee dishonesty insurance: This will protect you in the event that an employee steals from your business.