If you’re a professional Tarot reader, I’m betting that one of the biggest questions on your mind is, “How do I grow my Tarot business?” Today, I invite Kyana Mayfield of New World Tarot to share with you 87 ways to boost your Tarot career, from personal branding, marketing, community-building and more. Take it away, Kyana… Have you hit a plateau in your Tarot business? Feel like you’ve done everything right, but there’s still no great spike in your sales numbers? Stuck when it comes to thinking of methods on how to grow and attract more clients to your website? There are tons of ways to market your business online, and the strategies I’m about to share with you are timeless and should continue to be used well beyond the year of 2014. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Just imagine: you could finally make this the year to achieve ultimate success in your Tarot career.

Branding Strategies

1. Know why you do Tarot readings. It sounds like common sense, doesn’t it? But you’d be surprised how many Tarot readers have no idea what their purpose is behind doing what they do. My advice: don’t be one of them. Figure out your purpose. Ask yourself why you’re in the Tarot business. Is it to help other people understand themselves? Understand their relationships? Or is it just because you thought it would be an easy source of income? Or something your mother used to do, so you thought it’d be a fun hobby? These are only questions you can answer. Know your reasons and make sure they’re good ones. 2. Lay out your core principles. It’s a good idea to review your principles – especially for the New Year, when your business foundation may need to be tweaked based on what you’ve learned from previous clients or changes in the industry: What are your principles in reading Tarot? What are your policies? Do you operate under a certain set of “reading rules” that are doing more harm than good for your Tarot consultations? Create new ones that work for your current business model. Also look at your marketing strategy – review the basics of marketing your Tarot business, and change things up if it suits your needs. 3. Write a business tagline. Focus on creating something that reflects the image you want your business to have, and make sure that it aligns with your purpose (review tip #1). When creating your tagline, ask yourself the following, “What service do I offer my clients that cannot be found with any other Tarot reader?” 4. Establish your business culture. Do this only after you’ve completed tips #1, 2, and 6. This involves integrating your purpose with your business model and operation policies. Your culture will serve as a “screening filter” for every future business decision you make. This will become more and more important as your Tarot career grows and you have tons of opportunities knocking on your door every day. 5. Find your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Find what makes you different from every other Tarot reader out there. Once you find it, make it into a tagline (review tip #3) and use it in your marketing materials. 6. Develop your long-term goals and plans as a Tarot reader. What do you ultimately want to do with your Tarot career? Where do you want it to take you and your family? What opportunities do you want it to provide? How much money do you want to make? What would you be willing to do to achieve your goals? Don’t worry about making your answers perfect – the point is to just get it down. Your goals will be the framework for how you choose to operate your business, how you develop marketing strategies, products and services, etc. In other words: it’s really important, so don’t skimp on this if you want to reach astronomical heights in your Tarot career. Think of it as a business plan – for yourself. 7. Know your vision. What difference do you want to make in the world with Tarot? What service do you think your Tarot readings will provide? Now’s the time to get innovative and let your creative juices flow. These aren’t easy questions to answer. But those who do answer come out to be the leaders and the ones with the most impact. Ask yourself, “What dent can I make in the Tarot universe?”

Income Boosting Strategies

8. Get your financial plan in order. This is kind of a big deal, and I think we’ve all been here before. I see many Tarot professionals (as well as many entrepreneurs in general) make this same mistake time and again: they build a business, get a few customers, earn a few hundred bucks, and in the midst of their excitement they spend all their earned income on a celebration dinner. And then they wonder why their business never grows or why there’s never any money left. Sound familiar? I bet it does. The solution? Invest in your business – in things that are going to give you more money, time, and long-term fulfillment. If you already earn a fixed amount per month, set a percentage for how much you will invest in your business – and make sure you follow through! 9. Launch a product. Whether an eBook, online course, system, or tool, showcase your Tarot expertise by creating something of value that customers can use again and again with or without your involvement. It’ll be like giving your customers a little “piece of your business” for them to carry around wherever they go. 10. Do affiliate marketing. Earn a commission for every sale you make on someone else’s products or services. This is a good long-term strategy, but it can take a long time to implement. If you insist on only doing free readings and plan on making most of your income from advertisements and affiliate links, be prepared to wait awhile before you make a significant amount. The same is true of the reverse – create an affiliate marketing program and pay commissions to other bloggers and business owners who sell your products and services. 11. Create a membership site. If you already offer free content, then you can choose to offer premium content to those who decide to join your site as paid members. The best thing about this strategy is the opportunity for recurring revenue – you can set a monthly fee for access to your private site or forum. The only catch here is that you must consistently provide high quality premium content on a regular basis in order to justify your clients paying for access. If you’re prepared for the challenge, go right ahead. 12. Publish a book. I’m talking about a physical book published by a professional book publishing company. The eBook thing has almost been vastly overdone in the virtual universe, so seeing that you have a physical book for sale could add a boost to your reputation as a Tarot expert overall as well as a bonus to your income. 13. Offer one-on-one coaching or a mentoring program. If you’ve been at this business thing for a while, turn around and share your success with other Tarot readers. Help them reach their full potential. Don’t go in blind though – if you have no experience with coaching, I’d suggest taking a few classes, reading a few books, or even getting professionally certified. Understanding human behavior and motivation is a must, as well. 14. Teach a class, course, or workshop. This is a form of coaching – but with a group versus one-on-one. Have classes and workshops for a variety of different topics: for example, have one class to teach the meanings of Major and Minor Arcana cards, a workshop to teach readers how to find clients, or even your own certification course: where you offer a series of classes to help Tarot readers become certified as professionals. 15. Utilize PPC and CPM advertising. Your results will mainly depend on how large your site is as well as the number of visitors you receive on a monthly basis. If you have a lot of traffic already, give this a shot. If not, wait until you do. 16. Sell direct banner advertising space. In order to attract high-quality advertisers to your site, you’ll need to have a large following and monthly traffic rate. 17. Ask for donations. If you offer a lot of free, valuable content on your site then visitors may want to give you something back for your generosity. Help them by putting a “donate” button on your website. (Note from Brigit: Make sure you know the rules before putting up a Donate button. I put up a PayPal Donate button to collect donations for a charity on the Biddy Tarot Free Tarot Readings page, but PayPal froze my entire account for 2 weeks because I did not have the official documentation or express permission to collect on behalf of a charity.)

Build an Unstoppable Sales Force

18. Design an awesome website. Whatever you do, don’t skimp on this. Put in the research hours or hire a professional to design it for you, but make sure you know what goes into a good site. This is going to be your #1 marketing tool, so leave a good first impression. My advice: purchase your own domain name and hosting, install WordPress.org, and then invest in a premium theme. It’ll all pay off big time. 19. Create online and offline marketing materials. Business cards, posters, website banners, flyers, postcards, magnets and t-shirts with your logo on them…get them all if you can. You can use services like Vistaprint or Cafepress, or hire a professional to create a custom design for you. 20. Start an email newsletter. Join Aweber or Mailchimp and start a newsletter to keep in touch with your audience. Try to have something new for them at least once per week, whether you’re sharing your blog updates, subscriber-only content, or weekly Tarot readings – make it consistent and keep them coming back to your site. 21. Create epic sh** on a regular basis. You may have heard otherwise, but you don’t necessarily need to write blog posts to produce epic content. You simply need to create something valuable – through any channel you wish to use. But you do need to learn how to produce good content; so knowing how to write will definitely come in handy. 22. Make videos online. This is becoming less of an option and more of a prerequisite for your Tarot business. Visitors want to see your face, hear your voice, and connect with you on a more intimate level. Plus it gives visitors the satisfaction of seeing your skills with the Tarot “in action”. You can learn more about video marketing here. If you’re shy like me, this is probably an issue, but it’s a fear that will have to be dealt with gradually for the sake of your business – so just practice by yourself with your digital camera, webcam, or phone. 23. Focus on building your email list. I could write an entire post on this one – I can’t stress its importance enough. If you’re not working on building your email list, then you’re not working on growing your business, period. Give people a strong enough reason to subscribe to your list, learn different opt-in techniques, and make this the center of your marketing strategy. 24. Optimize your “about me” page. Contrary to its name, you actually DO NOT want to make this page about you. You want to make it about your reader and what results your Tarot site will give them. What will they gain by visiting your site? Use this page to tell potential clients why your site exists, why you are qualified, feedback you’ve received from previous clients, and only give a short personal biography near the end of the page. Oh, and put a couple sign-up boxes in there somewhere.

Get to Know Your Customer

25. Create your Red Velvet Rope Policy. Take some time out of your day to create a profile of your “star client” by listing all of the traits you’d like your ideal client to have. What sort of questions would this client ask you? How would they respond to your Tarot readings? Would they leave comments on your site? Would they recommend your site to their friends? Where are you most likely to find this person? The more specific – the better. This policy will become tighter as your Tarot career grows, to the point where you refuse to work with anyone but those who match your ideal profile. 26. Join a Meet-up group or online forum where your customers hang out. If you need ideas for new content, find out what your customers want to know by going to them. You should know where they like to hang out if you already created your Red Velvet Rope Policy (review tip #25). Listen to what people say in these groups, and offer advice if you can. 27. Be helpful to people for free. People will always remember those who do favors for them. Set no conditions and don’t expect anything in return. Simply be helpful in any way you can and the return will set itself up. 28. Establish your own community. Set up a Facebook page, Meet-up group, Google+ Hangout, or an online forum where your readers can share their ideas, ask questions, and get help from your senior community members (readers who have followed you for a long time). 29. Survey your clients for feedback. You’ll want to create a list of questions or an online survey to send to customers after a reading. This will help create social proof for your services and also help refine your Tarot reading skills. Encourage customers to leave honest responses – and don’t ignore criticism (if it’s constructive)! 30. Always see your clients for who they are – not their circumstances. If you can see clients in light of their greatest potential, they’ll love you forever. Know why? Because you’ll make them feel special and valued and cherished. Be a witness to their character and potential for greatness, not the sizes of their wallet or friends list. If you can hold this image of greatness, you increase their chances of becoming great. And their greatness will come back to reward you ten times over. 31. Nurture your existing clients. A quote from the movie Vanilla Sky comes to mind, “The little things… there’s nothing bigger is there?” The same is true for your existing clientele. Continue to do little things for them: like remember their name, check how they’re doing every now and then, send them a gift or even a free reading for special occasions like their birthday or the holidays. Treat this like you would any relationship. Trust me; they’ll appreciate your effort.

Professional Development Strategies

32. You, Inc. Make it a priority to constantly work on improving your skills and take at least 20 minutes every day to meditate and connect with yourself. If you want to grow your business, you have to grow yourself – and that means treating your personal development and evolution as a business, too. 33. Find a mentor. Learning from someone with more experience and an impersonal point of view is probably one of the best decisions you can make for your Tarot career. Even if you can’t afford a personal mentor, try and do your own research by studying the professionals in your field from a distance and learn to “follow their lead”. 34. Take a course or attend a seminar. Don’t ever rest on your laurels. There’s always more to learn, especially when it comes to interpreting the cards in a new way or finding new marketing strategies for your business. 35. Join a professional Tarot Meet-up group, private forum, or association. This option has some of the same benefits of having a personal mentor, except that you’re learning from a wide variety of professionals who are all learning at their own pace. You’ll get a lot of ideas, but don’t take all of the advice too seriously. It’s all personal opinion, anyway. Pick and choose strategies that work best for you. 36. Interview experts in related fields. Sit and chat with a few experts in Tarot-related fields, like professional astrologers, psychics, channelers, etc. Chances are you could learn a thing or two from their business experiences – as well as collect some awesome content to share with your readers later on! 37. Know who you want to be and what you want to be known for. Do you have an idea for what you want your public reputation to be and what your business will be known for? What do you want people to think of when they say your business name? 38. Protect and manage your online reputation. Use tools such as Google Alerts and Naymz to monitor your online accounts and track what people are saying about you and your Tarot services on the Internet. If someone says something negative about you, offer to help them with whatever problems they may be having with your business.

Productivity Strategies

39. Create an editorial calendar. Backup your blog with at least 3 months’ worth of content and sprinkle it across your blog publishing schedule. This will take a massive load off your shoulders and give you a lot of extra time to be productive in other areas of your business. 40. Outsource minor tasks that take up too much time. Do you really have time to answer every email you get personally, schedule all those Skype appointments with every client, or check your social media account every 5 minutes? You might – but is it really productive or giving you the best results in your business? Probably not. Lighten your load: get the minor stuff out of the way and invest in either automation software or a personal manager to help you manage the little details of your business. 41. Create a schedule or “to-do” list. If you’re having trouble keeping track of what needs to be done, make an appointment with yourself once a week to review all the tasks you need to complete as well as the goal(s) you’d like to accomplish in the upcoming week, and create a schedule that outlines all the tasks you’ve chosen to finish in that week. 42. Prioritize your tasks. You’ll want to pair this together with tip #41: segment your tasks in order from highest to lowest priority, and always do the most important tasks first. If ALL your tasks are high-priority, then chances are you need to get your Tarot business goals straightened out and review tip #6. For a normal day, you should only have about 2 – 3 (not including readings) high-prioritytasks to complete every day. 43. Hire a virtual assistant. If your workload is getting out of control and you find yourself no longer being able to keep track of the little things, it’s best to eliminate the little things entirely from your list of things to do. And this is where virtual assistants come in – like gifts from the universe. (Note from Brigit: This was a game-changer for me. I hired my assistant, Kim, in March 2013 and my business has grown BIG time since then. Having Kim on-board has freed up my time to focus on doing what I do best – creating new material, connecting with my community and inspiring others to read Tarot with confidence. I highly recommend hiring help, even if it’s just for a few hours a week. You’ll see what a HUGE difference it makes. And no, you can’t have Kim!) 44. Allow guest bloggers and speakers on your site. You won’t have to come up with creative content on your own, and you’ll be giving your readers some diversity by allowing other guest bloggers and experts to share their stories and advice. 45. Host free and endorsed Tarot readers on your site. The effect of this is two-fold: number one – you help other Tarot readers establish themselves and build your reputation as a Tarot business coach, and number two – visitors will have the opportunity to either purchase or request a reading from someone else…which is extremely helpful if you have way too many orders in your backlog scheduled over more than a couple months.

Collaboration Strategies

46. Take on a business partner. Ideally, you’d choose to partner with someone who fills the gap in areas where you’re weak. For example: if you’re more of the mystical, creative type, your best bet is to partner up with someone who is practical and knows how to look after their resources. It’s all about balance here. 47. Get a store or other large company to host or sponsor your Tarot event. Good for local events, this spreads awareness of your business and can get you known as the “neighborhood Tarot reader”. 48. Pursue joint ventures. You receive all the benefits of having a business partner – with the added bonus of gaining access to another expert’s audience. 49. Consider cross-promotions with experts in related fields. You’re promoting each other’s business – what could possibly go wrong here? 50. Host a panel, radio show, or conference with other Tarot experts. This will immediately give you “expert status”. Plus you’ll make friends with other Tarot professionals you could end up joint venturing or doing cross-promotions with (review tips #48 and 49). 51. Crowdfund a project. This is a wonderful option for Tarot entrepreneurs who need capital fundraising. Good for really complex projects – so you probably won’t need to do this often. But it raises awareness of your business really fast with your customers and social network. Use Kickstarter or Indiegogo to get started. 52. Join a Tarot mastermind group. If you can’t afford a personal coach or mentor (review tip #33), this is probably the next best thing. Join a Facebook group or Google+ Hangout of around 4 – 6 people and make an agreement to hold each other accountable for projects you promise to complete each week in your business.

Psychological Tactics

53. Add personal development techniques and coaching strategies to your Tarot readings. If you want to make a big emotional impact on your client during a reading, you’ll need to understand certain principles of human behavior. Neurolinguistics is a great subject to learn if you really want to get inside your client’s mind. As a Tarot professional, it’s your responsibility to make sure you use these tools with great care of others’ emotions and not to abuse your authority. 54. Study business psychology. Research what motivates people to buy – and use the techniques in a responsible way. A great place to start on this topic is Social Triggers. 55. Read Influence. The title pretty much speaks for itself. All great marketers read this book. 56. Set clear boundaries. Make it clear just how much personal information you will accept from your clients, and how close of a relationship you are willing to have. If you do decide to have a very close, intimate relationship with your clients, the pros are the emotional connection – but if you’re not careful there’s also the potential of a client growing too dependent on you and your readings, and they might start abusing your services. To avoid this, review tip #25 and read this. 57. Learn how to manage others. If you’re going to be hiring anyone, or even outsourcing to other freelancers or companies, you’re going to want to learn how to manage people. Now this doesn’t mean you need to act like a control freak! Managing people well involves learning how to communicate effectively, share the goals and vision you have of your Tarot business with others, and delegate tasks to people based on their strengths. 58. Develop leadership skills. Get a copy of Leadership 101 by John Maxwell. Understand what makes a great leader and then focus on building your Tarot career around that. 59. Share ALL your secrets. It’s no longer sensible to be so concerned with idea theft. I mean, we live in the Aquarian age – information is free-flowing and limitless! And visitors of your site will not tolerate a tight-lipped Tarot blogger. You must come clean – otherwise you’ll lose them forever and they’ll just find their information someplace else.

Expand Your Reach

60. Book speaking gigs. Tarot conferences, spiritual universities, psychic stores and research organizations…there are loads of opportunities to expand your speaking career. If this is important to your long-term career goals, you’ll want to book yourself anywhere you can. 61. Connect with Tarot partners overseas. The Internet makes this option really easy to do. Ideally, you could partner with people who are bilingual, and offer to host them as endorsed Tarot readers on your site – so that there is always the option of offering your clients readings in languages other than English. 62. Hire a publicist. If you really want to become one of those famous Tarot readers who get interviewed on major TV shows and works with celebrities, then a professional publicist is a must for you. You’ll need to come out of pocket quite a bit, though. 63. Purchase advertisements on Tarot-related websites, new age magazines, and local newspapers. As long as you have a strategic plan in place for where you put the ad and why, this still remains an excellent choice to draw more clients to your business. 64. Do TV, radio, and YouTube interviews. Connect with other Tarot readers or intuitive experts on their podcast, radio or television show, or even their YouTube channel. This tactic could end up bringing loads of online traffic, depending on how well known the interviewer is. 65. Volunteer as a guest in another expert’s course. Depending on the size of the expert’s audience, this option could result in thousands of potential Tarot clients being referenced to your site every day – for as long as the course is made available. This immediately establishes your credibility and visitors will be more inclined to trust you. 66. Offer guest posts to popular blogs in Tarot-related fields. If you’re not already doing this one, what are you waiting for? Research popular blogs in astrology, numerology, life coaching, entrepreneurship, etc. and start submitting epic articles for them to publish.

Think Like a CEO

67. Hire an accountant. Once your Tarot career grows to a certain size, managing your financial accounts will probably become more difficult – which is why it’s the best time to start thinking about hiring a professional accountant. But that doesn’t mean you should skimp on learning the ropes yourself, at least the basics like creating a balance sheet and income statement. After all, accounting is the “language of business”. If you want to succeed financially, you’re going to have to understand the numbers. 68. Track and manage your cash flow. You can use your regular accounting program for this or online services like Mint (personal) or Outright (business). 69. Utilize A/B testing. If you want to know which headlines or call-to-action buttons work the best for your audience, then you’ll need to experiment until you get it right. 70. Create a system. If you want to leave a big mark in the Tarot community, create your own Tarot system for professionals or clients. Perhaps you could create software or some other automation tool that could add more value to your Tarot readings – then get others to use your system by spreading the word. This will involve a bit of creative thinking on your part. 71. Copyright or trademark your Tarot products, services, and brand names. Though I am far from being an advocate in protection against “idea theft”, I do believe certain precautions should be made when it comes to your products and systems, especially as your Tarot career starts to boom. To protect your assets, be extra cautious and make sure you legally own your own stuff – it’ll save you months or even years of court trouble later if someone decides to come out of the woodwork and claim your stuff as their own. 72. Keep track of your Google Analytics. Track your visitors, bounce and conversion rates. See what keywords and channels people use to find your website. 73. Leave a legacy in the Tarot community. In order to do this, you’re going to need a vision (review tip #7). What legacy can you leave in the Tarot universe? Who can you impact and how will it influence the future of how Tarot is practiced? What wisdom will you leave for future generations of Tarot readers? Examples of ancient and modern legends in the Tarot world include: Arthur Edward Waite, Pamela Wilson, Aleister Crowley, Mary K Greer, Joan Bunning, Rachel Pollack, Biddy Tarot, etc. Will you be next?

Social Media and Online Marketing Strategies

74. Choose 3 – 4 social media accounts. Unless you plan on providing consistent, valuable content on each account, then you don’t want to spread yourself too thin. Choose just 1 or no more than 4 social accounts that you’ll use to interact with your audience on a regular basis. 75. Schedule social outposts. Sign up for a free account on either Hootsuite or Buffer and schedule a few days or a whole week’s worth of social media content. You don’t want to spend too much time on social media – get this out of the way so you can have more time to focus on more productive business tasks and strategies. 76. Offer free advice and links to helpful sites on your social media accounts. If you’re really trying to help your audience, try not to post content that’s purely self-promotional. Offer free advice, Tarot card tips of the day, or even links to other articles and videos that have nothing to do with your site but you know will be helpful to your readers. 77. Develop your SEO strategy. Think of it as a long-term strategy – because that’s exactly what it is. There is no “magic formula” to beat the search engines at their own game, so just get that out of your head right now. When you’re first starting, don’t worry about being on the front page of Google. Simply focus on providing valuable content on your site, and your ranking will gradually improve on its own. Use keywords and meta descriptions that are relevant and accurate for your site, and don’t stress yourself over the rest. (As you grow, you can hire a company or person to take care of SEO for you.) 78. Hold contests and giveaways. Be social and active online and shake things up every now and then by hosting friendly contests and random giveaways with your readers. 79. Do webinars and teleseminars. If you’re promoting a new product or service, this is a good promotional strategy to initially get people to sign up. However, more and more people online are growing distrustful of webinars, as they usually end up getting a lot of promotion shoved in their face with absolutely no valuable content. Make sure you even out the scale by giving your readers a good enough reason to attend. 80. Launch an app. As the world becomes more mobile-friendly, you’ll want to continue to remain in the minds of your readers by giving them something to remember you by. You could hire a developer to create an app that sends out free “card of the day” tips or automated readings.

Ways to Give Back

81. Donate a percentage of your earned income to your favorite non-profit organization. If you want to grow your Tarot career and also work to further an important social cause or environmental concern, then decide on a fixed percentage of your income (between 5 – 10%) that you are willing to tithe every month to an organization you support. (Note from Brigit: I regularly donate to Kiva.org and support women across the world in starting up their own businesses. I highly recommend Kiva as a way of giving back.) 82. Offer free mini readings at orphanages or senior homes. Give everyone a chance to have fun with the Tarot, even those who cannot buy a formal reading from you. 83. Teach local intuitive development courses and workshops. What better way to promote spiritual awareness in your neighborhood or community than to teach people how to develop their intuitive abilities? Also consider offering Tarot classes for your fellow local readers. 84. Authors – donate copies of your published books. There are tons of non-profit organizations and book donation programs you can collaborate with. Also, be sure to promote yourself as a local author by sending copies and offering to give readings at your community library. 85. Connect with psychic research organizations. Speak with spiritual scientists, transpersonal psychologists, and parapsychologists and share your own personal stories or research methods on how you discovered your psychic abilities. 86. Join intuitive awareness campaigns. Offer to speak or partner with groups whose mission is to promote the awareness of our spiritual connection, such as the Center for Spiritual Living community or the Shift Network. 87. Have a bunch of free stuff on your site – a resources list. Offer your readers a list of free tools and resources you used to create your Tarot business, as well as a bunch of free articles and content that will help them get started with their own Tarot careers. The best way to grow is to turn around and give back.

Now It’s Your Turn…

Whew! We’ve covered a lot here today. But all this information is meaningless until you decide to put it into action. So grab a pad and pencil, or open your Evernote, and start putting your action plan together. Now answer the question: What 5 business strategies will you focus on improving this year to achieve ultimate success in your Tarot career? Also, what other business advice or strategies would you give fellow Tarot professionals who are just starting out? Share your wisdom in the comments below.

About Kyana Mayfield

Kyana Mayfield is an entrepreneur, intuitive counselor, and a self-proclaimed conscious business strategist. She specializes in helping spiritual entrepreneurs and holistic business owners transform their online brand and grow into successful conscious leaders who change the world. Visit her website at NewWorldTarot.com.

In the last 12 months, I have spoken with over 70 aspiring Tarot business owners about how to grow their businesses. Some are doing amazingly and are well on their way to building a business they love and that rewards them on many levels. But others are really struggling and having a hard time creating a business that is truly serving their inner and outer needs.

So it got me thinking. What is it that stops some Tarot businesses from thriving and fulfilling their greatest potential?

Here are my 10 reasons why your Tarot business isn’t thriving… yet! That’s right – if you can address these issues, you’ll be well on your way to creating your dream business that is filled with abundance.

1. You don’t know your WHY

Are you clear on WHY you do what you do? I mean it – why are you doing this? Why are you in business? Why do you want this?

If you go into business without knowing your ‘big why’, you’ll find those obstacles and challenges along the way so much more difficult to overcome. You’ll wonder why you’re staying up to 2am tweaking your website, or why you’ve just turned down a social invite so you can write a blog post that’s scheduled for tomorrow. You’ll also find it more difficult to receive, especially around money. And you’ll find it hard to know when to say ‘no’ – and when to say ‘yes’.

For me, my ‘big why’ has always been about inspiring my community to connect with the Tarot , honouring my unique talents of spirituality and business, and supporting my whole family in a way that we can travel and truly experience life together.

So what’s your ‘big why’?

2. You’re selling, selling, selling

So, you’re a Tarot reader. You create your website with your home page, your about page, and your services page. Done!

Uh, no.

Do you see the trouble with this picture? You’re just selling, selling, selling. “Buy a Tarot reading with me!” “Buy my eBook!” “Buy!!”

A visitor will come into your site, look around, decide they don’t want a Tarot reading, and will then leave. And you know what? There’s not really any reason to come back. So, “Buy-Bye” potential customer.

So what can you do instead? Give. That’s right – you need to give before you receive.

Perhaps you give away a free mini guide on how to attract love using the Tarot cards. Perhaps you share your unique Tarot card meanings. Or perhaps you write a compelling blog or newsletter about how your clients are working with the Tarot in unique and wonderful ways.

What can you give to your potential customers?

3. You’re trying to help ‘everyone’

A question I often ask Tarot business owners is, “Who do you serve?”

And the typical response? “Oh, anyone who wants a Tarot reading!”

I know we are all very capable people and we CAN serve many different people with our talents and skills. But the more you can define your ideal client, the better.

Think about it. If I’m nursing a broken heart, I could visit a Tarot reader who just does “3-Card Tarot Readings” or I could visit a Tarot reader who dedicates her whole practice to love readings and has the perfect spread for break-ups. Which one am I going to choose?

An engaging way to identify your ideal client is to think about your top 10 clients. What is common about them? Was it the question(s) they asked? Was it their demographics (e.g. young women)? Was it their core issues (e.g. self-esteem)? Or something else?

Start to build a picture of the type of client you serve the best. Then, create your offerings to serve that client.

Who do you want to serve and how?

4. You’re not charging what you’re worth

Oh boy. This is a BIG one!

If your business is struggling financially, or you’re not attracting the right type of client, then you have to ask yourself – am I charging what I’m worth?

Pricing your offers has to be one of the most challenging aspects of running a business. Why? Because it brings up so many of your insecurities and feelings around self-worth.

But if you want to run a thriving business, you have to charge what you are truly worth and honour the value you deliver to your clients.

Do your prices reflect your value?

5. You don’t have a loyal community

By our very nature, humans are ‘communal’ beings. We like to gather in groups, particularly with like-minded people. We like to feel like we ‘belong’ and we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.

So, as a Tarot business owner, you have a huge opportunity to create your very own community and build personal relationships and networks of trust with those in your circle. This also has benefits for your business, as people are more likely to make a purchase with you when they know, like and trust you.

However, many struggling businesses don’t seem to understand the value of having a loyal community. Visitors come and go and there’s no way of bringing people into your space through community.

So here’s what you can do. Create a Facebook page for your business. Offer a weekly newsletter to stay connected. Hold free teleseminars or webinars to bring your community together. And remember, you have to give to receive, so consider what you can truly give to your community in the process.

How will you create a loyal community?

6. You’re scared of marketing

Marketing is for sleazebags, right?! Wrong!

For the soul-centred business owner, marketing is simply a way to share your gifts and talents with the world.

You want to help people, right? Well you need to get yourself out there and make it know that you’re here to help! That’s all that marketing is.

What’s more, if you’re going to run your own business, you need to be prepared to invest in building your marketing knowledge. I often say that running a successful Tarot business is 50% Tarot and 50% business and marketing.

How will you get your message out to the world? Here are 78 marketing ideas… and hey, here’s another 87 on top of that. No excuses!

7. You don’t know what you really want

Many struggling Tarot business owners are struggling because they don’t know what they really want! How much income do you want to make? How many clients do you want each month? How many new Facebook Likes do you need?

I know it myself. When I set an intention of what I really want, it happens. And when I don’t set that intention? Guess what – it doesn’t happen because it never had the energy around it to manifest.

Ask yourself – what do I really want from my business? What are your financial, spiritual and personal goals?

8. You’re trading time for money

It is so easy to get stuck in the trap of charging by the hour when you’re reading Tarot. “A 30 minute reading costs $X. A 60 minute reading costs $Y.” But if you’re pricing your readings like this, you’ve got it all wrong.

Think about the value that you offer your clients. Perhaps you help a client to map out a completely new career path that now serves their Higher good, thanks to your Tarot reading. How much is that worth? Or perhaps you help a client to reconnect with her son on a deeper level. Could you even put a price on the value of a significantly improved relationship?

Avoid the temptation to price your readings based on the time invested. Position your Tarot readings on the value (or the transformation) created and price them accordingly.

What’s more, when you think in terms of value not time, you’ll probably find new ways of working with your clients. For example, you may offer a 6 month transformation package with multiple readings and ‘homework’ in between.

What value do you add to your clients’ lives?

9. You’re treating your business as a hobby

I’ve seen it over and over – you say you’re running a business, but in actual fact you’re running a hobby.

What’s the difference? Well, people running a hobby don’t really care how much money they’re making (in fact, they may even be running at a loss), don’t have set working schedules, don’t invest in building their business know-how and don’t find ways to improve how they operate.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with having a hobby instead of business. Just make sure you are consciously choosing one or the other.

If you’re ready to run a business and not a hobby, then start treating your business like a real business. Get financial and legal advice. Set up clear processes to manage customers and profit. Brush up on your business skills. Be professional. Invest in your professional and personal development.

Choose now – are you a business or a hobby?

10. You’re waiting for someone else to give you permission to succeed

Sadly, I see this a lot. Instead of grabbing the bull by the horns and going for it, many struggling business owners are waiting for someone to give them permission to move forward and succeed. They want someone to tell them what to do or give them the nod of approval before taking the next step.

But running your own business isn’t like that.

In fact, you’ve got to be prepared to do nearly everything off your own bat. No-one is going to tell you what to do next. Sure, you might have a business coach or a supportive peer as a sounding board, but at the end of the day, it’s YOUR business and YOUR decisions that will power it forward.

So, what are you waiting for?

If you’re serious about building a thriving Tarot business, then get cracking. Make sure you know your ‘why’ and who you want to serve, you’re charging based on the value you deliver (not just the time you invest), you’re building a loyal community with high value content, and you’re investing in your business.

And if you’re super fired up, book a complimentary Discovery Session with me today. We’ll talk about your business vision and strategy, what’s getting in the way of you being successful, and assess the next steps in your journey.

What 1 action will you take today to create a thriving business?

Get ready to get INSPIRED! Today, I want to share with you the powerful stories of a handful of aspiring Tarot readers from the Biddy Tarot Network who have truly transformed their life (and others’) through Tarot.

I can’t tell you how much joy it brings me to hear these stories and to know that these people’s lives have changed simply by connecting with the Tarot and using the Tarot to connect with others.

I know in my own life, Tarot has opened so many doors I would never have thought possible. It gave me a creative outlet through my 20s as I studied at University and worked in corporate roles. It gave me something to focus on un my early 30s while I raised my baby girls (who are now almost 3 and 5!). And now, it gives me abundance on so many levels and enables me to work from home and support my family, whilst helping and inspiring many, many people across the world.

I feel so blessed to have Tarot in my life and I want to be able to share that joy with you by opening your mind up to the possibilities that are available to you.

And do you know what? You don’t have to be a 5th generation psychic, have a crystal ball, or wear crushed velvet to embrace Tarot in your life. The aspiring readers you are about to meet are ordinary people just like you and me. What they share is a love for Tarot and the courage to step into their fullest potential as Tarot readers, by reading on the Biddy Tarot Network. They have successfully taken this tool – the Tarot cards – and have used it to empower not only their own lives but others’ lives too… and the results have been magical!

Let’s meet these beautiful people…

Eva Leppard

“I’ve had a wonderful and fulfilling career in Education for nearly 20 years but I’d always felt that there was ‘something’ else waiting for me. Through an amazing set of synchronicities I was led to Tarot and now I know what I want to be when I grow up :).

“I’m currently building my own website, ready to launch my own business in September. I would have never thought that adding another item on my to-do list, which includes teaching and raising 4 small children, would have been fulfilling, but every time I send off a new reading I feel completely energised.” – Eva Leppard, Coriander Blue Tarot

Melody Millward

“Reading for Biddy Tarot Network has given me the confidence to pursue tarot full time. I recently left my day job and my paid readings are beginning to come in more now that I have more time to focus on my career in tarot.” – Melody Millward, Northwest Tarot

Sandra Denda

“Tarot had always been my secret passion. When I began providing free readings I realised that my education as a life coach and healer was going hand in hand by using tarot as a helping tool.

“There isn’t a better feeling in the world than being able to help others by the means of tarot. You can really hit it on the nail without knowing any previous information. This is what impresses the client and you have their immediate trust. I since opened my own website and have had quite a few successes.” – Sandra Denda

Dee Dee Mozeleski

“When I was a teenager I practiced reading cards for friends and family but a few years ago I had a chance to meet a woman who was absolutely gifted with an understanding of cards. She suggested I learn to read for people other than my friends and close network.

“So I joined the Biddy Tarot Network. What a life changing experience that has been! I have had a chance to not only meet so many people, all with questions about their lives, but I’ve also had a chance to get to know me better by reading cards for others. I never imagined that I would have the confidence to read for anyone besides myself and my daughter – BTN changed that.” – Dee Dee Mozeleski, Bubbles Deux

Julia Chalmers

“The BTN has enabled me to take action and start doing readings and not just thinking about it! Without starting on the BTN I am not sure if I would actually be brave enough to start to do readings. Now I am feeling it is possible for me to become Professional Tarot Reader.” – Julia Chalmers, Inspired by Astrology

Cassandra Shea

“I was definitely terrified of reading for people online. I hadn’t done it much, in general, but I was worried about connecting with a querent through something intangible. I wasn’t sure if I was going to pick up on their energy enough.

“Now that I’ve started building experience reading for others, I feel comfortable charging for my readings outside of the BTN. I didn’t know I would get to that place as quickly as I did, but I really feel like offering free Biddy readings is what did it.” – Cassandra Shea, Inner Self Notes

Stephanie MacKay

“The biggest way that Tarot has changed my life is by giving me much more confidence to express myself. When I first began doing readings I sometimes held back, unsure if I should say what I was thinking and I did this in other areas of my life as well. The practice that I have gained has allowed me to not only express myself clearly in readings but in all areas of my life. I now have the confidence and experience to do paid readings as my main source of income.” – Stephanie MacKay

Victoria Wilson

“I was at a low point in my life – I had been fired from my job. I decided that was the opening that I needed to learn how to read the Tarot cards. Soon, I stumbled upon the BTN and I joined straight-away.

“Being a BTN free Tarot reader has opened my eyes to new possibilities that I would have never seriously considered only one year before. Reading Tarot has inspired me to take my career in a totally new and unexpected direction. Reading about Brigit’s story of leaving her corporate career to create a life in which she can work from home, be her own boss, and support her family while spending more quality time with them was very inspirational to me. Then I met other readers who were also building careers and small businesses doing what they love to do and helping people along the way. So I decided to create my own online business and Tarot blog, Eternal Athena Tarot.

“While Eternal Athena Tarot is a part-time gig for now and still has a long ways to go, I am so happy to wake up every morning knowing that I will spend the day inching closer towards something that is truly mine.” – Victoria Wilson, Eternal Athena

Scott Rattigan

“I’ve read the Tarot for over 20 years now, but it’s almost always been for family and friends, and, with only a couple of exceptions, never really been a skill I’d utilised outside of that circle. I wanted to create a deeper connection with my reading and my talents, to flex my Tarot muscles and see if I could put them to good use.

“Now that I’ve been doing readings for the BTN, I’ve had the opportunity to read for people from different backgrounds, countries and cultures, and I’ve been able to see just how much assistance and guidance it can provide to people who are complete strangers when their request comes in, but who are willing to open their lives to you for help and support.” – Scott Rattigan

Cyndee Saechao

“Before BTN I did readings for friends and family for kicks and giggles, it was mostly for fun. Now, I’m in awe at the accuracy of the cards and after having a really positive experience myself, I want to be able to offer my services to others and am now pursuing a professional career as a reader.” – Cyndee Saechao, Tarot by Cyndee

So, dear Tarot reader, be inspired to see how far you can take Tarot and how far Tarot can take you! The possibilities are endless and the journey is indeed whatever you make it. Enjoy the ride!

Over to You…

How has Tarot changed your life for the better? How have you been able to help and inspire others? Leave your stories in the comments below.

Imagine a client Ann who comes to you saying that she keeps getting involved with the wrong men and asking when will she meet the ‘right’ one? She draws the Emperor and the 6 of cups as obstacles on her path. You reflect back that issues from her past and her relationship with her father, might be preventing her from having a fulfilling relationship. She quietens, and mumbles ‘the men are the obstacle: they don’t let me do what I want!’

Her relationship with her father was ‘fine’, but strict. ‘I was his only daughter’. You ask: were her boyfriends ‘fatherly’ towards her? Ann says ‘No’, crosses her arms and looks away guiltily, and says ‘my boyfriend was caring not fatherly, when he paid off my large credit card debt!’

As Tarot readers we have all seen clients like Ann, not owning their history or responsibility in relationship patterns and resisting your interpretations. What you are encountering is, as Sigmund Freud called them, ‘Defence mechanisms’! Defence Mechanism’s do not ‘explain’ behaviour but are unconscious distortions of reality, used to protect our ‘egos’ when there is conflict, stress or painful feelings/memories (http://faculty.atu.edu/swomack/3023ch2/sld006.htm 2014).

http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/16234/1/The-Ego-Defense-Mechanisms.html

They are OK in moderation e.g. when there is a crisis and you have to function for a short period but can become maladaptive if used all the time and unconsciously.

Ann has some conscious awareness about her problems e.g. the debt payment but seems to be unconsciously using denial, avoidance, rationalisation, projection and displacement because the reading is uncomfortable for her, and is highlighting her lack of responsibility. What are these Defence mechanisms?

Key Defence Mechanisms

Denial

Defence against external threat e.g. loneliness, illness; criticism; not picking up on another’s unhappiness; not taking responsibility for changing. Ann’s denies her difficult relationship with her father, projects her ‘father’ issues onto her boyfriends and avoids her own part in the relationship dynamic. (4 Pentacles, 4 Cups, 9 Cups)

Rationalisation

Assigning logical or socially desirable motives to what we do, so that we seem to have acted rationally or properly e.g. Ann’s boyfriend was being ‘caring’ not fatherly. (8 Swords, Knight of Swords)

Projection

Placing our own undesirable traits (shadow) in an exaggerated manner onto others e.g. Ann blaming her ex boyfriends – it’s all their fault; accepting their fatherly nurturance/rescuing of her with the debt payment, yet feeling frustrated and disliking their telling her what to do. Unconsciously, she may want to be rescued or fathered by her partners and is replaying out or projecting her difficult relationship with her father (Emperor, 6 cups) onto them. (4 Cups, Devil, 9 cups, Knight of Cups, Fool). Ann denies the connection between this and her current relationships.

Displacement

Displacing an unacceptable feeling towards a person or situation onto someone or something else: e.g. Ann’s anger towards her father is displaced onto her boyfriends. The ‘other’ is made bad ‘not me’. (Hilgard 1979 et al). (Devil)

Why is this happening?

Ann is likely to be reliving her unhappy relationship with her father via her boyfriends, but not wanting to confront uncomfortable feelings or take responsibility. Ann wants a quick fix! (Magician).

Here’s what you can try

If you have a similar client to Ann:

• Empathy: Standing in Ann’s shoes. Don’t be critical or judgmental but acknowledge the difficult feelings. It is hard when you feel like this about relationships Ann, and that it’s the men who are the problem. This and the cards, help Ann to get in touch with emotional energy, not just logic.
• Acceptance Show respect for Ann’s resistance/defences by accepting the way she feels. Ann – you really feel that men are the difficult ones.
• Let uncomfortable feelings sit with Ann as this provides emotional compulsion to change. Don’t try to solve the client’s problems. Saying ‘we’- implies you have taken on the problem as your own.
• Use silence which creates pressure for the client to fill the space.
• Ask an open ended question, not ‘yes or no’ questions. How do you feel about your ex –boyfriend having paid off your debt?
• Immediacy Tune in to what is going on here- right now! Talk about ‘the elephant in the room!’ Raise the issue up front about what is happening right now, by saying something about what the client is expressing, either verbally or via body language. E.g. Ann, you have gone quiet and seem uncomfortable. What’s happening for you?
• Colombo technique: The client may see you as having all the answers, pushing against your interpretations, misunderstanding your role or not wanting to take responsibility. Take a position of naiveté-curiosity; be less knowledgeable and inexperienced, uncertain and puzzled (like Detective Colombo from the 70’s TV show). This way you provide less of a position against which to resist. Try ‘agreeing’ with Ann e.g. ‘Ann your ok with letting your ex being caring and paying off your debt but you don’t want to be told what to do? I am confused’. This will keep clients constantly having to explain things to you. Treat the client like an expert teaching you about their situation: the more the client is explaining, the more he/she is working and the less he/she is resisting!

All these techniques can help you with clients like Ann who are defensive and resistant. You and your clients will find consultations much more satisfying and less like a battlefield!
Jenne

References: Effective Techniques for Dealing with Highly Resistant Clients by Clifton W. Mitchell 2012
http://faculty.atu.edu/swomack/3023ch2/sld006.htm 2014; Intro to Psychology Hilgard 1979 et al. http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/16234/1/The-Ego-Defense-Mechanisms.html

About Jenne

Jenne Perlstein MBBS, BSW, Cert IV TAE, CMC, Prof MemberTGA, Cert Appl Astrology, is an experienced Tarot reader/counsellor of 19 years and Social Worker of 28 years. Jenne has a degree in Medicine including psychology and psychiatry. Jenne teaches’ Tarot Counselling and Mental Health Skills’ course as an Introduction to Counselling for Tarot Readers and offers a supervision group, in the hope these build confidence, enhance readers skills, offer boundaries, protection for the reader and a depth in helping with client’s issues. Jenne also has other course such ‘Secret Ingredient to Relationship Readings’ and ‘Difficult Clients’. All courses available through: http://globalspiritualstudies.com/presentations/jenne-perlstein/

jenne@tarotastrocounselling.com.au
www.tarotastrocounselling.com.au

Woo! You’re fired up and ready to start reading Tarot professionally. But where do you start? And when are you really ready to flip the ‘Open’ sign on your Tarot reading business?

If you’re about to start your Tarot business but you’re feeling like a deer in headlights, startled by what’s ahead of you, breathe a sigh of relief! Starting up your Tarot business doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. In fact, the sooner you can get started, the better because there’s a whole lotta potential right out in front of you, just waiting for you to say ‘yes’ to!

So get ready to take action as I share with you 3 simple steps to kick-start your Tarot business. Yes, you can be up and running in no time. Just get yourself out there and do it!

Step #1: Get Clear on What You’re Offering

Have at least 2 or 3 different Tarot readings that you can offer your clients.

The easiest way is to determine your Tarot reading offers is to organise your readings according to the time invested (e.g. a 30 minute Tarot reading and a 60 minute Tarot reading), the number of Tarot cards drawn (e.g. 4-7 cards or 8-12 cards) or the number of questions asked (although keep in mind, how will you define what constitutes just 1 question?).

Or you might want to have different readings for different topics or spreads such as a relationship reading or a career direction spread.

But why not take it a step further and consider what you’re really offering here.

What value do you offer your clients when they have a Tarot reading with you? What changes do you inspire? What kinds of transformation do you support? What’s truly different in your clients’ lives after they have invested time, energy and money with you?

Once you’re clear on what value you’re truly offering, then create your Tarot reading packages around those outcomes. For example, you might support your clients in connecting with their soul purpose so you create a “Connect with Your Soul Purpose Reading”. Or you might support clients through major life transitions so you create a “Smooth Transitions Reading”.

Step #2: Set Your Prices and Have a Way to Collect Payment

So you know what Tarot readings you’re offering to your clients. Now you need to set your prices and have a way to collect payment.

Pricing is a delicate balance of many different elements from the value you deliver to your clients, to your personal income goals and even to self-worth and self-confidence.

The best place to start is by choosing 3 or 4 different price points for each type of reading. Then, bring yourself into a deeply relaxed state, connecting with your Higher Self and your heart chakra. In your mind’s eye, call out each price and see how this resonates with your heart. Go with the price that feels the best. Then commit to it and believe in it. You’ll know after a month or two of charging that particular price whether it’s resonating or not, and you can easily make adjustments later down the track. Don’t let it be something that gets in the way of you starting.

You’ll also need to make sure you’re ready to collect payment.

If you’re starting your Tarot business online, then the easiest way is to sign up for a PayPal account. That way, your clients can pay you via credit card or PayPal with a single click.

If you’re running a local Tarot business, then you can accept payment at the time of the reading but better yet, I recommend pre-payment at the time of booking (again, use PayPal).

Step #3: Find Your Platform

Awesome – you know what you’re offering and you’re ready to collect payment for your services. You’re one step away from being open for business!

Now you’ve got to find your platform. That is, how are you going to reach your potential clients and make a real difference in the world?

If you’re starting your Tarot business online, there are a number of options available. I strongly believe the best place to set up your online Tarot business is with your own website, on your own domain. It’s easily done – get yourself a website host (e.g. GoDaddy or Bluehost), a domain (usually through your host), install WordPress (again, you can usually do this with one click through your host), choose a theme (there are many free ones on WordPress) and voila, you’re done!

Avoid third party websites such as WordPress.com or Blogger. Why? Because you’re on their terms and not your own. And what if they decided tomorrow to shut up shop or ban Tarot readers from using their services (just like eBay did)? Eeks.

You could also create a Page on Facebook so you can quickly start offering Tarot readings. But again, Facebook is a third party provider so you lose control over your business. Best to treat this as a short-term strategy while you get your website up and running.

Etsy is another option especially as you can start offering your readings directly on your page. However, there are so many people selling Tarot readings at low prices that it’s likely you’ll find charging higher prices a lot more challenging.

If you’re starting your Tarot business locally, you can set up shop at your home (be mindful of your personal security and privacy), by offering a home visit service (again, be mindful of your safety and travel time), at a new age shop (and pay a commission or rent to the owner) or in a local café, bar or hairdresser (with permission from the owner, of course!!).

And You’re Open!

As soon as you have your Tarot reading offers, prices and platform, you’re ready to go. Flip that sign over and you’re open for business!

Of course, you’ll then want to focus on extending your reach and connecting with as many potential clients as possible. Start with my 78 strategies to market your Tarot business right here.

Over to You

If you have already started your Tarot business, what steps did you take to get up and running? What tips have you got for other aspiring Tarot professionals? Leave your comments and ideas below.

Pricing. This topic alone brings up so much anxiety, self-doubt and worry amongst professional Tarot readers. It forces readers to think deeply about self-worth and confidence as readers and business owners. In fact, many Tarot readers avoid thinking about pricing all together, keeping their Tarot reading prices stay at the same level, year in and year out – often doing themselves a disservice by charging too little and earning only a fraction of what their services are truly worth.

Yet, if you are to have a successful Tarot business, it is critical to set your Tarot reading prices at the right level.

So in today’s post, I want to share with you the 5 signs it’s time to raise your Tarot reading prices.

But before I do, I want to address the BIG fear that many Tarot readers have when raising their rates – will I lose clients?!

Well, I am going to put out something outrageous here – what if you were to actually gain more clients by raising your fees?!

Yes, it’s true. Oftentimes, higher rates attract more clients, particularly if you were under-charging to start with. It’s all about perceived (and actual) value. Let me explain.

Let’s say you wanted to get a massage as a special gift for yourself. At Shop A, a one hour massage is just $40. At Shop B, it’s $100. Sure, you could save yourself $60 at Shop A, but would it be the type of indulgent and luxurious experience you really wanted? Would you be confident that your masseuse was adequately trained and talented to give you a deeply relaxing massage? I know what I would much rather do – pay that little extra and get peace of mind.

That’s what perceived value is all about – higher rates (within reason, of course) often suggest higher quality and therefore impact the perceived value of your Tarot reading services.

(Of course, as professional and ethical Tarot readers, we need to make sure that we actually match that perceived value with actual value, by investing ourselves fully in our Tarot readings and giving the best experience we possibly can.)

So, how do you know when it is time to raise your Tarot reading rates? Here are 5 signs to look out for.

1. You want to give more, but you’re feeling tired and drained

This was me in 2013. I LOVED giving in-depth Tarot readings, with 10+ card readings, detailed explanations of the cards, beautiful woven stories and additional information such as Personal Year numbers and Birth Cards.

But I got tired, ever so tired.

Each of these readings took over an hour to complete, and yet I was still charging a rate that was reflective of a half hour time investment rather than a full hour. At times, I even felt resentful when a new Tarot reading request came through – not a good place to be!!

I knew I had to make a decision, fast. I could give less in my readings – but always with the feeling that I could have given more. Or I could continue to give my absolute best, but at a higher rate to reflect the value of the insight I was sharing and to honour the time and energy I invested in each reading. I chose the latter.

So, if you’re in a position where you are giving your absolute ‘everything’ to your Tarot readings and you want to keep it that way without feeling tired, drained or resentful, then consider raising your rates. Think deeply about the time and energy you invest as well as the value you share with your clients, and set your Tarot reading prices accordingly. Choose a price that makes you feel exuberated to go ‘above and beyond’ for your clients. You’ll feel WAY better about it and your clients will appreciate the ongoing value of your Tarot readings.

2. You’re falling short of your money goals

Sweet pea, you’re running a business here – remember that! If you’re not hitting your money goals right now, something needs to change.

Sure, you could revisit your goals and adjust them to something more ‘realistic’. But rather than simply ‘settling’ on an income goal that may be a lot lower than what you really wanted (or can sustain), why not experiment with raising your fees and increasing the flow of money coming into your business.

Remember, increasing your rates may indeed increase the number of clients who choose to work with you because the perceived value also increases. And more clients at higher rates means you’re much more likely to hit (or exceed!) your business goals.

3. You’ve got more Tarot reading bookings than you can comfortably handle

It’s a great problem to have – clients lining up to have a Tarot reading with you. But what happens when you’re getting 10 or more bookings in a day, or you’re having to read 10 hours non-stop every day just to keep up? I don’t know about you, but I can only take a few readings a day otherwise I completely burn out.

If you find yourself in the position where you have a long waiting list, you’re working long hours or you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number of Tarot reading bookings that you have, then it’s probably time to increase your prices.

And as your Tarot business grows, you may find that you want to free up your time to work on new projects, such as Tarot classes or online programs. By raising your rates, you can curb your demand for readings whilst still generating a similar income and giving yourself some extra hours in the day for other projects.

4. You haven’t raised your prices for a couple of years

If you haven’t increased your Tarot reading prices in the last 2 years, what have you been doing?!
Drama aside, it’s good practice to at least review your pricing every 1-2 years (in fact, I review my pricing every 3-6 months).

Check in with yourself – do my prices still accurately reflect the value I deliver to my clients?

It’s likely that your Tarot reading style has evolved and improved and, in turn, the value of your readings have increased. You’ve probably also advanced your Tarot reading skills with Tarot classes and programs. So make sure that your Tarot reading prices accurately reflect where you are right now, rather than where you were when you last raised your rates.

5. Your cards are telling you so

OK, we wouldn’t be Tarot readers if we didn’t consult our Tarot cards every now and then for ourselves, would we?!

If you’re feeling even just the slightest pull towards reviewing your Tarot reading prices, why not draw a few Tarot cards to see what they have to say.

If your prices are just about right, then you might expect to see cards such as the Four, Six, Nine or Ten of Pentacles, the Nine of Cups or the Justice card (think balance!).

But if your Tarot reading prices need your attention, then expect to see those cards in the reversed position – i.e. something is out of balance or the energy there is not flowing the way it ought to. You might also expect to see Tarot cards like the Five of Pentacles, Seven or Nine of Wands, or the Tower.

And, as always, listen in to your heart and your intuition. Put aside any fear or doubt about raising your rates, and instead ask yourself, “What would it feel like to charge more for my Tarot reading services?”

Exciting? Exhilarating? A little scary (but ‘good’ scary)?

Excellent!

If underneath all of the doubts and fears is a calm and centred certainty, then you’re on the right track. In fact, that intuitive feeling might just be the most powerful sign that it is indeed time to raise your Tarot reading prices!

Over to You

Are you ready to raise your Tarot reading prices? What feels intuitively right for you? Leave your comments below – I’d love to hear how this post resonates for you.

Can you remember a time when you were so engaged in your work, it didn’t even feel like work? Time just slipped away and hours felt like only minutes, as you were completely and utterly ‘in the zone’?
Perhaps you feel like this when you’re reading the Tarot cards or developing new Tarot reading techniques? Or perhaps you find yourself ‘in the zone’ when you’re teaching others how to read Tarot and inspiring beginners to transform their life with the Tarot cards?

It’s an amazing feeling, isn’t it?

You know you’re doing your best work and serving others at the highest level because you’re bringing your passions and your talents together in a magical (and highly productive) partnership.

The zone I’m talking about is called the “Zone of Genius” – a phrase coined by The Big Leap author, Gay Hendricks. (I highly recommend his book – it was a game changer for me.)

When we work within our Zone of Genius, we create magic!

Discovering Your Zone of Genius

So how do you find your Zone of Genius?

The thing to remember here is that everyone is different. For me, my Zone of Genius might be teaching groups how to read Tarot online or growing a thriving Tarot business. But for another Tarot reader, it might be working one-on-one with clients in a Tarot therapy session or reading Tarot at parties.

Your Zone of Genius is unique and individual to you. It is what makes you special.

To discover your Zone of Genius, ask yourself the following questions (adapted from The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks):

• List the last 3 things you did (or experiences you had) that brought you deep joy. What do these 3 things have in common?
• What do I most love doing? That is, I love it so much that I can do it for long stretches of time without getting tired or bored.
• What work do I do that doesn’t seem like work?
• In my work, what produces the highest ratio of abundance and satisfaction to amount of time spent? That is, what work do I love doing that delivers huge value?
• What are the special skills and talents that I’m gifted with?

You might also like to draw a Tarot card or two for each of the above questions to help add further insight.

Once you become consciously aware of what is within your Zone of Genius, you can start to create more opportunities to operate from this magical place.

What’s Not in Your Zone of Genius

It’s just as important to know what is not in your Zone of Genius.

Gay Hendricks talks about a further three zones which we operate from:

• Zone of Excellence – activities you do very well but don’t necessarily get a lot of joy from (e.g. completing 10 1-hour Tarot readings in one day)
• Zone of Competence – activities you can complete successfully but it’s not something you’re excellent at (e.g. uploading blog posts to WordPress)
• Zone of Incompetence – activities you dislike and that take a lot of time (and frustration) to complete (e.g. website coding)

Do you find yourself working from these zones? In fact, I’m going to bet you that you probably spend 80-90% of your time outside of your Zone of Genius, particularly if you’re feeling stressed, tired or run-down.

Take the test. Keep a diary for the next week and write down how much time you’re spending in each zone (and what you’re doing). You might be surprised at how much time you spend on activities that deliver neither value or joy.

How to Work More Within Your Zone of Genius

OK, so clearly we want to work more in our Zone of Genius.

One of the best ways to operate from your Zone of Genius is to make time for it. Easy, right? Prioritise and schedule your time around your Zone of Genius activities.

For example, if you’re a morning person, dedicate a couple of hours when you first get up to focusing on what’s in your Zone of Genius. Don’t open your Inbox or sign in to Facebook. Get moving on where you know you do your best work.

And of course, to work more within your Zone of Genius, you’ll want to work less in those areas that are not in your Zone of Genius (i.e. the Zone of Excellence, Competence and Incompetence).

Here’s how…

Give yourself permission to say ‘no’ to new opportunities that are not within your Zone of Genius. Sure, you might have a client who would love for you to read Tarot about a loved one who has passed, but perhaps mediumship is not in your Zone of Genius, so you politely decline.

Delegate or outsource activities that are in your Zone of Competence and Incompetence. For example, if website development and coding drives you nuts and you’d prefer to be reading Tarot, hire a web developer.

Automate. For example, instead of sending emails back and forth with your Tarot reading clients to set up a Skype call across different time zones, send them to an appointment scheduling service such as Time Trade (I use this for booking coaching calls and love it). It’ll save you a lot of time and a lot of headaches.

Limit your time doing activities that outside of your Zone of Genius. OK, so yes, as an online Tarot business owner, it’s important I spend time in my communities on social media but do I really need to spend hours in Facebook? Probably not.So instead, I limit myself to 15 minutes at set times of the day. Job done – move on!

Over to You

So, dear Tarot reader, what is in your Zone of Genius? What steps are you taking to create more time for working in your Zone of Genius? I’d love to hear your insights so share your comments below.

So you’re a Tarot reader and you’d love to read Tarot for everyone, right?

That’s great… but I have one question for you.

How are you going to reach “everyone”?

It takes time, it takes money and it takes energy to find just one Tarot reading client, let alone “everyone”!

And, more importantly, do you really want to read Tarot for everyone? I mean, do you really want to read Tarot for that lady who says she’s interested in a reading but doesn’t actually believe in all that “airy fairy mumbo jumbo”? Or that young guy who just wants to know if he’s going to “hook up” over the weekend?

I didn’t think so.

That’s why knowing your ideal Tarot reading client is so important.

It saves you time, money and energy finding clients. And it ensures that you are working with the right client, not just any client, doing your absolute best work within your Zone of Genius.

So how do you figure out who your ideal client really is?

Here are 3 ways to connect with your ideal Tarot reading client.

1. Have a Conversation with Your Favourite Clients

Pick 3 clients that you have absolutely LOVED working with. Perhaps they are super loyal clients who have been seeking Tarot readings with you for years. Or perhaps they are clients who totally energise you when you’re working with them. Maybe they are your highest value clients.

Select those 3 dream clients right now. Now, write down why you picked them. What makes them so amazing to work with? What do you know about their demographics (e.g. age, gender, occupation, country, etc.)? And what you do know about their values, beliefs and mindsets? Are there some common themes across these 3 super star clients?

Now for the challenging bit! Set up a time to have a 15-30 minute conversation with each of these 3 clients. It might be over a coffee or vino, on Skype or on the phone. The whole idea of this conversation is to get to know your ideal client. What are their hopes and dreams? What are their biggest challenges? Why did they choose to work with you and not someone else? How can you continue to support them?

Make sure you take lots and lots of notes (or better yet, ask permission to record the conversation). You’ll start to build up a very rich profile of your ideal client this way. And I bet your 3 dream clients will love you even more for going out of your way to find out more about the.

2. Run a Survey with Your ‘Tribe’

If you have a larger ‘tribe’ and you want to understand the common themes amongst this group quickly and easily, then a survey can be a great way to do it.

Create a survey using Google docs and ask your community a series of questions about themselves – similar to what you might ask if you were having a 1:1 conversation, but with some more quantitative responses. It’s also a good idea to ask a few general, free text questions like “In what kinds of situations do you turn to the Tarot cards for insight?” or “If we were on the phone together, what would the be number 1 question you would ask me?”

If you already have some idea of your ideal client types, you can ask your tribe to self-select which type they most identify with. Give a short description of each and see what proportion of your community fit into each type. Then, segment their answers to the other questions by client type so you can build up even more information about what makes each group different.

3. Connect Energetically with Your Ideal Client

OK this last one is very powerful and works incredibly well for Tarot readers in particular, thanks to our honed intuition!

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Take a moment to notice how relaxed and at peace you feel. Now, imagine a time when you were working in your zone of genius with a client. Perhaps you were doing a Tarot reading or teaching Tarot or something completely different.

Take note of what makes this situation really special and unique. What are you creating with the client? What’s happening here? What energy do you feel?

What do you know about them? Who are they? How old are they? What do they do for work? Are they wealthy or do they just have enough to get by? What else do you know about them?

Now think about the specific person you’re working with. Look into their eyes and feel your heart connect deeply with their heart. Connect with their energy and their inner essence. What do they believe about the world? What’s important to them? What are their goals and aspirations? What do they struggle with? What do they fear? Why have they come to you? How can you best help and support them? What makes them different to other people you’ve worked with?

Beautiful. Now give thanks to this person for sharing their energy with you. Then open your eyes.

Write down everything you learned about your ideal client during the visualization. What new information came to you?

You Know Your Ideal Client – Now What?

So you’ve connected with your ideal client and you’re starting to get a lot clearer about who it is you want to work with. Now what?

Well, it’s time to integrate that new knowledge into your website, your marketing materials, your blog posts, your newsletter, your social media updates and so on. Speak to the heart of your ideal client through your various platforms and engage with them on an authentic level.

Go where your ideal client hangs out and be useful.

And make strategic choices about where you spend your time and who you choose to connect with.

At the end of the day, if you try to reach ‘everyone’, you’ll end up engaging with no-one. But if you reach out to the people who value your services and with whom you do your best work, you’ll create magic.

At the start of this year, I was feeling frustrated, irritable and off-balance at the end of every work day. This wasn’t like me – something was up.

When I took the time to step back from my business, I realized something important.

I had temporarily lost connection with the soul of my business.

Instead of connecting with Spirit and being guided by my Higher Purpose, I found myself spending hours and hours in the minute details of my business, messing about with email provider settings (I’ve just moved to Ontraport and let me say, it’s been a steep learning curve!), worrying about the latest marketing strategies and getting caught up with big hairy audacious goals focused on numbers rather than something much deeper.

Sure – I have been a full-time Tarotpreneur long enough to know that not every day is filled with rainbows and unicorns and sometimes you just have to put in the hard yards to bring your dreams into full manifestation.

But this was something different.

I needed to get spirituREAL.

So I asked myself, “How can I make every work day beautiful, soulful, and in flow where I am doing my best work, fulfilling my higher purpose, being of service to the Universe and my community, and creating abundance?” (Not much to ask, is it?!)”

Once I put these practices into place, I found that nearly every day felt joyful, in flow and aligned. I can’t tell you what a wonderful feeling that is – to know that I am living in resonance with my spiritual path, in everything that I do.

My intention with sharing my personal practices with you is that you, too, can create full alignment in your business and keep it spirituREAL.

1. Draw a Weekly Oracle Card

Each week, I drew a ‘theme’ card to understand what it is I need to focus on to remain spiritually grounded in my business. Right now, I’m using the gorgeous Kuan Yin Oracle Deck by Alana Fairchild.

This 44-card deck is filled with “blessings, guidance and enlightenment from the divine feminine”. Not only does each card come with a deep and meaningful

Each week, I drew a ‘theme’ card to understand what it is I need to focus on to remain spiritually grounded in my business. Right now, I’m using the gorgeous Kuan Yin Oracle Deck by Alana Fairchild.

This 44-card deck is filled with “blessings, guidance and enlightenment from the divine feminine”. Not only does each card come with a deep and meaningful interpretation, it also comes with a guided visualisation that you can use to tap into the energy of the card (more on that shortly).

For this week, I drew the Orchid Priestess of Destiny with the message that everything is just as it is meant to be, as the Universe wishes it to be. Everything is falling into place and coming together in the most beautiful way. Thank-you Universe!

Every day, I focus on this message, feeling grounded and connected with my Higher Purpose.

Keep it SpirituREAL: Choose a Tarot or Oracle deck and draw a theme card for the week.

2. Meditate Daily

Each morning, before I start work, I close my eyes and I begin to visualize white, Universal light flowing through me. I ground myself through my feet on the floor, into the earth. And then I follow the guided visualization from the Kuan Yin card I have drawn for the week.

With the Orchid Priestess of Destiny, I have been visualizing myself in the middle of a spiral of energy and personal events, with the spiral continuing below and above me. The spiral below represents from where I have come – all the events and experiences that make me who I am right now. And the spiral above represents where I am heading – my evolution. Beside me is the energy of Kuan Yin herself, gently guiding me to the next step along my spiritual path.

This meditation reminds me why I’m here and how I can serve my higher purpose through Biddy Tarot.

In addition, every few days, I’ll do a longer guided visualisation from Radiance by Alana Fairchild or Experience Your Intuition. And if my energy is low or I’m feeling illness in any way, I’ll do a Chakra Balancing with Deepak Chopra.

These guided visualizations are so important in raising my vibration and connecting me with Source.

Keep it SpirituREAL: Make the time for your favourite guided visualisations and connect with your Source energy.

3. Draw 2 Cards for the Day

After my morning meditation, I draw two Tarot cards for the day ahead of me, asking two questions:

1. How can I be of service to my community?
2. How can I create abundance today?

Right now, I’m connecting with the Gaian Tarot. For example, today I drew the Explorer of Air reversed and the Teacher, respectively.

The Explorer of Air reminds me that I am here to communicate and share new insights with the Biddy Tarot community, while the reversal of this card reflects that today, it is communicating privately and personally. And here I sit, on a sunny window bench at my local café, writing to you about my personal spiritual practices, in the hope you’ll find a golden nugget that you, too, can apply to your practice.

The Teacher has been appearing a lot lately! How very fitting as I am coming up to the start of the LIVE TF1: Master the Tarot Card Meanings program. I am preparing for my role as teacher and how I can offer abundant gifts to my TF1 community. (I’m writing this post on Feb 5, and TF1 started on Feb 9.)

Each day, I take note of the cards and find ways to connect with and manifest their energies in my work. Powerful stuff!

Keep it SpirituREAL: Start your day with 1-2 meaningful questions and draw a Tarot card for each one. Let the energy of these cards permeate your day.

4. Reframe My Goals

As a high achiever, I am incredibly goal-oriented. That goal-orientation is mostly positive – it has helped me create a successful corporate career and now a successful Tarot business. But every now and then, goal-orientation has lead me off-track and feeling empty.

Consider the difference in energy around these two goals:

• Goal A: Enrol 200 people into the TF1 program.
• Goal B: Openly receive all those who are ready and willing to master the Tarot card meanings in my TF1 program.

When I focused on Goal A, I was highly motivated when setting the goal but then I became anxious as I watched the numbers every day and every hour throughout the TF1 launch. It didn’t feel great – who wants to feel anxious?! And what impact does my anxiety have on people considering the program?

When I decided to shift my focus to Goal B, my energy shifted. I no longer focused on what I didn’t have – “I need 50 more students to enrol!!” I focused on what I did have – “Wow, 150 aspiring Tarot readers have found their way into TF1 and are ready to master the Tarot card meanings. I can truly help these people!”

Keep it SpirituREAL: If your business goals are leaving you feeling anxious or drained, reframe them to something more soulful and abundant. Create goals that reflect gratitude for everything that comes to you.

5. Set Intentions with the Moon Cycles

One of my best friends, Eve, is BIG on moon cycles. Even with 3 kids and 1 on the way, she always finds time to honour the full moon and the new moon with an intention-setting ritual.

I guess it has rubbed off on me! While I don’t do a full ritual, I do spend some time reflecting on my intentions for the moon cycle ahead, in line with the astrological association for that new or full moon.

At every new moon, I write my intention on a piece of paper and store it away in my ‘manifestation box’ on my desk. At the full moon, I release that intention into the Universe, allowing it to flow gently until the next new moon and the next intention.

My intentions are blend of both business and personal, reflecting the true integration I seek out between the two.

Keep it SpirituREAL: Work with the moon cycles to set your business and personal intentions. (Mystic Mamma is an excellent resource for understanding the energy of each new and full moon.)

Over to You

What practices do you use in your business and work to keep it spirituREAL? Share your ideas below in the Comments.

Note from Brigit: I am so excited to welcome Beth Maiden to the Biddy Tarot blog this week. Beth is not only a talented Tarot reader & blogger at LittleRedTarot.com but also a gifted web designer (and feminist!). I invited Beth to share her top strategies for creating a beautiful Tarot blog. Take it away, Beth…

If you write a tarot blog (or indeed any kind of blog!) you probably know how important it is to make it look and feel good so that readers will enjoy visiting, will spend time reading what you have to share, and will come back again and again.

As a tarot bigger who is also a web designer, I get plenty of lovely feedback about my website, littleredtarot.com. I put a lot of love and energy into designing and building my site, and regularly tweak and tinker with the code in a continuing effort to improve my blog.

But you don’t need to know code or even host your own blog in order to create an attractive website. There are plenty of things you can do, from choosing clean, attractive templates in the first place to breaking up your content and taking better photos, all of which will help to engage visitors in your site.

Most bloggers (especially those who are passionate about their blogs) think of their websites as their online ‘home’- a space where visitors are welcomed and made to feel comfortable. We as much care and attention into the design of our sites as into writing our blog posts, ensuring that when guests arrive, the atmosphere is just right.

Here are five simple tips you can put into action today to help make your blog a more attractive and welcoming place to be.

Choose a nice colour scheme

This sounds obvious, but I’m often surprised (and put off) by the colour choices on some blogs. Of course some websites are meant to be explosions of colour and that’s awesome…but it’s hard to get this right. Easier than this is to put together a palette of colours you like (which don’t make your eyes hurt,) and use these consistently throughout your site.

Here’s a helpful post about creating a style guide for your blog by Sarah Morgan on XOSarah.com

If your theme or template doesn’t allow you to choose your own colour scheme, then consider switching to one that uses colours you really love.

Use plenty of good-quality pictures

Using images helps to break up your post which makes it easier for people to read…and keep reading.

Here are a few basic guidelines for using images on your site:

Quality matters! Your photos provide a visual indication of the overall quality of your blog and the amount of care you take over it. Low-quality pictures will put your readers off. If your phone camera isn’t very good, consider buying or borrowing a digital camera which produces decent-quality, non-blurry pictures.

Natural lighting. If you take a lot of photos of tarot cards or spreads, for example, find a table or sideboard near a window and use this for these shots – it will make a big difference to the quality and feel of your photos.

Make the best of your subject. If your post is about an actual tarot spread, consider photographing the spread directly from above, or, if it’s about a single card, you could play around with different ways of displaying that card, or use props (for example, in a post about the Page of Swords, I could emphasize the ‘communication’ element of this card by photographing it on a notebook.)

Use landscape photos where possible so as not to fill up the entire screen. If you do want to share tall images (which of course tarot cards usually are!), try taking a landscape photograph on a pretty cloth or table, or put two card images side-by-side to create a landscape image.

I do a lot of photography which means I’m never short of pics for my site. It’s worth getting into habit of taking photos of things you find beautiful or meaningful, so you can build up a cool image bank to pretty up your posts.

You could also try: 30 free stock photo resources for bloggers.

Use headings and sub-headings

Again, be aware that people’s online attention spans are embarrassingly short. Think of this as a whole different type of reading style –more like magazine-reading than books.

Often, people want to skim over your post (the way you flick through a magazine), clocking the headings to check your post is relevant before they dive in properly. As well as adding pictures, you can break up your paragraphs with headings to help readers see quickly that your post is something they want to read!

A typical post layout will have the title in Heading 1 – this will normally be determined in the site’s code. You can then try an opening line in Heading 2 (h2) and sub-headings throughout the post in h3.

Clear out your sidebar

When you start a blog, it can be tempting to put every widget going into your sidebar. Faces of all your Facebook friends, a long list of blogs you enjoy, comment counts, visitor numbers, subscribe links, monthly archives and more. But how much of it is actually serving a purpose?

Pruning your sidebar is a good way to get rid of unhelpful distractions and show your readers what you really want to share with them. It needs to be important if it’s going to pull their eyes away from your actual post!

Ask yourself what is the purpose of every widget, link, image or *thing* in your sidebar. Is it helpful to your readers? Does it direct them somewhere important? Or is it just there because you thought it was cool, or by default? Have a think about whether there are things you could remove from your sidebar.

Last but not least…white space

I bet the websites you most love to visit, the ones which feel like good places to hang out, and the ones where you stick around to read loads of content, have plenty of ‘white space’.

Space between lines on a page or post.

Space between the main content and the sidebar.

Space between widgets and menu items…

Lots and lots of space makes your website easy on the eye and clearer to read.

If you have access to your site’s code and are confident with things like padding and margins, you can increase white space this way. If not, look for themes or templates which have an uncluttered, spacious feeling.

So what do you do to make your blog look and feel nice? Share a link in the comments so we can all have a peek!

About Beth:

Beth Maiden in a tarot reader and writer based in Manchester, UK. She is the creator of Little Red Tarot and the Alternative Tarot Course, and lives on a boat with her partner and two cats.

When she’s not working with her tarot cards, Beth can be found out and about with her camera, cutting friends’hair, building websites or dreaming up new projects over a strong cup of coffee.

Find Beth online at littleredtarot.com or catch her on Twitter @littleredtarot http://littleredtarot.com

You know what the Tarot cards mean without having to flick your way through a Tarot book, and you have a few handy Tarot spreads up your sleeve.

You’re ready to become a professional Tarot reader and start charging for your Tarot readings, right?

Uh – hold that thought for just a second.

Do you know what to do when your client asks you when they will get pregnant or why their husband is always talking to the next-door neighbour? And do you know how to avoid those awkward moments when you draw a blank or don’t know how the cards fit together? Or your client complains because they haven’t got what they expected from the Tarot reading?

You see, many aspiring Tarot readers make the mistake of ‘going pro’ too early and find themselves struggling to deal with the challenges associated with reading Tarot professionally. Their readings feel disjointed and unclear because they haven’t found their ‘flow’. And ultimately, they feel out of integrity because they’re not offering their absolute best to their clients.

I was in the same boat when I first started reading Tarot professionally in the early 2000’s. Sure, I knew what the cards meant and I could pull together a decent reading. But when I had disappointed and/or difficult clients, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have the strategies and techniques in place to deal with them effectively (or avoid them altogether).

Sure, over time, I worked out what I needed to do, but if only I had those strategies from Day One! What a better experience it would have been!

So if you’re thinking about ‘going pro’, I want to do you a big favour and share the 3 things you need to master (beyond learning the Tarot card meanings and spreads) before you start reading Tarot professionally.

1. Know What Kind of Tarot Reader You Are

Are you the type of Tarot reader who can predict exactly when and how an event will occur? Or are you the type of Tarot reader who believes in a more ‘open timeline’, depending on the actions a client might or might not take?

Do you believe that our future is set in stone? Or do you believe we create our own destiny?

Do you do your best work answering quick ‘yes or no’ questions? Or do you prefer to delve deeper into the cards andexplore the complex dynamics of a situation?

Let me tell you, there are no right or wrong answers here.

What is most important is that you are clear about what kind of Tarot reader you really are, and how you believe the Tarot works.

Why? Because it means that you can set clear expectations about what you, as a reader, can and can’t do with the Tarot cards.

And when you set clear expectations, you will attract the clients who value your style of reading, and you will avoid the clients who do not (thus avoiding all the issues around disappointed or difficult clients).

Do this now. Ask yourself, “What kind of Tarot reader am I? How do I believe the Tarot works? What can and can’t I do with the Tarot?”

2. Know How to do a Tarot Reading, From Start to Finish

If you’re thinking, “Oh my, Brigit, I totally know how to do a Tarot reading from start to finish. Duh!” then listen up.

I am not simply talking about shuffling the Tarot cards, laying them out and reading the cards. I am talking about engaging with your client from the moment they even know you exist, all the way through to ensuring they are well-supported long after the reading is over.

You see, many Tarot readers just focus their energy on the reading itself. But what they don’t realize is that the Tarot reading starts long before the client is even in the room.

You want to make sure you’re attracting the right people (especially now that you’re super clear on what type of Tarot reader you are!). You want to make sure that you are creating the right space – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. And you want to set clear expectations of what your client will experience with you during a reading.

And, of course, as you do the reading, you want to make sure you’ve got to the heart of the question, you’ve selected the right spread and you’ve uncovered the story in the cards.

And finally, after the reading is over, you want your client to feel supported and you want to know if you’ve served your client to the best of your ability.

Do this now. To help you master the art of Tarot reading, from start to finish, I’ve created a special Quickstart PDF for you – 7 Steps to Accurate & Insightful Tarot Readings. You can download it free here.

3. Practice with Strangers and Get Real-Time Feedback

Before you even think about reading Tarot professionally, please, please, please get some experience reading for strangers (free of charge) in exchange for feedback.

I don’t mean reading Tarot for your super-supportive mum or sister, or your neighbour’s cat. I mean reading Tarot for an absolute stranger who you have never met before.

I know – it can be scary at first when you read Tarot for a stranger. But trust me, this is a VITAL part of your development as a Tarot reader.

Strangers will ask all sorts of weird and wonderful questions (helping you to set your boundaries about what you can and can’t do with the Tarot). And they will respond in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways – from glowing praise to direct criticism (helping you improve your skills and deal with all types of clients).

Reading Tarot for free in exchange for feedback was how I cut my teeth in Tarot and after 100s of free readings, I am so glad I did it. The experience was incredibly valuable and insightful.

Do this now. Offer free Tarot readings to strangers in exchange for feedback. Or get started straight away on the Biddy Tarot Network with access to 100s of potential clients and a supportive, private community of aspiring Tarot readers.

Over to You

What steps will you take in order to start reading professionally? Or, if you’re already a professional Tarot reader, what was the one thing you did to prepare that made your journey a success?

Note from Brigit: You’re going to get a kick out of this post, whether you agree or disagree with what Hal Weeks is about to share. You see, Hal has taken the bold point of view that maybe as Tarot readers, we don’t want to ‘upgrade our image’ to something more spiritually dignified or respectable. In fact, Hal is calling on Tarot readers to embrace their darker, more occult side and step into the secret mysterious world of Tarot.

Now, I don’t necessarily agree with everything Hal has to say, but I certainly admire his alternative, if not controversial, perspective, and I hope you will too. Over to you, Hal…

When we attempt to change the image of the tarot reader: are we shooting ourselves in the foot?

There is so much buzz in the “Tarot Reader community” about upgrading our image…becoming more respectable!

Note that in admitting that we are trying to ‘change our image’, we acknowledge an already a well established image. When we can take advantage of that, why would we want to change? Is it an image that repels?

Let’s face it…what we are dealing with here is occultism; and that’s actually good for business.

“…look into my crystal ball…”

There is allure in peering into what others can’t normally see.   Note my terminology: “allure”, “peering” (covertly) — “can’t” (which plays with impossible, “occult powers”) and “not normal” (read: paranormal). This is our advantage, our offering, our skill that others don’t have, and it’s a HUGE marketing draw.

Part of our trade has always been “you can not see what lies hidden…but I can… and for price, I will tell you what I see…” People want to play along with that game. It creates a perceived risk: “Will this be B.S.,” the client wonders,” “or will this actually help me?”

“Am I safe?” the sitter wonders…. Like a roller coaster ride, the “danger” of getting an “occult reading” adds “tingle”. If we sanitize ourselves and reassure the sitter with Board Certifications and Posted Statutes of Ethics and Verifiable Credentials, we are saying “you are in the safe realm of verifiable and sanitary institutionalism” and are not allowing them that doubt. Where’s the fun in that? Where’s the “occult tingle” of drawing something from the shadows? Furthermore, that doubt is part of the client’s feeling of power and control in an unknown situation…if they doubt, they can always write it off…which helps them walk in the door: “it’s for entertainment purposes only”…. If it’s “Just a Game” then they don’t have to take it seriously. If it’s Just a Game, they are more likely to spin the Wheel of Fortune.

The Wheel of Fortune: Take a spin.

In Vegas, we may quite possibly lose…but we might win….again that lure, a temptation that draws people in droves; not to mention “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”. (In the Shadows.)

With Tarot, we are also gambling….the shuffle of the cards (reminiscent of Vegas) is a random gamble. Chance, fortune, and that “unsafe” element (unsafe to the daylight of ego) again creeps in…who can resist?

The Devil: “What’s Puzzlin’ you?”

Just yesterday I was talking to a woman who confessed, “I went to see a psychic once, long ago…of course, I didn’t tell anyone about it…”

People WANT to sneak off to a Tarot reader…because they might be having an affair…or be wrestling with some forbidden choice….and they certainly don’t want their families, neighbors, friends, associates to know that they are seeing a card reader. It’s a shadow thing: they are even sneaking off on themselves. And don’t we want them to sneak out their back doors and into ours? How well do we play to their “secret desires” when we drag our profession out of the shadowy realm and into the light? Aren’t we rather playing to our own desire to be accepted in mainstream society and market ourselves using the same strategies as Pastors and Psychologists?

The Hermit: A little bit Hierophant, a little bit Devil

John the Baptist was a hermit, living out in the wild places, eating bugs, wearing animal furs: talk about image! And he wasn’t about to clean up…or become acceptable. Imagine: Pastor John: 3 piece suit, Pastorate from Baptist Seminary. No, John’s spooky nature was part of his attraction. He was risky. Kings, Queens, Generals….all have made their clandestine visits to the old seer.   (And “Kings, Queens, and Generals” is a pretty good demographic!)

When “Kings, Queens and Generals” want good pizza, do they go over to that shop –all stainless steel and halogen lamp– where they are offered bean sprout and water chestnut pizza, or do they line up around the block at “Mom and Pop Rotini’s”? Sure…some will try ‘shi-shi’ new age pie once… but MORE will flock back to “Mom And Pop”. Pizza entrepreneurs know to play to that “traditional” mindset. They use checkered tablecloths, brick walls, lots of green, white and red and an “old world family recipe” to play to what folks are looking for….Those who attempt to recast themselves with trendier look or vibe usually flounder. (Which pizza places in your district have been around for years and years and years?) And okay, maybe we “WANT” to break the mold, and become “MORE RESPECTABLE” and such….Maybe we want a different image…just to be different…for marketing…. But do we WANT that badly enough to shoot ourselves in the foot….or would we rather go where the dollars are?

5 of Wands = Striving

Winning against competition. 5 of Wands, baby.   Lots of competitors with their eyes on the same prize: the Tarot Dollar.

Here’s my competition challenge: you go right on ahead and use words like “Ethics”, “Tarot Consultant”, “Councilor”, “Interactive” and “Certified” in your SEO…(feel free to use stainless steel and halogen lamps as well.) In mine, I’m gonna use terms like “Secrets,” “Hidden,” “Occult,” “Future,” “Prediction,” “Temptation,” “Forbidden” (and, because I read on people’s sex lives,) “Sex”…Let’s just see who gets more hits, shall we?

So if we’re not going to groom a stainless steel and halogen image, what do we do instead? Am I proposing we all ascribe to a racist Gypsy stereotype? Definitely not. In marketing we want to look different from one another. Here’s where we have to get creative, because we need to be different from each other, AND different from society.   I could pour a lot of suggestions into this paragraph, but honestly, whatever I come up with will be for my little freak show… You have to answer this creative question for yourself!

Whatever we decide, these things need to be “us”. Obviously, you can’t be something you’re not. We are talking IMAGE….and bottom line, does “Tarot Reader” really fit with the “Certified Clinical Consultant” image?   Doesn’t that sort of throw people for a loop with it’s incongruities?   We are talking “allure” here…”tingle”…so whatever you can drum up, use it!   But please reconsider assuming the model of the mainstream clinical world: where’s the tingle in that??

Have I rattled your cage enough?   If I did, you can do your cage rattlin’ right here….leave a comment….fight back….fume and frenzy…steam and stamp….

All images are from the author’s own Wickwillow Tarot

About Hal Weeks

Hal Weeks is a Tarot Teacher and Writer with 30 years experience with the cards. He writes a blog called Forbidden Tarot: www.halweeks.com. He is the designer of the Wickwillow Tarot, which on exhibit at his website, www.halweeks.com/wickwillow

He is also a professional Folk and Ambient Music performer and recording artist; those topics can be found through his website as well.

One of the most common questions I hear from Tarotpreneurs is, “Do I need copyright permission to publish Tarot card images and other content on my website, blog, Tarot readings, materials, etc.?”

You see, what many professional Tarot readers don’t realise is that there are laws about what you can and can’t publish on your own platform, especially when it comes to other people’s content.

It doesn’t matter whether you have a Tarot website that only your mum has ever visited or you have a website with millions of visitors every year – you need to respect copyright laws.

So today, I’m setting the record straight and answering your questions about copyright. This is my personal guide to copyright so that you can avoid the nasty consequences of being tracked down or worse, taken to court, for copyright infringement.

(Note: I’m a Tarot reader and a successful business owner, but I am NOT a lawyer and therefore this post does not represent legal advice.)

When it comes to copyright and Tarot, what is OK and what is not OK?

Let me make it really simple for you…

Do not:

• Use Tarot card images on your blog, readings, eBooks, teaching materials, etc. without permission
• Copy word-for-word Tarot card meanings for your blog or Tarot readings without permission
• Use images found on Google search or other people’s websites without permission

(Do you see the common theme here? You need permission!)

Do:

• Ask for permission in writing
• Provide attribution (only after you have permission)
• Create your own images, photos, content – it will be so much more personal and meaningful anyway

How do I get copyright permission?

First, find out who owns the copyright.

For Tarot cards, it is usually the publisher of the deck. Look for the © sign – often on the cards or in the Little White Book.

For text and content, it is usually the website owner or author.

For images, you may need to do some extra research to make sure you know exactly who owns the copyright. In some cases, it may be the website owner, but in many cases, it is a stock photo company in which case you need to go straight to the source and purchase the image.

Once you know who owns the copyright, request permission.

Email the copyright owner and give the following details:

• What content you want to use
• How you plan to use it
• Where it will be displayed
• If it is for commercial or non-commercial use

If you are requesting permission to use the Rider Waite images, contact US Games here.

Make sure you have the copyright permission in writing so that if you are questioned about copyright in the future, you have evidence to show that you were granted permission.

You may also have to display attribution – a short sentence to indicate you have copyright permission and who the content belongs to.

Do I have to pay for copyright permission?

In some instances, no. In other instances, yes. It is completely up to the copyright owner to decide if there will be a fee for copyright permission.

You might be wondering how much you have to pay. Again, that is up to the copyright owner. It might be $50 or it might be $1000+. Be prepared!

What if the owner doesn’t give their permission?

Then don’t use it. Plain and simple.

Find another publisher, or make your own.

Do I really have to do it?

If you’re ‘bootstrapping’ it and barely scraping by as it is, you might be wondering if it’s even worth getting copyright permission.

Here’s my view: It doesn’t matter if you have just 1 visitor a year or 3 million visitors a year – you need to get copyright permission.

If you violate copyright, you can be taken to court and required to pay significant fines.

I don’t know about you, but I would prefer that doesn’t happen!

So yes, it is worth it. And it’s part of being an ethical Tarot business owner.

Take Action

Look at your website and other materials you use in your business. Are you using images, content, videos, etc. that are not your own? Have you requested copyright permission to use each and every one of them? If not, do it now. It will save you a lot of pain and hassle later down the track.

Got any other questions about Copyright? Ask in the comments below!

Thank-you for subscribing to my Biddy Tarot Blog. This blog is a success because of YOUR support!

Become a fan of Biddy Tarot on Facebook to get weekly Tarot readings and other Tarot news and insights. Or join me on Twitter.

BTP27: Face-to-Face Tarot Readings with Sarah the Psychic

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>>Download Free Transcript: Face-to-Face Readings

I love being able to take a sneak peek behind the curtain to find out how different Tarot readers do their readings.

In this podcast episode, I get to discover how one psychic Tarot reader works with her clients in a face-to-face environment, from attracting her clients with her funky, flower-covered glitter bike, to meditating with her clients and sharing her wisdom from the Tarot cards.

This Tarot reader is affectionately known as Sarah the Psychic, a Sydney-based reader with a unique and grounded Tarot reading style and a love for Tarot tattoos.

In this podcast, you’ll learn:

• Sarah’s top 2 tips for reading Tarot face-to-face with confidence
• Why working with a supervisor can up your professional game tenfold
• How Sarah works with her clients, step-by-step
• How NOT to freak your clients out while you meditate at the start of a Tarot reading
• Why Sarah’s got everyone smiling in her neighborhood

Let’s dive in…

Why having a supervisor will make you a better professional Tarot reader @PsychicSarahB @biddytarot
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Additional Resources:

• Sarah the Psychic
• Leave a review on iTunes
• And be sure to download the free PDF, Face-to-Face Readings
  

Podcast Transcript

Thank-you for subscribing to my Biddy Tarot Blog. This blog is a success because of YOUR support!

Become a fan of Biddy Tarot on Facebook to get weekly Tarot readings and other Tarot news and insights. Or join me on Twitter.

Note from Brigit: Many Tarot readers start their careers reading on psychic Tarot hotlines. But, it’s not as easy as it might seem with many experiencing burn-out and overwhelm. Well, not any more. In this blog post, Tarot professional Fiona Benjamin shares her very best strategies on how to master reading Tarot on psychic hotlines. Over to you, Fiona…

I got my start as a professional Tarot reader by reading on psychic hotlines, which I found to be a rewarding experience. If you are starting to do readings on psychic hotlines, it may feel overwhelming to try to stand out among readers who have thousands of five star reviews and are killing it on the website. Don’t worry!  You too can achieve success on psychic hotlines with these seven tips.

1. Use your New Reader Status to your Advantage

This is the time to be logged in as much as you can, because there are long time clients of psychic hotlines who will scroll through the new readers and give them a try. Usually, they are looking for a fresh voice and feeling out the new readers. Take advantage of this by being logged on for as long as possible to catch the attention of these people.

Know that most of them will already have a “favorite reader” and may not return to you, but you want to make a good first impression because if their favorite reader quits or isn’t online during an emergency, you may be the next reader that they turn to.

2. Use a Clear Picture of your Face

Having a clear, smiling photo of your face builds trust. It literally puts a face behind the bio and the reading. Allow the picture to be a good indication of what kind of reading your client should expect from you. They will be scrolling through readers and your picture is the first impression they will get, which can say a lot about you.

Generally, people look for someone relatable. A 35 year old woman working a corporate job will probably relate best to a tarot reader who is a female, looks like she’s also in her thirties, and dressed professionally. A 21 year old bohemian spirit may relate to a younger reader wearing something thrifted, and holding up a deck of colorful tarot cards.

I understand that some people may not be out of the “reader closet,” especially for those that have a full-time job that might look down on tarot reading. If this is the case for you, then you may have to just go ahead and skip including your picture, but know that it will make it more difficult for you to compete with other readers who have the chance for people to get a sense of them from their picture. Still, don’t let that discourage you! You can do a lot with a wonderfully set-up photo with extra details like crystals or statues in the shot.

3. Take Advantage of your ‘Short Bio’

People come onto hotlines because they want something and they want it quick. They don’t have time to scroll through all of your information. Let them know who you are and what you do so they know whether you’re the right option for that inquiry. If not, they may come back and hire you later if you fit the bill, but if they have no idea what you’re about, you’ll get passed over.

This is not the place to write in big caps: LOVE ANGEL READINGS TAROT PSYCHIC—ouch. Don’t shout at your potential client! Instead, place a tagline that encompasses who you are and what you do. Here are some examples to get you started:

“Loving Angel Card readings about relationships.”

“Let’s talk about your business with financial tarot readings!”

“Root-work consultations with playing card readings.”

4. Have Consistent Hours

Imagine this scenario: you’ve been wanting to get your nails done for weeks now and every day, on your way to work, you pass by this awesome nail salon. One day, your boss lets you out early–leaving an opening in your tight schedule. You rush over to the nail salon just to see that it’s closed, with no explanation. The hours aren’t listed and this is the one time you’ll get to have your nails done. I bet you’re going to just go somewhere else and never give this salon another try, right?

Working on a hotline is similar. You may feel like you’re not getting clients, but you don’t know if people care eyeing your profile, waiting for payday to hire you for a reading. Also, past clients who love your readings will want to return to you, but they need to know when you’ll be available.

Extra tip: Place your schedule right on your bio so your clients know when to expect you.

5. Keep a Small Log of Who your Clients Are

It doesn’t have to be overly detailed, simply write down their first name and a sentence or two about what you talked about. It is impossible for you to remember all of your clients, especially when you start climbing up in the ratings and more and more clients come to you. A few sentences should spark your memory of the client when they call. It’s a great feeling for a client to know that you took extra effort to remember who he or she is!

6. Ask Your Client to Leave a Review

At the end of a reading, I usually ask, “Is there anything else I can do for you?” and if not, I ask, “May I trouble you, (client’s name), to leave me a review? It would mean a lot to me.” The worst that can happen is that the client says no or doesn’t leave a review, but if you ask, they usually will leave something nice, especially if you were gentle and compassionate with the reading. Your ratings are a huge factor, along with your hours and tagline, so ask!

7. Stick to One Hotline

You may be tempted to sign up for 3 different hotlines and work them all to determine which one will pull a client first. However, this can get complicated because now you’re investing your time into more than one hotline. Instead, invest your time into making a name for yourself in just one.

Last but not least, a bonus tip to trump all tips: Be patient. It takes time for you to build a reputation in a hotline and to have a client base. Pour love into your work, stay consistent, and take each day as a learning experience. Over time, you’ll be the one with a thousand and one five star reviews. You’ll get there!

Have you worked at a psychic hotline? What was your experience like? Let me know in the comments section below.

About Fiona

Fiona Benjamin is a tarot reader and business enthusiast who provides clarity and direction with no nonsense straight talk over at Modern Fortune Teller.

For more about building a professional tarot business, check out her 5 Step Course.

Thank-you for subscribing to my Biddy Tarot Blog. This blog is a success because of YOUR support!

Become a fan of Biddy Tarot on Facebook to get weekly Tarot readings and other Tarot news and insights. Or join me on Twitter.

Starting your own business – whether it’s a Tarot business, a coaching business or even a dentistry business – can be scary and overwhelming. How do you know if you’re making the right decision? Is this really the path you want? And will it be successful?

Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against you. 8 out of 10 entrepreneurs who start businesses fail within the first 18 months (Bloomberg). And of those who survive, only a small fraction make over $100,000 in profit.

So, before you make the leap to start your own business, you want to know you’re going to have the best chance at success.

One way to do this is to consult your Tarot cards to make sure that you are truly ready for this epic journey.

In today’s post, I share with you my ‘Starting a New Business’ Tarot Spread to help you discover whether this is indeed the right path for you, and how you can make it a success in its early stages.

The ‘Starting a New Business’ Tarot Spread

This is a 13-card spread that is meant to take you on a deep-dive of your psyche, so you can really suss out if the entrepreneurial path is right for you. If a 13-card Tarot spread is a little overwhelming for you, pick out 3-4 questions from above and use those to create a more simple Tarot spread for yourself.

Here is the ‘Starting a New Business’ Tarot spread:

• How am I in relationship with starting a new business?
• What do I want my business to look like?
• How do I want my business to fit in with my life?
• How can I align my new business with my soul purpose?
• How will I know when it is the right time to start my new business?
• How can I personally prepare myself for this journey?
• What opportunities can I leverage in the first 12 months of business?
• What challenges might I experience in the first 12 months of business?
• How can I overcome these challenges?
• What are my blindspots right now?
• What people and/or resources are available to me?
• What steps can I take now to start my new business?
• Overall, what might I experience if I start this new business?

An Example Tarot Reading for Starting a New Business

I love giving practical examples of Tarot readings and spreads so you can see how they really work.

Now, since I already have an established business with Biddy Tarot, I am going to ask the Tarot about a new business idea – coaching online business owners who want to grow a spiritually and financially abundant business.

Let’s see what the cards have to say…

(I’m using the Radiant Rider Waite deck for this reading because of its grounded, practical energy.)

How Am I in Relationship with Starting a New Business?

Nine of Pentacles – I’m starting from a place of abundance and wealth already. I have created success in my current business and this carries over into my new business.

What Do I Want My Business to Look Like?

Two of Cups reversed – I may steer clear of 1:1 coaching and instead focus on group coaching models.

How Do I Want My Business to Fit in with My Life?

Ten of Cups reversed – I want to keep my family life very separate and private from my work life. I’m also aware that this new business may create some ‘ripples’ in my current work-life balance that I may need to manage in the future.

How Can I Align My New Business with My Soul Purpose?

Hierophant – My soul purpose is to teach and educate large groups, both around systems and structures, and spiritual guidance. If my business can do that, then I am in soul alignment.

How Will I Know When It Is the Right Time to Start My New Business?

Three of Cups – When I have a fun group of women around me, either as potential clients or colleagues.

How Can I Personally Prepare Myself for This Journey?

Wheel of Fortune – Expect the unexpected and go along for the ride!

What Opportunities Can I Leverage in the First 12 Months of Business?

Strength reversed – I can leverage my inner strength, personal conviction and subtle influence to help others create a transformation within.

What Challenges Might I Experience in the First 12 Months of Business?

Five of Pentacles – Financially, the new business may not be as fruitful as expected – have a Plan B in place. Also, be careful of who I attract. Those with a poverty mindset may not be my best clients.

How Can I Overcome These Challenges?

Two of Swords – Be very conscious about the decisions I make, especially when it feels as if there is no one right answer. Instead of getting stuck with indecision, look outside of the issue for the answer and move forward.

What Are My Blindspots Right Now?

Seven of Swords – What role does deception, betrayal and stealing play as I consider my new business? Be mindful of copycats or others who may falsely accuse me of copying their work.

What People and/or Resources Are Available to Me?

Ace of Cups reversed – Given this is a reversed card, the best resources may come from within, rather than outside of me. Look for creative ways of expressing myself through the new business.

What Steps Can I Take Now to Start My New Business?

King of Wands reversed – Ask myself, “What do I really want from this business? Is this the right time to action my new business, from an internal perspective?”

Overall, What Might I Experience If I Start This New Business?

Fool reversed – A false start or a premature start. Now may not be the best time to start in this new direction.

Overall, the Starting a New Business Tarot reading gave me a deep insight into what I might expect if I were to start a new business and how to make it work for me. But, while I have played with the idea of starting a fully-fledged coaching business, I know deep down that now is not the time. I love working with the Biddy Tarot community and helping Tarotpreneurs build their businesses, but I don’t think it is the right time just yet to branch out into broader business coaching. And this is certainly evident in the Tarot reading!

Over to You

Are you thinking about starting a new business? Why not pull out your favourite Tarot deck and use the Starting a New Business Tarot Spread to find out if this is the right time for you to pursue your bright ideas.

Share your reading and your insights in the Comments below. (I won’t be able to personally interpret your Tarot reading, but I’d love to read how you’ve used this Tarot spread, and what’s come up for you in your reading.)

Thank-you for subscribing to my Biddy Tarot Blog. This blog is a success because of YOUR support!

Become a fan of Biddy Tarot on Facebook to get weekly Tarot readings and other Tarot news and insights. Or join me on Twitter.

BTP32: Real Life Stories with Our Free Tarot Readers

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I LOVE hearing stories of Tarot readers who have gone from feeling nervous and a little overwhelmed about the Tarot, to feeling amazingly confident and in tune with their Higher Selves.

In this podcast, I am thrilled to share three inspiring stories from our Free Tarot Readers within the Biddy Tarot Community. These three Tarot readers have made the courageous leap to offer their readings for free, in exchange for feedback and for the immense learning opportunity. All three have grown as Tarot readers in leaps and bounds and are now reading professionally.

Meet Duane, who recently became a professional Tarot reader after he built up his confidence offering free Tarot readings with Biddy Tarot.

Meet David, who now aspires to integrate his HR and recruitment knowledge with his passion for Tarot to help people make conscious choices about their career.

And meet Lorenda, who has learned to trust her intuition more deeply and can now share highly accurate messages with her clients.

Listen to their stories and be inspired!

3 truly inspiring up-and-coming #Tarotreaders share their stories @biddytarot
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Additional Resources:

• Join the Biddy Tarot Community
• Duane’s email – duane@connect2action.com
• David’s website – tarotavenue.com
• Lorenda’s website – messagesfromtheotherside.weebly.com
• And be sure to download the free PDF,Real Life Stories with Our Free Tarot Readers

Podcast Transcript

Thank-you for subscribing to my Biddy Tarot Blog. This blog is a success because of YOUR support!

Become a fan of Biddy Tarot on Facebook to get weekly Tarot readings and other Tarot news and insights. Or join me on Twitter.

>> Download Free PDF: Five Simple Ways To Deliver A Tarot Reading Online

When I first started doing Tarot readings online, I started by offering email Tarot readings. It was the perfect fit for me. But, email Tarot readings aren’t the only way to do a Tarot reading online and they’re not always everyone’s cup of tea.

So today I’m going to share 5 different ways you can do a Tarot reading online. Plus, I’m going to outline the pros and cons of each method, what kind of reader it suits best and how you can get started.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How I got started reading Tarot online – professionally!
• How online readings are the perfect fit for you and your busy life
• What you need to get started reading Tarot online today

How to pick the reading method that’s perfect for you

Learn 5 different ways to start reading #Tarot online! @biddytarot
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Additional Resources:

• Download the free PDF of all the methods discussed in this podcast www.biddytarot.com/btp42-online-tarot-reading/
• Check out my online training courses at biddytarot.com/courses

Podcast Transcript

Thank-you for subscribing to my Biddy Tarot Blog. This blog is a success because of YOUR support!

Become a fan of Biddy Tarot on Facebook to get weekly Tarot readings and other Tarot news and insights. Or join me on Twitter.

>> Download Free PDF: 5 Ways to Build Your Reputation as a Tarot Reader

It seems that everybody and their dog will read your Tarot cards for just $5 online. Or walk down the streets of Manhattan and on every corner you’ll find a Psychic Tarot Card Reader with a bright neon sign out the front.

It’s becoming more and more difficult to truly stand out from the crowd as a reputable Tarot reader that your clients can trust.

So how do you stand out as a credible Tarot reader? How do you create a solid reputation?

In this podcast episode, I’m going to walk you through 5 ways you can build your reputation as a Tarot reader. Plus, there’s a free PDF download just for you!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn:

• The essential must-haves to make your Tarot business a cut above the rest
• How to make a stellar online web presence
• How to get those to-die-for testimonials
• How to design your own branding – on a dime!
• The key investment to take you to the next level

Learn the must-haves you need to make your Tarot business a cut above the rest @biddytarot
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Additional Resources:

• Download the Free PDF: 5 Ways to Build Your Reputation as a Tarot Reader
• Biddy Tarot Certification Program

Podcast Transcript

Thank-you for subscribing to my Biddy Tarot Blog. This blog is a success because of YOUR support!

Become a fan of Biddy Tarot on Facebook to get weekly Tarot readings and other Tarot news and insights. Or join me on Twitter.

You’re fired up and you’re raring to go! You can’t wait to become a professional Tarot reader!

But how do you know if you’re truly ready? How can you be certain that you’re not going to go blank in a Tarot reading or disappoint your first paying client?

Here are 6 signs that you’re ready to become a professional Tarot reader. Plus I share my top tips and strategies for getting ready to ‘go pro’ with confidence and ease.

1. You know all 78 Tarot card meanings without having to refer to a book

This isn’t about being able to memorise all 78 Tarot card meanings. This is about being able to look at any of the Tarot cards and connect intuitively with what it means for a particular situation.

So before you go pro, it’s essential that you learn how to interpret the cards, not just what the cards mean.

Instead of committing all 78 cards to memory, invest in learning the few techniques that will help you decipher any card in any reading.

(You’ll learn those exact techniques in my online Tarot training program, Master the Tarot Card Meanings.)

2. You know what Tarot spread to use

You don’t need to know every single Tarot spread that exists. However, you do need to know how to choose (and use) the right spread for the question asked.

My advice? Have a couple of standard spreads up your sleeve – the Celtic Cross, the Horseshoe Spread, and the Past/Present/Future spread.

But also learn how to create your own Tarot spread, specific to the situation or question. That’s where the magic happens!

For example, if a client asks you, “What is in my best interest – moving to a warmer part of the country, or staying local?”, you’re not going to get a specific answer from a Celtic Cross or a Past/Present/Future spread. But if you were to create a custom Tarot spread that evaluated the options and uncovered what to consider when making the decision, you could get some amazing insights.

So before you go pro, make sure you know how to get to the heart of the question, then break it down ‘mini questions’ to create a balanced, insightful and customised Tarot spread.

(This is exactly what I teach in my online program, Read Tarot with Confidence.)

3. You can tell a ‘story’ from the Tarot cards.

There’s nothing more boring than a Tarot reading where the reader just tells you what each card means and that’s that. You may as well get a free Tarot reading from a computer.

But, if you can create connections between the Tarot cards and tell a meaningful ‘story’ based on what you see, then you’re well on your way to becoming a professional Tarot reader.

That’s where the magic happens!

4. You rarely go ‘blank’ in a Tarot reading

Have you ever laid out the Tarot cards only to feel completely stumped as to what they mean?

No matter how hard you try, you can’t connect with the cards and you have no idea what to do next.

Here’s the thing…

Even the best Tarot readers have their ‘off’ days when they struggle to get a connection with their clients. However, the difference between an amateur Tarot reader and a professional Tarot reader is that a professional will know what to do when they go blank in a reading (and an amateur will freak out and start doubting their abilities).

You need to have a couple of different strategies for getting yourself out of those sticky situations when you go blank. Maybe you start describing the card as your intuition kicks into gear. Maybe you ask a few prompting questions to help get the conversation flowing. Or maybe you take a few deep breaths and bring yourself back to a state of calm and divine connection.

(In my program, Read Tarot with Confidence, I show you exactly what you need to do to avoid going blank in a reading – super helpful if you want to become a professional Tarot reader.)

5. You have experience reading Tarot for people you don’t know

Reading Tarot for your mum or your bestie is great, but what you really need to do before you ‘go pro’ is read Tarot for people you don’t know.

Why?

You’re not going to know anything about them which means you’re going to have to rely on your intuition and your Tarot cards to give the answer.

You’re going to encounter people from all walks of life with all kinds of issues, concerns and questions. Sure, some of the questions might be confronting or challenging (like, “Who’s the daddy of my baby?“). But this is exactly what you need to experience before you go pro, so you know where your boundaries lie and how you will respond.

And typically, they’re not going to be shy with their feedback. They’ll let you know when your Tarot reading sucks… and when your Tarot reading has completely changed their life for the better.

Do at least 50 readings for strangers to build your confidence and expand your experience.

Not sure how to find 50 people? We have 100s of people every day visiting Biddy Tarot in search of a free Tarot reading in exchange for feedback. Join the Biddy Tarot Community and you’ll get instant access as a Reader on the Free Tarot Readings platform so you can start practicing straight away. Plus, you’ll get access to training, resources and community support to help you truly grow as a confident, intuitive Tarot reader.

6. You’re a trained and certified Tarot reader

One of the best ways to know you’re ready to go pro is to become a trained and certified Tarot reader with an accredited organisation.

Sure you don’t have to get training and certification to be a professional Tarot reader, but it can be very advantageous for you if you do.

You’ll hone your Tarot reading skills and equip yourself with tried and tested techniques for connecting with your Tarot reading clients.

You’ll give your confidence a boost, knowing that you have everything you need to become a professional Tarot reader and you’ve got the backing of a reputable organisation.

And you’ll stand out from the crowd and get more clients because you have the certification that shows you’ve dedicated yourself to reading Tarot in an ethical and professional way. Clients will trust you and know they’re not just getting some dodgy person off the street who’ll read their cards for $5.

Ready to Become a Professional Tarot Reader? Here’s Your Next Step…

I want to make sure you have everything you need to start your professional Tarot reading career in the best way.

That’s why I created the Biddy Tarot Certification Program – to give you the training, support and practical experience to become a fully certified professional Tarot reader.

By the end of this internationally recognised Certification Program, you’ll be ready to stand out from the crowd and establish yourself as a highly credible and professional Tarot reader.

This is not one of those fly-by-night certification programs you might have found on Google. This is a highly reputable, internationally accredited program that will not only certify you but also ensure you have all the skills and experience to be successful as a Tarot reader.

I take this program very seriously and want to make sure you have everything you need to be the Tarot reader you’ve always dreamed of becoming.

Learn more about the Biddy Tarot Certification Program here.

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