One of the controversial topics for Tarot card readers is: Charging fees for Tarot readings. There are various schools of thought on the topic – some say that you shouldn’t charge for such a gift, while some say that you ought to charge. So what school of thought is right? And why? Also, if you do decide to charge for your readings, how should you go about deciding your fees? Such are the questions that any Tarot card reader faces when she starts to read the cards for other people.
Lets have a look at each of these ideas and perspectives and weigh its pros and cons. Hopefully, that should help you make the decision that is right for you.
Charging Fees: Should I or Shouldn’t I?
When I began reading Tarot cards as a professional Tarot card reader, I encountered people who have told me that ‘Gifts’ such as mine are blessings from the Higher Power, and therefore should be given away for free – that making money off of such ‘Gifts’ is ‘morally wrong’. I seriously thought about what they had said. And for a few days, I actually gave it a shot.
Experience Talks
Here’s what I realized: When something is being given away for free, I had a whole line of potential clients lining up at my doorstep who wanted a Tarot card reading. But as they sat through the reading, and as they walked away from the reading, I got the feeling that they hadn’t really gained much from the advice given by the cards. Why? Because they weren’t paying attention to the real advice. They were just in it for the fun of it, and were only taking the stuff that felt good, and was what they wanted to hear. The real crux of the advice that the cards were giving was totally lost on them.
So, I went back to charging a fee for my readings. And guess what, suddenly, there were no lines outside of my door (which was quite a relief, if you ask me!). And when people sat down for the reading, they paid a lot more attention than before. And yes, even to the stuff that they didn’t like hearing.
What’s The Logic?
There is a very simple logic that’ll explain what happened. When you pay for something, you become more aware of what you are buying – and therefore are more invested in the proceedings and the outcome of the proceedings from your purchase. Money, in that sense, can be a great motivator for people to really focus on what they are doing.
And no, it doesn’t matter if the person has tons of money, or none of it – as long as they are paying for it, they are also paying a lot of attention. Which, at the end of the day, is just what you want: for your clients to listen, really listen, to what the cards are trying to tell ’em.
There are also a few other approaches that people take towards charging fees for readings.
Charging for Your Services
Some say that Tarot reading services are just like any other services that one may avail of – kinda like going to the doctor or the lawyer for advice related to their particular fields of specialization. And when these people can charge for their services, so can we.
The Law of Exchange
Others say that there is a ‘Law of Exchange’ that takes place – when you give something, you ought to also get something in return. Hence, in a Tarot card reading, you give them the advice that the cards are sending through you, and in return you get paid.
Both these approaches are also pretty valid. And I tend to agree with all the 3 perspectives – in fact my experience has taught me to trust this perspective.
How To Fix A Fee Structure?
Once you have decided that you are going to charge a fee for readings, your next step is deciding how much you are going to charge for the reading.
When someone asks me this question, I tell them that the best way to decide is to first decide on an amount that you are comfortable both asking and receiving. And then fix that as your charges.
Hour Based or Question Based?
However, there are still 2 different approaches that people take towards charging for readings. Some readers charge on a time basis, while some readers charge on a question basis. So the time based charges are usually so-many dollars an hour, while the question based reading charges are are usually so-many dollars per question.
Either way works fine. But the main question still remains: How much to charge, either per hour or per question?
Again, I will say, decide an amount that you are comfortable asking and receiving.
But then, here is some more practical advice.
Practically Speaking…
Check out the local listings in your newspaper, or online across the Internet. What are other readers charging? What is their approach? What services do they provide? And then finally decide on a figure that is competitive as well.
This way, you won’t be undercharging or overcharging for your service (compared to the other readers in the market).
Decide which approach works better for you – the time based one, or the question based one. Your previous experiences with readings done for other people should also help you decide on which approach works best for you. And then, you are pretty good to go!
Your Turn
What is your take on charging fees for Tarot card readings? Have you had the kind of experiences with doing free readings like I did? What made you decide to go for either charging or not charging fees for your readings?
Do share your thoughts in the comments section below and lets get talking about it!
I always saw charging as an important exchange for your energy! I had a reading a few years ago, and she made a very important point about the value of your own energy. For me, giving a reading is, yes, use of my gift, but also a large expenditure of energy on my part. Reading for free is being drained emotionally and spiritually with no return.
Everyone’s time and energy has worth, and convincing yourself otherwise is a disservice to yourself and the people around you.
So true! I totally agree! ?
Reading tarot may be a gift from a higher power, but so is an affinity with numbers for a good accountant, or the inspiration and skill of an artist, or the story telling abolity of a good writer… everyone has a gift, and most people will follow a career path which utilises their gift. I read tarot, that is my gift. To live in the world today, I need money -to pay rent, to buy food, etc. If we lived in a barter system or still had the days of farmers bringing produce as a thankyou for the reading, then money would not need to be exchanged. The way the world currently is, though, if it is our career, we need sto charge.
In saying that, I would be happy reading for anyone who offers service or goods in return, as it still maintains a balance and helps me to remain in a safe place where I can offer my readinsgs to more people.
?? Yup! I couldn’t have said it better! ❤️ ?
I believe that if a soul wishes to learn from the tarot reading they are given, whether they “pay” money or not, they will learn, and it has NOTHING do with any money being exchanged. If you are NOT serious, then the people who come will not be serious also.. but if you are dedicated to your craft and do NOT charge, the universe WILL bring souls into your life that are also dedicated to find solutions and answers through the reading that is given them. It is NOT necessary to charge money for readings.. the universe sees how devoted you are to your craft, and will bring souls who need the guidance that you have to give… money has the tendency to contaminate such a pure process. Sincerity will attract sincerity. the Law of Attraction will make it so. if you are a sincere tarot reader, and do NOT wish to charge money, you will draw sincere souls who need the guidance you are a channel for… the Law of Attraction NEVER fails.
I agree with SOME parts of what you say, and so I’m just going to leave your comment here.
Now for my thoughts:
Each of us has a different path to follow, and a different lesson to learn in our lives — and so our higher purpose is also aligned differently. You have your lessons and I have mine.
So I’m just going to leave your comment here, so that there’s yet another point of view, another perspective for the readers.
The readers are wise, and can make up their minds accordingly, don’t you think? ?
I’ve just started to share my gifts. I am doing readings for free at the moment as I practice and gain feedback and observe how well the readings are going or not. This is an energy flow for me because it takes pressure off me. I have practiced on family and friend’s but am branching out to strangers and am asking for a small donation and for them to complete a questionare so I can get a sense of their opinions. After this, when I’m confident I will charge for my gifts. There has to be an energy exchange. Nothing in life is for free, not even the air that we breathe! We pay for air with gratitude and therefore we are healthy. If we don’t acknowledge and value the air then poor health results. Most people don’t live in a state of gratitude which is why they need spiritual guidance in the first place. Therefore money replaces gratitude as an energy exchange. I shall charge however much people are prepared to pay when the time comes because it is a high spec sevice which we have earned the right to provide by making an effort in this lifetime to be compassionate. Most healers have had very challenging lives that they have worked through so therefore have earned that qualification to work with angels and guides. Just being in their company is worth paying for as the reader often has very good energy that lifts people. So yes, a balance of giving and receiving is necessary.
Well said Leasa! The balance of giving and receiving is totally necessary.
I read tarot and charge, I agree there should be a charge, but I also return fees if I feel the reading wasn’t up to scratch. I charge VERY little for my readings.
ive always felt that being able to read (and read well-anybody can refer to a book) is a gift, and one that should be shared. but then, you have to pay your bills, right? i charge a small fee, a fair price. but it does p*** me off when i see so called ‘readers’ charging £100 for a 20 minute reading, where they dont tell you anything substantial, theyve just ‘read’ your body language, but then if a person is willing to pay that much for a very poor reading, thats down to them. trade is also good, an exchange. friends trade their talents for readings, and i like that.
I agree with you Lisa. Sometimes we do encounter people who charge a lot of money and don’t give anything worthwhile in return… As in any profession, ours is also filled with such scam artists.
And I also agree with you about trade – I always do, what I like to call ‘exchange readings’, with my fellow Tarot readers… We read the cards for each other… This way, both of us gain from the exchange, and neither of us feels cheated…
My thoughts (15,000 clients and scores of students I have taught, some who have gone “pro”).
NOT CHARGING IS STUPID!
Does your doctor charge you to keep you from dying? Does your landlord give you a place to live free? What about food? Who is feeding you? If it were possible to charge you for air (and it will be once we leave Earth for space) you would be charged.
Reading is a skill enhanced by practice and raw talent. Don’t let anyone bully you into thinking you should not be paid. Are priests paid? OMFG yes they are paid; some make millions of dollars every year–and the Pope is treated like a king.
I agree completely! If a service is rendered, one has to pay for it. It very straightforward.