Sun Goddess Tarot: Skepticism

Showing posts with label Skepticism. Show all posts

Monday, 28 July 2014

Tarot Tip Tuesdays - Establish Credibility And Trust As A Tarot Reader

Whether you are new to Tarot and in the throes of building a connection with your Tarot cards or an advanced Tarot reader diligently honing your Tarot reading skills, I am putting out a Tarot tip a week to help you to consistently make Tarot a part of your everyday life.

I chanced upon a very disturbing news in the newspapers on Sunday, about a supposed "psychic" who was arrested for her attempt to cheat a client. The article has been appended within this blogpost for ease of reference.

I lamented often enough about skeptical people who thought metaphysical matters like Tarot, Numerology and Astrology were vestiges of quackery conjured by charlatans who coined the word "mystical" to describe spiritual matters in the hope of robbing you off your month's earnings at fairgrounds. I was often spurred by these skeptics to demystify the subject matter. I had also been helping my protégés and other Tarot newbies get comfortable with dealing with skepticism by writing at length about this.

That was why when I read that article in the newspapers, I was so filled with rage that fraudulent people like these had made my job even harder.

A Social Experiment On Close-Mindedness

I performed an experiment once, to understand perceptions of others to my intuitive skills. I registered to join an exclusive business women's group in Singapore a few months ago, using my Sun Goddess Tarot credentials. This group had strict membership policies and membership approvals were granted by an executive committee. Membership criteria included requiring one to be a female entrepreneur or a mid to senior level corporate executive. Fabulous! I was both. Its purpose was to foster learnings and networking opportunities between like-minded women who were achievers in their own right. I loved to meet more professional women and gain new knowledge from them. I still have yet to hear from the group's membership coordinator.

The next thing I did was to register for a membership to that group using my credentials as the head of Marketing and Communications for a financial MNC. I recieved an email a week later confirming that my membership request had been accepted. I declined the opportunity very kindly as I was not sure I wanted to be part of a group run by close-minded people. It just saddened me that this group of close-minded people were women. I thought women, through their multiple roles as wife, mother, daughter, and careerist who were open-minded enough to fight for equality in the workplace, adequate maternity leave, education against spousal abuse and other causes, they would have been open-minded to one who had a business that was a little different from the norm yet based on skills that were part innate and part nurtured through years of studies...much like Communications.

I acknowledged that such perceptions might have been fueled by differing opinions about metaphysical matters, lack of understanding about the subject matter or differing view points about what should be deemed a "proper job" and what was not.

Although I got quite annoyed by such close-mindedness, and would attempt to educate them as best as I could, it made me even more upset when I chanced upon news about fraudulent psychics who gave genuine ones a really bad name. I could not blame anyone for being skeptical about my gifts when there are such disgustingly fraudulent people who would prey on the superstitions of innocent people.

So today, my Tarot Tips for this Tuesday are meant to help new Tarotpreneurs establish trust and credibility with your clients.

1) If you are about to meet your client for the very first time, prior to that meeting, do start a conversation to know your client better. Ask your client how he or she had found you, was it via a random google search, your other social media platforms or word of mouth. Ask your client what he or she was hoping to get out of a reading with you. This would show how genuinely interested you are in your client's needs.

2) Before meeting your client, share your blog so that your client may understand your style, your skills and experience better. You might also want to share a list of client testimonials describing the positive impact you had on them.

3) At the start of the Tarot reading session, ask your clients if it was their first time visiting a Tarot reader and if it was, what their fears or worries were. Then allay your clients' fears by explaining the purpose of a Tarot reading, demystify the skill by explaining the reading process as clearly as possible, and allay his or her fears that you are not dabbling in anything sinister.

4) Do not rattle a bunch of misguided myths to your clients. An example would be telling them that Tarot cards could only be read by psychics. That would be absolutely untrue. Anyone can learn to read Tarot cards.

5) As a Tarot reader, you would be governed by a set of ethics which established the boundaries within which you operate. Explain these code of ethics to your clients upfront. You might also belong to a professional Tarot Association like the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI) or the American Tarot Association (ATA). They always have a code of ethics by which members are expected to follow.

6) Establish your credentials, be it certifications, your years of study, years of experience and even a ball park number of clients that you had been reading for.

7) Always do a check on the comfort level of your client, and clarify what he or she might not understand. Before you pick your cards to another Tarot spread, always ask for permission to read beyond the original question asked.

8) Assure your client that you took confidentiality very seriously, not only about the content of the reading but also about the fact that he or she had visited you at all for a reading.

9) One of the biggest hallmarks of credibility would be the acknowledgement of your skills by well-known, acclaimed and highly experienced Tarot professionals within the community. So do share any write-ups or references from these Tarot professionals about you should you have any.

10) If you had contributed articles to Tarot-related publications or spoke at a Tarot conference, do ensure that you make reference to these in your conversation with your client as well.

I hope these tips can help you build a relationship of trust between your clients and you, and over time, you could manage skepticism with ease as you build your credibility as a Tarot professional.

May your Tarot cards provide you with a full deck of possibilities throughout your day.

If you like this blogpost, do follow my blog at http://sungoddesstarot.blogspot.com and LIKE my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot

About The Writer:

The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade, and an intuitive reader by accident who deploys the combined modalities of a Tarot, Numerology and Astrology overlaid with her Clairvoyant and Clairsentient skills to deliver her readings with authenticity. She was awarded a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and is also a certified numerologist. She is currently running a consultancy based in Singapore called Sun Goddess Tarot, which provides confidential intuitive readings combining the metaphysical disciplines of Tarot, Numerology and Astrology via face to face and emails as well as readings at corporate and private events and workshops. A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she is also a reader for the Free Tarot Network and mentors Tarot protégés on behalf of the American Tarot Association

Website: www.sungoddesstarot.com
Email: Joanna@sungoddesstarot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SunGoddessTarot

From The New Paper on Sunday, 27th July 2014

Wednesday, 23 April 2014

Tarot Tip Tuesdays - Do Not Let Differences In Opinions Intimidate You

So here goes your Tarot Tip for this Tuesday:

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post for Tarot Tip Tuesdays which touched on the topic of skepticism. In that post, I had asked that should you be faced with skepticism, either from someone else or your own, do not allow it to affect your confidence. You could be putting your energy to better use by tuning out skepticism and tuning into your intuition.

Now what is worse than managing skepticism is managing your own feelings of feeling intimidated. Yes that is right. Nothing and nobody should intimidate you when you are in the throes of learning Tarot and discovering more about the cards, unless you had given him or her permission to do so. So, please don't allow that to happen, no matter how new you are to Tarot.

When I was at the beginning of my Tarot journey, I had decided to obtain my certifications then through the Tarot Certification Board of America. It was, at that time a personal choice to get certified because it contributed to my growth as a Tarot reader. I enjoyed the process, and I did learn a lot from the examiner assigned to me. When I discussed my positive experience with the board within an online forum, a fellow Tarot professional responded, " Why would you need to get certified? Certifications are silly and cannot compare with the numerous years of experience I have under my belt." I thanked her for her opinions and told her that I respected her years of experience and I was sure she was truly super as a Tarot reader, but her opinions about the certifications were just that...her personal opinions.

It reminded me of a time when I cooked beef bourginion for some friends and was told by my French friend that "We French people will not cook beef bourginion in that way." Fabulous! So I had decided to ask her for her recipe, and gamely asked for an invitation to her place for dinner some day too.

The point I am making is that just as everyone's life experiences are each different and unique, there are so many different styles and techniques Tarot readers use in their reading. The rich fabric of experiences, skills and knowledge within the Tarot community is so useful to both newbies as well as experienced Tarot readers.

However, wherever you go and whatever you do, you will meet someone who is equally, if not more passionate than you are about Tarot and he or she will be dying to put across an opinion about how right or wrong you are with your reading style, your techniques or your interpretations and what is "THE PROPER" way to do it just because he or she has gazillions of years of experience under his or her belt. Accept that gift of knowledge and take it as a learning. Do not get intimidated by it. It is okay to allow room for open discussions that serve to help, without the need to impose an opinion on someone else, no matter how experienced or skilled or knowledgeable one may be in any given subject.

This brings me to the 5 of Wands card. The 5 of Wands is a card depicting a situation of conflict, tension, difference of opinions and challenges. While many people might view the card as a negative one, I see it as an opportunity to turn differences in opinions into constructive discussions that can effect truly positive outcomes.

So go ahead and create room for open discussions, exchange of ideas and brainstorming. Accept differing opinions with an open mind but do not get intimidated by those who impose an opinion on you. It is your journey with your cards and only you are responsible for making that journey a fulfilling one for yourself.

May your Tarot cards provide you with a full deck of possibilities throughout your day.

About The Writer:

The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade, and a tarot card reader by accident. She was awarded a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and is also a certified numerologist. She is currently running a Tarot consultancy based in Singapore called Sun Goddess Tarot, which provides confidential intuitive readings combining the metaphysical disciplines of Tarot, Numerology and Astrology via face to face and emails as well as readings at corporate and private events and workshops. A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she is also a reader for the Free Tarot Network and mentors Tarot protégés on behalf of the American Tarot Association

Website: www.sungoddesstarot.com
Email: Joanna@sungoddesstarot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SunGoddessTarot

Saturday, 5 April 2014

Tarot Tip Tuesdays - Tune Out Skepticism And Tune Into Self

So here goes your Tarot Tip for this Tuesday:

You have learnt to read the Tarot cards for awhile and have been excitedly practising your readings on others. Some are grateful for your skills, others will view it with curiosity and attempt to "try you out", and there are even more out there who think you will end up a looney old lady living alone in a nursing home, talking to your Tarot cards.

Yes. Expect skepticism from others. When I started out, I had questions like "Where did you park your broom?", "Is it black magic?" or "What science is this?" Just remember that skepticism is often a result of lack of understanding of what you do. it happens in every career choice one might make and not necessarily confined to the experience of a Tarot reader. So remember that when you are confronted by questions like these, just explain it with the genuine intent to educate them. Be opened about your philosophy about Tarot. Help them understand that it is not a fortune-telling tool, but a tool that helps provide guidance and options to help them make their own decisions. If they are opened to the idea, give them a mini reading to let them experience your style.

What is worse than facing skepticism from others, would probably be facing skepticism from within you. Sometimes, your rational mind will come in the way of your intuition. Remember that a healthy dose of skepticism is really okay. As you spend more time practicing your readings, you will be more confident with your skills. All you will need is a good mix of consistent practice and the ability to tune out the noises of scepticism from others and yourself, to better tune into yourself.

May your Tarot cards provide you with a full deck of possibilities throughout your day.

Tuesday, 2 July 2013

What You Should Know Before Becoming A Tarot Reader

The Road To Becoming A Tarot Reader

These few years, Tarot took me on a journey that involved immersing myself in various courses related to Tarot, Numerology and Astrology. I had also the privilege of learning from some of the most experienced in their field and amongst them, some have become my mentors who were and still are critical to my growth as a Tarot reader.

As my journey evolved and I ventured into doing more Tarot coaching work, my Tarot world opened another dimension of new knowledge that I never got in my Tarot books and courses. While I had so much rich information about Tarot interpretations, Tarot spreads, numerological and astrological correspondences with Tarot, the one thing that I never quite got from my Tarot mentors, books and courses was what I needed to know before I became a Tarot reader.

So this blog post is dedicated to my protégés who had put that question to me recently.

What You Should Know Before Becoming A Professional Tarot Reader

1) There Will Be Skepticism From Others:

“Where did you park your broom?’, “Is it black magic?” I was often asked these questions which might be offensive at first but I had become accustomed to them. Just remember, skepticism is often a result of lack of understanding of what you do. It happens in every career choice one might make. When I was managing digital marketing, someone asked me if I was in IT. As a Tarot reader, you will face the same questions. The one I hated most was, “Are you a Fortune Teller?” No we are not. It did not help that the lack of professionalism of some “quack” Tarot readers in the past had given genuine Tarot readers like us, a bad name.

After months of emotional turmoil when people questioned what I did, true to my Public Relations training, I crafted a “holding statement” to explain my passion to them by saying “ Like the many talents and unique gifts the Universe might have given you, I was given a gift to help people who are opened to asking for my help.”

Like me, in time, you would no longer be bothered by the skepticism, particularly because you would have built a lot more confidence in your skills through the years.

2) You Will Be Skeptical About Yourself:

What is worse than facing skepticism from others, is facing skepticism from within you. Have you had moments when your rational mind come in the way of your intuition and you ask, “What science is this?” I used to ask myself this question quite often at the start of my journey. You would need to remember that a healthy dose of skepticism is really okay. As you spend more time practicing your readings, you will be more confident with your skills. Do not let anyone talk you out of the fact that you can grow the depth of your intuition. Really, you can. It is through a good mix of consistent practice, calming your mind and focusedness that you tune better to your inner consciousness.

3) You Will Encounter Different And Sometimes Extreme Opinions:

Different Tarot readers have different styles of reading. Some might use a Significator card, some might not. Some might combine it with astrological or numerological significance, some might not. Along with the different styles of reading Tarot, there are also different interpretations to a single card. It all depends on the question, the client you connect with and what your intuition tells you. My advice is to go with your gut and be prepared that one day, with the same Tarot spread, to the same question, another reader, might interpret it differently. Ultimately Tarot offers the client options with which he or she makes choices to influence his or her own outcome. There is no right or wrong interpretation to a card.

I remembered that when I contributed an article about a Tarot Spread I created for a reading, a reader of that article started a string of comments beneath that article arrogantly pushing his point that I might be off the mark with my reading and that it should have been interpreted in a different way. That behavior does not bother me now, and I hope it should not bother you if you encountered the same. You will definitely meet Tarot Nazis along your path from time to time. Personally, I feel that these Tarot Nazis lack the humility and grace of a true Tarot reader.

However, in a normal day to day life, I am sure you do come across different types of people. I had personally encountered a “Beef Bourguignon Nazi” who claimed my Beef Bourguignon was not authentically French enough. Honestly, it was only a bloody beef stew. How difficult can it be to whip up a beef stew?! I comforted myself then in the knowledge that extreme views come from one with an empty soul.

4) You Might Need To Make A Stand About Getting Certified Or Not:

Closely tied to the last point, you might be thinking of raising the bar on your Tarot reading skills by getting yourself certified. I got myself certified with the Tarot Certification Board of America. However that was a choice I made to treat it as a personal challenge. Whether you get yourself certified or not, that is not important. Your purpose as a Tarot reader, your experience, and the practice you put into sharpening your skills do matter.

A few months ago, as I was actively involved in a Tarot community forum, a fellow Tarot reader took issue with me about certification. She said, “Who cares about certification? I have got 30 years of Tarot reading experience under my belt, it is better than any certification one might have.” I defended my certification as a personal choice.

You see, it takes all sorts to make this world. So when you do make a stand about whether or not you want to get certified, please ensure you approach it with humility and grace.

5) You Will Need To Be Generous With Your Time:

As a Tarot student, be prepared to put in the hours to improve your Tarot reading skills and to build your confidence level. It is no use sitting at home just learning to interpret Tarot cards on your own without anyone to practice it on. I would strongly recommend that you volunteer as a Free Tarot Reader within a Tarot community as it offers you the opportunity to practice your reading skills in exchange for feedback. To volunteer your time and skills, do visit Tarot websites like www.biddytarot.com or www.freetarot.us

6) You Might Need To Learn To Say No When Necessary:

As a Tarot reader, you will often encounter friends and family who might ask you for a reading. That would be a good opportunity to practice your skills. So be generous with your time when it allows you more opportunities to practice your reading.

However, where you might want to draw the line is when you are faced with a needy querant, who might call you at odd hours to ask for an “urgent” reading. Perhaps a querant might insist that you provide a reading that could unwittingly cross the line of professionalism and code of ethics, like a reading on legal issues, or a reading about the thoughts of a third party.

You might also meet querants who could bring a lot of negative energy into your space and provide you with nasty feedback because they did not like the messages that the Tarot cards had unveiled at that time. Sometimes, these querants might ask you to do additional readings in the hope of forcing the cards to unveil more positive messages. We all know, Tarot cards do not work that way.

For such scenarios, do learn to say no. You should not do a reading for a querant who pushes you beyond your level of comfort.

7) You Might Feel Uncomfortable About Charging For A Reading Even When You Are Ready:

When you have finally decided to “go pro”, do decide on a reasonable amount you would want to charge for your readings and go ahead to do it. Like any professional skill, you might want to charge for a reading because you have put in so much time and effort into serving your client.

When you have made a decision to do so, I would urge you to not feel uncomfortable about charging for a reading. I was uncomfortable for a long time and kept offering free face-to-face readings to strangers who had heard about my Tarot reading skills via word of mouth. In time, I learnt that when they paid me for a Tarot reading session, it was like a fair exchange of energy because I had put in a tremendous amount of spiritual and emotional energy into each readings.

8) You Might Feel Exhausted From Time To Time

Be realistic. When you work in a regular corporate job, you could get burnt out from time to time due to the corporate stress and work load. Tarot reading is no different because of the amount of spiritual and emotional energy spent on each reading.

When you do get exhausted, take a step back from all the readings you are currently doing and spend some time meditating and grounding yourself. I do that before and after every Tarot reading now, so that I can recharge myself for the next client. I can attest to the difference it makes to my readings.

A Message From A Muse

This list of things you should know before becoming a Tarot reader is by no means exhaustive. I am sure fellow professional Tarot readers could add even more useful insights. However, I thought the most useful insight might come from Tarot itself, so I shuffled and picked one card to find out what additional advice I could offer to aspiring Tarot readers.

I picked the Page of Cups from my Morgan Greer Tarot deck created by Bill Greer and Lloyd Morgan.

Typically, the Page of Cups represents the beginning of a creative project. The image on this deck depicts a boy holding a cup and talking to a fish inside it. The fish is a symbol of his inner consciousness and it’s appearance depicts the flash of inspiration the Page got from his inner consciousness.

The Page of Cups is an advice to aspiring Tarot readers to listen to your inner consciousness and give free reign to your creative spirit. It encourages you to be creative in your spiritual journey. Just as there are many styles of reading the Tarot, there are also many ways to bring Tarot to the people who matter – the querants who come to you for your help and support.

The Page of Cups represents youthful pursuit of spiritual knowledge. You will find that there is so much more out there to learn, even when you have 30 years of Tarot reading experience under your belt.
The Page of Cups encourages you to trust your intuition. You are given the gift of intuition for a purpose, so nurture it and use it well.

Most of all, like the Page of Cups, do enjoy your spiritual journey and be enriched by the lifetime of bountiful experiences it will bring.

About The Writer:

The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade, and a tarot card reader by accident. She obtained a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and is also a certified numerologist. She currently runs a Tarot consultancy called Sun Goddess Tarot, based in Singapore. A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she is also endorsed as a reader for the Free Tarot Network and is a mentor for the ATA. She can be contacted at www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot or www.sungoddesstarot.com