If you’re thinking about becoming a professional tarot reader, I’d like to let you in on a little secret: tarot reading is hard, taxing work. You may wonder how this could be, as it appears like the reader is just sitting around tossing a few cards on a table and chatting with people. Well, on the outside it may look like “having a good time” hanging with clients, but truth is, this career demands a lot from those who intend to walk the walk. Many fellow readers tell me how drained and burnt out they can feel at times. Over the course of twenty years as a professional tarot reader, I too have experienced this myself and have had to develop tools to help me remain grounded and balanced.
Self awareness is the first key. Over the years, I’ve learned to become more sensitive to the warning signs when my energy is unbalanced:
- Feeling depleted/ lethargic/ drained
- Depression
- Addictive behavior (for me excessive eating of sweets)
- Putting on excessive weight
- Less psychic sensitivity
- Irritability/ impatience
When you are doing any sort of spiritual work, you collect negative energy from the people that seek your services. Understand this: it’s not deliberate on the part of the client. A tarot reader has to be open to the experience – and often times the querent may be coming with a lot of emotional baggage or heavy issues, which can be absorbed by the reader. Once the reading is over and the client leaves, this energy remains with you. And over time, this can build up, layer by layer and begin to affect the quality of your readings – or in extreme circumstances, your health. You may not notice it right away but eventually if this negativity is not released, it will weigh you down and undermine your ability to remain a clear channel for your clients.
For me, this happens less these days as I make my self-care and spiritual health a priority. I have found that it is vital to keep your psychic tools sharp, clean and maintained if you want to continue on this path without jeopardizing your sanity or health. It all starts with boundaries. I maintain the strictest of boundaries and put limits on a client’s access to me. My guidelines, for example, are:
- All appointments must be scheduled in advance. No last minute appointments
- I do not answer “quick questions” over the phone
- A 3 – 6 month wait between appointments (sometimes longer for some clients)
- If a client sounds extremely distressed, I may make them wait until they are more calm and focused
- No-shows get banned
You’ll have to choose what boundaries are comfortable for you. Some readers are a bit more lax and it doesn’t seem to affect them at all. For myself, I have found that I function better with structure and this allows my readings to remain objective.
In addition to establishing some ground rules with your clients, it is also important that you create time and space for self care. Not only eating well and exercising, but also tending to your spiritual life. There are a few things I do to keep my chakras balanced, energy stable and psychic channels clear:
- Meditation – spending time with your inner self connects you to the guidance within and allows you to quiet the mind. Meditation helps to work out your own issues and allows you to become friends with your SELF. This leads to greater compassion, and that benefits YOU and your clients.
- Exercise – negative energy can get stored in the body. Taking time every day to do some sort of physical exercise (I prefer yoga) will insure you are not holding on to difficult emotions or bad energy, which could lead to illness or a feeling of being drained.
- Pace yourself – I keep a schedule and only read tarot 4 days a week and I limit the number of clients I see. Avoid over doing it as that is the surest way to burn out.
- Bodywork – Massage is a wonderful way to release trapped energy and restore the mind, body and spirit.
- Eat well – it’s no secret that I love to eat. Good nutrition paves the way for a healthy body and mind. However, when I am absorbing too much energy from my clients, I’ll go on mad candy binges! I try to limit my sweets but more importantly – if I am choosing to eat poorly, I look at my work and see what needs tweaking. Perhaps a day off or an extra yoga practice could fend off the poor eating habits.
- Salt baths – at times, my boundaries may be crossed by some really negative client and I find myself completely drained. A salt bath will cleanse the aura and restore my sixth sense. It’s very simple to do – fill a tub with warm water and about a cup (or more) of sea salt. Soak for a good 20 minutes. Air dry. This works wonders and I swear by it!
- Candles – I’m a huge fan of candles for cleansing my tarot room and charging myself and my cards. I use the Tarot Tools candles by Coventry Creations, which were made especially for tarot readers! The Energy Boost and Psychic Cleansing candles are a MUST in any tarot reader’s arsenal!
The wise tarot readers will make sure that they keep themselves in tip top shape, from head to toe to soul. It makes all the difference not just in the quality of the readings but in the quality of the reader’s LIFE.
Blessings!
Theresa
image courtesy of taoxproductions
How do you keep yourself sane and balanced? I’d love to hear your suggestions! Post them in the comments section below!
I’m Theresa Reed (aka, The Tarot Lady). I’ve been a full-time tarot reader for 30+ years — which, in my industry, makes me pretty badass.
I’m definitely not your average Tarot expert — I drop the F-bomb, I quote rappers, and I’m obsessed with pop culture + reality TV. Folks come to me for straight-talk + tough-love — without the woo-woo fluff. 
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