As trashy as a lot of reality TV can be, there are some really good business lessons that can be learned from some of these shows. Recently, I was watching an episode of “Tabatha’s Salon Takeover” where one salon owner was using all sorts of “gimmicks” to attract clients. He had a stripper pole, tacky promotions and even wore a silly wig. Tabatha is a no-nonsense gal like myself and she was appalled by his circus side show schtick. And guess what? It wasn’t working. His salon was going broke.
This reminded me of a yoga studio owner I used to know. He had a great location and wonderful instructors. But the studio was struggling. He tried jumping on every yoga trend and used disingenuous marketing strategies that reeked of slickness and fraud. There was no sincerity or focus and the vibe of desperation was obvious. People can generally sense when they are being shilled to or when someone is not operating out of integrity or passion. One would think this would be especially true to a psychic profession.
Trends in our industry come and go. Those that have stuck around have been groundbreaking innovations that have prodded tarot into new directions including tarot games, unique decks, interactive websites and even iPhone apps! Others have combined Reiki, therapy and other healing techniques to turn tarot into an instrument for wellness. Modern technology has given professional readers the ability to promote their work on the world wide web. While all of these advances may serve a legitimate purpose, it would serve us well to keep our eye on the fine line between being innovative versus being gimmicky.
Can innovation water tarot down to an unrecognizable form? Do we need to employ new techniques to avoid becoming stagnant? And as professionals, should we add all sorts of other “tools” and skills to our repertoire or does that spread us too thin and make us “jacks of all trades, masters of none”?
It is my firm belief that one needs to have a solid base in tarot before they begin throwing random techniques and titles into the stew pot. Innovation is important. One can become stuck in a tarot rut and using different methods can awaken new pathways that can help a reader serve their clients better.
But without a firm foundation and a good deal of experience reading people, these new techniques can lead to confusion and an unfocused reading that serves no one. A tarot reading is not the time to test barely digested healing techniques on your clients.
Let me relate this to the martial arts: when learning any form, you have to practice it again and again until you have achieved a certain level of mastery. This can take many years of regular disciplined practice. Only then, when the form is ingrained in your being, would you begin to work on experimenting with it. How could you possibly know what altering the form could result in if you aren’t even clear on the form itself?
As a reader it is vital that you establish a strong foundation in tarot. This takes time and a lot of practice. You have to read for many people over a long period to develop your skills. You must learn the traditional structure well before you begin adding your own flavor to the mix.
Adding additional practices to your repertoire may make you a potentially more “marketable” reader but this must be done with the greatest care and respect for ALL of the disciplines involved and not merely out of a sense of desperation to attract more clients. If you are thinking about adding new skills (such as Reiki, life coaching, etc.) you must be equally passionate about these as you are about tarot. Otherwise, these “skills” and “titles” are meaningless at best and fraudulent at worst.
Your clients are not generally looking for a three ring circus. Most people come to a tarot reader for a tarot reading. They want to know the future and they want to have a better handle on what is to come. If you can provide that for them, you are putting them in the drivers seat to the greatest show on earth – their lives.
Blessings!
Theresa
© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2011
special thanks to taoxproductions for the image and editing
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. 
You must be logged in to post a comment.