The Hit List - What if metaphysical authors and practitioners walked away from Instagram?

Last week, author Rashunda Tramble (@staywoketarot) left Instagram. After dealing with way too many imposters and zero support from the platform, she had it. She was out of there. 

A few other authors have taken down most of their photos, leaving only a handful of pictures on Instagram. It means scammers have fewer images to pilfer, which makes those pages less attractive. 

Some of us have tried other means, such as drastically reducing who we follow (many scam accounts like to snag the names of the people we follow to see if they can defraud them). I’ve done this, and while it has reduced the number of imposters, a few popped up – including one that took multiple reports before Instagram finally removed it.

While the imposter problem for metaphysical authors and practitioners has been reported by the media, such as over at LA Times, Instagram still seems reluctant to solve the problem. Oftentimes, impersonation reports are ignored. Plus, it’s almost impossible to get verified over there if you’re in this industry, even if you have street cred. Either they don’t care, or they want inflated numbers of “users,” even if those numbers are bots or scam accounts.

I’ve said this many times: it’s no longer safe over there if you’re a metaphysical author, practitioner, or someone who enjoys things such as tarot, astrology, crystals, and so on. Either your work gets ripped off – or your followers do. It’s both maddening and sad. Instagram used to be fun. 

I posed this question the other day over on Twitter: “I wonder what would happen if all the legit metaphysical professionals and mystical authors left Instagram. If only the imposters remained, what would happen to the platform?”

It’s a question worth pondering. If we all stopped using the platform or perhaps staged a boycott, would anything change? Would that get their attention? Would this lead to an overhaul? Or would they continue on business as usual? (I suspect the answer is the latter.)

Astrology and Tarot are popular on social media. Look at any account, and you’ll see plenty of engagement. Our presence helps social media platforms attract advertisers, followers, and investors. If we’re gone, and the sites become known only for hosting frauds, at some point, they will lose revenue and value.

While I’m reluctant to step into the Norma Rae role, this is something for the metaphysical community to begin discussing. After all, if they won’t protect us or the people who love our work, why should we help them succeed by being another number for them to crow about to their investors?

xo

Theresa

 

Other stuff:

I’m sharing my picks over at Bustle: The 3 Most Stylish Zodiac Signs, According To An Astrologer.

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WOWZA: The Book Community Thought This Author Died. Now, It Seems Her Suicide Was a Hoax.

RIP: Lisa Marie Presley, singer, and daughter of Elvis Presley, dies at 54.

‘Lucky Girl Syndrome’ Won’t Solve Your Problems. TikTok Thinks Otherwise.

Aliza Kelly spells it out over at The Cut: When Mercury Retrograde Ends, Mercury Retroshade Begins.

OMG I loved the book: Exciting First Looks at Film Adaptation of Judy Blume’s “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.”

I love seeing my friends Jeanna Kadlec and Meg Jones Wall featured in New York Times: How an Astrologer Spends Her Sundays.

Bummer: Noma, Rated the World’s Best Restaurant, Is Closing Its Doors.

In case you didn’t catch it: Stability is not in the cards for 2023: Divinations reveal a year of transitions. I’m sharing my predictions!

The latest Astrology Bytes covers Neptune transits through the signs.

For writerly folks: Intuitive Editing: A Creative and Practical Guide to Revising Your Writing.

Science = happiness: The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.

This just dropped: Entering Hekate’s Cave: The Journey Through Darkness to Wholeness.

Interesting: Medium Mentor: 10 Powerful Techniques to Awaken Divine Guidance for Yourself and Others.

Coming soon: Heal the Witch Wound: Reclaim Your Magic and Step Into Your Power.

OMFG Gabriela Herstik is creating a Tarot deck: Goddess of Love Tarot: A Book and Deck for Embodying the Erotic Divine Feminine!

Speaking of Tarot, this book is coming next fall: Get Tarot!: A Perfect Guidebook to Practice Tarot Reading.

WANT: I Ching, The Oracle: A Practical Guide to the Book of Changes by Benebell Wen.

Defo can’t wait for this book from Bess Metassa: The Tarot Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to Divining with Your Cards.

Tarot and astrology go together like peanut butter and marshmallow fluff. If you want to make your life sweeter, check out my tarot-astrology mash-up: Twist Your Fate: Manifest Success with Astrology and Tarot.

Have you ever thought about creating your own Tarot deck? You need this kit! Includes blank cards, painting instructions, and tarot explanations from yours truly. Everything you need. Let your imagination run wild: Create Your Own Tarot Cards: A step-by-step guide to designing a unique and personalized tarot deck. <-Cards are included!

My children grew up around tarot cards, astrology charts, and plenty of cats. Tarot for Kids is exactly the kind of deck they would have loved! Check it out: Tarot For Kids.

If you want to become a more intuitive reader, you need a strong tarot foundation. Get the basics down – and watch your sixth sense come to life with Tarot: No Questions Asked: Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading.

Prefer to listen to your tarot lessons? Check this out: Tarot: No Questions Asked: Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading is available as an audiobook.

Curious about astrology? But you know practically nothing, and everything feels mysterious and overwhelming? This book is perfect for beginners: Astrology for Real Life: A Workbook for Beginners (A No B.S. Guide for the Astro-Curious).

There is an audio version if you prefer: Astrology For Real Life.

The Uncommon Tarot has been called: “An exquisite Tarot deck that honors our diversity with imagery that is nonbinary and inclusive of race and sexual orientation.” It was my honor to co-create this deck with my friend Shaheen Miro. A beautiful addition to your deck collection. The Uncommon Tarot: A Contemporary Reimagining of an Ancient Oracle.

New to Tarot? Want to learn what all the cards mean? Treat yourself to The Tarot Coloring Book. Color your way through the Tarot deck—one card at a time. A relaxing activity for quiet nights when you want to turn off all the tech devices and unwind. The Tarot Coloring Book.

Tarot For Troubled Times is filled with self-care tips, affirmations, rituals, and tarot spreads to help you when life (or the world) feels dark: Tarot For Troubled Times. It has rituals, meditations, tarot spreads, and more.

Every week, I send a *top-secret* newsletter where I share an astrological forecast…especially for business owners. It’s called the Astro-Biz Digest. And it’s just $99 for a full-year subscription. Intrigued? The AstroBiz Digest.

 

Classes 

Intro to Tarot Card Reading. Get introduced to the basics of Tarot reading with this foundational class. When: Saturday, April 29th, 2023, from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM CST. Hosted by the Infinity Foundation via Zoom.

Intermediate Tarot Techniques. Ready to level up your Tarot skills? Join me for a five-part live workshop: Intermediate Tarot Techniques. Enroll before January 31st and save some dough!  Class starts March 23, 2023. Hosted by Insight Events USA via Zoom.

Join my Patreon Community!  For just $10 a month, you can get oodles of tarot and astrology goodies – including a hot date with me on the 1st of each month. I do a video broadcast and discuss all the important astrological dates coming up soon. Get more details and sign up: Patreon. Treat yourself!

 

What I’m Grateful For:

Supportive peers

Knowing just enough legalese to be dangerous

Pasta

Highlighter markers

Hidden stashes of chocolate

The smell of a new book

 

 

Soundtrack for 1/14/23

GOATED by Armani White and Denzel Curry

© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2023

images from stock photography and personal collection 

*Some of the links are affiliate links. I receive a small fee if you purchase, but this does not affect the price of the item.*

 

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