Tarot Tuesday: Does the Deck You Use Really Matter?

There are thousands of tarot decks. All you have to do is check out sites like Aeclctic Tarot and you'll find tons of them, complete with images and reviews. Honestly, it can be a little overwhelming. But does the deck you choose matter?

Let's look at it from two different perspectives: The reader or the client. 

If you're a reader, then the deck you use matters because the information flows through the images and has an impact on your intuition. Readers prefer certain decks over others. One of the biggest choices a reader makes is Rider-Waite-Smith vs. Thoth, for example, but as a reader, the bottom line is that you need to like what you're looking at. Does it reduce your effectiveness as a reader? I think it certainly might. 

If you're a client, it might be easy to say, "No...since the client isn't doing the reading, the deck shouldn't matter." But in my experience, clients do prefer certain decks over others. 

Back when I started my professional reading career, Ciro Marchetti's Gilded Tarot was one that I used for a while and it was a client favorite. In fact, it was such a favorite I had to stop bringing it after about three months to change things up. And the one that I use as a house standard when I read at Pin Curls Beauty Salon is the Rider Waite Smith, and some of my clients don't like it. 

A long time ago, I used to give clients a choice of decks, but I found that most of them preferred the Rider. I also have one client who liked a darker feel on the cards when I read for him so he preferred the Necronomicon Tarot, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft.

So I'll end by leaving you with a question to answer: Does the tarot deck a reader uses matter to you? If you read, do you care what you read with? Do you want me to offer different decks to use?

I'll take your answers in the comments or to hierophant@cox.net. Thanks!

The Long Island Medium: Is She a Fake?

Being a psychic, tarot card reader, or medium is not an easy job. You have to tell people things they don't want to hear, for one thing. People also have pretty high expectations of what you're going to be able to tell them. But perhaps the most difficult challenge some days is the reputation that we have as a profession: People question our integrity constantly, and while I don't think that's a bad thing per se, we have to prove ourselves time and time again. Have one off day and your client can decide that you're not "for real" anymore.

The article here from Jezebel contains allegations that the Long Island Medium, Theresa Caputo, is a fraud. While this particular piece is recent, there are allegations that go back a number of years. One site in particular claims to have a source codenamed "Kim" that says Ms. Caputo admitted she makes stuff up and doesn't really talk to spirits. Theresa is also accused of "cold reading" clients, a common claim among those who denigrate psychics on general principle. 

According to Wikipedia:

Cold reading is a series of techniques used by mentalists, psychics, fortune-tellers, mediums and illusionists to determine or express details about another person, often in order to convince them that the reader knows much more about a subject than they actually do.^[1] Without prior knowledge of a person, a practiced cold reader can still quickly obtain a great deal of information about the subject by analyzing the person's body language, age, clothing orfashion, hairstyle, gender, sexual orientation, religion, race or ethnicity, level of education, manner of speech, place of origin, etc. Cold readers commonly employ high probability guesses about the subject, quickly picking up on signals from their subjects as to whether their guesses are in the right direction or not, and then emphasizing and reinforcing any chance connections the subjects acknowledge while quickly moving on from missed guesses.

Let me start off by saying that I don't believe everything I read on the Internet, and I hope you don't either, because if that's true, pro wrestling really is fake and I'm totally crushed. I say that tongue in cheek, but you understand what I'm driving at. I'm not going to string someone up because of a few articles. 

With that said, we all know what can be done with the magic of television. Like every reality television show, "Long Island Medium" is edited. Of course they're not going to show you the times when she's off the mark. They're going to show you when she has a tremendously positive impact on people. 

We also know what can be done with information. With a few keystrokes you can find out quite a bit about someone you've never met and easily fudge the rest. Some of Caputo's detractors allege that her knowledge of people comes not from the deceased but from background checks performed by her staff, with live shows carefully choreographed for maximum impact. 

One of the allegations this site makes is that Ms. Caputo is "all about the money". A number of the arguments are somewhat compelling, but this one makes my bullshit meter go off. We all like to get paid, and if you have the ability Theresa supposedly has, you're out to help people but you want to make some money, too. She has the right to charge people whatever the market will bear. So on this one I say "Don't hate the player; hate the people who show up and pay her to perform." You can't cite that as a reason she's a fake. That's like hating professional athletes because we pay them millions; who do you think makes their jobs so lucrative?

To be fair, Ms. Caputo has an awfully big target on her back. She's the star of a very popular television show, and her practice is very lucrative. People are willing to wait for years for a consultation with her, and they pay top dollar without batting an eyelash. Speaking as a psychic, that's a good problem to have if you can manage it. But the more in the public eye you are, the more you are on a pedestal and the more people want to knock you off of it. 

I'm sure there are a lot of people who are extremely upset she has any kind of public acclaim, such as those who claim that psychics and other intuitives are "practicing the black arts" and other horseshit like that. (Incidentally, if you look up "Theresa Caputo Fake" on Google, you'll find a video that starts using bible verses to back up its claims.) So groups like that would want to bring her down, too. 

Of course, you'll also find plenty of other YouTube footage, like these from SciFake, that claim to prove Theresa is not for real. But even that isn't definitive proof; psychics can have off days, too. It's there for your edification. I encourage you to check out both sides of the issue. 

As a practicing psychic, my biggest problem with Ms. Caputo is an ethical one: She confronts people  to tell them what spirits were saying to her right off the street without getting someone's permission, or at least that's the way it appears on the show. For me that's a huge no-no. Unless someone asks you for a reading, even if you never pull out cards to get the information--it just comes to you through your intuition--that information doesn't belong to you and it's unethical to share it or ask about it. But Theresa appeared to help a lot of people and give them peace as they were going through tremendously difficult times as well. While I don't go out of my way to watch her show, I don't make it a point to watch, either. If it's on I won't turn it off.

So is Theresa Caputo a fake? I honestly have no idea. The information is compelling in some respects, but constitutes specious logic in others. One very close friend shared the possibility that maybe Theresa is gifted, but that she had to feed the publicity machine and in doing so started using other methods to "help" her. That's one of a hundred possible scenarios, ranging from "She's the real deal!" all the way to "She's a total fraud!" The truth is likely somewhere in the middle. 

One question I can answer is "Would I have a personal reading with her?" Speaking personally, I'd say no; I'm not willing to spend that kind of money or wait over two years for a slot. And for the record, these recent allegations wouldn't have changed my answer to the question. 

If it turns out that Ms. Caputo is a total fraud, then she has a HUGE karmic debt to pay off, and she will no doubt find herself in a world of shit from people who believed in her. Karma, as we all know, can be a bitch, but in deference to ladies everywhere, karma can also be a bastard. :)

In the end, you'll have to decide where you stand. But I encourage you to read everything you can and draw your own conclusions. Ms. Caputo just inked another season of "Long Island Medium", so she won't be going away anytime soon. 

There Is No "I"...

Yeah, you know the rest. Maybe you think you do. But let me enlighten you anyway. 

There is no "I" in tarot. 

Think about that. Drink it in. 

There is no "I" in tarot. 

Profound, isn't it? But it's a vital concept for anyone who wants to pick up those cards. 

I can't take credit for it, though. I have a friend who mentioned it to me today. She's an Aquarius, and definitely in this case she was ahead of her time with this one. I had never even considered it!

I'm going to make my own addition to it, though. Here's my version:

"There is no 'I' in tarot, but there is an 'I' in client."

You've heard me talk about this before. But the more I work with the cards, the more I read for other people, the more this message becomes true. 

If you read cards for others, then their needs come first. You do right by them by giving them the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. You don't lie, spin, water it down, or otherwise adulterate it. You leave your ego behind. You serve them. That's what you're doing. Anything else is doing both you and them a grave disservice. It doesn't matter if you know your client personally or not. It doesn't matter if they are very different from you, or if they're skeptical of your ability. If they ask for a reading and you consent to it, that's what you're taking on. 

If you read for yourself, you need to do the same. When you are the client and you pick up those cards, it can be challenging not to see what you want to see. But the wisdom is there if you look for it. You need to check your ego then, too. It may be easier to fool yourself, but seriously, people...the cards are only giving you the message you need to hear. 

I was reminded of this at a tarot party I worked over the weekend. I remember taking a break and listening to the people talk about me and what I had told them. I knew none of them personally, but I had a few chuckles from hearing what I told of them confirmed by their friends. I was telling the clients what they needed to hear, and that is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. 

Anyway, I figured I'd drop by to tell you this. I hope to blog more again soon. 

Thank you, dear readers, for sticking with me. And to my Aquarius friend who inspired me today...I can't thank you enough!

News Flash: Psychics Can Be Wrong Sometimes

In many types of writing, you're supposed to to put your bottom line up front. So here it is: Psychics, even the really talented ones like Sylvia Browne, can be wrong. 

She told one of the Cleveland kidnapping victim's mothers during a reading that her daughter was very likely dead. Thankfully that wasn't true, and the victims in Cleveland were freed and brought home. You can check out the article here.
 
You may be wondering why, as a professional tarot reader, I'd draw your attention to such an article. It's because that's the reality. For any number of reasons, we can be wrong. We're not infallible, but then again, no human being is. Also, the Tradition of the Witches Circle has a basic tarot class going on right now, and this lesson is always a good one.

Any kind of divination, which includes psychic reading/clairvoyance, tarot reading, rune casting, and any other form of divination, is a "snapshot in time". We see what is going on in that moment. But the future is dynamic and changes constantly. I have confidence in my ability, but I'd be lying if I said I always get it perfectly.

Like any other profession, psychics have a bad days. We're human and we're subject to the same foibles every one else is. We get tired, sick, or depressed. We get distracted or unmotivated. We have biases, especially when we know our clients well; when the client is a loved one it can be especially difficult. And sometimes, we just miss things. Or the Divine/Universe decided we didn't need to know, so we didn't "see" it and couldn't tell you.

The point is that even though I enjoy a very loyal clientele, and love reading cards more than most things on this planet, I urge anyone who consults a reader to take the reader's advice into perspective of the larger picture you have of your own life. It shouldn't be your only resource, however. Solicit opinions and get information from those around you that you trust.

For example, if a reader tells you that you could be fired, ask some hard questions at the office. Get feedback from your boss and others to see if this is something you really should be worried about. Let's say you have a tarot reading that you'll be fired in six months. But you take the reading seriously and start taking more initiative at work. Six months later you're still gainfully employed and got Employee of the Month last month. GOOD FOR YOU! You heard what you needed to hear so you could be successful.

If you do any kind of divinatory reading for other people--my example below will be using tarot, but substitute as you will--here are a few guidelines I follow:

• I don't read when I am sick, extremely tired, in a bad mood, or feeling depressed. It not only impacts how well I can connect with the Divine, but it can have a negative impact on the delivery of the reading to the client.
• I don't drink alcohol when I'm doing paid readings. If I'm reading for a friend, I never have more than one.
• If I feel uncomfortable reading for someone, or do not feel I can be objective, I decline. Stand your ground on this one. It's very rare that I don't read for someone, but when I say no, I stand my ground.
• I ask permission before bringing divinatory items--like cards or runes--into someone else's home/space. If they're not comfortable, then respect their wishes; it's very important not to let your ego drive the bus on this one.
• Unless it is explicitly stated that you may share a reading and with whom, I keep what I "see" to myself. You're just getting the message across and a client's personal information isn't yours to share.
• I remind clients that this is a "snapshot in time", and that the information should be taken in that context.

Thanks as always for tuning in!

UPDATE: Here's a response from Sylvia Browne about the reading. She says she's been "right more than wrong", and that "only God is right all the time." Well said, Sylvia! 
    

Tarot Card Scammers Alert!

A California woman was recently talked out of $5,000 of her hard-earned money that she was planning on investing in a new business by a tarot card reader. Check out the video interview and article here.

Many of you who read this blog regularly consult metaphysical professionals, which may include tarot card readers, astrologers, psychics of various kinds (like mediums), and energy healers (like Reiki masters). It's become very common for many people to do so, and on the whole, I think that's a good thing.

With that said, it is incredibly important to use good  judgment when selecting such a person. I've blogged before about how many skilled, well-intentioned metaphysical professionals there are out there, and that they get a bad rap. This man, this "Don Luis" who stole this lady's money, is one of the many reasons why people are skeptical of us and routinely question our integrity and ethics.

People who take advantage like this piss me off to no end, but it's even more abhorrent to me when it has a negative impact on my own business, not just financially but personally. It's so hard to earn a good reputation, and for some asshole I don't even know to jeopardize my work just makes me mad.

While I don't want to be too hard on the victim, in the video you'll hear her say that it didn't feel right to her to give this man her money. She should have listened to her gut and said "No, thank you." And while your gut will lead you in the right direction, my beloved said it best: "Don't ignore your intuition, but also use common sense!" I couldn't agree more.

Anyway, it looks like it's time for a reminder of what to look for when selecting a metaphysical services provider:

1) Code of Ethics--Do they have one? Is it posted someplace, either in their shop or online? You can see mine at www.hierophanttarot.com under "Code of Ethics".

2) Certifications, relevant training, or other qualifications--Does this person belong to any organizations or have any certificates of relevant training? There are organizations for everything. For example, I'm a Certified Tarot Master and if you contact the Tarot Certification Board of America, they'll tell you that. I'm also a member of the American Tarot Association, and as a member I have to abide by their code of ethics, which is the basis for my own.

3) Length of time practicing and testimonials--How long has this person been in business? Are they willing to tell you what others have said about their services? Would they be willing to let you talk to one of their current clients? If they haven't been around long or are leery of talking about satisfied customers, there may be a problem. In my case, I have plenty of people who I would refer you to.

4)  A personal recommendation--This is VERY important to me. I want to patronize metaphysical services providers that I either know personally or know about through someone else. Advertising means nothing in this business; if you have a loyal following, you don't need to advertize. I am automatically way of folks who advertize too much anyway. Ask around; you would be surprised about what you can learn when you open your mouth.

5) Posted services and prices per service--These should be available from the provider or online. Make sure that the provider tells you in advance what you are going to pay, and what you will receive. Don't wait until the end to know how much you're going to pay; the provider should set your expectations accordingly.

6) Words to watch for--The biggest one is "curse". They love to say that you're cursed, or that your home is, your family, whatever. You're not cursed. Walk out the door at that point and don't come back. This is the same if you have someone offering to "cast spells" for you for a price as well. If they do or say anything that puts them in control of you, your time, or your money, then end it. 

The bottom line: If you feel like something is wrong, it probably is. If you want to stop a service in progress, tell the provider--ideally you haven't paid them yet--walk out, don't go back, and if you question this person's practices, call the police and tell your friends. Don't be afraid of hurting someone's feelings if you get a bad vibe off a provider. You need to protect yourself first. 

A number of people who should know better have fallen victims to these crooks, and the only way to beat them is by educating customers. Don't make yourself a victim, no matter how nice they may seem.

Q is for Querent

Hi there...if you're a fan of older tarot books, you may find the word "Querent" in them. This is an archaic term for "the person asking the question of the tarot" or "the person receiving the reading". These days, I don't use that term. I've switched over to "client", mainly because it sounds more professional, but also because it defines the relationship for me.

Anyway, in this post I wanted to take the opportunity to talk about what makes a great tarot querent/client. I've mentioned before what to look for in a reader, but I think it's important to let all of you know what I look for in a good client.

One important thing to keep in mind: A tarot reader can choose to read for you, or can choose NOT to read for you. We're not obligated in any way. It's extremely rare for me to refuse to read for someone; I think it's only happened once in my career so far.

Want to make your tarot reader happy? Here's how to do it:

1) Respect--Have respect for my cards and anything on mytable, as well as myspiritual path. It's best to ask before touching anything on a tarot table unless you are invited to do so. I don't mind at all if you put a drink on my table as long as you are careful with it. And if you're not a fan of witches, for example, I think you ought to find another reader since I am one and work in a witch shop. I've had occasions where people act like the store where I read is the ultimate evil and yet they still believe that I have some insight for them. Insult my religion, or my store or anything in it and you'll find that I will be disinclined to acquiesce to your request for a reading. (If you think it doesn't happen, you would have to wonder why I have to mention it.)

2) Pay attention--Take notes or record me. Both of those are fine. Don't post recordings online where other people can listen; they are for your ears only. Put your phone away and on vibrate, please.

3) Children--It's best to leave them at home when you have a reading unless someone else is taking care of them for that time. I have had clients whose children have picked up my credit card machine or other objects (like gemstones), crawled around at my feet, or talked over me. While I understand that children do those things, you should really consider not having them present unless they are old enough to take care of themselves (like teenagers). It's also good to have privacy when you are having a reading;  you may not want them to hear what I have to say to you.

4) Friends--If you want moral support, please feel free bring a friend. It is up to you if they are present for a reading, with the understanding that they are NOT to repeat what they hear to anyone without your express permission. Your friends should also understand that this is YOUR reading; they shouldn't be asking questions of me unless you give them leave to do so. And let's be clear: Your friends may make fantastic faces--oh yeah, and they DO in case you were wondering--but I'm focused on you. :)

5) Payment--Find out how much the reading will be before starting. Good readers should tell you in advance. Pay when the reading is over. Tipping is nice but NOT NECESSARY. If you choose to tip, the amount is up to you, and I graciously accept them. There's no real etiquette on this one.

6) Feedback--I like hearing how things went, so feel free to send me an email and let me know about how the reading came out. Did what we discussed happened? Somewhat? Not at all? I'm always interested in knowing if I'm on the mark.

7) Emotions--If you're tired, stressed, upset, or sick, you should really think about whether or not you want to pick up those cards. I promise that if I'm sick or otherwise unable to give you 100%, I won't read.

8) Emergencies--To me, there are no such things as "emergency tarot readings". If you have something that pressing in your life, I'm not the person you should be calling. I'll be honored to give you some guidance once things calm down.

"What's wrong with my soul?"

I've been reading tarot for over 20 years, and I'll admit that I've had my share of interesting questions from friends, family members and clients. When I say interesting I really mean offbeat, oddball, or otherwise goofy. And that's understandable--a lot of people don't know what how the tarot works so you can expect some of it. 
 
This one, I must admit, really threw me for a loop. How in the hell to you answer "What's wrong with my soul?" in a way that doesn't belittle the client and isn't dismissive or condescending? 


If you read tarot you may come up against this problem at some point in your practice. Here are a few things I did to turn this potentially uncomfortable situation into a positive one for the client. But it started with changing the question.  
 
On the surface, there's an assumption in this question. It implies that there IS indeed something wrong with the client's soul. So let's begin there. This particular client placed him or herself into a very dangerous situation with it. A charlatan or crook may have tried to say something like, "Oh yeah. I see it from here. Your soul is as black as coal, and to make it pure again you will have to sacrifice $3000 in hundred dollar bills to me, and I will buy the supplies and perform the spell to do it." Anyone who uses psychic ability to harm others and/or for their own personal gain in any way is a person for whom I can have NO RESPECT. So luckily the client was safe from that. 
 
Without giving away any details of the person's reading, I can honestly say there was nothing  that indicated that the client's immortal soul was in danger. Considering that in all my years I've never seen a set of cards that made me fear for a client's soul, I thought that was a pretty safe bet I wouldn't come up with that.


Just consider this fictional exchange: 


Client: So, Johnnie, what's wrong with my soul?


Me: Ummm, yeah...do you have your affairs in order? Because your soul is in grave danger and I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow you were in Baal's throne room, bowing down to him while writhing in everlasting agony.


Client: Oh CRAP! Can I pay you next week?  


Anyway, back to the question. After seeing the first card I realized what to do. I treated the reading as a general overview and told the client what I saw, focusing on overall spiritual ideas that may help in the coming months. I'll admit that I improvised on that one. It was at the beginning of my professional practice and I probably could have handled it better, even though the client went away very pleased.


If this happens to you, then it's time for some questions. What is the client expecting to know? What is most important to him/her? Once you get some answers, you can pick the right spread and get to reading. But take the time to interview the client a little bit. 


Occasionally, clients will not want to tell you what is going on. It's kind of a test. They want to see how good you are, so they'll provide no other information other than the occasional yes or no. While I really don't like this game, do your reading and tell the client what you see. That tactic ends up hurting the client in the long run because the more they share, the more likely they will go away with the insights they desire. But there are always skeptics.


The bottom line is the more you focus on the question and get at what the client really wants to know, the more effective the reading will be and the more the client will be satisfied with their reading. On the reader side, the more spreads you know, the easier it will be to customize something for a client with very specific needs if necessary, so it's important to know a whole bunch and have easy access to a whole lot more. I usually have a spreads book called "Power Tarot" when I read just in case I want something different and/or exotic. 


The question defines and shapes the response, so it's imperative to pick the right one when you're starting out. And try to do your best for the client, no matter how odd the question may seem.