When I get back to the States, and get settled back in to New England, I was thinking about going into business, reading the Tarot. It seems like there's a hundred different things to do between now and then- the only clothes I have ready access to are uniforms- all my 'civvies' are in storage- kind of a strange feeling, when you think about it. Well, I'm in a combat zone, so it's kind of a world unto itself.
At any rate- how to approach this? Hang a sign on the front door, saying 'hey, come get your fortune told?' Well, that's one way. I honed my skills putting out an ad on Craigslist- email me your questions, I'll email you back an answer. Good, but I think I can do more. I've done a couple here down range, which is rather like that Milky Way commercial, where people attempt to swim in a pool full of caramel. It's perhaps being in a different country, somehow the 'energy' (there's no doubt some proper term for whatever it is we tap into, but I don't know what it is). It just requires a bit more concentration here and there, a little closer examination to pick up the thread. Again, trying to find the right words- I deny being 'psychic', or any such thing. I'm not in it for the money, though I do recognize that a good reader can make money. I'm hoping that this is possible without compromising anything. I don't see why not!
The first step was to come up with a name- why this is, and if it's the way most businesses are run, I don't know, but it seemed like a good jumping-off point. So I decided to scrap the technically-borrowed name and come up with a different one- the result was Wind Horse Tarot. The Wind Horse is a Tibetan mythological figure, who goes flying around bearing the jewel of the Dharma on its back. The connection between this symbol and Tarot reading is tenuous at best, but then again, it's a personal one, because my sign in the Chinese zodiac is a horse, and horses have seemed to play a significant role in my life. Also, my element is Air, a component of wind. It seemed to fit, it sounds cool, and though this may be kind of a reach, what the heck, it works. There is an important step too, when reading for other people, that is either explicit or implicit- have a code of ethics. Most people write their own, and after reviewing several, here's what I came up with; basically, be truthful, don't exploit people, and remember that people have free will. And if you're going to do this for others, prepare to spend a lot of time answering questions about romance, relationships and love. Sometimes people know the answer, and they just need some reassurance. If the multiverse is pushing you in a particular direction, no one says you can't stop and read the road signs!
So here's what I came up with:
1. I will serve the best interests of the client, and will not by action or inaction knowingly cause harm in my professional capacity.
2. I will treat all clients equally, with fairness, integrity, honesty and freedom from bias.
3. I will be truthful in representing my qualifications and abilities.
4. I will maintain strict confidentiality of my clients and the subjects discussed, except where I am required by law to disclose information, or at the client's request.
5. I will not offer advice or provide answers I am not qualified to give, such as medical or psychiatric advice, and will refer such questions to qualified sources.
6. The client at all times has the right to terminate, refuse or cancel a reading at any time, regardless of prior consent.
7. I will respect and show professional courtesy to other readers.
8. I will not, for personal gain or other reasons, deliberately instill fear, worry or unease in a client, and will instead offer advice and insight.
9. The client is entitled to the best guidance I can give and the best, most accurate and thorough insight and analysis I can provide.
10. I will respect the free will of the client, and their freedom to make decisions; I will not make the client's decisions for them.
11. I will give my full attention to each client, and will use all my skill and all resources at my disposal to provide an in-depth, accurate and thorough assessment of the situation, and will do everything in my power to provide insight and understanding.
I don't expect the world to beat a path to the door, but hey- if I can make a few people rest a little easier, why in the worlds not? There are a number of other factors to take into consideration, too- what kind of structure should it have? Given the small scale, probably a sole proprietorship would be a good start- the registration process is a little easier for most states, which will allow you to register yourself as a business. I don't intend to become a 'rock star' of the fortune-telling world (I suppose I can say fortune telling with a relative degree of accuracy- a good Tarot reader provides insight, advice and perspective, not simply telling you the future- you can tell yourself the future, then go make it happen.)
There's also the question of certification- there is an organization that can certify you as a professional Tarot reader, and will administer exams, along with an exam fee. Interesting, I thought. Actually, I've done all the work the description of these exams entail, though I just thought I was being thorough. I didn't know at that point that such a thing as certification existed! It's a feather in your cap, so to speak- not necessary, some people do it and some don't. But the main factor is experience and competence- with this you can pass this type of certification exam, whether or not you do. At any rate, this will hopefully be the start of a great adventure, and one that will provide benefit to others! And besides, I'm interested to see how this whole thing plays out too- what's in the cards, if I can get away with a terrible pun.
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