Hi, Tarot Bumblebees,

Today I want to talk about Tarot scam artists and how to spot that BULL SHIT from a mile away. I posted a Tarot PSA on my Facebook page a while ago and there were SO MANY responses. So many of our Tarot community have had experiences that mirrored my own, clients, friends,  and family who’ve been preyed on.

I fucking love the Tarot, I am honoured every time someone opens up to me in a reading. I take that seriously and as a privilege. I have been reading for a long time. The Tarot has now been in my life longer than it hasn’t so to hear that this stuff still happens makes me a little she-hulk-like. I have spoken for years now on what I believe the Tarot can and cannot do and what kind of Tarot Reader I am.

I have lost count of how many clients over the years have come to me and told me some truly horrific things that Tarot Readers, Psychics, Mediums, Palm Readers and diviners of all kinds have told them in the name of scamming them out of money and or creating co-dependency on their services. This also runs rampant in the coaching community too. Before we jump in I want to clearly spell out a few things. 

• I know that there are con people in every profession. 
• I know that you don’t need a Tarot deck to be a shitty person.
• I know that so many professions use the psychology of ‘pain points’ to sell everything and anything.
• I know that this is also seen in all different cultures and religions.

I’m not bashing anyone’s religion or culture because being an asshole is not exclusive to one religion or culture. I know that there are cultures where magic, hexing and cursing is a very real belief, as not just a few people believe that this can happen to you, but everyone knows that you can go and get someone to curse or bless a family. I have seen it with my own eyes. So I’m not trying to invalidate the cultural importance of mystical practices. That would be hypocritical of me anyway.

I’m talking about people who are in a position of power and influence using it to scare people and take their money, belongings and power. Let’s jump right into some of the shadier aspects of our profession. 

So how do you know if your Tarot Reader (or any psychic or diviner) is scamming you?

• If your Tarot Reader says you have a curse or hex on you and they will remove it for a fee (usually in the hundreds) and that it will take many costly sessions. This also includes giving them jewelry for curse removal. This is a scam. Don’t even get me started on the ‘readers’ who tell people their children are cursed. That is below low and unfortunately, it happens.
• If your Tarot Reader tries to sell you expensive candles, creams, statues, evil eyes and spiritual trinkets because they say you’re in danger. This is a scam.
• If your Tarot Reader claims they can make someone fall in love with you? Scam. Also, do they believe they are some fucking Disney cartoon villain? I mean really?
• If your Tarot Reader says you need a number of expensive sessions or you will never find love. Scam.
• If your Tarot Reader says that they have some mystical special gift that NO ONE else does and that they alone can help you. Scam.
• If any Tarot Reader tries to fearmonger you or pray on your fears, big ole red flag here.
• If they try to get huge amounts of money out of you for curses, hexes, spells etc, they are FOS. I’m not talking about people who have Etsy stores for homemade spell kits or handmade intention candles. I’m talking about the shit that usually starts with ‘ I can remove that curse on you for $200’.
• I have been told this stuff before. I had people try to persuade me to hand over my power to them. I have simply thanked them for their time and walked away.

If you ever find yourself in a position where someone pulls this BS on you, remember you’re in a conversation. You have permission to end that conversation and leave. If you feel trapped and I have had clients tell me they have felt trapped and didn’t know how to leave, pretend you’ve got an urgent text, pick up your phone and call a friend while walking out and DO NOT go back.

What we can do in the Tarot community, is speak openly about these shady practices, and show people we’re not all like this. We can support our fellow readers that we know are professionals with integrity. We can help reassure people who come to us, maybe after they’ve had one of these horrid experiences, and do what I believe we are here to do, help people.

I’m not the first person in our community to speak out about this but I wanted to add my voice and continue the conversation.

Check out my other blog posts on this topic here:7 Surefire Ways To Make Sure You Get A Great Reading, My Tips for Finding an Amazing Tarot Reader, and Major Red Flags when Receiving a Professional Reading.