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You see it all the time online. Someone posts about offering tarot readings, and like clockwork, someone else pipes up with: “You shouldn’t charge for that.”
There’s a myth that tarot should be free. That if you’re doing spiritual work, you shouldn’t ask for money. That you’re taking advantage of people if you charge for something that comes from your intuition. That somehow, asking for payment taints the reading or makes it less pure.
But here’s the truth: that belief is rooted in bullshit. And it hurts the very people doing the work.
“But It’s Not Real Work, Is It?”
Let’s be honest: people love to question whether tarot is legitimate. Is tarot real work, or just a quirky hobby? People keep asking, is tarot real work, even though it clearly demands preparation, presence, and deep emotional focus. That question says more about what society values than it does about the practice itself.
Why Spiritual Work Gets Dismissed
Spiritual work is often dismissed because it doesn’t look like a “proper job”. People think if you’re not behind a desk, wearing a name badge, or doing something physical, it can’t possibly be worth paying for. Emotional labour, intuitive insight, and holding space? That gets treated like a hobby.
There’s also this idea that because energy and spirit are free, the work should be too. That if you have a gift, it should be given without question. But that ignores the time, training, and dedication people put into their craft. It ignores the years of learning and unlearning, of building confidence, of creating something that genuinely helps people.
This isn’t just about tarot. It’s about how we define labour. And who we think deserves to be paid for it.
When I Realised It Is Work
When I started reading tarot, it was something I offered to friends. It felt casual. Personal. I didn’t even see it as work. So the idea of charging felt weird. Who was I to put a price tag on this?
But then I was invited to read tarot at an event. Everyone else was charging. I realised that if I didn’t, it might look like I wasn’t offering something of equal value. Worse, I’d be undercutting the people who were. That’s when it clicked: this is work. This is time, energy, and emotional focus. And it deserves to be recognised.
Reading tarot isn’t just flipping over cards. It’s connecting, translating, reflecting, holding space. That’s labour. That’s value. That’s work.
Between “Gift” and “Skill”
One of the reasons people believe tarot should be free is because they see it as a gift. And yeah, intuition can feel like that. But reading tarot well? That takes work.
Calling tarot a gift can flatten everything that goes into it. It makes it sound like you were just handed something magical and now you owe it to everyone. But a good tarot reader doesn’t just rely on instinct. They’ve spent time with the cards. They’ve read for people in pain, in crisis, in limbo. They’ve made mistakes and learned from them. They’ve built a practice.
A gift might open the door. But skill, dedication, and boundaries are what make it sustainable. And those things deserve to be valued.
Before we go further, let’s ask something outright: should tarot readers charge for their work? The truth is, should tarot readers charge isn’t just a question of ethics, it’s a question of sustainability.
Yes. Because tarot isn’t just insight, it’s labour. And in the world we live in, labour deserves compensation.
The Capitalism Catch
If Everything Else Costs, Why Shouldn’t Tarot?
We don’t live in a society where people can just offer everything for free. It would be lovely if we did. But we don’t. We live in a capitalist system where time equals money, and bills need to be paid.
We pay therapists. We pay coaches. We pay yoga teachers, massage therapists, plumbers, and web developers. Nobody blinks at that. But for some reason, when a tarot reader charges for their time, people suddenly get righteous.
This isn’t about greed. It’s about sustainability. Tarot readers spend time preparing, holding space, decompressing afterwards. It is skilled, emotional labour. It’s not just the time you spend in the session. It’s everything around it.
What You’re Really Paying For
Let’s be clear: you’re not just paying for the time slot. Paying for tarot readings is about recognising the value behind the scenes as well as in the moment. You’re paying for:
- The years of experience that inform the reading
- The emotional energy needed to hold space
- The tools and space used to do the work well
- The admin, setup, and follow-up that wrap around the reading
And let’s not forget: you’re paying for someone to show up fully for you. That doesn’t happen by accident.
And the workload? You don’t even see half of it.
The Invisible Workload
People think the work begins when the client shows up. It doesn’t. By the time someone arrives for their reading, the reader has already done a dozen invisible things.
There’s the preparation: reading intake notes, sitting with the question, creating a calm and welcoming space. Then there’s the energy it takes to be fully present with someone else. To hold space, to stay grounded, to manage emotions, both yours and theirs.
And after the reading? There’s often more. Clearing the space. Logging notes. Sending follow-up emails. Creating social media content to keep your work visible. Updating booking systems. Responding to messages. Creating resources. The work around the work is work. And it often goes unseen.
Is Charging for Tarot Unethical?
The Harm of Expecting It to Be Free
The belief that spiritual work should be free isn’t just naive. It’s harmful. It pushes people to burn out. It tells readers that their time has no value. And it creates a weird kind of gatekeeping: only those with another income stream can afford to do it, which cuts out so many voices.
Especially queer voices. Disabled voices. Working-class voices. People doing meaningful, grounded, community-focused spiritual work often can’t afford to do it for nothing.
This myth isn’t about ethics. It’s about control. And it needs to go.
How Free Work Leads to Burnout
When I was offering readings on TikTok, I did a lot of free or dirt-cheap sessions. Three-hour livestreams, dozens of readings, barely a break. People would throw me a few digital gifts that added up to maybe a couple of pounds. I’d finish the stream drained, burnt out, and wondering why the hell I was doing it.
And when I stopped offering free or low-cost readings, most of those people disappeared. They weren’t interested in the work, they just wanted something for nothing. That kind of dynamic cheapens the work and it cheapens you. I stopped doing readings on TikTok because it became unsustainable. Spiritually, emotionally, financially.
Burnout isn’t just about doing too much. It’s about doing too much without feeling valued.
The “Should Be Free” Crowd and the Power Dynamic
Let’s name something: the people who insist tarot should be free are usually not the people doing the work. They’re not the ones taking on other people’s grief, confusion, heartbreak. They’re not the ones holding space. They’re the ones expecting access.
It creates a power dynamic where the reader becomes the endless giver and the client becomes entitled to whatever they want. That’s not ethical. That’s exploitation with a spiritual gloss.
And it doesn’t stop with the reading. Some people think that because they paid for one session, they now have ongoing access to your time. They want follow-up questions, extra clarification, a quick second opinion a week later. But paying for a reading doesn’t mean unlimited support. You’re paying for the time you booked. That doesn’t mean you have unlimited access forever.
You want free readings? Cool. Learn the cards. Do the work. But don’t expect someone else to give you their time and energy for nothing.
Ethical Doesn’t Have to Mean Free
Being ethical doesn’t mean giving everything away. It means being fair. It means showing up with integrity. It means offering something that helps, and pricing it in a way that reflects its value without exploiting anyone.
Personally, I aim to charge a fair rate for the time, energy, and focus involved. My tarot reader pricing reflects the skill, preparation, and emotional presence each session requires. Tarot reader pricing isn’t just about time spent reading, it’s about everything it takes to do it well. Not higher than everyone else, but not undercutting either. I try to be mindful about accessibility. The balance between spiritual work and money isn’t always easy, but it’s necessary if this is going to be sustainable. When we talk about spiritual work and money, we’re talking about fairness, boundaries, and the ability to keep showing up. I’ve worked with people to make things manageable when needed. I offer free content where I can.
I also offer a free discovery call. This isn’t a taster session or a free reading. It’s a short, no-pressure conversation where you can ask questions about how I work, what a session might involve, and whether we’re a good fit. It’s a way to get clarity before booking. It’s not a chance to squeeze in a freebie reading.
And no, I don’t think money makes something less sacred. Sacredness isn’t about price tags. It’s about intention. Burnout isn’t noble. Resentment isn’t holy. Valuing the work helps it thrive.
So, Should Tarot Be Free?
So, why should tarot be free? It shouldn’t. Not if we want this work to be sustainable. Not if we want readers to show up clear-headed and grounded. Not if we want the people doing the work to keep doing it.
Tarot is real work. It takes presence, training, emotional labour, and care. Whether or not you see it as sacred, it’s still labour. And in the world we live in, labour deserves to be paid.
Respecting tarot means respecting the people who read. And that means paying them.
If you’re curious about working with me, I offer a free discovery call to see if it’s the right fit. From there, you can book the reading that meets your needs.
Because this work is real. And it’s worth investing in.
