From the legal point of view, many laws are in place to “protect” the public from the risk of harm. In the laws eyes, the most obvious harm is physical: homicide, physical abuse, threat to do physical harm. Because of this concern, laws have been developed to protect physical bodies from harm, such as damage from medical malpractice. To physically touch another human being within a professional context has become highly regulated due to the parental role of the justice system to manage social issues.

There are also laws and regulations designed to address the risk of harm in financial, material possession, and other material concerns.

Mental health issues tend to be covered by declaration of rights and privileges, such as the right to privacy, the right not to be touched inappropriately. Violations of these rights are what send issues into the court system.

Tarot readers, just like any other individual in society, can be law-abiding folks, law breakers, healers, abusers. Since laws are already in place to protect clients from harm, I believe there is no need for special Tarot reading regulations.

We do not have legal declarations of Tarot client rights outside of the established licensing regulations for various titles (counselor, nurse, doctor, accountant, broker, etc.). This is an omission that troubles many folks, and thus we occasionally see public efforts to regulate readers. I hope we can find a healthy solution for this concern.

In Spirit,
Katrina

Tarot reading is truly and art form. For many it is also a spiritual way of being.

I can not support or align with the idea of regulating or creating a religious dogma for Tarot.

In Spirit,
Katrina
Katrina Wynne recently posted..SESSIONS ~ WORKSHOPS ~ ARTICLES

I so completely align with your heart and priorities. Although the topic of this discourse is “certification” the essence of this issue may be scarcity consciousness and fear.

For me, fear excludes the awareness of love. As a Tarot reader, writer, teacher, and certifier, if love and compassion are not my foundation and transparent in my professional presence, I can’t be my best. In fact, in my world, it would be unethical of me.

Some readers, and, as you described, some organizations, seem to thrive on fear, control, consumption (of energy, money, power, etc.). I could write a huge book about this topic, but suffice it to say, this fear and scarcity-based way of life is not sustaining. It does have a niche though, to serve a community that shares its perceptions, values, and fears.

As I always say, there is something for everyone in Tarot and even fear-based services have their clientele.

I’m relieved and thrilled that there is a turning tide with more conscious and love-based spirits emerging and being more visible, especially in the Tarot world. I feel less alone in this cause. Thank you dear one.

In Light & Love,
Katrina
Katrina Wynne recently posted..SESSIONS ~ WORKSHOPS ~ ARTICLES

Wonderful post about certification! I am a newcomer to the discussions about the issue of certification, but the very first thing that came to my mind was the underlying intent. I was immediately struck by the “fear” that I see among some tarot readers. . . the fear of “not enough to go around”. The desire by some to control the careers of others seems to me to be the underylying agenda to all of this. I have never had a client ask to see my credentials; they came to me by word of mouth, or had had a mini reading at an event I did, and the reading was their proof of whether I could likely help them or not.

I was a guest in a tarot discusison forum, and browsing around. . . came across a thread in which readers were asking the forum about ways to grow their business, get clients, etc. Very soon in that thread, someone tried to stop the discussion, saying that this should really be a separate thread, in a “Private” area of the foum — one in which members should have to pay to be a member of! He did not want the business tips to be discussed in the ‘free’ section, as he was afraid that other readers would “steal” the ideas and beat other to the punch in using them!! So they wanted to put up a financial barrier to acess of this information, creating an “US” and “THEM” mentality, and trying to create hoops that others must jump in order to be “Deserving” of obtaining this information! The notion of some readers stealing business ideas and “using them first” was hilarious, and then horrifying. The idea that there is a shortage of work to go around, not enough for all, secrecy about how we conduct our business, distrust and suspicion about our fellow Tarot family was shocking and sad.

This links to my thoughts about Tarot certification. My feeling is that this is coming from a place of fear and distrust and Ego. Just who “certified” the highest members on the Certification boards? Who did THEY subject themselves to being tested by, and who set the qualifications for them? It seems again like a case of “US” and “THEM”, with the whole setup being very self-serving. As other comments suggested, the progression then to requiring licensing and insurance would, in my mind, be a welcome outcome of this push to certify. As further costs of doing business increase, then it would stamp out a good percentage of would-be professional readers — to the benefit of those who created this. Eliminating a good chunk of the “competition”.

I don’t see this as having any value to the public or to the readers. It does not help readers to be required to have certification. I think it is an extremely slippery slope that is explained with words of honey and idealism, but in reality is a trap. . . and a trap that many will walk thru because they are too trusting.

nancy
Nancy recently posted..New Moon in Libra ~ An Open Heart

That was a very interesting story about the disclaimers! Wow! I would have been taken aback by that!

Thank you so much for sharing that! I wonder if any other readers ever encountered that?
Blessings!
Theresa

Thank you for your comment. My advice on certification is to question yourself first – then do the homework to find a reputable organization. Ask them the right questions to make sure they are the right fit for you.

I am not sure if I can refer you to a site because I believe that each individual who wishes to get certified must find the right one for them – and my opinion may not work for all. And being that I am not pro-certification, I would probably be the wrong person to answer that question.

Blessings!
Theresa

This seems to be a hot subject right now.

I do have one question. If I wanted to get certified, for myself not the public, what would I need to do?

I researched it a couple of years ago and found some high prices and some that had courses and tests to pass. I didn’t do it then, because well I wasn’t sure who to trust or if I even needed to be certified.

Is there a credible website to get certified at?
Cher Green recently posted..Using Elemental Dignities In a Tarot Reading

Thank you for stopping by and for your comment. I am very suspicious of anyone who wants to police anyone. Why the need for power? And why in tarot of all places?

Blessings!
Theresa