When you hang out your shingle as a tarot reader, it’s important to have a code of ethics. A code of ethics is what will set you apart from those who read tarot on fiverr, and those who get hired for corporate gigs.

Now, fiverr is a great place to start. If you’re brand new to tarot and you want to get some practice in without being in front of people, go ahead and start on fiverr or Etsy. When you’re ready to move up to the next level, there’s a lot of things you must do, steps you must take, in order to be taken seriously as a tarot reader.

Chiefly among them, before you do anything else for your business, it’s important to start with a code of ethics.

This code is going to be your guiding light. Your Star. Your beacon in the darkness. When things aren’t going right, you’ll have this document to refer back to to remind you that you are standing in integrity. If you are not standing in integrity, you’ll have this document to guide you back to the path.

What goes on your code of ethics document is up to you. Only you can know what’s appropriate for you and what isn’t.

My code of ethics document states the following:

• Honesty and respect above all
• There is no kindness in false hope
• Brutality has no place in a reading
• Guide the querent to their inner truth

And that’s it. Everything that has come up for me over the years falls into one of these four.

I am not a psychic, per se. I am not a coach, per se. I am a conduit. I am a guide. I am no better, no worse, than the people for whom I read. The only difference is I spent decades mastering this system and they haven’t (usually). My personal code of ethics codifies that.

“I don’t know where to start,” I hear you asking?

Well, I’ve got an answer.

The cards!

Use your cards to guide you to your code of ethics. A simple spread is enough to do the trick.

1. What am I passionate about?
2. What do I value in others?
3. What do I value in myself?
4. What will I not tolerate?

Once you have your code of ethics, I invite you to put it in a few places.

First, put it in a note on your phone. Perhaps set it as your phone wallpaper. Make sure you have it to refer back to at any moment, but also allow it to influence you subconsciously. This will make a difference as your tarot business grows and you no longer have the time to fuss over the details.

Next, put it on your website, or wherever you read tarot. Wherever people are able to give you money for tarot, make sure they can find your code of ethics. Make sure they know what you stand for. Be authentic. Be transparent. This will separate you from the hacks.

Third, put it in any client onboarding. This is particularly helpful for those who do long term tarot engagements, or those who are reading for large groups of people, or those who are reading for corporations. Make sure — on paper! — they know what you stand for.

By making your code of ethics accessible you’re easing a lot of discomfort for people who have never had a tarot reading, or for those who have never before used your services. There are a lot of hacks out there who have given us legitimate readers a bad name. Unfortunately, we can’t make them vanish with the flick of a wand, so it’s incumbent upon you to set yourself apart from them. “Little things” like creating a code of ethics goes a long way.