November 16, 2011 | Author Velvet Angel
I don’t think a week gets by without getting an email from someone who asks for a free reading.
And rarely does a month go by without receiving an email lecture from some individual I don’t know and with whom I’ve never corresponded who goes to great lengths to explain to me why my spiritual gifts should be “freely” shared with others – as in no payment should be rendered, and by golly my time isn’t important so I should be doing readings for free.
Hmmm . . . let me ponder this.
Here’s some tough loving considerations for those who think my services should be free:
- When the grocery store tells me that my food is free . . . I’ll give you a free reading.
- When my bank tells me not to worry about my house payments anymore, because my living accommodations are free . . . I’ll give you a free reading.
- When the doctor’s office tells me I don’t have to pay for medical services . . . I’ll give you a free reading.
- When the electric company gives me free electricity to enjoy in my home . . . I’ll give you a free reading.
- When legal services suddenly become a free gift . . . I’ll give you a free reading.
- When Uncle Sam agrees that taxation is silly, and I don’t have to pay my taxes . . . I’ll give you a free reading.
- When the water company decides that water is a gift of nature and should be freely shared . . . I’ll give you a free reading. (I’ll be squeaky clean, too, without having to pay! LOL)
- I could go on . . . but I think you get the idea.
Here’s another tough lovin’ NEWS FLASH!! – None of the above is ever gonna happen!
And guess what – I don’t like it any better than you do. It’s not fun to hand out a couple hundred bucks at the grocery store to support mine and my family’s need to eat. It’s not fun to hand out another couple hundred to the utility company. Nor do I enjoy paying my phone and internet bills. In fact, I don’t find much “fun” in paying any of my bills. But I do pay them – and on time. It’s my responsibility if I expect to get service or have what I need. I value these services, and they are worth it to me to pay.
I’m not eligible for free food, housing, and medical care in the welfare hand-out rosters. And even if I was eligible, that’s not a place I’ve ever been, nor do I ever plan to be! I have more pride than making a free living without effort.
And so that means that your reading will NOT be free – UNLESS it’s something I am sponsoring as a drawing, contest, promotion, etc. on occasion. And even then, there can only be so many lucky winners, because I am only one person, and I value my time and my business practice.
If you are thinking of asking a tarot reader for a free reading, think about this first: Will you work for your employer for free? It is no different than asking me to do so.
Thankfully, I am blessed with many people who understand this and appreciate my time and service. So a HUGE thanks goes out to all of my wonderful clients who truly get it and do not grumble or ask for my time and service to be free. I sincerely appreciate you!
Unfortunately, not everyone gets it. But now, everyone can at least know why myself and other readers don’t read the Tarot for free. We give up our time, energy, and other resources to provide a reading – and naturally, we expect to be paid for it – just like you expect your employer to pay you for your time and the service you provide to his/her company.
Additionally, it would be totally unfair to not expect some people to pay, but to take payment from others. Personally, I would not be happy to find out that I was paying for a service all along, but some people were getting it free of charge for whatever reasons.
I will not treat my clients that way. So this is a matter of what is fair, not just to myself, but to those who actually pay me for my reading service. If I were to give “free” to one, then I would have to let it be free to everyone else in order to keep things fair and square.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, folks. SOMEONE always pays for it, whether in terms of monetary payment or in terms of valuable time. So the next time you do enjoy something for free – because hey, there really are some free things out there to enjoy . . . think about who paid for it and how they paid for it. Did they dedicate their time to create it and give it away . . . or did they pay for it and give it away? Free things often come with special promotions of various kinds, and they are a gift of goodwill. But only certain things are free with any business. You don’t get it all without paying for it.
Here’s the most irritating kicker of all – I understand that a few will “try” me and see if they can get something free out of me . . . just because. But what I honestly don’t understand is why some people will literally tell me about their lovely two week vacations that happen four times a year, enjoying dining and fine motels during their get-away, new cars and condos, and buying all sorts of luxury items when on vacation and when not on vacation as well . . . and then having enough nerve to ask me for a free reading because . . . get this . . . they “can’t afford a reading.” WHAT?! Seriously, they must be joking.
A tarot reading can also be classified as a “luxury item,” and if you can’t afford it, then you probably don’t need a reading. But . . . if you are out there living a better life than I am in the lap of luxury, it is more than just rude to ask ME for a freebie! DON’T even ask.
I’m a lot more forgiving of someone who asks and genuinely doesn’t have the money for a reading – even though I still won’t give out a free reading just because someone can’t afford it. Because as I mentioned . . . my service providers in life really don’t care whether I can afford them or not – not even the providers of necessities and basic needs. If you are unable to afford a luxury service, then it’s not something you really need in the first place.
Sorry, but my rules are firm. And it’s not to be mean to anyone. It’s all about self-preservation and being fair to myself . . . AND being fair to my paying clients!
How about bartering then?
Nope. Your book of poetry, your special perfumes, luxury soaps, etc. (often something I don’t even want or need but get offered frequently in exchange for a reading) isn’t accepted at any of the above-mentioned locations — such as the grocery store, electric company, phone company, etc. Seriously, when places I do business with start accepting those things for payment, then I’ll barter with you!
Whew, now that we are all clear on that subject . . . it’s time to go make dinner – I already paid for the groceries, now I just gotta spend my time to prepare the food . . . and then more time to spend in cleaning up afterwards. Then I can go take a shower, since I paid my water bill and bought soap and shampoo . . . and maybe after that I’ll watch television for a little bit – since I also paid my electric bill. Life is good – even if it isn’t free!
Velvet Angel
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8 Responses to “Why it’s not FREE!”
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Every tarot reader should have a link to this post to refer people to. Well said.
Hilary recently posted..Talkin’ Tarot w/… Me!
Thank you, Hilary! I’ve seen too many readers think that they should give it all away for free for one reason or another — even myself included a long time ago. Our time is valuable, just like everyone else’s. And these days, I absolutely cringe when a reader thinks they will gain clientele by giving it all away. That has a backwards approach instead. We truly get what we allow ourselves to receive — and if we don’t have the confidence in ourselves to believe that our time is worth getting paid for, sadly that’s the only kind of clientele we’ll attract. The more we value ourselves, the more we will attract our ideal clients
Thanks so much for reading my post, Hilary! Have a great day!
Many Blessings!
Velvet
Brava, Velvet Angel! I do free readings through the American Tarot Association, so when people ask me for a free reading, I simply give them the links to the Free Tarot Network and Free Tarot Reading Network. I donate quite a lot of my time doing those readings, so there’s no point in trying to lay a guilt trip on me about “sharing my gifts” !
A very good point, Zanna! I think we all do something here and there as a promotion or incentive, and thus, that should be sufficient. Some people, however, think it should always be free, and on demand. LOL
Blessings to you, Zanna!
Velvet
in my country has popular belief that when you take a reading from someone with gift you take energy from god and is better to give money or something for this because if you dont give something God will take beck something from you and is unknown what will be it.
I can say that I have a gift its not my job, I am lawyer, but friends with years come to me for advise more and more and they want to give me money , there is and people which just say thanks and there is reflection in their destiny , because they beck to me again and again and i know what happen with them
Yes, this is really not “just” for Tarot readings, it is any form of metaphysical or holistic kind of service, including coaching, Reiki, and so much more
Everyone should be paid for the work they are doing, in my opinion. At some point, people want to be nice, and they feel sorrow for someone who doesn’t have the money. And they think maybe the person who wants/needs it free will eventually become a paying customer. But here is where you cue in the sound of a screeching record player . . . because I have never, never seen it work like that.
Thank you, Lolly and Maven for your comments!
Velvet
I have written my blog today based on your blog (and linked to it) as agreed with you so if you want to have a look here is the link:
http://pendant-heaven.blogspot.com/2011/11/free-or-not.html
Suzy, thank you so much for sharing and getting the word out about this issue. I think it will benefit those of us who provide a service or a product most of all. We can all learn to respect our time and not feel yucky later about saying “yes” to the folks who don’t respect us or value our time.
Many Blessings!
Velvet