Psychic Hotlines and Legitimate Tarot Readers

 In recent weeks I've been toying with the idea of reading tarot for one or more of the psychic hotlines.  Before you get judgy on me, please hear me out.

Despite my affordable rates, I'm just not bringing in a livable wage. I'm too old to hustle as I used to in earlier years, and now, like the old crone hermit that I am, I need clients that will come to me.

The psychic hotlines are making a fortune. And I have to ask myself, why would a person be willing to spend ridiculous rates for the likelihood of encountering phony psychics, when I could provide them with a legitimate, quality reading for a fraction of the cost? I mean seriously, why?

Instant gratification.

We are a culture that expects it. On these hotlines, someone is always available to offer hope 24/7.

Do the clients really believe they are tapping into genuine psychics on these hotlines? I think they do, based on the reviews they leave. I think some of the psychics might be genuine, turning to the hotlines for the same reasons that I am; a need to make money at our craft, and there's no shortage of money being thrown at the psychic hotlines, so why shouldn't legitimate psychics and tarot readers be able to share a slice of that pie?

Now, full disclosure and truth be told, I worked for a psychic network years ago, in the late 1990s into 2000. I was one of this particular company's first tarot readers. By then, I had already been reading tarot for about 25 years and had a full time job and three little kids under the age of three. I needed a supplemental income for a few hours a week that I didn't have to leave my house for and the hotline offered me that opportunity.

I remembered why I stopped working for the hotline. The income was good, but it was draining, and I felt like it preyed on people's weaknesses. The same people called me everyday about the same problems. People with desperate stories of financial crisis, (still willing to plunk money down every night for a tarot reading on a situation that wouldn't change until they were willing to manage their money better), another, a woman who had a love affair with a movie star only he didn't know about it. My husband said that if it weren't me talking to them at the other end of the phone, who really tried to help them by keeping the calls brief and giving them a legitimate reading, it might be someone else who really didn't care and would keep the meter running by telling the client what they want to hear in order to exploit the situation. In any case, I quit.

Fast forward nearly twenty years later, and here I am again, giving a go at working on  hotlines. Why? Because again I am in a situation where I need supplemental income. I am unable to commit to a regular schedule and finding an outside job willing to hire me for only a few hours a day whenever I can fit it in, isn't a realistic expectation. So once again, I look to a hotline to come to my rescue.

True, I still prefer doing readings through my own private tarot practice because I offer a quality service at an affordably set-price with readings that last as long as it takes. I never look at the clock. But I'm choosy about whom I allow in my home, and I'm too old to hustle like I used to in the old days. I need people to find me and come to me.

I decided on a service which is a phone app, and it offers a few services such as Live Chat, and three minute videos sent within the hour.

I've been doing it a few weeks now, clocking in a few hours every day and snagging a few requests daily. I prefer doing the three minute videos rather than the live chat. My reason for this is that a customer prepays for the three minutes and it will not exceed $15.00. There is no potential for taking advantage of a client by keeping them engaged any longer than that. And even though that's not something that I would do, I like knowing that this three minute platform reduces the chances of charlatans preying on desperate people. Having said that, the live chat option can get pretty pricey, and increases the likelihood of encountering a fraud and being taken advantage of, but the client is still being offered the more affordable option of a three minute video. 

By nature, tarot requires digesting the information given with the question and interpreting the cards to answer the question. Before I create the video, I handle and mix the cards, lay the cards and process the information connecting the cards to the querent's question. It takes me a few minutes to fully process what I'm looking at; why should a customer pay for that during a live chat? Once I lay the cards and look them over, I do the video and send it off to the customer within just a few minutes. I'm good at being concise and filling the reading with information. The customer has only spent $15.00, (I only get $6.00) and I have a clear conscience that I've provided a really great service at a really affordable cost. Frankly, the only one who's being exploited here is me, but I'm ok with that if it gets people to try tarot and puts a few bucks a pop in my wallet.

Like all things, buyer beware. I believe psychic hotlines are breeding grounds for charlatans. There, I've said it. And the hotlines bottom line, by virtue of reminding customers that their service clearly states that it's being offered for 'Entertainment Purposes Only' clearly admits that the service is not 100% reliable. But, there are advisers who are authentic in their abilities and come with a strong skill set. I know I'm one of them. I'm genuine and I don't feel comfortable exploiting anyone, and I can guarantee as quality a reading as a three minute platform can offer, and a legitimate reading when you choose me. 

It might be like looking for a needle in a haystack to find an authentic psychic or tarot reader, so read profiles carefully and use common sense before choosing.

How does a three minute hotline reading from this hotline app differ from one of my readings that you can order directly through my website? Well, for one, it's only three minutes long so it's usually only based on about three cards. True, I can cram a lot of information in a three minute video, and it's short and sweet, to the point and satisfies a querent's need for almost instant gratification, but it only scratches the surface.

Obviously, readings directly through my own website offer a superior tarot experience.