I’ve seen growing talk about fake Tarot readers and how we should spot & stop them, so I thought we could have a quick chat about how to spot someone who is maybe not passionate about the Tarot and just out to make a buck.
The surface-level “you’ll find love soon” stuff that floods TikTok these days (seriously, 150,000 views on generic pull videos?) is one thing, I alway but anyone who has had an actual deep Tarot reading will know what I’m talking about. There’s nothing wrong with free readings or cheaper ones, charging more doesn’t automatically make the reader any more qualified. There’s a discussion on how much readings should cost, and I personally have had readings at various price points that were equally great and rubbish. I don’t think price changes the quality unless you know you’re going to a reader who understands the Tarot.
Authentic readers see unique meanings in card combinations specific to YOUR situation - they don’t just recite generic card definitions or send identical readings to multiple clients (yes, this happens on Etsy!). Watch out for readers who pull excessive “clarification” cards for simple questions, charge extra fees to remove imaginary curses, or give fortune-cookie style messages that could apply to anyone. Immediate red flag.
Real readers reveal personal truths and insights that make you think differently about your situation, not just tell you what you want to hear for 5-star reviews. They’ve spent years studying how cards interact together, not just memorizing keywords.
If hundreds of reviews all claim the reader “found their soulmate” or similar cookie-cutter promises, that’s a major red flag - authentic readings reveal small, specific truths unique to each person, not mass-market predictions.
Rather than me rambling about this one, let’s throw it out ot the crowd. What do you look for to find a real Tarot reader?
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I think we also need to be careful about using the term “fake” reader, as people get daft with terms sometimes and don’t think it through.
There is a reason with a fake reader who sends out the same reading over and over again and a beginner who doesn’t use a system the way you expect them to or an expeirenced reader who just has different beliefs to the Tarot than you do.
For example, some readers avoid topics such as pregnancy, health, or timing readings, and they have different reasons for doing so. Doesn’t make them a “fake” reader.
When you check out online readers, do you ask them for an example from a past reading? Like showing the actual spread and explaining why certain cards together meant something specific for that person, instead of just generic ‘you’ll find love soon’ stuff?
Also wondering what people think about readers who won’t do predictions and instead focus on advice. Is that being honest about their limits or just not what you’re looking for? I usually look for readers who have blogs or write about their readings, where they explain tricky card combinations. Like, if they get 5 of Pentacles with The Star, how do they interpret that? Shows me if they can handle complex readings or if they just use the same basic meanings for everything.
One huge red flag is when readers cross ethical boundaries. Legitimate tarot practitioners won’t make definitive predictions about death, diagnose health conditions, or leave you feeling terrified after a session.
A genuine reading should help you see things more clearly, not make you feel like someone just pushed you off a cliff. The same goes for readers who push major life decisions like ‘divorce your spouse immediately’ or ‘invest everything in crypto.’ Real readers offer perspective, not commands that could wreck your life.
Ask for a 3-card micro-demo tied to your question and listen to how they connect the cards to each other, not just recite meanings. Like, how does 2 of Wands modify the Queen of Pentacles when the 7 of Cups is the bridge?
Also, ask what interpretive approach they use, elemental dignities, numerology progressions, Golden Dawn stuff, Marseille-style pips, because someone who knows their stuff can name their tools. I always request a spread photo with positions labeled and a short paragraph explaining at least one specific combo. That way, you can see if their method matches what they’re telling you. For learning this stuff yourself (helps spot the fluff), Mary K. Greer’s ‘21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card’ is good. Benebell Wen’s process checklists and Camelia Elias’s combo drills are worth checking out.
Yeah, I basically ask readers to do homework, but if they’re confident in what they do, they can riff a quick combo without fishing around. The moment they give basic readings, I’m out of there.
Had a regular client who kept coming back to me. I’d predicted his relationship was ending and unfortunately… I was right.
After that, he started seeing some social media reader who convinced him to spend thousands trying to get his ex back. She had him doing stuff like ‘accidentally’ showing up at places where his ex would be. It was painful to watch. The guy kept getting Death and Tower cards with me, pretty clear signs it was over and time to move on. But this other reader kept pulling nothing but cups cards and telling him they’d get back together.
She was just telling him what he wanted to hear while his ex had obviously moved on.
When that little voice inside starts questioning whether a reader feels genuine, trust it. Your intuition is already telling you everything you need to know, just like it does when you’re interpreting the cards themselves.
Sometimes, many new readers twist obviously challenging cards into sugar-coated fairy tales, like claiming heartbreak cards mean ‘your twin flame is coming!’
The biggest red flag for me is when readers ignore basic card meanings to give only positive predictions. You can literally see the swords piercing the heart right there on the card! I get that tarot is getting more popular, but rushing from student to ‘expert’ without respecting the process means missing what each card actually offers.
Real readers honor what the cards show, not just what clients want to hear or what gets likes on social media.
I look for readers who can handle shadow work. If they can sit with a tough card and help you look at what part of you pushes back - without shaming or diagnosing, and without forcing a story - that’s a good sign.
Good readers give you ways to process it, like a journal prompt or something you can take to therapy, instead of just ‘good luck’ at the end. Clear boundaries like ‘I won’t pry into third parties’ and ‘I’m not a therapist’ show they know where tarot stops and other work begins. I also like when they tell you to sleep on it and note any dreams before you act.