Recently, someone asked my opinion regarding an advertised tarot course, so I thought I would share my advice to help more people find the best course, book or website to learn from. Of course this advice doesn't apply to Tarot only, you can apply this criteria to most metaphysical topics.
The first thing to know is that because spirituality has become increasingly popular, it increases the amount of courses, books, videos and websites devoted to Tarot. This means that you will have to be more discerning than ever before to find quality information.
So let's start with some basics:
What is the background of the person offering the course?
Unfortunately many many people lie about the amount of experience they have. I personally can't count the number of people who have taken one of my introductory courses, and then started advertising themselves as a Tarot reader with 20 years experience. Or a psychic since birth. Or even a 3rd generation Reader. Etc. Why does this matter? Because if they aren't owning their truth, then they are in no position to help you own yours.
So how do you know if it's true or if it's a lie? Look through their website or ask for their bio to find out where they have worked and what they've done. If there's no information, or its vague, then there's a good chance it's a lie. Also gauge their age against their claim of experience. If they are 35 and they say they've been reading professionally for 20 years+, then its a lie.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if they lie about their experience, there's a good chance their course, book or website, course is also full of lies, which just makes it a waste of your time and money.
What are their promises for their product?
Tarot takes a long time to learn and master. There's absolutely no way around that. So anyone claiming that you can become a master in a few sessions, or after reading their book, or using their website, is attempting to appeal to those who don't know better. Also, if they are relying on pie-in-the-sky dreams to sell their product, then its probably because there isn't enough umph to the product itself. Otherwise the outlandish promises wouldn't be necessary.
The truth is the best tarot readers study from a variety of sources. Relying on only one book, or one course, or one website will not give you the full education you deserve. The Difference between a Certificate and Certification?
Anyone providing a course can offer a certificate of participation. However, to issue a certificate of completion requires competency based testing. If the program doesn't offer testing, then a certificate of completion has been given under false pretenses. In the World of Tarot specifically, there is no recognized certification. This is true for most topics and modalities in the spiritual and metaphysical worlds. So if someone is offering a "certification" program, please know that the certification is not recognized anywhere.
Does it matter if there is a certificate or not? Ultimately Nope, it doesn't matter. Its personal preference if you want a course or website that issues a certificate. Personally I recommend going with the program that best suits your needs, and don't worry about certificates or certifications. (Tip: if you want proof of having completed a course you can always ask the instructor for a letter in the event they don't issue certificates. That will do just as well to add to your resume.)
What's the cost?
Be leery of any courses that do not have a clearly outlined price. Obviously this would not apply to books or websites as that is almost always clear. But if they aren't clear about the cost, you may be agreeing to spend more than you intended. At the same time be aware of the cost in terms of the promises. If something appears to be too good to be true, then it probably is. As I mentioned, Tarot takes time and effort to learn. There are no quick fixes. (This is true for most things that are worth pursuing when it comes to spirituality.)
Large scale add-ons also make me concerned about the quality of the product. It reminds me of the old late-night commercials, that would always end with something like "But wait there's more! Call now and we will throw in.... a free set of knives!" or the ever popular "Call in the next 15 minutes and we'll double your order!" Oftentimes add-ons are a way of drawing people in because essentially the original product is not enough in quality or quantity for the price being charged. One thing to keep in mind, is that the cost does not actually reflect the quality at all. There are lots of great courses, books, websites for good prices, as well as overly inflated prices for poor courses, books and websites.
Ultimately the most important thing regarding price is your own budget. It is very important but you not spread yourself too thin financially in order to acquire books, or courses or participate on websites. Its easy to get drawn in by all the amazing opportunities when it comes to tarot and metaphysical topics, but not to your own detriment. So if you feel yourself being drawn towards something you personally should not be investing in, then trust your logical side and decline the purchase. And trust you can find the information another way or at another time. Barbara Ford is an internationally recognized Spiritual Advisor, Holistic Practitioner & Paranormal Expert. She has been featured in magazines, a book, a documentary, many TV Shows book for her excellent work. Barbara is also the published author of the Seekers Oracle Deck. To book a consultation or a reading please call 289-891-7711