Ethics and Five ways to pick your Medium - Part 2
About a year ago I wrote a blog post about ethics in the spiritual industry after a feature article from two reliable news sources here in Canada. I still remember the anger I felt as I watched and read, but for me that is rarely good enough. I have to be a voice for what is right as it is part of who I am, but also it was a call to again reevaluate who I am and what I stand for in this industry. Do you know this industry has sales over two billion dollars a year and on average 15% of Americans consult a psychic when making important life decisions? Think about that for a moment.
I am trying to earn a living, and like all of my clients I have a family, bills and things I want to be doing in the future. This is one of my means of doing so, but in the doing I have no wish to harm or take advantage of anyone. My goal is no different now than when I started, I want to help people with love and understanding and a bit of guidance from spirit. I want to show people that they already have everything they need to reach for what they need most. Spirit is here to help and guide us. It is the cheerleader that never leaves you no matter how lost you may feel. It is in my services that I endeavor to empower you and to see it all a little more clearly as to why you are here in this place, at this time, what good you to can do and to open yourself to healing you may need, if you choose to.
I could spend a whole post on what I stand for, but what I want more at this time is to give a little guidance on how to find the reader, medium or psychic that is best for you.
1. Look at their rates.
It is normal for a person starting out to charge less for their services as they are finding their way, but do they claim to have been a professional practicing reader for years? It may be a simple case of that their market can support, but look deeper.
Then there are those with the rates that seem on the expensive side. When you encounter those you should still question it. A lot of the time they have spent a good portion of their time investing in themselves with courses and learning a variety of skills (look for certifications, and check out those doing the certifying). They could also be supporting a staff that is needed to produce a quality service, they may also be operating a formal storefront. All these cost money and in order to provide to you, and they are establishing their worth.
Did you have a reading and they push a spell, service of item for a large sum as a follow up? Let's be real here. If you liked the service you are going to look into other things they can provide. While there can be excitement and expectation of further purchases for you, it should never be done out of fear or worry.
Do they offer anything for free? A PDF, and eBook, blog posts like this one? Resources to learn more yourself? Have they created something unique? Do they have related items to sell? Do they do charity or fundraising?
2. Look for Testimonials or Referrals
Anyone that has been doing readings will often ask for your feedback. I currently do not have testimonials on my website. (something I will be changing soon) but I do on my Facebook page. Read the testimonials. Really read them. Do they seem too good to be true or seem to only be a snippet of something larger? Anything legit will have a personal feel to it.
Referrals are simply asking around. There are a lot of good people with great connections to spirit that work quietly and local to you. I know it might be hard to bring up the topic but I have found most people have at least considered seeing someone. Listen to how their experience was or why they are hesitating.
3. Check them out on social media.
This is the most used way people find someone to provide spiritual services and there are many different offerings out there to choose from. Do not limit your search to one platform, search out as many as you have. What we post on Facebook will differ from our Instagram, Twitter and YouTube in most cases. What is the feeling to what they post? Is it someone you would feel comfortable having coffee with? Remember everyone has off days, but do they use social media to vent and degrade others or to empower and uplift? Are they consistent? Are they wildly different people across the media? Do they have a picture of themselves somewhere?
Join groups and lists. In my own case I am part of like minded groups and I share my knowledge as much as I learn. Groups are a great way to learn what skills your medium has and if they fit your needs. Take your time. You are looking for a trust relationship here and free doesn't always mean helpful. Multiple readings from different groups can also lead to more confusion instead of the answers you are truly needing. Evaluate everything you read and watch for the ego monster in your reader.
4. Disclaimers, Refunds and Cancellation Policies
Look at their site. There should be at least one of these somewhere. Anyone coming from a place of love and understanding knows there are limits to what they can provide and will point you to a professional if it is beyond them. Refunds are rare mostly because you are booking based on another person's time and once they have scheduled for you there is no way to recoup that loss of their time. With that said, a cancellation with refund should be something you should be able to discuss with the reader before booking. Personally I welcome emails and messages to clarifying how I work.
5. Don't follow the crowd.
This is the trust your gut portion of this post. Unless they are someone well known and established you need to go with who feels right for you. And keep in mind those that are well known and established have long wait lists and many other projects on the go. If you feel uncomfortable or fearful that is spirit saying no to that person. If when talking or emailing them you feel pushed or pressured, do not book. Ask your reader what their beliefs are, who do they admire and follow? Do they walk the walk as much as they talk? I will say it again, this is a trust relationship and if you don't like or trust them, they are not for you and they should never be offended if you tell them that.
Sadly this is an industry with very few sound established guidelines in its practices. It is buyer beware and from the point of view of a medium takes a long time to establish a trust and report with a variety of different people, not to mention those in spirit. My best advice for anyone seeking out our services, take the time to educate yourself, go to fairs, take a course through your local wellness center. Read and be clear on what you can and can not accept in your provider. Ask them questions and think about their replies. Do they have a personal code of ethics? And for heaven's sake, don't pay more then your means allow.
Love and Blessings
Mary
