Your Messenger message:

"Hello, sir Tony.

"I’ve read a couple of your works when i was a student and only now upon following you here in Fb did i know your spiritual and mystic practice. Your posts and insights resonate with me as an informal student of Kabbalah/Jewish Mysticism and World Religions. "If you have time, i’d like to ask your opinion on this matter: "i’ve been a tarot reader for over 5 years now and those whose cards i’ve read thankfully find my readings accurate. It has proven helpful also as a psychotherapeutic approach to some fellow mental health sufferers. Some often tell me to charge a fee for this. But i find this rather odd and unsuitable with my practice since i see this as freely given 'gift' which i neither peddle nor promote actively. Some of my tarot reader friends meanwhile said that i am being taken advantaged of because there is no kind of equivalent exchange. "What are your thoughts on this? Should mystics/spiritual people charge a fee for their gifts? If one charges a fee, does it not 'degrade' the spirituality of the gift? (like Simony). Lastly, what is your advice to people on the path of mysticism who, for one reason or another, practice majority of their lives without a mentor? "Maraming salamat po. May The Infinite bless you."

My reply:

Hello ____!

I myself never charge anything for consultations and oracle readings, but that is because I had jobs that paid well and now a regular, retirement pension that allows me and my family to live well. If you do not have these, and if you are a good Tarot reader, it is all right to charge money for your services, but know that I secretly laugh at such circus clowns. Be forewarned though, that most of the people who will come to you are riff-raff, the curious, the frivolous, the lazy who expect magic to do all of the work for them, the unintelligent and the unsophisticated, and pedestrians who will expect you to be a spectacle and be told only what they want to hear. You may be spiritual, but 99% of your clients won't be. In other words, you'll be "catering to the masses" in order to survive. In the end. they will drag you down to being a psychic slut, and you won't even know what hit you. I'd hardly call that a satisfying occupation, especially if you'll have to do that through your old age and the end of your life. My advice, therefore, is for you to get a normal job that offers annuity upon retirement. That way, you will never be at the financial mercy of your clientele.

As to having a mentor, that is not necessary. All one needs in any kind of life is common sense.