1) I have been pushed, all along, to hold space for people of all faith traditions. It feels like a part of my “contract” as a reader and healer. (It doesn’t mean that anyone else has to practice this way. But in my practice, it’s important.)

2) My own faith background is that I was raised Catholic as a child, but I’m not a religious person and truly never have been. Spiritual, yes, religious, no. My when I am reading, my guides LOVE to highlight the faith traditions of my clients. This used to perplex me.

3) I‘ll be in the middle of a reading and certain details will become very loud, either in my mind, in the cards, or both. A song in my head, a phrase, a card pattern, a symbol, clues, basically. I don’t mention it unless it is relevant to the overall message.

4) Sometimes it’s classic symbols — a star, a cross, “as above so below,” mudras of Kwan Yin, and it’s always pointed out to me with enthusiasm, and respect. Part of it is that they want me to understand the context of my client.

5) Part of it also seems to be about teaching ME a variety of spiritual traditions. For example, not long ago my guides showed me several interfaith marriages in my family tree. I’d had no idea this reality existed there. My ancestors demanded that I know this.

6) It’s also about healing and growing, for my clients. A lot of people struggle with painful faith experiences in their upbringing. If that’s what they need, it can’t be about me and whether or not I’m religious and what my personal beliefs are.

7) That’s part of why I’m talking about this. I run into a fair amount of folks in this occult world who are anti-religion (often for good reason) or specifically, anti-Christianity. And I get it, but that’s not always the context of a client’s life or perspective.

8) I feel strongly that a reader or healer is there to serve the client. If the client is a happily practicing Christian it’s not really my job to have an opinion about it. I think a lot of folks overlook this aspect of this work when considering doing it as work.

9) A client’s context isn’t always going to be the same as yours. Some of my clients are actually a little afraid of what I do, because of their faith background. It doesn’t make them weird. It means they’re a seeker like any other, and working their own path.

10) It’s never safe to assume that a client is there for the same reasons you are. (Frankly, I wouldn’t want my clients to be present for the same reasons I am, because trauma was a major part of how I became what I am as a reader. I wouldn’t wish that on people.)

11) I don’t think it’s wrong to shape your practice around your own beliefs. In fact, I would call it extremely normal. But if you have specific parameters for what you’re willing to do, it may be good to disclose that to clients, so they understand the scope of your work.

12) We certainly aren’t required to be everything to everyone, but communicating honestly with clients is just good relationship building. Be honest about who you are. Be honest about what you do, and if necessary, what you don’t do.

13) What I do, apparently, is try to hold space for people of a wide variety of faith backgrounds. My guides won’t let me work any other way. So if you see me posting about religion, that’s why. It’s relevant to my work, and self-educating about faith traditions is a thing I do.

14) It’s honestly funny in relation to how not-formally-religious I am, historically, but maybe that’s perfect? I don’t really have a lot of religion baggage of my own, so it definitely allows me to co-exist with people where they are.