A (Mostly) Lighthearted Look at Things That Chap Our Brooms
I am sure that those that work in the Occult Industry ( and YES it is an industry to some) there are some things that just rub us the wrong way.
I feel for you. I really do.
I have been in the Occult Industry and community for well over 30 years now and even to this day, there are some things that make my teeth grind until I generate sparks.
So for all those that own and/or work at a metaphysical store? This is for you.
Peeve #1: You Got Your First Tarot Deck and Now You’re a Professional Reader
- “I just bought a tarot deck and I’m going to become a professional reader in two months and make a ton of money!”
Ohhhhh Really?
Now I am not going to tell anyone to give up on their dream…
HOWEVER – It takes time and practice to be a good reader, let alone a great reader. Study hard and it will happen. I actually saw a person trying to get a job as a reader at an occult store, but they couldn’t do a reading without their tarot manual. Loosely translated, they ain’t ready. And it’s even worse if a novice client tells a professional reader that they are also going to become a reader too. It never ends well.
Peeve #2: Mistaking Altar and Alter
- Its ALTAR — not — ALTER
Altar: Altar is a noun meaning an elevated place or structure for religious rites.
Alter: Alter is a verb meaning to make different. Example Sentences: He placed the book on the altar.
I can ALTER your cloak and hem it to your specifications…let me just put it on my sewing ALTAR.
Peeve #3: Mispronouncing Tarot
- TAROT AND CARROT
Tarot is not pronounced Tarrot like carrot, It actually sounds like Pharoah with Tarot but with a tear as in to rip, not cry. Tear-row
Not tearow, not tarrot, tar-rot.
I can not even begin to tell you how many witches call it Tarrot .. it makes my skin crawl. Use the right semantics for the proper tools.
Peeve #4: TikTok WitchTok
- “It has to work! I saw it on Witchtok…”
Okay okay I’ve watched a lot of TikTok as well…but it is not the end all be all of the craft! I won’t lie to you though, I have a Pinterest of Shadows on my phone page…to each their own. But Witchtok is merely a stepping stone of learning and don’t believe everything you watch!
Peeve #5: Scammers, Price Gouging, and Undervaluing Our Craft
- “I just spent $1200 for a witch to break a spell for me…your $30 price for a consultation is TOO high.”
No one should ever pay a practitioner more than they can afford in the craft! It should be an unwritten law right next to “never go skyclad in a forest and not wear mosquito repellent.”
It’s sad to admit there are a lot of scams out there in the occult industry – but this is true in every industry. We just are easier targets.
So there you have it! Let me know your thoughts and feelings regarding some of these.
Zenhugz
Auntiepanpan
T.J. “Pandora” Teer
AuntiePanPan has been doing the shenanigans of WooWoo since she was 12 years old (at least!) A fiber artist, An Oracle, An Aura painter, a Teacher in the Craft as well as a cartoonist of ‘Goth Love is’ on Webtoons. Can be found stalking various coffee houses and tea rooms dressed up as a conglomeration of a goth that found tie dye and woke up at the Renaissance Faire after the Fleetwood Mac concert of 1979. She is the Hexs part of the Company @hexsandvexs (the Vexs part is her husband that cool guy in the kilt that makes spiders out of leather). When you can’t find her, she’s hanging out with her dog, Awoo a Husky Dachshund mix (@awoothedusky), drinking Chai tea and writing poems about bagels. www.auntiepanpan.com
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