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Spotting a Fake - How to Protect Yourself from Charlatans


It is an unfortunate reality that charlatans are everywhere. If you aren’t familiar with the word “charlatan,” it simply refers to a person who grossly misrepresents their skills in a given area. For purposes of this post, we are talking specifically about someone who pretends to have spiritual gifts. Sometimes the charlatan is a complete fraud, possessing no gifts at all. Other times, the charlatan is actually gifted, but they are spiritually compromised and therefore misusing their gifts to such an extent that they cause actual, spiritual harm to those who seek out their services. Either way, if you’ve ever found yourself on the receiving end of a charlatan’s work, you know the energetic toll it can take on you. Coming into contact with that type of spiritual bankruptcy isn’t an easy thing to recover from.


This issue came up recently in a session I had with a long-standing client of mine. I hadn’t seen her in a while, which is usually a good sign. Being a spiritual practitioner is a lot like being a parent; you know you’re doing a good job when the people relying on your advice don’t need you anymore. It’s bittersweet. Still, this client has been moving through a protracted period of grief, so I couldn’t help but wonder what she’d been up to, and whether she was ok. That question was answered when I received a frantic email message from her some weeks back, looking to schedule a session in the near future. Of course I accommodated her immediately. I could tell by the energy of her message that she was in a bad place.


One look at her through the Zoom screen told me everything I needed to know. In the few months since I’d seen her, she had been told a host of horrible, anxiety-inducing (and just plain wrong) things by not one, but two successive spiritual practitioners. She spent weeks wringing her hands about it, before finally emailing me to help set things straight. She felt ashamed of herself, but I told her she had absolutely no reason to be. I didn't fault her actions at all. It is not uncommon for the grieving to seek comfort from a myriad of spiritual practitioners. It is common, however, for charlatans to prey on them, making the grief-stricken far more susceptible to spiritual manipulation than the average consumer. Such was clearly the case with my client. 


These stories are all too frequently heard in the spiritual community, and it’s a constant source of angst for practitioners, like myself, who practice with the utmost integrity, but still somehow wind up guilty by association. And it got me thinking: as a consumer of spiritual services, what practical steps can be taken to guard against a charlatan’s antics? Predators are going to hunt for prey, that's a given; but what can we do to protect ourselves from being victimized? 


Here are a few things to consider when you’re in the market for spiritual services: 


Legitimate practitioners will NEVER deploy predatory tactics.


The rise of social media has made it so, so easy for charlatans to find their unsuspecting victims. Have you ever had a random message pop up in your DM’s, and the messenger is claiming to have tapped into your energy, and needs to speak to you further? Or, worse, claiming that there’s an evil spirit trying to harm you, and demanding money in exchange for help clearing it? Maybe the message even comes from someone you’ve worked with before….or does it? 


First and foremost, legitimate practitioners will never slide into your DM’s and try to sell you a reading, and they would absolutely never tap into your energy without your express consent. That’s a huge no no. Furthermore, they would never lead off with a message about spiritual harm. Scare tactics in general are an automatic red flag: a real reader wants to lift you up, not drag you into the vibration of fear. Even if the messaging seems innocuous, spiritual practitioners aren’t big on cold calling. They’ll advertise, sure, but it will be tasteful (hopefully) and directed towards the public at large. 


Finally, even if you miss all of these signs, pay close attention to the name of the person reaching out to you. Spiritual practitioners themselves are often targets of fraudulent activity, which spills over onto their clients, and social media giants offer little in the way of protection against it. A few summers ago, I had my first imposter (I’ve since had several more). My social media handle at the time was "msfortune1111". My imposter employed a common tactic: he created an account called msfortune_1111 (notice the underscore), screen-grabbed my profile picture and my last 20 posts (complete with cut and pasted horoscope captions) and posted them on his own page so that his visible grid looked identical to mine in every way. He then started messaging my followers, pretending to be me and saying that he had tapped into their energy and could tell that they were in need of a reading. He was aggressive and tried to instill fear. Most of the people he contacted realized what was happening, but a couple of them fell for the ruse, and sent this imposter money. I felt horrible about it and offered free readings to both of them, even though there was nothing I could have done to prevent it. 


All this to say: buyer beware. These scammers are everywhere. They’re convincing, and there’s little to nothing that can be done to stop them. It's up to you to be mindful.


Pricing should be clear, consistent, and a little on the expensive side.


Folks, it’s 2024. Let’s be real about something: if you have a business, you should have a website. Period. And, if you have a website, your services and your pricing structure should be conspicuously listed on that website. There should be no hiding the ball. How else can anyone be confident in what they’re consuming? 


I have had several spiritual practitioners try to explain away their lack of online transparency to me, and it always strikes me as more than a little tone deaf. There are thousands of people who can provide quality spiritual services; why should anyone waste their time haggling with you over cost, when another astrologer/medium/tarot reader has their pricing clearly listed, AND can be booked through a few simple clicks on a website?


I’ll even take it a step further and suggest that the cost of the service you’re seeking should feel a little costly. It shouldn't be absurdly so, but you don't want bargain basement prices either. There’s a reason for this. Far too many good readers keep themselves on the clearance rack because they think it’s the only way to get clients. And that works; but it also ensures that their client base is mainly comprised of people who don’t value their services properly. They violate boundaries and force the reader to compromise her own value system. Over time, the reader backs herself into an energetic deficit, and is likely to have built up resentment for that fact as her baseline. This will affect the quality of her work. A good reader knows what her services are worth, and she’s not afraid to charge that amount. She isn’t putting out a vibration of lack, and she doesn’t want to attract clients who bring that noise either. Someone who values quality over quantity is going to give you a good reading, every time.


Reviews are a must, and further questions should be welcome.


Again, 2024. In addition to a website, your chosen spiritual practitioner should have a strong online presence that includes, at a minimum, at least one social media account with client reviews prominently displayed. Bonus points for positive reviews from multiple clients across various platforms. The spiritual community is largely a word-of-mouth place. Sure, I get clients who find me from a simple Google search, but the vast majority of my client base is made up of people who were referred by other clients, who were so blown away by what I have to offer that they told all of their friends and family. These clients also write stellar reviews for me on Google, Yelp, etc., which in turn helps folks who find me randomly feel confident to book a session.


Moreover, your spiritual practitioner should feel comfortable with fielding questions, within reason. I get emails all the time from people who are ready to book, but they aren't quite sure which service would be best for them. I take the time to respond thoughtfully, every time. Is it repetitive? Yup. But it's important, and it establishes trust. I've even had clients ask me about what I do to maintain my spiritual fitness. These questions are rare, and have felt a little intrusive at times. Still, upon reflection, I've determined that it's fair game. After all, I wouldn't want a reading from someone who cares nothing for her own spiritual health, so why would I expect my clients to demand anything less?


Discernment is the key to most things, and spiritual practices are no exception. Use it. And, of course, never discount your own intuition. If something feels "off" about an exchange, trust that. Energy vampires don't care who they feed on. Take yourself off of the menu.


 

Are you interesting in an astrology, tarot, or family constellation reading? My reading room is open! You can see a full list of my services (with prices!) here. If you have any questions about which service is right for you, or if you can't find a time slot that fits your schedule, please email me at msfortuneministries@gmail.com. I will do my best to accommodate you. And if you're curious about my reviews, you can see what people have to say about my readings on Google here, and on Yelp here. Stay safe out there!




 


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