Sal Jade is a renowned spiritual teacher and Tarot expert with over 15 years of experience, helping more than 80,000 students worldwide master accurate and empowering Tarot readings. Passionate about transforming Tarot from fortune-telling into a tool for healing and self-empowerment, Sal specializes in teaching readers how to provide insightful guidance, overcome challenges, and grow thriving spiritual businesses. Based on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, her bestselling online courses have inspired students in over 30 countries. MysticMag has an exclusive interview.
Could you share what initially drew you to tarot and how your personal journey in spirituality and tarot evolved into a coaching and teaching career?
As a teenager, I had a close friend who used the Thoth tarot deck and often gave me readings. I was captivated by the deck’s powerful symbolism, stunning imagery, and spiritual depth—it felt like it resonated with me on a soul level.
In my late twenties, I went through a tough time dealing with sleeplessness and mild depression. Not wanting to rely on medication, I turned to spiritual healing. I began exploring angel work, oracle cards, and eventually returned to the tarot to help navigate and heal through that period.
At the time, I was working as a high school teacher. While I loved working with the students, I felt disheartened by the system and struggled to find joy or purpose in my career. Inspired by my past experiences as the editor of a women’s publication during university, I decided to explore running my own business in women’s health products. I quit my teaching job and started managing a metaphysical shop, overseeing the psychic and tarot readers, to gain insight into business operations.
While managing the shop, I began offering tarot readings to customers browsing the cards. Their positive feedback gave me the confidence to take the leap in 2009 and become a professional reader and healer. It felt like a deeply aligned moment for my soul, especially as I kept pulling the Fool card in my own readings—it marked the start of my journey. I began offering readings in another shop and expanded my practice to include clairvoyant healings from home. I loved empowering my clients so much that I started teaching workshops every Wednesday night to help them develop their own abilities.
By 2014, my client base had grown, and I decided to create online courses to reach more people and have the freedom to travel. My first course, How to Be Psychic, was based on my workshops and focused on connecting with angels, spirit guides, oracle cards, and clairvoyant tools like crystals and chakras. In 2015, I followed it up with Tarot Card Success and have since created a range of courses for both beginners and advanced readers, including niche topics like health readings, advanced love readings, and life purpose readings.
Today, I offer 11 courses on Udemy and run the Psychic Healing Academy, where I provide more personalized programs and coaching. My courses are often inspired by the wonderful questions and feedback I receive from my students, as well as the techniques that have been transformative in my own spiritual journey.
With over 80,000 students learning from your courses, how do you address the diverse needs of both nervous beginners and experienced tarot readers looking to advance their skills and what
key elements do you emphasize to build confidence and deepen intuition?
Helping beginners learn tarot is one of my greatest passions! Many misconceptions about tarot can discourage new readers, especially when their initial readings aren’t perfect. I often see students expecting to read with the accuracy of someone with 20 years of experience right away, which isn’t realistic. Tarot, like any skill, takes patience and practice—it can take up to six months to become truly fluent.
To support new students, I encourage a patient, kind approach to learning. Mistakes are part of the process. If errors are frequent, it might indicate a block or the need for further study, but this doesn’t mean giving up! I emphasize foundational learning, which is why my advanced courses require completing foundational ones like Tarot Card Success.
A surprising discovery has been the number of experienced readers who revisit foundational courses. They enjoy refreshing their skills and gaining new perspectives, which deepens their intuition and love for the tarot. While I encourage new readers to focus on one learning method at first, more seasoned readers can benefit from exploring diverse interpretations.
To foster growth, I’ve created a Facebook study group where beginners can practice in a safe environment, clearly identifying themselves as learners. Experienced readers in the group often provide guidance and support, making it a valuable community for everyone. For beginners, I recommend avoiding practice with close family or friends to minimize performance anxiety.
Developing intuition naturally comes with practice. Tarot acts as a portal to your intuition, but tools like meditation, connecting with guides, and psychic development can enhance this process. One practical tip from my course How to Read Tarot When You Struggle to Remember the Cards is to focus on the imagery in each card. Describing what you see and connecting it to your client’s journey often opens powerful intuitive insights.
A supportive, patient approach to learning is key to building confidence and deepening your connection with the tarot.
For those aiming to launch a heart-centered tarot business, what are the critical steps you recommend for creating a business model that balances spiritual integrity with profitability?
Maintaining balance while running a heart-centered business, especially as a tarot reader, requires addressing money mindset and ethical alignment. One critical step is healing money blocks—both before starting your business and continuously as you grow. Believing you can earn a meaningful income while staying true to your higher self can be challenging, particularly in situations where you may have to choose ethics over profit.
For example, refusing clients who repeatedly seek readings that reinforce unhealthy patterns (like obsessing over when someone will contact them) or declining requests to misuse tarot for unethical purposes demonstrates a commitment to spiritual integrity. These choices require courage and trust in your ability to attract aligned clients who value your service for its highest purpose.
A solid foundation in your money mindset, coupled with trust that you’ll always find ethical and fulfilling ways to earn, allows you to create a sustainable and spiritually balanced business. By focusing on serving both yourself and your clients with integrity, you can align with your higher purpose and financial stability.
Could you delve into what sets the Advanced Tarot and Psychic Business Certification apart from your other courses?
The Advanced Tarot and Psychic Business Certificate Program is a comprehensive offering that combines advanced tarot study with practical business coaching. It’s tailored for those interested in exploring the deeper, esoteric aspects of tarot, such as symbolism, numerology, history, and mythology, while also learning how to establish and grow an online, heart-centered business.
The program provides guidance on essential business elements like branding, marketing, social media strategies, website creation, and tools needed for online success. It includes personalized business coaching calls and support, helping participants navigate practical challenges such as subscriptions and logistics.
Uniquely, the course incorporates a Zoom exam where students demonstrate their tarot reading skills directly to Sal Jade. Upon passing, participants earn a formal qualification as a Tarot Practitioner through the International Institute of Complementary Therapy (IICT). This certification enables them to offer insured tarot services and even teach and certify others if they choose to expand their practice. Graduates are also featured on Sal Jade’s recommended readers website, enhancing their professional visibility.
The program is offered through the Psychic Healing Academy and is ideal for those seeking both advanced tarot mastery and a structured approach to building a successful spiritual business.
Managing challenging clients or sensitive situations is often part of a tarot reader’s journey. What advice or techniques do you share with your students to navigate these moments gracefully while maintaining clear boundaries and providing insightful guidance?
I have a ton of free short videos on my Sal Jade Tarot YouTube channel that cover topics like boundaries, empathy, and some of the other challenging aspects of being a professional tarot reader. These videos are a great resource if you’re interested in exploring these issues further. That said, here are a few tips I’d like to share:
1. Be Prepared for Difficult Clients
Occasionally, you’ll encounter clients who are hostile or difficult—it’s normal in any business. As readers, we can take this personally, but often their rudeness has nothing to do with us. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad reader or a bad person. Many people who are suffering, unhappy, or scared may not act kindly. When this happens, try to send them love and do your best to serve them.
2. Set Boundaries
You Are Not a Servant: If someone is being unreasonable or taking too much of your time, it’s okay to say “no.” You might explain, “This might need another reading” or “I may not be the right reader for you.”
Be Clear About Expectations: Communicate upfront how long the reading will take and what they can expect. I recommend using a timer that goes off five minutes before the session ends so you can summarize and wrap up smoothly.
3. Act with Compassion
Expect that some clients may cry during a reading—people can be incredibly vulnerable in these moments. Always approach them with compassion and tenderness, avoiding any lecturing or judgment.
4. Accept Criticism Gracefully
Sometimes, clients won’t like you or your reading style. That’s okay—it’s part of the business. Even well-known, award-winning readers face criticism. Do your best, and if a client is particularly critical, take time afterward to nurture yourself. Personally, I like to indulge my inner child by watching Harry Potter and eating chocolate—it helps me decompress after tough interactions.
5. Practice Self-Care
Having “escape” methods in place for difficult moments is crucial. Find what works for you—whether it’s a favorite movie, a comforting snack, or another self-care ritual.
These strategies can help you navigate the emotional complexities of professional tarot reading while maintaining your well-being and integrity.
If you would like to find out more about Sal Jade, please visit https://saljade.com/ or https://www.youtube.com/user/SalJadeClairvoyant or https://www.facebook.com/clairvoyant.healer
