Conference hydra::dejavu

    Jim , I only do Tarot cards and I'm still very much an amateur. I
    rarely charge more then a hug for my services. :-) For a long time I
    felt the  same as you and then I finally, conciously realized that
    these folks are doing these services in lieu of, or in conjunction with
    mundane jobs. They have to eat and live and provide for themselves and
    sometimes families. Those that claim contact with higher or spiritual
    beings are still in human form and subject to all the foibles and
    necessities that go along with corporeal existence. 
    
    As for telling the frauds and charlatans apart from people who have
    "true knowledege, you have to try to get some information about them up
    front and make a personal judgement about whether or not you wish to
    hear and believe what they have to say. It's like anything else in
    life. "Let the buyer beware." (A pithy phrase some old Latin fellow was
    selling a few centuries ago. :-)  )
    
    PJ

    A part of this question has to do with people's expectations.
    Gurdjieff,  for example, seemed to believe that people from a
    materialistic culture wouldn't respect a gift, but would respect
    something they had to pay dearly for.  Many of the 'cults' give
    a similar rationale.  I can only agree with this up to a limited
    point, but I do think it has _some_ merit.  
    
    					kind regards,
    
    					todd
    										

    
    Jim,
    
    I feel that if a person takes professional training to learn a certain 
    skill and/or also incurs a cost associated with providing that service, 
    then it's OK to charge a reasonable amount to cover both the formal 
    training and any additional related costs.
    
    Can you clarify which services you feel are for 'enlightenment' and
    therefore should be offered for free?  Are you including, say, massage
    therapy, tarot, astrological readings, yoga classes, in your comment?
    
    Cindy
                                             

    Cindy,
    
    Anytime you have to pay to become an enlightened being
    I see P.T. Barnum with his hand out. I understand that
    many people have gone through training programs and are
    certified. I am not referring to them. However, there is a
    whole market out there aka Dionne's Psychic hotline and her
    ilk that give people with good intentions a bad name.
    
    		-Jim

    
    Jim,
    
    Oh, that stuff.  I see that even Sylvester Stallone's mother has an 
    800 number for psychic stuff (not a 900 number).  Nobody I know of 
    takes those kinds of thing seriously.  
    
    There are scam artists in every aspect of life, and the enlightenment
    area is just one of many.  That's why it's best to find someone via
    a reliable recommendation...be it a psychic, a loan officer, a
    financial planner, a stock broker, a real estate agent, and so on. 
    
    Cindy

    RE .5
    
    >I see that even Sylvester Stallone's mother has an 800 number
    
     Maybe she can tell us if he'll ever make a decent movie. ;)
    
    
    		-Jim- ok, Rocky was a good one.

    
    Jim,
    
    No it wasn't.  (;^)  Well, OK - it *was* better than "Conan the
    Barbarian", starring Arnold Schwartzenag(whatever).
    
    Re: 800 numbers - I always thought these were free, but I was watching
    television last night and one of those "Call me for a good time." 
    commercials came on.  I noticed in extremely tiny letters under the 800
    number that there was actually a charge for the amount of time you were
    on.  ???  Ah well.                      
    
    Cindy

    Being a reader of tarot as well as other talents .. I usually give away
    more than I ever receive although I do charge when I am doing fairs or
    if someone uses my card to call me. (Cards are not free) I also use my
    own table and cloths and special crystals. (Also not free) I frquently
    purchase books to discover more about symbology or my own higher self
    (again, not free) in order to serve in the best manner I can.
    
    It took time and money and a very deep committment to develop myself
    to the psychic level I have achieved. I do not feel at all guilty for
    charging for readings.
    
    I give away readings to many folks who could not really afford the $25
    I charge for a half hour reding. I also donate readings at various
    fairs in order to raise money for childrens hospitals and the homeless.
    
    I also barter readings or psychometry for some talent or wares that
    someone else is gifted with. I have never charged for herbals, I have
    always given those away free, but it has been costly and maybe it is
    something I should consider. 
    
    I would never pay anyone who told me I had a curse and that they could
    take it away for any sum of money. I'll deall with my own curses, thank
    you very much. ;)
    
    There are alot of phoneys and charletons in many areas, it makes it hard
    for the honest and the sincere in some ways. I have never cheated
    anyone ... I don't want that kind of Karma.
    
    Serenity

    RE .8
    
    Serenity Starbright? Really? That is one of the coolest names
    I have ever seen. With a name like that I'd trust you to read
    my tarot cards. ;)
    
    		-Jim-

    I certainly would. :-)
    
    PJ

    
    Me too!  [If I were into tarot, that is...]
    
    Cindy

    I see no conflict with charging a price for services provided. Indeed
    you must know the seller. People still have to eat,clothe themselves
    and have a roof over their head. Paying for a service does not
    diminish the gift. Obviously buyer beware.....but from the sounds
    of this notefile most of us know one or several people whom we feel
    we can trust.
    
    I too loved the name Serenity Starbright....