The Honest Broker

How to Know If Your Tarot Reader Is Tricking You

Published on March 31, 2026

#tarot#reader ethics#red flags

In early 2024, someone posted on Reddit under the heading: "Former tarot reader here — I made most of it up." The post described systematically tailoring readings to what clients wanted to hear, because honest readings — ones that said things were over, that the connection was not reciprocal, that the outcome was unlikely — caused clients to not come back. Nice readings kept them paying.

The post gathered over 1,900 upvotes. In the comments, dozens of people recognised the patterns described. Dozens more described experiences with readers who had done exactly this to them — told them what they wanted to hear, left out the hard parts, and let them walk away with false hope as a product.

This is the insider's perspective. And I want to bring it to you honestly, because the tarot world does not always tell you these things.

5 Warning Signs Your Tarot Reader Is Lying or Manipulating

Some of these are subtle. Some are not. All of them are worth knowing before you hand over your money — or your trust.

1. They Tell You What You Want to Hear — Consistently

Every reading is positive. Every draw suggests reunion, reciprocation, a bright future. This is statistically improbable. Tarot reads reality, and reality is mixed. If you have had multiple sessions with the same reader and every single one has delivered only good news, one of two things is happening: either the reader is filtering out anything uncomfortable, or they are fabricating the positive content to keep you coming back.

The Reddit poster described exactly this pattern. They noted that clients who received honest readings — including readings that said their situation was unlikely to resolve in their favour — would sometimes never return. The ones who got a steady stream of "he loves you, he will come back, it is going to happen" kept booking follow-up sessions.

2. They Use Vague Language That Fits Anything

"There is someone who cares about you." "You have been going through a period of transition." "This energy suggests something happening around communication." These are cold reading staples — statements so general they apply to nearly everyone and therefore feel accurate regardless of your actual situation. A genuine tarot reader should be able to describe specifics: which cards appeared, what those cards traditionally mean, how the interpretation connects to your actual question. If the reading could apply to anyone, it is not really about you.

Cold reading is a technique borrowed from psychic fraudulent practices, and it is remarkably effective — because humans are wired to find pattern and meaning in vague statements. Knowing this is half the defence.

3. They Pressure You Into Additional Paid Services

"Before we can do a relationship reading, you need a psychic cleansing to clear the energy." "This card suggests someone has placed negative energy on you — I can remove it for an additional fee." This is the most blatant red flag in the industry. No legitimate tarot reader ties their service to expensive add-ons. And curses — real energetic blockages — do not require a reader with a PayPal link to remove them. A genuine reader may suggest you do inner work, may recommend meditation or ritual, but they will not offer to sell you a spiritual fix for a problem they themselves invented.

4. They Dismiss Contradictory Evidence or Get Defensive

You have had two previous readings with this person. You mention that another reader said something different. If they respond by dismissing the other reader — "they are not as skilled," "they were reading the wrong energy," "I need to do a deeper session to override what they did" — that is a sign they are more invested in being right than in serving your clarity. Genuine readers understand that tarot is interpretive and that other competent readers may see different dimensions of a situation. They do not need to monopolise your truth.

5. They Cannot Tell You Why a Card Means What It Means

Ask your reader to explain their interpretation. A specific question: "Why does this card mean that in this context, and not its other meaning?" If they cannot give you a coherent, card-specific answer — if they rely on "I just feel this is right" or "the cards told me" without being able to trace the logic — that is a red flag. Tarot interpretation has a tradition, a symbolism, a reasoning structure. Good readers can walk you through why a card is being read in a particular direction. Fabricated readings cannot, because there is no actual card-specific reasoning behind them.

What Eldrin Does Differently

Eldrin reads what is present without watching your reactions to calibrate the answer. There is no incentive to tell you something pleasant — the cards are drawn and interpreted independently of what would make you feel good or keep you returning. If the reading says something you do not want to hear, that is what the energy is showing. Not what we wish it were.

Get an Honest Reading →

3 Questions to Ask Any Tarot Reader Before Booking

Before you commit to a reading with anyone — human or AI — these three questions can help you gauge what kind of service you are dealing with.

"Can you walk me through why you interpreted that card in that direction?"

A competent reader should be able to explain their reasoning. If they cannot, the interpretation may not be rooted in the actual card symbolism.

"What would it mean if the reading said something I did not want to hear?"

This question puts honesty on the table before the reading happens. Their answer tells you whether they see uncomfortable truth as part of the service — or whether they are in the business of comfort.

"Have you had readings where the outcome was different from what you hoped?"

For human readers especially, this is revealing. People who do this work with integrity will usually have a story about a time when the cards showed something they personally did not want. Readers who claim every reading is a positive confirmation may be selecting for only the pleasant ones.

What an Honest Reading Actually Looks Like

For the sake of comparison, here is what an honest reading feels and looks like from the inside.

An honest reading will sometimes deliver news you did not ask for. It might tell you that the person you are waiting for is not coming back — and mean it. It might say the relationship you are holding onto has ended, and the cards are not going to change that. It will use specific card imagery and symbolism, not just warm, evaluative language like "there is a lot of love here."

A good reader will acknowledge uncertainty when it exists. They will not pretend to know exact timelines, names, or details that the cards do not actually provide. They will tell you what the cards are showing and what they are not showing. They will not fill every gap with confident speculation dressed up as divine certainty.

And critically, an honest reader will not leave you dependent on them. They will give you what you need to understand the reading and make your own decisions — and then they will let you go. If your reader seems to need you to keep coming back, if every session ends with a reason why you need another one, that is not a reader. That is a business model.

The tarot is a tool for clarity. When it is working well, it helps you see more clearly — including when what you need to see is hard. Anything that trades your need for clarity for the comfort of returning is not serving the cards. It is using them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How common is it for tarot readers to make things up?

More common than the industry would like to admit. A 2024 thread on Reddit where a former tarot reader admitted to fabricating entire readings for money reached over 1,900 upvotes — suggesting this was a recognisable experience for thousands of readers. The person described systematically tailoring their messages to what clients wanted to hear, because honesty drove customers away.

Is Eldrin ever programmed to tell people what they want to hear?

No. Eldrin is designed to reflect what is actually present in the energetic field — not what is comfortable, not what is hoped for, and not what is likely to generate a return customer. A reading that tells you exactly what you wanted to hear is not a gift. It is a manipulation.

What is "cold reading" and how do I recognise it?

Cold reading is a technique where a reader makes vague, general statements that could apply to almost anyone and then watches your reactions to gauge whether they are on the right track. If your reader seems to be "feeling" their way through the reading rather than interpreting specific cards, that is a cold reading indicator. Genuine tarot reading starts with the cards, not with watching you.

Can a reader invent a curse to scare me into buying a "cleansing"?

Yes — this is one of the oldest cons in the book. No legitimate tarot reader will tell you that you have been cursed and then offer to remove it for an additional fee. If this happens to you, walk away. curses are vanishingly rare in actual energetic work, and anyone using them as a revenue stream is not someone you want handling your reading.

How can I tell if I am getting an honest reading with Eldrin?

Eldrin does not perform live readings based on watching your reactions — each draw is independent and interpreted against the specific question asked, without adjustment based on what you might be hoping to hear. If the reading delivers something uncomfortable, that discomfort is the signal, not a mistake.