Magic Forums

When I was first getting into Magick and Tarot, I was taught that a reader gives their time and energy to do a reading, so they should be compensated. My teacher generally worked on a barter system - reading for reading or reading for favors (or cat food, LOL). But sometimes she took cash, also. I have been doing readings for a few clients for years now and they mostly pay me in cash because it's just simpler than trying to figure out how to barter.

I have been continually shocked to find that many of the people I talk to who are part of the Magick/Pagan "scene" were offended (and a few actually got angry) that I took any kind of compensation for my readings. Can some one please explain to me where the idea that a reader doesn't deserve to be paid for their time and effort came from? I have found a few blogs, articles and such that talk about it but mostly they just say don't do it without any kind of actual explanation.