Reading tarot is something that I've been doing for the last two years, separate from BDSM and sex work which I've been doing a little longer. So I thought why not combine these two interests and do a general reading on sex work from my own experience and point of view, and let the cards lead this article. This reading will be based on the meaning and iconography of my cards, let's start.
Four of Cups
It represents the need to look at ourselves for answers, and it usually comes up when there's certain boredom from routine. Being a sex worker is sometimes tedious for different reasons, having to deal with disrespectful clients, doing a mechanical performance, having to defend ourselves from the judgment of society – which can lead to a defensiveness that is pretty justified. I think we as sex workers should, if we can, make things on our own terms, a dynamic that works for us and that doesn't sacrifice our nature. This can look different for every sex worker, for me it looks like closely managing my clients and accommodating myself and my disabilities.
Six of Cups
This card talks a lot about nostalgia. The internalized guilt and shame that comes with being a sex worker can be really hard on the mind and body, sometimes leading us to escape the present and thinking of our past, or what it could've been if things were different. I feel it's really important to know that there's pride in doing sex work. We are skilled in many practices and themes. We have to know how to deal with people, especially those who are rude. We have to learn about anatomy and safety, especially in BDSM. Social media management, self defense, etc. Being near a sex worker is a privilege not a shame. We can carry that pride, even if society cannot.
High Priestess
This major arcana card represents knowledge in spirituality and the capacity of managing this knowledge in a strategic way. Sex workers are often really wise, have great intuition, and know trusting our gut is vital. We know how to be mentally and physically appealing and use it as a source of power. It's also common for us to know the secret lives of our clients – their desires and fears – and we know how to keep them safe. We are good at dominating and owning passion: playing with it, making it bigger, making it reachable. I think the High Priestess is a good representation of sex workers.
Three of Cups
This card represents friendship, the capacity to help and also receive help. Being a sex worker is a constant work in progress. Many of us want to achieve a lot of things but are still working on those goals. Leaning on our close ones and building community among sex workers is important for this. We can't do everything alone, even though many of us have come a very long way on our own. Sometimes that little bit of extra support can help get us even further.
The Sun
This is a very positive card, it represents fun, warmth, success, excitement. Most of us have gone through a lot of bad situations, violence, discrimination, judgment, mental health issues, incidents, etc. This card represents all the good things that can happen, a shift in our context, a sign to take a leap and work hard on the things you want to achieve, because you will see results, the Sun it's a good omen.
The Magician
Sex workers tend to have great communication skills, we have to! We need to know how to talk to all kinds of people in our job, and have the capacity to make hard decisions at any time. The magician represents a good time for work and money, the power and creativity inside of you, and how this can lead you to achieving great things. It's also important to remember that it is normal to struggle.
Five of Pentacles
This card represents the struggles in the material and economic matter, being poor is a reality a lot of us sex workers are familiar with. There's a lot of romantisization of sex work and how you can live in opulence, but nobody talks about the not-so-glamorous parts of sex work (unless it’s to shame us). Many of us are still poor. Financially sex work can be a really unstable job, on top of the fact that we are socially marginalized because of it. It's okay if you're a sex worker and have not yet achieved the stability you wish for, it doesn't mean you're failing, it just means you're real and living the struggles most of us face but don't always talk about.
Page of Wands
This card talks about a great energy coming from within, a lot of talent and dreams yet to come true. Sex work is a job where we are constantly learning new things, new methods, new protocols, new feelings, new people, new struggles – and ways to deal with them – which can be both overwhelming and enriching at the same time.
The Chariot
This card represents success, taking action, the opportunity of traveling or getting to know new environments. It takes strength and determination to thrive in this job, and each person has a different type of strength, that when potentiated in the right way, can lead us to good outcomes in our job as sex workers. This card shows victory and progress, though this can look different for each one of us. For some it can be living in a stable place with frequent clients and for others it could be traveling and doing sessions with new people. It's important to determine how success looks for us, personally and collectively, and how we can best achieve that, despite all of our struggles. As we know, there's a lot of work to do for ourselves and each other as sex workers, in this abrasive capitalist system.
Are you a sex worker with a story, opinion, news, or tips to share? We'd love to hear from you!
We started the tryst.link sex worker blog to help amplify those who aren't handed the mic and bring attention to the issues ya'll care about the most. Got a tale to tell? 👇☂️✨
