Guild Apprenticeship
“Learn the trade secrets... and the secrets hidden from the trade.”
— Guild Founder
The Guild apprenticeship is a five year vocational training in the art of tarot divination for Western esotericists on the Right Hand Path. Specifically, it is taught in a non-sectarian manner based on Emanationism and the perennial philosophy. It is not an initiatory path.
Apprenticeship is under the Founder of the Pro Bono Tarot Guild who has given around 2,000 free readings to the public since mid 2020. It implies entry into a craft lineage of esotericists who practice occult arts in the spirit of selfless service, rather than for personal gain.
The training requires some study: previous adult education is preferred. For at least 30 weeks of the year, work is evidenced and submitted or the student is removed from the programme.
The programme is in three Stages and the first Stage begins with a six month Novitiate. This is a period of mutual discernment to ensure that you are ready and motivated for the many challenges of the full five years. The entire first Stage (which is 18 months including the Novitiate) is solely focused on self-reading proficiency and learning the foundational skills and information. For example, all of the Rider Waite Smith tarot card meanings, a variety of spreads and other techniques, esoteric mechanics of shuffling and card selection, and so on. It is a substantial training in itself and is delivered by mentorship, tuition, homework assignments and video lessons.
The second Stage is about 18 months focused solely on reading for the public until the apprentice is independently competent. This is referred to as becoming a Journeyman. The student keeps up a less regular self-reading practice whilst reading for others to about 400 hours of experience. They receive regular mentorship to deal with the various tricky issues that come up and they request honest feedback from querents. This Stage is simple but it is also very emotionally and logistically challenging. However, a commitment to selfless service can be made by the truly motivated. And in the wider esoteric community, it has been done by many for generations, including by the Guild Founder himself.
The final Stage is two years. It involves further free readings for the public and the completion of a Masterwork. This makes the Journeyman a Master Tarot Diviner. They are now free from indenture, part of the Guild lineage and able to take their own students if they wish to.
The only fees charged are to cover costs for the mentor (who is the Guild Founder).
Stage I: 3x £400 (first payment is for the Novitiate)
Stage II: 3x £400
Stage III: 4x £400
This comes to about £400 per six months.
Payment is made in credits.
There are 175 total credits, split into 50, 50 and 75 across Stages I-III. Each credit gives an hour of mentorship or tuition and marks 10-12 hours of work.
Stage I credits also include one or more video lessons which are released as credit progression is made - not upon payment.
Except in the Novitiate, credits paid for but left incomplete are not refunded.
The promised deliverables are:
Private mentorship and tuition at 175 hours over the 175 credits.
A comprehensive video course on the art of tarot divination. Promised deliverable 15 minutes length per Stage I credit (12.5 hours).
But most importantly, the promise is that the successful apprentice will practice the art masterfully and joyfully in the spirit of selfless service.
Before applying, consider the requirements of the training:
You are a Western Esotericist on the Right Hand Path, happy to work within Emanationism and (non-sectarian) perennial philosophy. For example, you might be a Rosicrucian, Theosophist, neo-Platonist, Hermeticist or occult scientist.
You have read and agreed to the Guild’s Code of Ethics.
You are in a position to commit 10-12 hours per week for just over 30 weeks of the year - for the next five years.
If this sounds like you, please apply for the six month Novitiate now. Any questions which you have will be answered by email correspondence and interview if your initial application is successful.
Light & Truth