Tarot is Illegal?! The Strange History of Witchcraft Laws in NY & PA
I had one of those “wait, WHAT?!” moments earlier last week.
While diving into some random research (don’t ask me how I got there😅), I discovered that tarot reading is technically illegal in both Pennsylvania and New York. Yes—right here in my home state!
As someone who’s worked as a professional tarot reader and has paid for readings at Renaissance Faires, metaphysical shops, and more... I was floored. It left me asking:
How, in 2025, can something so personal, spiritual, and sacred still be criminalized?
Let’s explore how we got here—and why it matters more than ever to approach these practices with both reverence and awareness.
The Roots of Anti-Witchcraft Laws in the U.S.
Most of these laws date back to the late 1800s to early 1900s, a time when fear of the “occult,” religious moralism, and public concerns about fraud led to criminalizing anything deemed fortune telling. In many states, laws were passed banning things like:
Palmistry
Astrology
Tarot and divination
Séances or mediumship
The intention (at least on paper) was to protect the public from scams. But the broader cultural undercurrent was clear: spiritual practices that didn’t fit within mainstream religious norms were viewed as dangerous, deceptive, and even demonic.
While these laws are rarely enforced today, they’re still on the books—a reminder that spiritual practices outside the dominant narrative have long been treated with suspicion, and even fear.
The Laws Today — Still Standing, Still Stigmatizing
In New York, Section 165.35 of the Penal Law makes it a Class B misdemeanor to charge for services involving the occult, “with the intent to defraud”… Pennsylvania has similar laws, criminalizing fortune telling for compensation.
Now, is anyone kicking down doors at psychic shops in Beacon or Hudson? Thankfully, no. But these outdated laws are still used in custody battles, zoning restrictions, and discrimination against spiritual practitioners…
That’s what’s really at stake: the ongoing stigma around witchcraft, intuitive work, and alternative spiritual practices — even when offered with integrity and consent.
My Tarot Journey (Yes, Even the Corporate Kind)
I’ve been reading tarot for myself and others for years. It's become one of my most grounding and intuitive tools—whether pulling a single card for guidance or offering readings to help others navigate their path. A few years ago, I even read professionally through Psychic Source, offering tarot sessions to clients all over the world. I’ve exchanged readings at events, read cards for friends during moon circles, and yes—paid more than once for a glittery Ren Faire reading — complete with dramatic flair and crystal balls 😅
So when I learned my past (and deeply sacred) work could technically be considered illegal in my home state... it made my stomach turn.
Tarot, Cultural Roots & Moving with Respect
Another layer that can’t be ignored is tarot’s history and cultural intersections, especially with the Romani people.
While tarot as we know it today has likely evolved through European mysticism and modern occult movements, many of its most recognizable uses (fortune telling, palm reading, etc.) have been commercialized and disconnected from their original cultural context—often at the expense of marginalized communities.
If we’re going to use these tools—especially in a public or professional way—it’s vital that we do so ethically, responsibly, and with reverence for their origins.
This means:
Not claiming cultural practices as our own
Educating ourselves on the history of these practices and how marginalized communities may have relied upon them; understanding how not to encroach upon cultural appropriation
Acknowledging and dismantling harmful stereotypes
Making space for conversations about cultural appropriation vs appreciation
It doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t practice tarot. It means you can do it, but with awareness and understanding of it’s origins and the travels it took along the way to modern day.
Let’s Talk: Respect, Regulation & the Future of Spiritual Services
Maybe there is a conversation to be had here about how we treat any kind of spiritual work in modern society. Some questions I’m sitting with:
Why do people fear intuitive or non-mainstream spiritual practices so deeply still today?
What would it look like if we respected spiritual service providers the way we do therapists, coaches, or clergy?
Should spiritual work such as this be regulated? Or protected?
I don’t have any of the answers — but I do believe this: there’s nothing fraudulent or harmful about using intuitive tools with consent, clarity, and care. That said, there are certainly those who will use this type of service solely for monetary gain — I always recommend using your best judgement if you are ever interested in paying for such services yourself. For me, I’ve turned to solitary practice and using it for myself rather than for person gain after learning of it’s historical use-cases. But Tarot is a tool I still use to this day, and I’m sure will continue to use for many years to come.
Whether you read tarot for yourself, offer it to others, or are simply curious about it, I invite you to hold this conversation with gentleness and an open heart.
