The Medium’s Dilemma: Balancing Ethics, Pricing, and Energy in Readings

Being a professional medium isn’t just about delivering messages from spirit—it’s about navigating some seriously tricky territory when it comes to ethics, pricing, and energy management.

Do you charge too little and risk burnout? Do you charge too much and feel like a spiritual sellout? How do you honour your energy without feeling guilty for saying no?

Welcome to The Medium’s Dilemma—the struggle of balancing fair pricing, ethical responsibility, and personal well-being in this work. Let’s break it down and find the sweet spot where you serve both spirit and yourself.

1. The Ethics of Mediumship: What’s Your Responsibility?

Let’s start with the big one—ethics. If you’re a working medium, you’re handling grief, emotions, and deep personal wounds. That’s not something to take lightly.

1.1. Honest Mediumship: The Good, The Bad & The Nos

🔮 The Truth: Not every reading is going to be spot-on.

🔮 The Ethical Choice: Be honest when things aren’t flowing.

🔮 The Reality Check: It’s okay to say, “I’m struggling to make this connection today.”

Some mediums push through bad readings to avoid losing face, but forcing messages when spirit isn’t coming through is unethical. If you’re struggling, be upfront—a truly ethical medium knows when to step back.

💡 Example Ethical Statement: "I’m not getting a strong enough connection today to deliver a meaningful reading, and I won’t waste your time or money. Let’s reschedule or refund you.”

Why? Because integrity always outweighs ego.

1.2. Avoiding Spiritual Manipulation

Some mediums (especially in the social media space) use fear-based messaging to keep clients hooked. Statements like:

❌ "You have a dark attachment—I can clear it for a fee."

❌ "You need multiple sessions to fully connect with your loved ones."

❌ "Only I can help you move forward spiritually."

🚨 Red Flag Alert: If a medium is using scarcity, fear, or dependency to keep clients coming back, they are not working with spirit—they’re working with sales tactics.

💡 Ethical Mediumship Rule: Your job is to EMPOWER clients, not make them dependent on you.

✔️ A good reading should bring clarity, peace, and healing—not fear and uncertainty.

2. Pricing: How Much Should You Charge for Mediumship?

Ah, pricing—the hottest debate in spiritual business.

Many mediums massively undercharge because they feel guilty about taking money for a spiritual gift. Others overcharge because they think higher prices = higher credibility.

So, where’s the balance?

2.1. Why You Deserve to Be Paid for Your Gift

Here’s the truth:

✅ Mediumship is a specialized skill. You’ve trained, developed, and worked hard to refine it.

✅ Your time and energy are valuable. This isn’t a hobby—it’s work.

✅ Charging money doesn’t make you less spiritual. Spirit isn’t sitting on a cloud judging you for paying your bills.

Would you tell a therapist, artist, or musician they shouldn’t be paid because their work is meaningful? No. So why do mediums do this to themselves?

💡 New Perspective: You’re not charging for the message—you’re charging for your time, experience, and energy.

2.2. Finding the Right Price for You

Here’s a quick pricing framework to help you set rates that are ethical AND sustainable:

1. Start with Your Energy Capacity

How many readings can you do per week without burning out?

❌ Too many, too cheap = Overworked & underpaid

❌ Too expensive, too few clients = Inaccessible pricing

✔️ Balance = Sustainable, fair pricing that honours your energy

2. Consider Your Experience Level

💡 Beginner (just starting out, practicing): Offer free or low-cost readings to build confidence.

💡 Intermediate (confident, accurate, working regularly): Charge a fair rate (£40–£100 per session).

💡 Experienced (established, in demand): Charge what reflects your expertise (£100+ per session).

3. Cover Your Business Costs

Mediumship is a business. Consider:

✔️ Website & booking system costs

✔️ Training, workshops, and development

✔️ Marketing and social media expenses

💡 Pricing isn’t just about what “feels right”—it’s about what’s sustainable.

3. Managing Your Energy: Avoiding Burnout in Readings

You can charge fairly and be ethical, but if your energy isn’t managed properly, you’re still on a fast track to burnout.

3.1. Why Mediumship Is So Draining

Mediumship isn’t just “chatting with spirit.” It requires:

• Mental focus (Translating symbols, names, and emotions)

• Emotional stamina (Holding space for grief and trauma)

• Physical energy (Readings can leave you completely exhausted)

  
  

If you don’t protect your energy, mediumship will wipe you out.

3.2. How to Protect Your Energy in Readings

✔️ 1. Limit Your Readings

💡 2 per day max—anything more and you’re setting yourself up for exhaustion.

✔️ 2. Have Clear Start & End Points

💡 Set a timer for 30-45 minutes per reading—don’t let sessions drag on.

✔️ 3. Ground Yourself Before & After

💡 Use breathwork, meditation, or movement to reset after a heavy session.

✔️ 4. Cut Energetic Cords

💡 After a reading, say: "I release this energy and return to myself." (Otherwise, you’ll carry your sitter’s emotions with you.)

✔️ 5. Take Breaks—Guilt-Free

💡 You don’t have to work every single day. Resting is part of sustainability.

Final Thoughts: Finding Your Mediumship Balance

If you want a long-term, ethical, and sustainable mediumship practice, you need to find balance in:

✔️ Ethics (Honest, empowering, and never fear-based)

✔️ Pricing (Fair, sustainable, and aligned with your worth)

✔️ Energy (Protecting your well-being while serving others)

Being a medium is about serving spirit, but that doesn’t mean sacrificing yourself.

So, set boundaries, price fairly, honour your energy—and most importantly, trust that spirit supports you when you support yourself. 💛

💬 What’s been your biggest struggle with balancing ethics, pricing, or energy in mediumship? Let’s chat in the comments!