Code of Ethics
Land Acknowledgement
I acknowledge the land I work on, the traditional territory of the Cowlitz people.
“The name Cowlitz means “seeker" in a spiritual sense, according to some Cowlitz living today.” (cowlitz.org)
I am here because the land I live on was occupied by settlers and traders. A trading ship from Boston brought with it a deadly illness that wiped out 90% of the Cowlitz people in this region. The remaining 10% were displaced, and remained unrecognized by the federal government until February 2000. (cowlitz.org, oregonhistoryproject.org)
“When the Federal Government recognized the tribe officially in 2000, the Tribe thought of it as belated acknowledgement of a cohesive culture spanning centuries. Without cover of Federal status, tribal members overcame tremendous obstacles during millennium changes, holding firm to their remembered past as one of the largest and richest tribes in what is now Washington State." Learn more at cowlitz.org.
I offer my respect and gratitude to the original stewards of this land.
Equity, Equality, and Respect for All
No matter your sexual orientation, gender identity, racial identity, ethnicity, cultural identity, religion, physical ability, socioeconomic status, social class, age, I will respect you and hold space for you. All are welcome here who respect others.
On that note, racism, homophobia, classism, ageism, and any other form of hate speech or discrimination is not tolerated in my spheres. I pledge to shut that shit down at any time that it occurs within my circles, whether that circle is professional or personal. Should it occur within a group in which I maintain ownership, such behavior will be discussed, and, if not corrected, that person or persons will be removed.
I also pledge to continue to work on my own behavior and awareness. The untangling of systemic racism, institutional homophobia, and other forms of discrimination have a long way to go, and I include myself in that process. If at any time I say or do something in which I make a client feel uncomfortable, I welcome and encourage that feedback. I will listen, reflect, and adjust as necessary.
Confidentiality
Client communications, including session content, email, texts, voice messages, video) are confidential, except when compelled by law or in the case of a life-threatening situation.
Content that may be shared:
- Photos of spellwork, provided no personal information is visible (for example, a printout of spellwork on a client chart that shows name and/or birth data would not be shared; a photo of a spell jar with ingredients may be)
- Common or aggregate client stories: "Often, my clients find that they..." etc.
- Feedback collected for the purposes of a testimonial, or other content shared with written client permission
Authenticity
I will always be honest about what I see in a reading. I will be clear about what I can and cannot interpret.
I recognize this work can be difficult - I ask my clients to bring as much of their authentic selves to the table as possible, and I will do the same.
Respect & Boundaries
I always hold my clients in the highest regard. I respect my clients' energy, time, space, and effort in this work. I respect client boundaries. If in session, there is a topic a client does not wish to explore, I will honor that - we may circle back to check in at a later time, but always with gentle empathy.
I expect respect in return from my clients. My clients respect my work, as well as my boundaries around time and preferred communication methods.
No Judgement
This is a space of expansion, awareness, and growth. By the very nature of this work, clients sometimes feel they have failed, or made a mistake. This is a judgement-free zone. I am here to support you, and recognize the very deep human-ness of this work.
Free Will
Clients always have free will, and may choose to follow or disregard any advice given during a reading or session. Clients are responsible for their own actions. You are the author of your life, and you alone.
Also, the future is not fixed. My readings will never predict any certainty of future outcomes, and should not be considered a guarantee of future events.
Professional Standards
The work performed at Sonja the Grey should never be considered a replacement for medical, legal, or financial advice. Always consult your mental health professional, physician, lawyer, or financial advisor when such services are required.
Tarot readings and spellwork are for entertainment purposes only.
Reading Topics
A wide variety of topics come up for Tarot readings, spellwork, energy work, and advising sessions. As such, certain topics I am happy to work with:
- Career direction
- Business development
- Life purpose
- Personal improvement/expansion
- Channeling from guides
- Energy clearing of self, children, home
- Family dynamics
- Friendships
- Romantic relationships (on a case by case basis)
I will kindly refuse to work with:
- Spells, magick, or energy work that binds you to a specific outcome (these rarely result in the desired outcome, and often the Universe has something better available than what we can concoct on our own)
- Questions regarding your death or the death of another
- Any work on another person other than the client, without direct consent from that person (exception for children in the care of the client)
- Some romantic issues are declined on a case-by-case basis
Refusal of Service
I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone at any time. Sometimes, a client is not a good fit for my services, and may be better served by another reader or coach. In such a case in which payment has already been made but service is declined, payments for services not rendered will be refunded promptly.
Refunds
For reading and tarot services not yet rendered, if I exercise my right to refuse service, I will provide 100% refund for services not yet rendered. If a client has paid for a service and cancels, refunds will be considered on a case by case basis, and will largely depend on how much time I have already spent working on the service that is not yet complete.
For 1:1 live sessions, cancellations require 24 hour notice. First cancellation will be rescheduled or refunded; future cancellations will not be refunded.
Pre-paid coaching packages are not refundable. No refunds are given for completed services.