“Nothing contained herein shall be construed to apply to a person pretending to act as a fortune-teller in a properly licensed theater as part of any show or exhibition presented therein, or as a part of any play, exhibition, fair or show presented OR OFFERED IN AIDE OF ANY BENEVOLENT, CHARITABLE OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE (the caps are mine).

As I have indicated, I am a spiritual counselor. I provide readings to my clients by using my knowledge, psychic abilities, and tarot cards as aides in the counseling process. I am also an ordained Reverend, an educator, and a writer. The definition of “psychic” is NOT synonymous to being a fortuneteller, nor is providing readings using one’s psychic abilities or tarot cards!

Throughout my ordeal, I have attempted to enlighten these government officials away from making false assertions and assumptions about who I am and what I do. I have stressed that unless they knew and understood the definition of psychic, as well as possess a clear and thorough understanding of what I believe tarot cards are, and the means in which I use them and/or my psychic abilities during my spiritual counseling, making any judgments about or against me and my sense of spirituality/religion was based on ignorance and/or prejudice, not truth or facts.

The very disclaimer exonerates me from being labeled a fortuneteller, and I have pointed this out on numerous occasions. Similar to the runaround I was given regarding a police permit, I have also been treated to their interpretation of this disclaimer contained in the ordinance. 

According to numerous county officials, I am not a person who offers aide in the form of benevolence, charitable service or educational purposes, while in the process of my spiritual counseling. When I challenged them about the accuracy of this statement, they claimed that I am not 100% benevolent, because I charge for my services. Because of this assertion by various county officials, they claim that I am NOT exonerated by the ordinance, and I am a fortuneteller requiring a police permit.

The ordinance clearly states any benevolent, charitable, or educational purpose, and does not quantify percentages. Therefore, my and any reasonable person’s interpretation of “any” benevolent aide must surely refer to the very definition of benevolence: showing kindness, having compassion or a disposition to do good, possessing or manifesting love toward humankind and/or a desire to promote their prosperity and happiness. This DOES NOT negate the ability or right for an individual to charge for one’s services, simply because this individual is benevolent—benevolence is NOT synonymous to FREE. Otherwise, using benevolent and charitable in the same sentence of the ordinance would be redundant. It is also quite clear the word “or” is used in the ordinance, not “and”, which stipulates any one of these words is applicable to exoneration of being labeled a “fortuneteller” and being forced to obtain a police permit.

I am most certainly benevolent in my spiritual work, I frequently perform my spiritual readings for free, which is charitable, and I am an educator too.

My spirituality is MY RELIGION, and individuals CHOOSE me to provide spiritual counseling to them. As a result, this becomes OUR First Amendment Right to freedom of religion and the separation of church and state, as well as protection from governmental abuse of power or its ability to interfere unduly with the lives of its citizens.

As of this writing, I have been repeatedly refused a business license, and therefore the right to perform my spiritual business in a lawful manner within Chesterfield County. I have also been repeatedly threatened and warned that if I charge for my services or receive compensation of any kind, I will be served with a summons to appear before the court for performing my business without a license.

We have yet another Catch-22 and another way in which Chesterfield County may rid itself of its “undesirables.” This time it is drastically affecting my livelihood, which Chesterfield County government officials hope will drive me to the point of poverty; leaving no other option but to abandon my fundamental human rights.

Because of Chesterfield County, VA governmental officials, I am at the absolute point of poverty, but I am far from abandoning my rights. 

© By Sophia King 2009
Aka Psychic Sophie

To contact Sophia, call 818-468-6393 or visit her web site at www.PsychicSophie.com.