Hello there, I'm currently a main spec discipline tank-healer priest with offspec shadow. I've been gathering most of the gear I can, and while not nearly finished (boots make my eyes bleed :-X) I'm getting there.
As it stands, I have taken Alchemy and Herbalism (as per suggestion of a friend of mine who took tailoring and enchanting for his mage). And it turned out, very quickly, as I was leveling, that the professions I chose were giving me no real benefit and were rather "for friends" than for me. As it stands I face a fairly weird wall of decisions. I'm very unhappy with herbalism since it's benefit is "lifeblood". Useless when you get aggro and are bent over and broken in 2 shots, shielded or not... On the other hand alchemy provided me with endless mana pot (meh kinda weak, and i'm near full efficiency raid buffed - can always rely on runic potions should the need arise, which give a lot more) and flask of the north - unconsumed spell power flask. Effectively, it sucks. I know that using Flask of the Frost Wyrm combined with mixology would boost it up a fair deal from 125 to 162 but that extra 37 spell power i really can't care for as much.
Nothing else attracts me to alchemy. Brings in no money, requires mats that are pretty costly and sometimes bit heavy on them, and I see myself becoming the guild's slave, pumping out potions like there's no tomorrow.
As it stands I'd like to figure out which two professions (considering the fact I don't wanna die leveling them, nor drain me out of all my money) I should pick that would directly benefit me in raid healing (increased throughput) and also be of use should I choose to go shadow (which will eventually be my PVPing build, once i gear up for it).
Taking all into consideration, tailoring and enchanting and blacksmithing and mining I don't really wanna touch (although if the benefits are just worth it, I'll definitely go for it) since my mates have those already. Making money is a good extra but I'm more into getting the best benefits possible.
I've been interested in Jewelcrafting since it's something i'll be making some solid use of, and also provides a solid money income (burnt enough gold in tips lol...) but I have no clue what else could be of use in my case. Please share your ideas