Coaching and Tarot (How I work with tarot)
My approach to working with tarot may be quite different from what you envision. My aim is to collaborate with you on the reading; in other words, I am far more likely to ask you questions to prompt a discussion than I am to proclaim what you "should do." (See the section below on what tarot does and doesn't do well, in my opinion)
The questions I ask you are drawn from the cards that you select--in other words, I ask the questions I believe the tarot is asking you to consider.
Will I tell you what I think the cards are saying? Certainly. But I am also interested in learning what symbols catch your eye and what they imply to you.
My approach to working with tarot may be quite different from what you envision. My aim is to collaborate with you on the reading; in other words, I am far more likely to ask you questions to prompt a discussion than I am to proclaim what you "should do." (See the section below on what tarot does and doesn't do well, in my opinion)
The questions I ask you are drawn from the cards that you select--in other words, I ask the questions I believe the tarot is asking you to consider.
Will I tell you what I think the cards are saying? Certainly. But I am also interested in learning what symbols catch your eye and what they imply to you.
- I prefer to have a dialogue with clients rather than to act like an Oracle.
- My overall approach is psychological, not fortune-telling or predicting.
- I'll work with you to help you phrase an effective question about the issue you want to understand; then we'll design a spread tailored to that issue. You'll then select cards for the spread, and together we will work to interpret those cards.
- You'll get to say what you think, and I'll share my expertise and what it suggests to me.
- You are always the final expert on your own life.
- You may want to photograph the cards and take that picture with you for further study.
- We can work with my "home deck," the Thoth Tarot, or you can choose to use one of my other decks if you prefer.
- If we can't meet in person, we can work over the phone or via email; I've found that all produce good results.
When and how tarot may be useful:
How does tarot work?
That's a great question. I don't think anyone has one "right" answer on how or why tarot works. My opinion: I believe tarot works directly with our subconscious minds. Subconsciousness has no language other than pictures, symbols, and images. It can't verbalize--speaking requires language, requires consciousness. I believe that when you select a tarot card (which is, after all, just a piece of cardboard with some images on it!), your own subconsciousness is guiding your hand to the images on that card, and those images have special meaning for you at the moment you select them. Can I prove that? Nope...but that's my working theory after years of practice.
When tarot isn't so useful:
- To jump start your creativity when you're stuck on a project
- To shift your perspective on an issue
- To understand relationships at home or at work
- To work with an emotional state that's puzzling you
- To have fun!
How does tarot work?
That's a great question. I don't think anyone has one "right" answer on how or why tarot works. My opinion: I believe tarot works directly with our subconscious minds. Subconsciousness has no language other than pictures, symbols, and images. It can't verbalize--speaking requires language, requires consciousness. I believe that when you select a tarot card (which is, after all, just a piece of cardboard with some images on it!), your own subconsciousness is guiding your hand to the images on that card, and those images have special meaning for you at the moment you select them. Can I prove that? Nope...but that's my working theory after years of practice.
When tarot isn't so useful:
- To make predictions. Many people use tarot to predict. I don't. I'm not convinced it does this well--and I'm not claiming to be a psychic or a fortune-teller. I believe its real power lies in its ability to draw out your own wisdom, using images. (Don't let anyone else "tell you" what to do. However, it may be useful to hear some open-ended questions on your issue--questions designed to help you think for yourself.)
- It's not useful when what you actually need is legal or medical/psychological or financial advice. The bottom line here is that you should always consult a qualified attorney, or physician/therapist, or financial adviser when dealing with these issues. I am none of these. If you ask me questions along these lines, I will refer you to a qualified expert. I will not be using the tarot to give you advice on such serious matters.
- Does that mean that tarot cannot give you anything useful on these topics? Certainly, it can and might give you an overview perspective based on questions it will suggest to you to consider...but why would you want to base a critical legal, medical, or financial decision entirely on a few pieces of painted cardboard? Your decision needs to be based on practical facts and accurate information. And it needs to be YOUR decision.
- Does that mean that tarot cannot give you anything useful on these topics? Certainly, it can and might give you an overview perspective based on questions it will suggest to you to consider...but why would you want to base a critical legal, medical, or financial decision entirely on a few pieces of painted cardboard? Your decision needs to be based on practical facts and accurate information. And it needs to be YOUR decision.
Ethics (Common Misuses of Tarot)
- Unethical uses of tarot include:
- Nosing into someone else's life. ("Is Person X having an affair?" A better question might be, "What do I need to understand about my relationship with Person X?")
- Cursing someone, or removing a curse. (Seriously?...does this even work? And have you noticed that this type of thing is always accompanied by a request for a huge amount of money? Run--FLEE--if you meet a tarot practitioner who wants to do either of these things. They are after your money, not your well-being.)
- Fostering dependency. For example, the tarot practitioner tells you that you need to "come in for a reading every week for the next six months." Or, YOU want to come in for a reading every week for the next six months, and the reader agrees that's just fine (it isn't). See the next point for why this is a problem...
- Dis-empowering you. Encouraging you to feel you cannot make decisions on your own without consulting the cards. Suggesting the cards know best what to do with your life. Offering legal or medical or psychological or relationship advice when not qualified. Being dogmatic and not listening to you.
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