Jeannette and I are visiting Jessica in Huntsville, ON. Such a gorgeous part of our province — lakes, trees, and great bits of rock abound. Breakfast and dinner on the back deck. Time with local visual artist Beverley Hawksley (her Madonnas made of clingfilm and sticky tape are fabulous!) and Bondi Village Resort co-owner Nancy Tapley (amazing sense of humour — who else would arrange an annual clam race?!) were inspiring. The lake was soothing. And I offered a tarot consultation to another wonderful local artist. One of the best things we did was to get to know the energy of two contrasting tarot cards in her reading through movement. By trying on the walk that the 8 of Swords figure would do and the walk that the Fool would do, the readee really came to recognise the choice she has about different ways of moving in her life and work.
Something else I’m doing is making time to read Paul Quinn’s book, Tarot for Life: Reading the Cards for Everyday Guidance and Growth. Keep your eyes peeled on this site for an interview with Paul. I’m impressed by the book so far, even though we think of reversals in different ways.
What creative or playful elements have YOU brought into your tarot sessions recently? What new tarot resources are you dipping into to keep yourself fresh and interested? Our ears are open and waiting for your juicy tarot session stories and for great new resources!
I really like your incorporation of the actual physical movement into assimilating the message and feel of the cards. It is a good idea; one that I may need to try myself soon. Moving as if a certain card, allows one to “assume the position and motion” of it. It made me think of something else one could do to “assume the role” so to speak. By dressing in the attire of the figures in the cards (or utilizing the color scheme in room, on clothes, in jewelery, etc), one could tune into that role and archetype by dressing as the image or entering a similar space as it resides in.
External and physical interactions can really do much to seal in the heart and meaning of a card.
One thing I’ve been doing is using the Herbal Tarot deck at the end of a reading, separate from the deck and reading for the primary part of the session. Once we finish with the primary reading, I then have the client draw a card from the Herbal Tarot for one of the specific questions, issues, or aspects that were a part of or came up in the primary reading. I do a quick interp of the card from a tarot standpoint, but it is done moreso to provide an herbal ally for the client that they might then seek out and utilise to assist them with the issue focused on when pulling it. It never ceases to amaze me how the herbal card that comes up will not only tie in energetically, but also on a physical level related to what the herb is used for on that plane.
I think it more goes under the phrase creative than playful – but today I drew 5 of Swords (Pagan Tarot) and I really felt like the Lady in the card. I was out of balance allready in the morning and willing to chop e v eryones head off if they came near me. But I noticed the circle she had drawn around herself and the man in the card. So I took the advice and drew my own magickal circle around me today. And it worked!
@Anna…Your action demonstrates how effective ritual doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple is good!
@ HiC…the Herbal Tarot is a lovely way to wrap up a session. Do your clients every create infusions, incenses, etc. with the suggested ally?
@theskinhorse…costumes are a great way to get into the card. Not always available, but a good idea. In the case of this particular client, she picked up a pen to hold as the Fool’s hiking stick.