My Approach: Clarity, Understanding, Wisdom...

In this post I will endeavour to give a flavour of my approach to Tarot, and hopefully this helps you make an informed decision whether you wish to book a reading with me.

Perhaps the greatest value Tarot can offer for a querent, is the crystallisation of insight from what is beyond words, into concrete ideas that can be incorporated into navigating daily life. I will provide a brief idea of my approach through the keywords of clarity, understanding and wisdom.

Clarity

We use the verb 'to see' with physical seeing using the eyes, and of course with mental seeing with our intellect/intelligence. I see what you mean now. When we see with clarity, there are no obstructions, we see with definition and detail. The word clarity here describes how dynamics, when represented and seen on the cards, can help one reflect on and see the actual dynamics in your life with greater clarity.

Two of Wands Reversed

Let's say you have recently felt stuck in a relationship - there is a sense of boredom, and you blame your partner for not being more pro-active with organising trips, surprises, activities etc.

The dynamics at play reveal themselves through the cards, perhaps the two of wands reversed (not taking initiative) appears, representing your contributions. It triggers a sense of inner knowing, and then you see clearly and say - ah, yeah I guess I haven't done anything either. This is an instance of clarity, previously a sense of blame was obscuring your vision.

Understanding

I may understand how stars are balls of burning gas billions of miles away, but does that intellectual understanding help me appreciate their beauty? I may understand that a song is using a II-V-I-VI chord progression and that it is in the key of G, but does that theoretical understanding help me enjoy the song's emotional content?

There are, it seems, various types of understanding at play in our lives; intellectual, emotional, practical, intuitive etc. Tarot can reflect everyday dynamics on varying levels, ideally helping someone 'connect the dots' and better understand a situation.

2 of Wands (reversed), Page of Swords, 3 of Swords

Coming back to the earlier example of the dissatisfied partner, the querent saw (clarity) that she herself wasn't making any efforts. To deepen this reading the 3 of swords is drawn to represent the partner, and in between the two, drawn to provide advice, the page of swords. We now have a wealth of dynamic interrelations between three cards from which to draw insight and understanding.

The page of swords suggests communication, done in an innocent way; remaining open, and not being accusatory. The 3 of swords indicates the partner is suffering, or is experiencing sorrow or heartbreak of some sort.

Even though this is a simplistic interpretation, it demonstrates that the querent's reality is reflected in the cards, and from this visual microcosm of relationship and dynamic, understanding can be gleaned... how an innocent approach is needed as it will foster mutual understanding, how the partner may have not been more pro-active in suggesting trips etc. because they are going through a difficult time internally. How the intermediary of speech and open communication sits between the querent and their partner.

Tarot also offers understanding of another order. We have words like intuition, inner knowing, transcendent etc. though perhaps the whole point of non-conceptual understanding is that it defies our definitions. I can say, from my personal experience with tarot, that this level of understanding condenses slowly and imperceptibly over a period of time, fine-tuning intuitive capacity. I also believe even through a single Tarot session, that there may be a subtle nudge to the querent to listen more confidently to their inner-knowing.

Wisdom.

I do not know you personally, however I can presume that your definition of wisdom is slightly or perhaps more than slightly, different from mine. I am using wisdom here to mean = when a person not only has various levels of understanding and knowledge, both practical and intuitive, they also have the wherewithal, tact and confidence to employ this wealth of understanding through action in the world. And this action brings harmony, peace, love, fulfilment, goodness and so on.

You may have a deep understanding of how your friend is self-sabotaging themselves, but in this definition, it isn't wisdom unless that understanding is put to service in the world, in a natural, appropriate, sensitive manner.

From the clarity of seeing the dynamics of a predicament, to the understanding of interrelated factors at play, the progression towards wisdom is an element I try to incorporate into readings. Inspiration usually naturally arises from the spread, helping consolidate the insight gained, though it can be a conscious choice on the part of the Tarot reader to bring this element to the fore.

The querent may themselves receive inspiration for action to take based on their new found insights - I do now see how my partner has been upset, I know their work has been very challenging, I feel I can open up a space for us to really address our issues, and listen carefully.

The reader may also be nudged by some particular nuance on a card, a detail, a resonance, an astrological association, and 'bring it all together' for the querent, in the hopes of sending them away with a positive and forward looking attitude. We can all agree wisdom is not a quality that appears overnight, nor is it particularly easy to define or quantify. However, I do feel it is a useful idea to encapsulate what Tarot ultimately serves.

So this has been a very brief overview of how Tarot, or more specifically a Tarot reading with me, might bring clarity, understanding and wisdom into your experience.

However it may be pertinent to acknowledge words can become problematic when we try to communicate that which approaches the non-physical or metaphysical. I do personally believe Tarot operates, at least partly, in a 'mystical' way, although there is absolutely no need for a belief in anything spiritual for Tarot to be of benefit.

Even if the cards are essentially random, the subconscious can still be illumined through the visual language of Tarot, much like the random seeing of someone wash their car in the street might jog your memory to wash yours.

I also want to acknowledge the liminal space a Tarot reading exists in - it isn't a therapy session, it isn't a confession box, it isn't just all fun and games, and it isn't (for me) fortune-telling. I can say however that it can render people vulnerable, and should therefore be respected by both reader and querent. It is a beautifully misunderstood, fascinating and intriguing world, which time and again has proved an uncanny knack for casting new light on difficult situations and bringing fresh insights, both mundane and profound.