Now,
we step from the world of fantasy and
symbol for a
moment into the world
of science and reality. After all, what
good would our "recipe" be without
the wisdom for its application?
A philosophy (science) includes a structure
called methodology (the processes, rules,
ethics -- or simply the "how to").
As a Tarot Consultant,
we need to have a personal philosophy;
as well as to look within the self, be
secure in the knowledge of our craft, be
unafraid of ridicule or opposition, and
be confident with the implementation of
our belief structure in preparation for
helping our prospective clients. The word
consultation infers one who can be entrusted
with queries for advice and guidance --
and that holds a great deal of power over
the vulnerable client whom our reading
may have just pried from their shell. We
can debate the validity of tarot readings
versus the trained counselor until forever,
and perhaps never reach agreement. However,
that is not the purpose of this article
nor to seek a definition of Tarot Consultant.
Instead, I would like to offer my personal
feelings on the duties once the "Turtle
Oil" has been created and applied
to the client and perhaps in some manner
validate this aspect of Tarot Reading.
When
a client comes for a reading, pays their
fee; sits down,
and "gets comfortable",
they have lowered their defenses and placed
complete trust in the reader they have
chosen for "help" and "advice".
Note, that I am talking about people who
have major issues or are in times of crisis
and seeking answers on specific topics;
not the ones who just "want to know
what is coming in general". To say
that the client's "fate" is in
the reader's hands is to put it mildly;
since the majority of these clients have NOT sought
professional help prior to seeking a psychic.
Ideally, the chosen reader ascribes to
high standards/ethics such as those of
the ATA (American
Tarot Association).
When
we apply the use of Tarot Cards for seeking
guidance,
to our oil recipe, and
sound philosophy; we have the necessary
parts for a powerful consultation tool.
Tarot accesses the subconscious mind through
the world of color, symbol, archetype,
numbers, and many other tendrils into the
inner worlds where knowledge lies -- but
does this alone or any degree of psychic
ability automatically give us the right
to advise? There lies the dividing line
-- ethics -- otherwise we are merely a
new twist in an old clichè.
In
order to describe the way I see Tarot
as a consultation
tool, I will explain
the method I have developed for readings
and that which has become a very interesting
consultation methodology in itself. First,
I ask the client to concentrate on their
questions/issues and shuffle the cards.
They select the initial 14 cards for the
layout, which is one that I have developed
as a personal design, and in essence have
also initiated the placement within the
remainder of the deck for further placement.
The layout design, which I call the "Eye
of Horus" for it's INSIGHT,
provides direction, clarity in issues and/or
organization of decision-making steps to "show" the
client rather than push them into a direction
that I may feel correct. It is designed
so that I can see what has brought the
client to this point in time, their mind-set
or beliefs/ideas, the issue at hand, the
influencing energies, what is helping or
hindering progress, a "suggestion
box" area to give ideas of things
that may help or need to be addressed,
and a pathway card to give warning or a "heads-up" of
things that may not be avoided, and finally
outcome (which of course depends upon choices
and/or work done by the client on their
issues).
I
have also developed (or should I say "have
evolved as a reader") a reading style
that is unconventional from my original
instructors' and allows me to be a catalyst
and interpreter of the cards' messages,
which serve to address the current problems,
and then point to possible solutions. I
feel that to simply read the cards "cold" is
often incomplete -- thus, this layout developed.
I will often spot a problem area both with
the card's meaning and/or psychic intuition,
ask the client for any confirmation, and
then I will turn additional cards in order
to gain more insight surrounding the issue.
As I then add cards in some of the other
positions, they point to much more information,
suggestions, and possible solutions. No,
I cannot explain HOW it
works -- it JUST DOES! I
am actually able to show how a different
approach, attitude, or decision can CHANGE the
outcome -- or NOT, as the case
may be. Especially by the changing of a
reversal, one can actually "see" the
process of "unblocking" -- or
in our case, the application of our "Turtle
Oil" directly to the wound. This method
has proven over and over again valuable
to me as a consultant to open alternative
routes to my client and aide them to understand
how they can affect their own lives in
either a constructive or destructive way.
Since, I believe that "nothing is
cut in stone" and we are truly "free
will" creatures, I feel that this
method of reading has a great deal of validity.
I might add, that many clients report back
with favorable comments as well as letting
me know that I was "right". Ultimately,
one must see more than the "cold hard
facts" in order to appreciate possibilities
-- thus creating HOPE.
What is consultation? It is hope through trust and
re-order through chaos.
The job of the tarot reader to give help
and guidance is not unlike their professional
counterpart, except for the legal backing
and documents from college and university.
The wise reader keeps a reference list
to offer further professional help at their
fingertips to protect themselves and follows
a high standard of ethics -- yet, there
are those readers out there who are not
so trustworthy. We can only hope that the
clients will select carefully and once
they have, we Tarot Consultants need
to be ready with our bottle of "Turtle
Oil" and deck of Tarot Cards as
viable aides to help in the journey through
crisis and back to physical, emotional,
and spiritual health.
Crystal
Wind has been a member of
the American Tarot Association and
reading for 14 years. She was awarded
the rank of Certified Tarot Consultant
by the Tarot Certification Board of
America. Her work is diverse, as a
reader and medium with international
clientele, and ordained priestess/spiritual
counselor in the Order of Melchizedek.
Crystal Wind is a solitary white witch
who also provides hands-on healing,
Goddess-energy dance/work, reflexology,
dream Work, past-life recall, and Wiccan
practice/study and ritual.
Crystal Wind can be
contacted at crystalwind511@aol.com with
regard to personal readings, public and
private events, and all ministerial duties
(hand-fasting, counseling, etc.).
