Teheuti
I've been trying to think of a way of conceptualizing what we do as tarot readers when we begin to cross over into an area that has supposedly been claimed by the Therapy Profession and made forbidden and, in some cases illegal, for the rest of us.
Many of us practice an approach for which others claim we are not "trained" or licensed.
In looking around for a name for what we do I stumbled across what has been called in some research journals, the "noetic therapies". It's a term used for methods where scientific study in healing has barely begun - for instance the role of prayer-at-a-distance in healing.
Nous is a term that's been translated historically as "mind," "intellect" and "common sense." Some describe is as a part of mind that is separate from the senses - an emanation from the divine - the soul. It is the part that perceives Truth and Beauty as something that stands outside of facts and the senses.
The term Noetic is usually reserved for the "higher mind" - a non-rational consciousness that embraces paradox. Noesis, for instance, is translated as insight or intuition.
In modern parlance it is often defined as "non-rational ways of knowing."
The Institute of Noetic Science adopted this term as a way of examining the world around us that embraces just this paradox. Within the field of "noetic science" we find such things as "distance viewing" and the effects of prayer on water, etc.
I propose that a good many tarot readers are more-or-less trained in noetic practices and, in some cases, are much more knowledgeable and experienced than professional Therapists who are specifically trained to discount, and restricted from practicing within, this realm.
In fact, we all know there is considerable overlap. While the professional world seeks officially to discount noetic practices, the noetic field includes, by definition (i.e., the embracing of paradox), whatever works.
The fact is that scientists are now using the term "noetic therapies" for those practices that fall outside of their purview and current understanding. This means they at least acknowledge an area in which others are considered more knowledgeable and experienced (expert) than they are.
The official suspicion of and reluctance to assign value to what we do is the reason why Therapists are directly or indirectly restricted from such practices. Additionally, Therapists who are covered by licenses and insurance, are known to not be officially trained in the avoided and derided "noetic" field.
I believe we should proudly claim the use of tarot as a "noetic therapy," and define it for ourselves, rather than letting someone else compartmentalize us according to their own, far different, values and perspectives.
Mary K. Greer
Many of us practice an approach for which others claim we are not "trained" or licensed.
In looking around for a name for what we do I stumbled across what has been called in some research journals, the "noetic therapies". It's a term used for methods where scientific study in healing has barely begun - for instance the role of prayer-at-a-distance in healing.
Nous is a term that's been translated historically as "mind," "intellect" and "common sense." Some describe is as a part of mind that is separate from the senses - an emanation from the divine - the soul. It is the part that perceives Truth and Beauty as something that stands outside of facts and the senses.
The term Noetic is usually reserved for the "higher mind" - a non-rational consciousness that embraces paradox. Noesis, for instance, is translated as insight or intuition.
In modern parlance it is often defined as "non-rational ways of knowing."
The Institute of Noetic Science adopted this term as a way of examining the world around us that embraces just this paradox. Within the field of "noetic science" we find such things as "distance viewing" and the effects of prayer on water, etc.
I propose that a good many tarot readers are more-or-less trained in noetic practices and, in some cases, are much more knowledgeable and experienced than professional Therapists who are specifically trained to discount, and restricted from practicing within, this realm.
In fact, we all know there is considerable overlap. While the professional world seeks officially to discount noetic practices, the noetic field includes, by definition (i.e., the embracing of paradox), whatever works.
The fact is that scientists are now using the term "noetic therapies" for those practices that fall outside of their purview and current understanding. This means they at least acknowledge an area in which others are considered more knowledgeable and experienced (expert) than they are.
The official suspicion of and reluctance to assign value to what we do is the reason why Therapists are directly or indirectly restricted from such practices. Additionally, Therapists who are covered by licenses and insurance, are known to not be officially trained in the avoided and derided "noetic" field.
I believe we should proudly claim the use of tarot as a "noetic therapy," and define it for ourselves, rather than letting someone else compartmentalize us according to their own, far different, values and perspectives.
Mary K. Greer
