Gestalt Method?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Aug 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kiama	02 Aug 2002
I recently came across the book, Heart of Tarot, by Amber K and some other writer, which mentions using the Gestalt Method to read for people. I am toying wth the idea of getting this book, but would like to know a little more about the Gestalt Method... What is it, and how does it differ from other methods? Kiama

lupo138	02 Aug 2002
I just can tell you that "Gestalt" means something similar to "shape" in german

Jenny-Li	02 Aug 2002
I have no idea, but just from the name, I would relate it to "gestalt therapy" - which I have heard ONE fabulous lecture on once. It was increadibly interesting, but please don't ask me to explain it - I don't think I could manage that...! If it is a connection between Tarot and Gestalt therapy I could probably get the book just out of curiosity, and because it might be an easy way to understand gestalt psychology...! (Tarot is a back door to many forms of knowledge...!) But of course... That's just impulsive old me, and I do make a lot of mistakes and end up buying stuff that isn't at ALL what I expect...! Keep us informed, you got me curious about this book now...! ;) Jenny :)

truthsayer	02 Aug 2002
i think there is a book review of it at passages. i've looked over the book and this is my impression. gestalt therapy is where the clinician makes the client do all the work. the clinician is only a fascilitator. in this case, the reader would guide the client in finding all his/her answers. the reader doesn't read the cards for the client. the reader asks questions and acts as a guide but leaves it up to the Q to look at the cards and come up w/ a meaning. i've decided that this is not a practical way to read cards for me. i'm just not pushy enough to make a client look at the cards and come up w/ answers for herself. all they'd have to do is look at me pleadingly and i'd melt! LOL it might work if you were working as a psychotherapist and used the cards like some kind of visual imagery guide during treatment.

Helruna	02 Aug 2002
I have this book and I found it very interesting. Basically, Amber K presents this method for mainly readers who actually do readings with/for others. In this Gestalt method, the client/querent is choosing the cards, laying them out and interpreting them with the help of the reader. The reader asks some open questions like "How do you feel about this card?", "What part is particlularly interesting/caught your eye?", "What could this mean?" and leads them through the process to find the answers to their question by themselves. It puts much more work into the hands of the client, so to say, and lets him realise what the cards mean to him and the situation at hand. I found it very interesting, but like I said, I think it is mainly for people who do readings where the querent is present. She states that you could do it also via phone, if the querent has the same Tarot deck as you have... kinda complicated but oh well... she also has a short passage on giving Tarot classes, how to prepare for a course, what topics might be interesting and so on and so forth. Also, a little section on Tarot spells is included, but really just a few pages. To me, this opened a new perspective in doing Tarot readings. Unfortunately, I do not have anyone to practise this kind of readings, therefore I cannote tell you how good or bad it is and works. BTW, she also gives some advice and hints on how to establish your business and how to deal with certain "problematic" clients. Hope it helps. BB, Helruna

Kyrielle	02 Aug 2002
I was curious about this book too. The thing is, I read and use the cards exclusively for myself. I don't read at all for others. Would I still get any benefit from the ideas in the book? Or should I stick with my Tarot for Your Self and Tarot for Self Discovery? -- Kyrielle

Lee	02 Aug 2002
I have this book, and I agree with what Helruna and truthsayer have written. Kyrielle, frankly I think there's not much to the book if you're reading for yourself. It does have a chapter about reading for yourself, but the main point of it is to read completely intuitively, based on what you see in the cards, without thinking about traditional meanings. The difference between this reading-for-yourself approach and the one advocated in Michele Morgan's "Magical Course in Tarot" (another book about intuitive reading) is that in "Magical Course," the author advocates not using a fixed spread, while in "Heart of Tarot" the authors use a particular spread they have created. The book is interesting, but I wouldn't think it's something you have to have if you're only reading for yourself. I do, however, recomment "Magical Course in Tarot," which really focuses on self-readings and is quite inspiring. -- Lee

Umbrae	02 Aug 2002
Do a web-search. There is a site (I am far from home and my computer, or I would post the URL) about "The Heart of Tarot" which essentially presents a summary of the book. And Kiama, you being a sharp cookie, can most likely figure out how to read in this manner, and save money by not buying the book.

Laurel	02 Aug 2002
My best friend just finished this book and loved it, was telling me about it over coffee last Monday. However, to chime in as everyone else has said, its best suited for reading for others than self-readings. He is considering going professional and got it specifically for that purpose. Laurel

Original Destiny	02 Aug 2002
Mmmm. I am a counsellor and a Gestaltist and have found this posting very interesting...I have been using the Tarot in a similar way with clients...I havn't read the book but will now...To find out about gestalt therapy...just search for Fritz Perls on the net :TFOOL

NocturneSanguis	08 Aug 2002
Hello to all, I have just registered and look forward to using this site to it's full extent in the future. As for reading up on Gestalt Therapy, I have a book titled.. wait for it, it's gonna knock your socks off... 'Gestalt Therapy'... the authors are Frederick Perls, Ralph F. Hefferline, and Paul Goodman. ISBN 0 285 62665 5. That seems a little over-helpful perhaps, but it's about 15 years old, and I stumbled across my copy on a second hand book stall near London. Perhaps there have been great revelations in the field of Gestalt Therapy since, and my book is invalid and defunct, but I didn't get arthritis from typing this, so if it helps anyone out great... if it doesn't, I won't become bitter over it. Take care all, and expect questioning from me, as I have only bought my first Tarot deck 2 days ago.

fairyhedgehog	09 Aug 2002
Hi NocturneSanguis, Welcome to the forums and I hope you'll enjoy chatting to us all here :) Which Tarot deck did you get and how are you getting on with it? (Maybe that needs answering in Talking Tarot or somewhere, I don't know :) ) About Gestalt, I did that as part of my counselling course, and the book I found most helpful was 'Developing Gestalt Counselling' by Jennifer Mackewn, published by Sage. I have to confess that I've never read anything by Perls himself - I got very put off by a video we saw of him counselling, where he seemed very bullying. Gestalt therapy is, in my opinion, quite complicated but with some wonderful bits in it. It is very creative. I'm wondering which Gestalt ideas would be applied to tarot reading.

the hermit	09 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by fairyhedgehog Gestalt therapy is, in my opinion, quite complicated but with some wonderful bits in it. It is very creative. I'm wondering which Gestalt ideas would be applied to tarot reading. take a peek at the following thread... four sets of 2... the way I use this spread involves questioning and assisting the querent with their issue in what I believe is a basic gestalt process

NocturneSanguis	09 Aug 2002
Hello fairyhedgehog, and all Thank you for your warm welcome. The deck I felt drawn to while looking at them all was the Tarot of the Witches, by Fergus Hall. The artwork, featuring the High Priestess card surrounded by a purple border, appealed to me, and it felt right for me. When I opened it and read that it was featured in my favourite Bond movie, and saw that many of the male characters have beards far longer than mine, I knew my instinct was to be trusted :) So far, I have been getting used to handling my Major Arcana cards, and reading the descriptions, divination and reverse meanings while holding the relevant cards, and I am very eager to learn more quickly. I am unsure of how to proceed with practising my readings though. Could you suggest the best spread, or an ideal querent, please. My appreciations in advance

The Gestalt Method? thread was originally posted on 02 Aug 2002 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.