Dr.Girlfriend
In reading different threads, I have the impression that so many of us fully trust/believe that whatever comes into our minds when we're reading cards is bound to be meaningful and 'right', just because it's come into our heads.
In psychotherapy, we talk about 'countertransference' when the therapist's own personal 'stuff' gets in the way of their work with clients. As tarot readers, do you feel concerned that your 'stuff' may interfere with your ability to access your inner wisdom? And, how do you deal with that?
When we look at and interpret the cards, we ARE projecting something of ourselves onto the cards, it can't be helped. It's one thing to do that for oneself, but what about when we read for other people?
I know there isn't an 'answer' to this, but to me it's a very important question.
I've been experimenting with a way of doing readings for others that takes this 'projection issue' into account. I'd love to hear what other people are doing, too.
First, I think of it as doing the reading WITH the person rather than FOR the person. We work together to try to make meaning of the cards.
I explain the position the card is in - what that position represents - and, if it's a minor card, something about what that suit represents. Then I ask them to hold the card, look at it, and I ask what they see when they look at the card. So, I get THEIR projections onto the card.
I tell them something about the traditional meaning of the card, in the literature, and any intuitive interpretations that have come into my mind (i.e., MY projections onto the cards) How much of that is inner wisdom vs. projection, it's not possible to know. I'm pretty sure it's bound to be a combination of the two.
So, I'm utilizing 3 sources of interpretation: theirs, mine, and the tarot literature. From there, we're off and running.
We do that with each card in each position, building up the 'story' of the cards and cross-referencing them with each other.
This process has worked very well, but it takes a long time - anywhere from 90 min. to 2 hrs. By the time we're finished, it feels like a very therapeutic experience has taken place.
At the end, I ask the person which cards stand out as the most meaningful or have the most 'charge' for them. They usually pick 2 or 3. I then go to my color copier and make a copy of those cards for them to take with them and help them remember and reflect on the reading.
I am a psychologist and my intention is to use the cards therapeutically, and this has been working very well for me: it "feels right."
I haven't been charging anything for this, because a) I'm just learning and they're giving me a gift by letting me practice with them, and b)I love doing it. If/when I start charging, it will be on a donation basis, except if it's my psychotherapy clients, and then its part of their therapy and the charge will be their regular session fee.
I'm very interested to hear other people's thoughts about this topic, as well as how you deal with it in your readings for other people.
And, are there any other psychologists out there who are using tarot in your psychotherapy practice?
Thanks for reading this long post!
In psychotherapy, we talk about 'countertransference' when the therapist's own personal 'stuff' gets in the way of their work with clients. As tarot readers, do you feel concerned that your 'stuff' may interfere with your ability to access your inner wisdom? And, how do you deal with that?
When we look at and interpret the cards, we ARE projecting something of ourselves onto the cards, it can't be helped. It's one thing to do that for oneself, but what about when we read for other people?
I know there isn't an 'answer' to this, but to me it's a very important question.
I've been experimenting with a way of doing readings for others that takes this 'projection issue' into account. I'd love to hear what other people are doing, too.
First, I think of it as doing the reading WITH the person rather than FOR the person. We work together to try to make meaning of the cards.
I explain the position the card is in - what that position represents - and, if it's a minor card, something about what that suit represents. Then I ask them to hold the card, look at it, and I ask what they see when they look at the card. So, I get THEIR projections onto the card.
I tell them something about the traditional meaning of the card, in the literature, and any intuitive interpretations that have come into my mind (i.e., MY projections onto the cards) How much of that is inner wisdom vs. projection, it's not possible to know. I'm pretty sure it's bound to be a combination of the two.
So, I'm utilizing 3 sources of interpretation: theirs, mine, and the tarot literature. From there, we're off and running.
We do that with each card in each position, building up the 'story' of the cards and cross-referencing them with each other.
This process has worked very well, but it takes a long time - anywhere from 90 min. to 2 hrs. By the time we're finished, it feels like a very therapeutic experience has taken place.
At the end, I ask the person which cards stand out as the most meaningful or have the most 'charge' for them. They usually pick 2 or 3. I then go to my color copier and make a copy of those cards for them to take with them and help them remember and reflect on the reading.
I am a psychologist and my intention is to use the cards therapeutically, and this has been working very well for me: it "feels right."
I haven't been charging anything for this, because a) I'm just learning and they're giving me a gift by letting me practice with them, and b)I love doing it. If/when I start charging, it will be on a donation basis, except if it's my psychotherapy clients, and then its part of their therapy and the charge will be their regular session fee.
I'm very interested to hear other people's thoughts about this topic, as well as how you deal with it in your readings for other people.
And, are there any other psychologists out there who are using tarot in your psychotherapy practice?
Thanks for reading this long post!