Heart of Tarot: An Intuitive Approach [Paperback]

Amber K (Author), Azrael Arynn K (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 2002

HEART OF TAROT presents an entirely new way to read the tarot that doesn't involve memorising card meanings, using psychic skills, or learning obscure occult lore. Rather, it offers an amazingly accurate technique called 'Gestalt Tarot', which is based on the basic principles of psychology. It is easy to learn and master. Gestalt Tarot helps bring pertinent information from the subconscious to the conscious mind.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Amber K is a third degree priestess of the Wiccan faith. She was initiated at the Temple of the Pagan Way in Chicago and served on the Council of Elders there. Her books on magick and the Craft have been widely circulated in the United States and Europe, and for nearly 25 years she has traveled across the U.S. teaching the Craft. She has worked with Circle and the Re-Formed Congregation of the Goddess, and served as National First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess for three terms. She is a founder of Our Lady of the Woods and the Ladywood Tradition of Wicca, and currently is Executive Director of Ardantane, a Wiccan/Pagan seminary is northern New Mexico.



Azrael Arynn K is a third-degree Wiccan Priestess and High Priest of the Coven of Our Lady of the Woods, and has also held offices in the Covenant of the Goddess. She resides in New Mexico, where she is both Facilities Director and Dean of the School of Sacred  Living at Ardantane Pagan Learning Center. She co-authors books on the Craft with Amber K, and travels and teaches widely throughout the United States.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

 

This is the story of a remarkable method of reading the Tarot cards, created by a remarkable man¿John McClimans. We hope you will find, as we have, that this system brings a clarity and power to the cards that have eluded all too many would-be readers.

In Gestalt Tarot, the reader¿s job is to ask questions, listen carefully, and lead the seeker or client in simple exercises that help them discover their own answers. The reader is a guide or facilitator, rather than a psychic or advisor. He or she does not memorize official meanings for each card and repeat them to the seeker; each card means whatever the seeker thinks it does. Because the insights of the reading are discovered and owned by the seeker, they are highly personal, immediately relevant, and very empowering.

Amber first learned Gestalt Tarot during her studies at the Temple of the Pagan Way in Chicago. Her teachers, who declined the temptation to adopt impressive titles and secret Craft names, were called Dave and Ginny. They freely shared their knowledge and skills; and this particular skill they credited to the creative mind of one of their teachers, John McClimans.

Amber fell in love with Gestalt Tarot. She had never felt comfortable with the stiff, wooden recital of card meanings memorized from a book (¿You will meet a tall authoritative man [with a sword and scepter?] who will bring you a message . . .¿). Nor did she like relying on my psychic skills for the interpretations (¿I sense victory in your future, I think, or someone¿s future anyway, at least it feels like victor . . .¿). Here is a method that draws its truths from the querent¿s own mind, and empowers the querent in doing so.

Enthusiastically she began spreading the word, teaching her own students the method as she understood it. But as she taught she was conscious of a certain uneasiness about the accuracy and purity of what she was transmitting. The technique was passed from John to Ginny and Dave to Amber pretty much by word of mouth, and she had no way to know if she was unintentionally straying from the original system.

John McClimans had moved to California before Amber had a chance to meet him. Several years after she had learned Gestalt Tarot, they finally connected. Amber thanked him profusely for inventing the system and suggested that he write it down and publish a book, so it wouldn¿t be lost or corrupted. His reply startled her a bit: ¿Well, suppose you write it?¿ Since he didn¿t want to, Amber decided to consider that option and promptly put it on the back burner with a bevy of other book ideas.

A few years after that conversation, John was no longer with us. Now we feel a certain obligation to honor his memory and preserve a fascinating technique by sharing this book with the world¿or at least those Tarot aficionados who will appreciate it. We hope we have recorded the technique with a depth and accuracy John would have approved.

What will you find in this book? First, a little of the history of Tarot in general, insofar as it is known or guessed. Then we will begin exploring the Gestalt system of reading, and alternative ways in which the cards can be interpreted. Both a full Gestalt spread (the pattern in which the cards are laid out) and a short version are shown. A step-by-step reading method is provided, and two sample readings to give you a feel for how the technique works in practice. Then a selection of different spreads are shown that can be used with the Gestalt method or any other.

Following this, we will offer some practical suggestions for anyone who may wish to read professionally, including a look at some of the more challenging kinds of clients you may encounter.

The next section provides some helpful tools for those who teach Tarot. You may not be teaching now, but may be asked to lead a class someday, once you have gained some experience. The final major chapter explains ways that you can use Tarot cards in magick for healing, personal growth, and other positive goals.

Gestalt Tarot is a powerful tool for those who value deep knowledge, self-understanding, and personal growth. It is a window into our subjective present and potential futures. On behalf of John McClimans and those who have shared it throughout the Tarot world, we offer you this gift.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (May 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567180086
• ISBN-13: 978-1567180084
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,430,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the Best of Ideas, February 21, 2007

By 

K. Walton "Card Reader" (Maine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heart of Tarot: An Intuitive Approach (Paperback)

Though I can tell that a lot of time was put into the writing of this book, the method really does fall flat. Having clients interpret the cards themselves is not the right idea. If you are going to use this method, you might as well just tell a client to go buy their own deck and a book, and then charge them for that advice! Part of my role as a Tarot reader is to interpret the cards because the client cannot or doesn't want to take time to learn. I've been reading Tarot for over 40 years, and this is about the most ridiculous method I've ever seen.

That said, while I disagree with the method, there ARE two excellent things about this book: the section about the different clients IS (as mentioned in another critique) hilarious; and, the outlines and lesson plans for teaching Tarot classes are creative and effective, as well as effective self-learning exercises.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT approach, August 14, 2004

By 

Seed Crystal (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart of Tarot: An Intuitive Approach (Paperback)

This book is a gem, and I highly recommend it for Tarot readers of all levels. It presents a method of reading the cards for self or others which truly can expand the intuitive powers within. If you want to go beyond references, memorizations, and the limits of any deck's authors/illustrators' conscious intellects to tap into amazing creative potential, this book is for you. Aside from readings, the book has a wealth of other Tarot activities which are empowering of your own intuition, healing abilities and creativity.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Approach, October 4, 2005

By 

Maritime Mystic (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart of Tarot: An Intuitive Approach (Paperback)

This book highlights a different approach from most Tarot books, because it is the client, not the reader, who does the actual reading. While I love to use this book in personal readings, I've tried it with clients and it fell flat. They are paying me to read for them, not to sit at my table and do the work while I watch. It's a great way to gain new insights into the symbolism of one's deck, especially if client readings are starting to feel "stale", but I don't bother using these techniques with clients anymore. The section on the different types of clients is hilarious, and the suggestions for developing spreads are good. This is an excellent text for personal work, especially if you aren't terribly familiar with the textbook meanings of the cards.