Tarot cards are used all over the world for a variety of reasons: divination, self-support, journaling, creativity, and more. In recent years, their powerful, archetypal images – which depict the human condition so powerfully – have become popular as a therapeutic tool, both for self-reflection and for use in professional therapeutic work.
The Tarot is a deck of cards which was probably created in the 15th Century in Italy. Initially used as a gaming device – or perhaps for personal contemplation – these mysterious cards quickly spread all over the world and eventually became associated with occult practices and divination.
The images of the tarot are imbued with archetypal images; they depict a human journey towards enlightenment – or perhaps, from a counselling perspective, a journey towards individuation. It has an uncanny ability to reflect important insights about our lives to us – but only if we are willing and open enough to work with it.
It doesn’t matter if you see this process as a spiritual one or a psychological one: Tarot has the power to heal, and that in itself is significant. The cards can represent experiences that words sometimes fail to capture, making them a powerful tool for expressing difficult feelings and experiences. It can also offer us fresh perspectives on our lives, helping us to break old habits, as well as being a wonderful tool for meditation and creative inspiration.
During this session, counsellor, eco-therapist and tarot reader Stephen Mccabe will introduce some of the many ways in which the Tarot can support wellbeing. This will include working with groups, one-to-one clients, and outdoors as an eco-therapy tool. We will also take a whistle-stop tour of the Tarot’s history, artwork and it’s amazing structure!
This online tarot deck can be used with the exercises if you don’t have your own tarot deck https://rider-waite.com/symbolism/
Course Content
Presenter
Stephen McCabe is an ecotherapist, tarot reader, counsellor and ordained Zen Buddhist. His work includes tutoring for the Ten Directions ecotherapy training programme, facilitating nature groups in Scotland, Tarot Therapy work and running wellbeing groups based on myth and folklore. He is currently working on his first (nature-infused) novel.
