‘Lifestyle Coaching’ used to be for a small percentage of the population but, these days, just about everywhere you turn you bump into a Coach.

Business coaching is more or less the norm for business owners, directors and entrepreneurs.  But coaching is a relatively new thing and there’s a far older form of self assessment and self improvement that is available to us.

Unfortunately it has a label or brand that doesn’t appeal to many, or at least shouldn’t be seen to appealing to many.  However, this is down to ignorance of what it really is.

I’m talking about tarot reading and maybe now you’re thinking of a wizened old lady sat in a dark room at a rickety table with a greasy pack of cards saying ‘cross my palm with silver’.  Not exactly the sort of image that would go down well in the boardroom.

Life Coach

Tarot reader?

Tarot reader

Life coach?

I trained as a life and business coach in 2002 and, for many years prior to that had a huge interest in tarot and other divination tools.  The one thing that struck me during my training was the amount of common aspects between the two, only the tools were different.

A common model used by coaches is the GROW model:

  • Goal – what is the goal of the session/series of sessions?
  • Reality – what is the current situation?
  • Options – what options are available?
  • When – what option are you going to act on and when?

It’s a successful format that helps the process along.  Now, let me take you through a tarot reading:

  • ‘How do you want the cards to help you today?’ (GOAL)
  • Layout the spread for current situation. (REALITY)
  • Layout the spread to assess future opportunities or weaknesses. (OPTION)
  • Layout the spread to view outcome. (WHEN)

So, the process is very similar but the tools are different.

A coach may use a number of tools but the main one is the mind.  The coach will ask questions and challenge the person being coached.  They will explore statements and seek to understand beliefs in order for the one being coached to gain clarity and confidence to move forward.

The tarot reader may also use a number of tools but the main one is their mind not their tarot cards.  The cards act purely as a point of focus. 

For example, let’s take the often dreaded Death card.  For serious tarot readers Death will symbolise a death of sorts: the death of a relationship, a way of life or a way of thinking.  The Death card reminds us of the cyclical nature of life.  Death and rebirth follow each other so, with a Death card the tarot reader would explore what is ending to make way for something new.  Such a statement would not be out of place in a coaching session.

Where the coach will use their mind to guide the coaching session so the structure is fairly logical and thought through, the tarot reading has is an element of randomness.  The subject of each of the cards may not, on the face of it, be linked and that can open up the reading to a whole new level.

If you have a great coaching session you will come out of it with clear goals, a plan and the motivation to move forward.

If you have a great tarot reading you will come out of it with a clearer understanding of where you are and where you’re going and the confidence to make it happen.

Not so much difference after all is there?  So, next time you’re considering coaching, maybe you should try that little bit extra and try coaching with cards.

 

Jackie Notman is a copywriter, feng shui consultant and e-commerce retailer.  This article is from her blog ‘Life – and everything else’ where you’ll find an eclectic mix of articles and information.

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