Tarot Workshop with Benjamin Blak

Benjamin Blak is a Tarot reader and Holistic Therpaist based in the south west of England. Through his card readings and therapeutic work, he aims to create a safe space which encourages people to feel empowered, restored and emboldened, ready to continue on their journey which is uniquely theirs.

You can find more about Benjamin and his work at www.holistic-alchemy.co.uk

Introduction to Tarot - Deeping Your connection to self.

Through this 60 minute workshop we will dive into the 78 cards using the traditional Rider Waite deck and look at their meanings and how to interpret the cards. We will break down the deck into there different houses and look at how these can relate to our own lives. We will discover how we can use the tool of Tarot to gain clarity and objectivity in difficult times and gain a deepening understanding of yourself along the way.

Throughout the workshop we will cover:

• How to cleanse and charge your deck to keep their energies clear
• How to gain a foundational understanding of the cards meanings
• How to read a simple tarot spread that you can use at home to continue to deepen your practice
• Tips on how to read for yourself and others

This workshop would be great for anyone who is new to Tarot and would like to further their understand of the cards or for someone who has always been intrigued by Tarot and would like to learn more.

Things to bring:

• Your Tarot Deck (If you do not yet own a Tarot Deck there will be cards available to purchase on the day of the event)

What you get:

• A spot on the Tarot workshop
• A printed guide sheet covering the information discussed in the workshop to aid continued learning at home

To get a better understanding of how I view Tarot and my personal approach to using the cards - please check out the information below.

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WHAT IS TAROT?

Tarot is a collection of 78 cards that started life as a card game in the 15th century, but now are primarily thought of as a divination tool and used to gain access into our own psyche.

The cards themselves can be broken down into 5 different categories:

First, we have the ‘Major Arcana’ that consists of 22 cards that relate to element of spirit. They represent all the big changes and shifts in our lives, holding powerful lessons to teach us on a deep, spiritual level.

Then, we have the ‘Minor Arcana’ that consists of 56 cards, broken into four different suits: wands, swords, cups and pentacles. These cards represent the challenges of everyday life and tend not to have such a lasting effect. With each of these suits comes its own elemental connection which helps us to identify which area of life the cards are drawing our attention to: wands represent fire- our passions and creativity; cups represent water- our emotions and intuition; swords represent air- our communication and intellect; and pentacles represent earth- everything beyond ourselves and the material world.

These five houses and elements are the foundation of the language of tarot. Each of the cards holds their own special energy and message. Through the art of drawings cards, we can weave these messages together to gain a better insight and understanding of our current lives and of who we are. They allow us to tap into our subconscious mind and get in touch with our own inner wisdom.

WHAT IS THE AIM?

I want to provide you with a tarot reading that offers both insight and guidance, helping to bring you reassurance and clarity, and unlocking your true and full potential. My hope is that by the end of your reading, you will have a better knowledge of what is happening in your life and a deeper connection and understanding as to why. I want you to leave feeling empowered, knowing you have the ability to tackle any situation or challenge in front of you.

Everything you need can be accessed from within, all you need to know is what parts of yourself to call upon.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A TAROT READING AT HOLISTIC ALCHEMY?

We will start the session with a short discussion about what brought you to the reading and what you hope to gain from it. Curiosity can be reason enough, but if there are bigger circumstances that are happening in your life, sharing this information will help get the most out of your time with the cards. We will then dive into a bespoke tarot spread, looking at specific areas of your life or asking more general questions of the cards.

Using the traditional Rider Waite deck, we will unlock the mystery of the cards and relate them to your present, allowing you to gain perspective and objectivity. As we move through the reading, we will relate the cards to your current situation, providing you with inspiration or enlightenment to help you move forward.

Through my years reading tarot, I have come to realise that the most powerful readings are the ones that get to the heart of the matter with direct questions. Being open and honest with yourself, and with me, will allow you to get the most out of your experience. I encourage you to think about what it is that is drawing you to having a tarot reading- what is going on beneath the surface that is making you seek guidance? These questions don’t need to have answers, but can be helpful to think about.

If you do not have a clear answer to the questions above, we can do an opening spread to get an idea of the energies that are surrounding you and the obstacles you are facing. Once we have this information, we can then dive into those points of focus further and pull cards directed to those areas.

The last thing I feel is important to highlight is the following mantra: “We read for guidance, not predication”. While some people do use the cards for divination, and future energies can come into play, my practice and readings are focused on the present moment and on helping you make choices to move forward, giving you full agency and control over your life.

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