Putting the Tarot to Work

Rating:
Summary: "Enlightened" Brainstorming
Review: Admittedly, before I had my first Tarot "reading" from Mark McElroy, my familiarity and awareness of Tarot was limited to Sister Cleo on television infomercials and one gypsy-like woman at a street-fair. Therefore, I expected a "Brother Cleotis" type approach to Mark's reading. Imagine my surprise when the reading actually was positive and less "future-telling" than it was discussion and my interpretation of what the cards were saying to my situation. On a second and on a third reading at later times, I found the same: a practical and intuitive look at my life's situation.

I would have been hard-pressed to offer much of an explanation of what made the reading meaningful until I read Mark's Book, Putting the Tarot to Work. No "eye of newt and toe of frog," but rather an in-depth discussion of how the Tarot can be an "enlightened" brainstorming tool in the business setting, the book provided an understanding of why Mark is so successful at Tarot.

In my reading, Mark first asked me what the cards seemed to be saying to me...what I saw in them. He then offered the traditional meaning of the cards and together we explored how that meaning and my interpretation of the cards worked together in a synergistic manner to offer insight into my situation.

So, at an introductory level, the cards serve as an "enlightened" brainstorming tool. And although the Cleos and Cleotises of the Tarot world might have a difficulty with this, it becomes a comfortable and safe way to be introduced to Tarot.

And this is what Mark does in his book: he provides an introduction to the Tarot along with tips, techniques and actual stories of how the Tarot fits into real business situations. His writing is concise and easy-to-understand. I particularly enjoyed the format he uses of telling me what I can expect to find in the current chapter and then reviewing the content of the chapter at its end.

After introductory chapters with basic information about Tarot, Mark's chapter titles are:
Basic Brainstorming with the Tarot; Seventy-Eight Steps to a More Satisfying Career; Reviews Worth Raving Over; Building Better Business Relationships; and Seeing the Future.

As a group facilitator in business, I have often used brainstorming. I now see the value of brainstorming "enlightened" by Tarot and also personally use the cards to help me think outside the box. I look forward to the publication of Mark's business-oriented Tarot deck. It will make the use of Tarot even less "Cleo-like" and more acceptable in a business setting.

I highly recommend Mark's book to everyone-not just those into Tarot, but also those who are looking for ways to be challenged to more creative thinking and problem solving.

Rating:
Summary: Business Brainstorming Games
Review: I'm not a tarot person. I don't tell fortunes. My first reaction to this book was I got a quota to meet. Why waste time with tarot cards?

Still, I picked it up because I'm interested in brainstorming. What I read surprised me. This book is about results and making things happen. The author holds your hand (and attention) every step. If you can't brainstorm with the cards after reading this, you just aren't trying.

And don't worry about the tarot business. This book gives you everything you need. I personally think using tarot makes brainstorming more of a game. When you have more fun you have more ideas. But if you don't like tarot cards, he tells how to use other pictures to do the same thing.

I can see why some tarot types won't like this book. It should have been called Business Brainstorming Games. Its not all about tarot reading. It never tries to be. Instead its a book about using the cards to answer questions faster and map out what to do. Once you try it, you're hooked.

The twenty two ideas in twenty minutes game alone is worth the price. It will give you an edge over people who don't know how to brainstorming with the cards. Buy it now while so few people know about this!!!

Rating:
Summary: Better Brainstorming with Tarot
Review: Visual brainstorming has been a powerful tool in the corporate arena for many years. Putting the Tarot to Work explores the potential benefits of using tarot cards as "creative fuel" when brainstorming questions about work and career.

NOTE: this book's emphasis is very career-oriented, very practical, and very much focused on creating action and direction. Almost nyone could learn about tarot or brainstorming using this approach, but if you're interested in a mystical, magical approach to Tarot, this may not be the book for you.

That said, the cards do turn out to be a powerful way to visualize goals, explore options, and get in touch with what really fulfills you. The book provides easy, step-by-step instructions anyone can use -- even people who have never used tarot cards before. Better yet, most of the applications in the book can be used in the privacy of your own home or office ... you don't have to involve others to use these techniques effectively.

The book also includes games and group exercises that could be used in business and corporate settings. As the book notes, due to tarot's "spooky" reputation, some people may object to using Tarot in a business setting. When this is the case, it's easy to substitute other images (pictures torn from magazines, for example) and use these instead of tarot cards.

Brainstormers already using Roger von Oech's Whack Pack or the Thinkertoys deck will get a kick out of these techniques. People new to tarot will be surprised at how easily they can pick up a deck and begin using the cards as brainstorming tools. And finally, people already interested in Tarot will find some new applications for the cards they enjoy.

If you're looking for a no-nonsense, practical guide to tarot or brainstorming -- or maybe just looking for something new to give your creativity a boost -- you'll enjoy this book.