SoulCollage® and Art Therapy: The Power of Readings
by Kat Kirby ATR-BC

I believe that demonstrating a reading from cards in the SoulCollge® deck is one of the most powerful ways of showing the true value of SoulCollage®. I think that a well-thought-out question, honed to near-perfection with the help of the group, becomes almost a mantra, as you ask it four times for a four-card spread and once more at the end to sum it all up.

When people are in a large group, it is a powerful and supportive experience to have one Reader, one Facilitator, one Scribe, and many Witnesses.  

Kat Kirby on left

At a recent SoulCollage® workshop, as the participants first entered the room, they were encouraged to choose one or two images from a table strewn with images of people, and then they gathered in a large circle. After brief introductions, I demonstrated the "I Am One Who..." exercise, and then we went around the circle with each person trying it out for herself. I talked about the SoulCollage® process, briefly touched on the Suits and the Source card, their place in the SoulCollage® deck, the concept of using backgrounds, keeping the subject focused on one idea, character trait, hobby, person, etc., and then adding some embellishments. The topic of how some Art Therapy theories align with SoulCollage® was discussed, and then we dove right into card making. I had set up individual stations on long worktables with a blank card, scissors, glue stick, and a clear sleeve for each person.

The room was buzzing with chatter and excitement and the time flew by. We gathered in the circle again with the cards facing into the center and I asked for a few volunteers to do the "I Am One Who..." exercise now that the card was finished, and especially if the meaning had changed from the first time they had done the exercise. This experience touched on the depth of the "art therapy" aspect of using SoulCollage®--that shift in perception, the deeper understanding that comes through the creation of artwork followed by talking about its revelation.

Then I described a four-card reading and asked for one Card Reader, a volunteer who wanted to benefit from the guidance of the cards and one volunteer to act as Scribe to take notes. I would facilitate the reading and the rest of the group would be witnesses to the process.

The woman who volunteered had a question about her health, which started out as a "yes or no" question, giving me the opportunity to talk about different ways to ask for guidance. For example, "What can the cards tell me about my state of health in the coming year?" or "How can the cards guide me to better health?" or that sort of re-phrasing. With the help of some of the group members, her question was finely tuned and felt right for her.

I spread out my deck, face down, with my Source card face up, and asked her to choose four cards as she thought about her question and actually touched the cards. As she pulled out the cards, she brought them forward in order, as I think it's very important to put the cards from left to right as they are chosen. She was using my cards, because she didn't have her own yet, but she would be "reading" them for herself.

She asked her question and turned over the first card. I asked, "What did you notice? What is this card telling you in answer to your question?" She spoke about the card and related it to her question. When she stopped speaking, after a brief pause, I asked if she was finished with that card, and she said yes. I then asked the Scribe to read back her notes to be sure they were accurate and we moved on to the next card.

After doing this four times, with such intense silence and awe from the group of witnesses, I asked the Reader to push the cards closer together and say, in general, what the four cards as a whole were telling her about her question. This summary usually provides a nice sense of completion and closure.

I finished by thanking the group, particularly the Reader and the Scribe, for their participation in such a powerful, meaningful session. It never ceases to amaze me how incredibly moving these readings are. I invite you to take a workshop and experience the wonder of this process for yourself.

Check out this short video  by SoulCollage® Facilitator, Glenda Goodrich

 Click here to find a SoulCollage® Workshop near you!