Jungian Tarot Card Reading: How To Use It?

The collective unconscious, as defined by Carl Jung, is a collection of symbols and archetypes that form the basis of human narratives. This concept is often used by Tarot practitioners to understand the workings of divination and to interpret dreams. The Tarot, a tool used to tap into the psyche and increase intuition, can help us identify, acknowledge, listen to, accept, and integrate different parts of ourselves.

In this 5-class course, PhD Jungian Analyst Ken James teaches how to read the Tarot and work with it from a Jungian perspective. The course covers the structure and dynamics of the psyche, the archetypes, the suits, and the Tarot’s role in dream analysis. The course also emphasizes the importance of daily reflection and the influence of the cards on one’s life.

The Tarot imagery can help us identify, acknowledge, listen to, accept, and integrate different parts of ourselves, externalizing the internal self. Carl Jung believed that the Tarot cards provide doorways to the unconscious and may be a way to predict the future. By exploring the Tarot through a Jungian lens, readers can gain insights into their psyche and gain insight into questions or issues.

How to read tarot cards effectively?

To effectively use tarot cards, ask open-ended questions and keep an open mind. The goal is to gain a new perspective and see yourself or a situation more clearly. Trust your own wisdom and use language that you already have to see the tarot as a tool to facilitate talking about things. The four elements – earth, water, fire, and air – and numerology play a large role in the tarot, as most people already have some ideas about the meanings they can draw on. By doing so, the interpretations can be more personal and freer, as it allows you to draw on your own perspective and interpretations.

Intuiting is a key part of a tarot reading, as it allows you to see the tarot as a tool to facilitate talking about things rather than a source of secret meanings. By doing so, you can gain a more clearer understanding of yourself or a situation.

Do tarot cards really work?

Tarot readings can be an empowering and insightful tool for self-discovery and future direction. A professional tarot reader can help you understand your goals and desires, providing insight into your situation and guiding you towards the best actions for your love life, career, or other questions. They can also reveal the motivations of others and predict potential outcomes of decisions. A good tarot reading can provide clarity and help heal anxiety.

However, it is crucial to prepare thoroughly for your first reading to fully benefit from the experience. A good tarot reading can provide valuable insights into your future and help you make informed decisions.

What is the Jungian function in tarot?

Tarot divination, a modern form of divination, is a tool that offers gateways to meaning and mystery through the archetypal symbols in the 78-card deck. According to Jung, symbols act as transformers, converting life energy from lower to higher forms through consciousness. Tarot divination encourages us to set aside logic, surrender doubt, and step unafraid into the space between realms. As with dreams, whatever arises will tell us something we don’t know and can use.

The redeeming symbol serves as a highway for life to move forward without torment and compulsion. By opening ourselves to the inexplicable, we discover our unique pattern for personhood and purpose in the world. In a two-card Tarot reading, Susie chose to deal with uncertainty, revealing the Queen of Wands and Page of Wands. The Queen of Wands, with its outgoing nature, suggests seeking support from others during uncertainty.

The Page of Wands, with its innocence and optimism, conveys a spirit of adventure. Overall, Tarot divination allows us to choose our attitude towards uncertainty, promoting connection with others and a spirit of adventure.

Can you read tarot for yourself?

Tarot readings can be done by beginners, providing insight into current situations, honoring intuition, and forecasting potential outcomes. To begin, clean the energy of your space by burning herbs, ringing bells or chimes, taking a bath, or using crystals. A Selenite wand is a popular energy refresher that aids clarity.

Sit comfortably and close your eyes, focusing on the protective energy surrounding you. Take deep breaths, think about your question or needing guidance, and keep your mind and heart open to the answers that may come through the cards. Shuffle the deck, focusing on your desired query, and shuffle the cards in front of you. The pattern laid out is called a “spread”, and the meaning of each card in combinations builds up to the overall answer to your query.

Before beginning to shuffle, know which spread you will be working with. As answers come through, it’s important to draw additional cards for further clarity or start with a new question from a different perspective. Tarot readings can be a powerful tool for personal growth and understanding.

Should you pull a tarot card daily?

One method of establishing a practice of tarot is to pull a card each morning and record one’s thoughts and reflections on it in a journal. Additionally, touching the cards may prove advantageous. Nevertheless, a more elaborate configuration, such as an Instagram tarot spread, may offer a more visually appealing alternative. A well-executed morning tarot spread is an excellent way to commence the day with a tarot reading, instilling a sense of excitement and anticipation.

What is the psychology behind tarot cards?

Tarot readings involve the use of symbolism, intuition, and the human psyche to access the collective unconscious and deeper layers of awareness. This process aligns with psychological concepts like archetypes, symbolism, and narrative therapy, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and symbolism in shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world. Three factors contributing to transformation following a tarot session include positive expectations, the placebo effect, and the belief in the effectiveness of the treatment. This optimistic outlook can lead to real improvements in well-being.

How should tarot cards be used?

Tarot cards are traditionally used to provide answers to questions, with the subject pulling a card from the deck and interpreting its meaning based on its symbolism and context. These cards strike a balance between general ideas and specific ones, making them open-ended and thought-provoking. Each deck comes with a booklet explaining the meanings of each card, with the Prisma Visions tarot deck by James R Eads being an example. The cards are designed to apply to any situation and are often thought-provoking.

How do Jungian archetypes work?

Jungian psychology suggests that archetypes form a common foundation for human experiences, influenced by culture, personality, and life events. These archetypes can create a vast array of images, symbols, and behaviors, which are consciously recognized but unconscious. The form of the archetype is similar to the axial system of a crystal, which determines its structure without a physical existence. The archetype is empty and formal, and its expression depends on the circumstances in which it is activated.

The representations of the archetype are not inherited, but only the forms correspond to instincts. The existence of the instincts and the archetypes cannot be proven unless they manifest themselves concretely. A 2017 study published in Psychological Perspective examined the ways in which Jungian representations are expressed in human experiences.

Are there 4 or 12 Jungian archetypes?

The 12 Jungian archetypes, rooted in Jung’s exploration of the collective unconscious, provide insights into the universal themes and patterns shaping our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The first archetype, the innocent, represents purity and optimism, while strategy involves doing things right and embracing faith and optimism. These timeless symbols offer profound insights into the depths of human personality and psychology.

Do tarot cards tell you what to do?

The tarot is a magical tool that is not about fortune-telling but about storytelling. Its practice is entirely secular, with no psychic elements or specific guidance. Instead, the tarot’s narrative power invites questions and self-reflection, empowering individuals to make decisions about their future. The interplay between different cards can offer new perspectives, challenge old thinking, or even force individuals to acknowledge hidden aspects. While the cards are helpful in making decisions and thinking about the path ahead, they don’t always provide the answers popular culture has led us to expect.

The tarot is made up of two sections called the Arcanas, which are the Major Arcana (22 cards) and the Minor Arcana (56 cards). The cards work together to offer new perspectives, challenge old ways of thinking, and help individuals make informed decisions about their future.

How did Jung use tarot cards?

The Tarot, a tool based on archetypes, has the capacity to stimulate the subconscious mind, activating the right side of the brain and thereby triggering intuitive abilities. Additionally, it facilitates personal growth and self-development, a process known as ” individuation” in Jungian psychology.