Maps of the Soul

Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, laid the groundwork for modern personality tests (like MBTI). But he was also deeply interested in symbols, myths, and yes, Tarot.

He did not view Tarot as a tool for predicting the future. He viewed it as a way to access the Collective Unconscious.

The Archetypes

Jung believed humans share a universal library of "primordial images" or Archetypes.

• The Fool (0): The Archetype of Potential and Naivety. The beginning of the journey.
• The Empress (III): The Mother Archetype. Creation, fertility, nature.
• The Emperor (IV): The Father Archetype. Structure, authority, logic.
• The Hermit (IX): The Wise Old Man. Introspection and solitude.

Synchronicity

Jung coined the term Synchronicity to describe "meaningful coincidences." When you pull a card, it doesn't "predict" your future. It acts as a mirror. The card you pull forces your subconscious mind to project its hidden feelings onto the image.

• Example: You pull "Death". One person sees "End," another sees "Rebirth." That reaction tells you more about your current state than the card itself.

Tarot, in a Jungian sense, is a tool for Active Imagination—a dialogue with your own subconscious.