The Fool's Journey: The Evolution of Personality Through Tarot's Major Arcana
From the 0. Fool to the 21. World, the Major Arcana of the Tarot symbolize the psychological journey of a human being being born and completing the self. We re-interpret the Tarot as Jung's process of individuation.
The Fool's Journey: The Evolution of the Soul
Viewing the 22 Major Arcana of a Tarot deck as merely tools for divination is like using a treasure map as a decoration. When arranged in order, these cards become an 'autobiography of the soul', showing the process of the human psyche moving from an immature state to complete integration (Individuation).
From the perspective of psychologist Carl Jung, this journey is the process by which 'The Fool' meets various archetypal teachers, awakens to his shadow, and discovers the True Self.
Stage 1: Purity and Departure (0. The Fool ~ 6. The Lovers)
The first stage is when the ego (Ego) is born into the world and forms its identity.
- 0. The Fool: Pure potential without any prejudice. It signifies an unconscious state of stepping off a cliff's edge without fear.
- 1. The Magician & 2. The High Priestess: Learning the two primal forces: conscious creativity (Yang) and unconscious intuition (Yin).
- 3. The Empress & 4. The Emperor: Establishing a social foundation through maternal nurturing and paternal order.
- 6. The Lovers: Finally beginning to make choices according to one's 'values'.
Stage 2: Struggle and Trial (7. The Chariot ~ 15. The Devil)
The stage of inner conflict and crisis that is inevitably faced after the ego has achieved social success.
- 7. The Chariot: Moving forward by controlling conflict with the power of will. However, it is still only a victory by control.
- 9. The Hermit: Immersing one's self inward to find truth, leaving behind external success.
- 12. The Hanged Man: Learning paradoxical wisdom (letting go) through the experience of one's will being broken.
- 13. Death: The symbolic dismantling of the old ego. A painful process of killing the past for the sake of change.
- 15. The Devil: The moment of facing the dark desires and addictions within us, namely the 'Shadow'.
Stage 3: Collapse and Integration (16. The Tower ~ 21. The World)
The stage of reconciliation where the false ego collapses and the true self (Self) is born.
- 16. The Tower: The tower collapsing after being struck by lightning means the destruction of the solid social mask (Persona) we have built. This is the beginning of liberation.
- 17. The Star / 18. The Moon / 19. The Sun: Successively experiencing cosmic hope, the fear of the unconscious, and the brilliance of clear consciousness.
- 21. The World: The final station of the journey. It signifies a state of being whole at last, where all conflicting elements have reached harmony.
Conclusion: Which card are you staying at now?
The Fool's journey does not end in a single round. We frequently become the 0. Fool again and stand on a new cliff's edge at every major turning point in our lives.
The important thing is to realize the fact that the trial you are currently experiencing is not a conclusion, but a step in the journey. If your life is currently collapsing like a 'Tower,' it is a cosmic signal that you will soon see the hope of a 'Star.'
Tarot does not determine your future. It merely serves as a 'spiritual GPS' telling you which point of the soul you are currently passing through.