A Jungian Approach to Tarot

A Jungian Approach to Reading

Like dreams and synchronicities, tarot has given me some meaningful insights over the years. Due in part to my Jungian Dream School course, my way of reading has evolved. I now approach tarot in much the same way I interpret dreams. 

This includes: 

1. Focusing on my inner states (fears, attitudes, creative expression etc.). 
2. Considering my personal associations with the cards first. I ask myself, what does this image (and its individual elements) mean to me?
3. Then moving on to wider symbolism (reading a lot of mythology helps with this).
4. Noting patterns in the reading like repeated numbers, what cards fall near each other, etc.
5. Journaling on my readings. This is time intensive and it's not something I can squeeze in often, which is fine. (Frequent, quick readings aren't especially insightful, in my experience, and have a tendency to devolve into fortune telling.)

A Jungian Framework 

The more I learn about Jung, the more I think that a Jungian framework can be applied to tarot.

1. At its heart, a reading is a kind of synchronicity or meaningful coincidence. (Possibly because we choose the right cards subconsciously.)
2. Archetypal energies may be at work. (Archetypes are energetic structures in the collective unconscious.) 
3. Personal and archetypal symbols in the cards trigger meaningful associations that can be amplified (extrapolated).
4. The primary purpose of tarot is to help us on our journey to individuation (a Jungian term for authenticity and wholeness). 
5. Personal associations, traditional symbols and mythic themes are more  important than assigned meanings.

My Next Steps

I used to read professionally and might try it again at some point using a Jungian approach. I don't feel ready yet but am active learning about Jungian tarot reading.

I'm currently taking a course in Jungian Tarot and am in the process of reading Tarot and Psychology by  Arthur Rosengarten. Tarot and the Archetypal Journey by Sallie Nichols and Mary Greer is on my TBR list (and my kindle) and Robert Wang's Jungian Tarot book and deck has been ordered.

I'm not sure how useful Wang's book will be because he isn't actually a Jungian but I'm sure I'll get something from it. The tarot course and Art Rosengarten's book are great however and I have high hopes for Tarot and the Archetypal Journey.

As always, I will keep you posted.

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About the reading above. This is a spread from Art Rosengarten's book plus a few extra cards (more on the spread here: Using Tarot for Creative Insight). The deck is the Albano-Waite which is now tied with the University Press, for my favorite deck. The oracle card is from the Isis Oracle by Alana Fairchild. I'm not going to go in to my impressions of the reading, but I will point out that things like the Lover's and the Devil being in proximity (a pattern) and the light shining on the Temple of Lapis Lazuli card (synchronicity with a personal dream symbol) were part of the reading for me.

You can learn more about Jungian Dream School at ThisJungianLife.com