Jung saw all the Tarot images as being ‘descended from the archetypes of transformation’. These archetypes include several of the primary archetypes that were encountered during his own individuation process, a process of psychological maturation similar in nature to the aging of the physical body.
These include the shadow, the anima and animus, and the wise old man. The Tarot also contains symbols representing other important archetypes of transformative processes, such as the hero, the mother, the self, sacrifice and rebirth. In Jung’s analytical psychology, these archetypes comprise the major dynamic components of the unconscious that affect the human psyche in many different ways. To dream of a Tarot reading indicates your current situation and state of mind. It means that you are open to the idea of exploring your unconscious thoughts and feelings. Pay attention to what the Tarot cards revealed.
The deck of cards known as the Tarot is divided into two parts: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana (the word Arcana’ is from the Latin word for ‘secret’). The Major Arcana consists of twenty-two cards, each separately titled. These cards depict symbolic figures, such as the Fool, the Magician, the High Priestess and the Empress, elements of nature such as the Star, the Moon and the Sun, and human experiences on the spiritual journey, as well as joys, hopes, fears and sorrows. The symbols are drawn from legend, and from universal symbolism and magical belief. Typically, the Major Arcana are subject to broad interpretations. In essence they are archetypes and their sequence from naught to twenty-one is believed to represent the soul’s journey to awareness, the process of becoming whole or the alchemical process of spiritual transformation. They represent the stages of a person’s individual passage through life, from non- existence, birth, love, marriage, death, spiritual ascension and back to non- existence again.
Most of the cards in the Minor Arcana represent everyday concerns, events or qualities. The Minor Arcana is a combination of four suits; each suit is comprised of cards numbered from one to ten, plus the court cards of Page, Knight, Queen and King. The four suits of the Minor Arcana are most commonly known as Cups, Pentacles, Wands and Swords; from these suits it can clearly be seen that the Minor Arcana is the ancestor of our modern playing cards with their corresponding suits of Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs and Spades.
Each suit of the Minor Arcana has a meaning. Traditionally the Wands represent fire, inspiration, spirituality, action, initiative, and the psyche. The Swords signify air, determination, strength, faith and conquering of fear. The Cups symbolize water, emotions, purity, and your outlook towards life and the future. Finally, the Pentacles denote finances, social influence, worldly knowledge, and your connection with nature and earth. Consider these general meanings of the Major and Minor Arcana and the four Tarot suits, as well as the individual meanings of the cards. [1]
If you are familiar with this divining tool, look to the specific images that arise in a dream as guidance coming from your inner wisdom.
If you are not familiar with it, a visit from the Tarot may be your soul asking you to look to more esoteric means of spiritual expression. [2]