Tarot in Troubled times
The power of archetypal imagery . . .
This story was originally published in mid-2020, when the deep challenge of Covid had become abundantly clear. Now that we seem to be at another crossroad, I thought of sharing it again.
You can tell almost any story with Tarot images.
For example . . . the three cards shown above symbolize a narrative that:
begins with an unexpected challenge (The Tower)
continues with a retreat from social life (The Hermit)
and concludes with a return to brighter days (The Sun)
Cycles just like that have repeated throughout human history, in many different forms. The Tower could represent countless volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and floods, dating back to biblical times and before.
It could represent Black Monday, 1929; Kristallnacht in Nazi Germany; the bombing of Pearl Harbor; the appearance of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS); the attack on the World Trade Center . . .
After each of those events, life changed dramatically for many people. But eventually, in all those stories, human effort won out over adversity.
In 2020, we see this age-old narrative playing out again. After the sudden appearance of a novel virus, we have faced the necessity of “social distancing,” and radical changes to our familiar habits.
Yet we look ahead to the eventual return of a more open, hopeful way of life.
The essence of this archetypal story is human resilience in the face of unpredictable uncertainties. It’s a reminder that we never know what will happen next, or what we will be called upon to do in order to survive.
From erupting volcanos to broken relationships . . . all life-changing events feel intensely personal while they are happening. But if you take a step back, they are revealed as part of the ebb and flow that everyone has experienced across time, around the world.
Tarot helps us gain that distance, and the insights that come with it.
Images and Interpretations
If you would like a high-level introduction/refresher on the Tarot, visit here.
But briefly, and at a very basic level:
Each of the 22 cards of Tarot’s Major Arcana (“arcana” = “secrets”) offers an evocative image that can be interpreted in many different ways. Various meanings have been attached to each one over the centuries — and there is no “right” interpretation.
Those various meanings express both complementary and contrasting aspects of each card, so — taken together — they offer a 360-degree view of important elements in our lives: social structures, states of mind, philosophical principles, conditions of experience, much more.
If we look more closely at the three cards I picked out to lead this story, we can see a deeper and broader range of meanings — drawn from different perspectives, but connected in each case by a key image.
XVI. The Tower
Key image: A building struck by lightning.
Key meanings: Catastrophe. The unexpected. Divine intervention. Punishment. Reversal.
IX. The Hermit
Key image: A man with a lantern or staff.
Key meanings: Inwardness. Philosophy. Withdrawal. The seeker. Meditation.
XIX. The Sun
Key image: A stylized version of the sun.
Key meanings: Growth. Success. Reason. Splendor. Abundance.
There are many traditions of Tarot interpretation. Some are idiosyncratic, while others are rooted in long-standing esoteric traditions. Some make intuitive and immediate sense, while others derive from complex, even mystifying systems.
But interpretive approaches are just one part of what makes the Tarot a source of fascination. There are literally thousands of Tarot designs — from those created hundreds of years ago to those created yesterday.
These different designs offer amazingly diverse visions of the Tarot’s key images, usually reflecting some combination of several influences:
An artist’s personal style and interests
Elements of a particular culture (from Renaissance Italy and Edwardian England to postmodern San Francisco)
A specific view of the Tarot — its history, significance, and use
So the Tower/Hermit/Sun story might look like this, using cards from three very different 20th-century decks:
The beauty of Tarot is its power to connect personal circumstances with the essential experiences of human life. That power derives from a combination of visual imagery and interpretive tradition — continually renewed through new artistic visions, and fresh insights.
So every person can bring to the Tarot a unique perspective, choosing (or creating) a deck design that has resonance for them, and discovering which interpretations seem most meaningful in light of their own experiences.
Troubled Times
Tarot cards in the Major Arcana represent large-scale forces that shape and reshape our collective human experience. So it’s not surprising that many of these 22 “trumps” are related to challenges, and difficult circumstances.
That means there are many different groups of cards that could be used to tell the story of COVID-19 and its effects. Here are two examples — representing an abstract/philosophical perspective, then a concrete/psychological view.
A philosophical approach might use these cards:
Death (a major transition), The Hanged Man (caught between two realities), The Wheel of Fortune (uncontrollable events).
And looking more deeply into those choices, we would see:
XIII. Death
Key image: A skeleton.
Key meanings: Transformation. Profound change. Destruction and renewal. Mortality. Ending.
XII. The Hanged Man
Key image: A man hanging upside down by one foot.
Key meanings: Ambivalence. Transition. Suspension. Sacrifice. Initiation.
X. The Wheel of Fortune
Key image: A wheel ridden by human or animal figures.
Key meanings: Chance. Fate. Irony. Instability. Evolution.
A summary narrative based on those choices could look something like this:
We are reminded of our mortality — and for a while, we are left without security or clarity. The outcome of this story is yet to be determined, since we have little control over natural forces, or what others do.
That story captures in an abstract way some of what we are all dealing with in these times. By contrast . . .
A psychological approach might use these cards:
The Chariot (assertive action), Temperance (a balanced view); The Star (hopeful aspiration).
Looking further into those choices:
VII. The Chariot
Key image: A man in a wheeled vehicle.
Key meanings: Mastery. War. Triumph. The persona. Progress.
XIV. Temperance
Key image: A woman pouring liquid from one pitcher into another.
Key meanings: Moderation. Caution. Prudence. Combination. Reflection.
XVII. The Star
Key image: A woman kneeling by water.
Key meanings: Hope. Aspiration. Healing. Beauty. Promise.
This set of cards could define personal choices, or provide insight into the different ways people have responded to COVID.
The Chariot choice could be positive (take control by using preventive measures) or negative (assert control through denial). Temperance could represent a choice to be thoughtful rather than reactive. The Star — hope as a path to healing.
That analysis offers a more concrete view of our current situation, and raises several questions: Which of these paths am I on? Which ones have our leaders chosen? Where will each of these paths lead us?
A Closing Thought . . .
Many people do assume that Tarot is just a superstition, or a bit of silliness, or even a scam. But they are missing out on rich rewards.
The foregoing is just a glimpse of how Tarot can be used as a tool for exploring ideas, discovering patterns, and understanding associations. It encourages creative thinking, and offers a path toward greater awareness — of ourselves, our world, and the limitless potential of human consciousness.
If you’ve been meaning to learn more about Tarot, this is an especially good time. And if you are already engaged with Tarot, expand your practice even further as we all try to deal with these troubled times.