Carl Jung, Synchronicity, And The Meaning Of Tarot Cards

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Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and pioneer of analytical psychology, delved into the mystical realm where archetypes, synchronicity, and divination intersect. Within this tapestry, tarot cards emerge as potent symbols, resonating with our unconscious mind to reflect intuitive insights into the external world. They serve as a bridge between the intuitive and the rational, revealing our inner truths and guiding us toward greater self-awareness.

Jung proposed that archetypal concepts — universal symbols — reside in our collective unconscious. They represent fundamental aspects of human experience, shaping our understanding of the world. These symbolic templates help us identify recurring themes in our lives. Think of them as the building blocks of our understanding. For instance, the archetypes of the Mother and Father evoke universal images, even without explicit explanation.

The Tarot deck, consisting of 78 cards, is a rich repository of archetypal symbols. The Major Arcana, comprising 22 cards, embodies many central principles of human experience.

• The Fool: Represents beginnings, blissful ignorance, and the journey into the unknown.
• The Magician: Symbolises mastery, using your talent and skills, and the power to manifest.
• High Priestess: Signals higher power, the subconscious mind, and intuition.
• Empress: Projects the feminine divine, emotional support, creativity, and abundance.
• Emperor: Denotes power, order and structure, success through self-discipline.
• The Hierophant: Symbolises social conformity, tradition, institutions, and rituals.
• The Lovers: Represents love, relationships, value alignment, and choices.
• The Chariot: Speaks to determination, triumph, victory, and a journey.
• Strength: Shows courage, bravery, inner power, and confidence.
• The Hermit: Reflects introspection, solitude, and seeking inner guidance.
• Wheel of Fortune:  Signals change, fate, cycles, luck and fortune.
• Justice: Calls for fairness, truth, and law
• The Hanged Man: Indicates pause, surrender, and a new perspective.
• Death: Signifies that one cycle is ending and a new one is beginning
• Temperance: Requires moderation, the middle road, balance, and patience.
• The Devil: Signifies inner struggles, temptation, and the shadow self.
• The Tower: Associated with sudden unforeseen change, crisis, and destruction.
• The Star: Indicates hope, rejuvenation, and guidance
• The Moon: Represents illusion, deception, and subversive thoughts.
• The Sun: Fruitful outcomes accompanied by joy and happiness.
• Judgment: Powerful and personal realisations, transition, and redemption.
• The World: Speaks of completion, accomplishment, wholeness, and mastery.

According to Jung, we have an innate ability to understand archetypes. When we encounter tarot cards we tap into this shared reservoir of insight.

Synchronicity: Meaningful Coincidences

Jung coined the term “synchronicity” to describe meaningful coincidences that defy conventional explanations. These events occur when external occurrences align with our inner thoughts or emotions by meaningful coincidences rather than causal linear chains. It’s as if the universe whispers messages through everyday occurrences, guiding us with subtle clues.

Jung proposed that synchronicity might explain how divination tools like tarot work. When we choose a card, it’s not mere chance; it’s our higher-self in conversation with the cosmos. The images on the cards resonate with our inner world, bridging the gap between the conscious and the unconscious, and dissolving the boundary between inner and outer experiences.

The tarot becomes a conduit for dialogue with our higher wisdom. Whether you draw the High Priestess or the Tower, trust that the image on the card reflects a deeper truth you already know.

Tarot cards are not magic; they’re sacred mirrors. The choice of a card reveals what your higher-self already knows. It’s a dialogue — an intimate exchange where the mundane and the mystical merge.

Tarot cards are portals. They invite you to explore the depths within, where archetypes dance and synchronicity weaves its intricate patterns into a universal language — one that transcends time, culture, and individual experience, ultimately leading to greater self-awareness and understanding.

Evelyn Stroud is a university lecturer, researcher, and writer. She can be reached at info@streetlaw.co.za.

Find holistic Tarot Practitioners in the Spirit of Change online Alternative Health Directory.

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