Jungian Archetypes and Tarot: When Your Subconscious Reserved a Meeting Room and Invited the Gods Over
Have you ever wondered why so many of us are willing to pay good money for someone to spread cards with strange images and meaningless symbols on a table, only to tell us things about our lives that we already knew?
Welcome to the wonderful world of Jungian archetypes and tarot cards, where your subconscious rents a meeting room and fills it with gods, heroes, and peculiar characters to discuss why you spent your salary on new shoes despite promising to save. The Fool, Death, and the Tower lurking in the shadowy corner all arrive. This has just become a psyche meeting, with Carl Gustav Jung as the facilitator and Tarot as the PowerPoint presentation for your soul!
Collective Unconscious (or when everyone has the same WhatsApp group, but no one admits to being in it)
Carl Gustav Jung, that Swiss former bestie of Freud who decided that perhaps sex isn't behind everything (how un-Freudian), developed the famous theory of the collective unconscious. According to him, the collective unconscious was like a vast shared cloud service where all of humanity stores symbolic data without conscious decision. This kind of collective unconscious easily explains why we all dream about similar things and use similar symbols regardless of culture—we are essentially all part of the same mystical social media service that we never consciously installed. This deep, unconscious layer of the psyche doesn't arise from experiences or upbringing but is an innate part of us.
Archetypes (personality traits' own Marvel movie)
Jungian archetypes are like universal psychic templates that influence our thoughts and behavior. What?! You thought you designed your own personality... how cute that you thought so! Actually, we all think that way, but in reality, you and all of us have just assembled a puzzle from ready-made pieces that we've been using since Neanderthal times. From that deep human memory, the collective unconscious, you can find various templates such as: Mother, Hero, Shadow, Wise Old Man, etc. These emerge in dreams, stories, myths, and... well, tarot cards!
Let's look at what these Jungian templates look like...
Self:
"I am the sum of my whole, and that includes many things I don't want to admit."
This character doesn't shout about itself but directs the entire evening like an invisible conductor. It sits on the largest couch in the corner, not at the center but at the core of everything.
It doesn't impose but ensures that everything is in harmony—including the snack mix on the living room table, arranged into a perfect mandala. No one dares to touch it first. And that's good because it's an important part of this ceremony.
The Self doesn't control the ego; it integrates it. It doesn't crave attention but is the quiet structure upon which the entire party is built.
Persona:
"This is a social media persona. You know, the one who is always on vacation and eats and lives healthily."
Persona is you with 17 different Instagram accounts for different purposes. At work, you dress in business attire, but change into sweatpants in the car as soon as possible. No one will ever know that you fall asleep every night to Netflix while eating cold pizza and drinking beer. Persona is also a master at saying at parties: "I'm sorry, but that's not very professional," even though they're just about to jump on the table to dance.
Shadow:
"Hey, remember that time when you spoke badly about your best friend and secretly enjoyed it?"
Shadow is that vague acquaintance whose existence you only admit quietly in your mind. That person you never invite to parties because last time they "borrowed" your stereo and started a conversation about your ex WAY too intensely.
Yet they show up. Every. Time. Usually late, when the atmosphere is sensitive and defenses are down. They bring with them all the aspects you've tried to develop in yourself: irritation, shame, desire for revenge. They also bring those Google searches you would never admit to anyone out loud. Remember that night when you stalked your ex on Instagram at 3:17 AM? Well, Shadow certainly remembers.
The worst part is that when you look Shadow in the eyes, you see yourself. Not the version you show to the world, but the one you hide behind all the beautiful things.
Anima/Animus:
"I am the voice that says your ex-partner wasn't so terrible... or maybe they were, but you'd still like them to call."
Anima and Animus are like that couple arguing in a restaurant over wine glasses all evening, but still leaving together—arm in arm and silently, with poisonous glances.
If you're a man, Anima is that feminine voice inside you that whispers: "Maybe you should ask your partner how they really feel—not just give boring advice on how to solve the problem."
If you're a woman, Animus is that determined inner voice that mutters: "Why didn't you tell them they were wrong? I have a whole PowerPoint presentation ready on the subject. 32 slides plus footnotes."
They are like internal opposition forces: both want you to be whole, but they have completely different methods. They love each other and they irritate each other so deeply that their drama never ends. And it's not supposed to.
Together they form a psychic dynamic that teaches you everything about what you don't yet understand in yourself.
Wise Old Man:
"I am that voice inside you that has seen you repeat the same mistake seven times and patiently waited for you to notice the pattern yourself. However, I won't tell you directly but veil my wisdom in irritating metaphors about growth paths and the river of life."
The Wise Old Man (or Woman) always arrives late to parties, but no one gets upset. On the contrary, everyone sighs with relief when he finally appears at the door, scarf fluttering in the wind, with the wisdom of hundreds of years in his gaze.
He doesn't make a fuss about himself. He just sits in the corner, sips lukewarm herbal tea, and calmly waits for someone to come to him with their life crisis.
And when you finally go, heart in tatters, to ask what on earth you should do, he looks at you gently, smiles enigmatically, and says: "The answer lies where you haven't yet looked."
Afterward, you realize he probably meant the refrigerator, where you hurriedly left your keys. Or maybe he meant your childhood... or both..!?
The Wise Old Man doesn't offer easy solutions; he gives you a map and pushes you back into the labyrinth. And for some reason, that feels like the right answer right now.
God/Goddess:
"I am the voice that says: 'You have free will,' and then silently judges everything you do with it."
This archetype is like that friend who enters the room majestically, raises their eyebrows, and makes you question your entire life's aesthetics.
It speaks as if the universe were its personal podcast and comments on your choices from above: "Oh, your entire salary went to dog clothes? Interesting choice... perhaps it's time for a little divine intervention?"
They claim to be omnipotent and all-knowing, but when it comes to assembling an Ikea shelf without instructions, they're suddenly "in alignment with invisible energy" and can't possibly help, quietly leaving the scene.
Hero/Heroine:
This is the friend who never just "goes to the store." Instead, they embark on a dangerous expedition to replenish their food supplies, with only a credit card and faithful shopping list as battle companions!
Every everyday step takes on a heroic tone in their mouth: "Today I conquered the forces of darkness by getting out of bed, even though I wanted to stay asleep!"
Sometimes you consider removing them from the WhatsApp group because they report all their days as if they had just saved the world.
But you still admit to yourself that their dramatic energy is a bit... well, contagious.
Mother:
"I am the voice that asks if you've eaten—even though you're already eating—and packs you eight lunch boxes, just in case."
The Mother archetype is the one who comes to parties with 15 different salads because "what if someone has a special diet?" She ensures everyone gets food and that no one drinks too much... except perhaps herself, because "this is quite stressful, darling." She also knows exactly where everything is... even in your home. Specializes in phrases like "Take a sweater, it's cold out there" and "Are you sure you've eaten enough?"
Around her wafts a scent mixing love, concern, and slightly burnt stew. And after the parties... guess who stays to clean up?
Child:
"I am the voice that believes in you even when you don't and ...and wants to organize a treasure hunt in the middle of paying bills."
The Child archetype is like that friend who gets completely excited about new things every other week: "I've now started origami, surfing, and studying quantum biology simultaneously!" It sees the world full of possibilities and wonders but might also forget to pay rent because "look at this butterfly!" It reminds you that there is still magic in life, but on the other hand, also why adults don't eat ice cream for breakfast every single day.
Trickster:
"What if, just for fun, you pressed the 'send all' button for that message that was meant for just one person?"
Trickster is like that friend who switches the salt and sugar jars right before breakfast and watches mischievously as you pour "sugar" on your eggs.
It is the personification of creative chaos. "Hey, what if you pressed this red button... just to see what happens?"
Trickster loves breaking rules. Not because they find them wrong in any way, but because they want to see what happens when they're broken. And in some miraculous way, they always land on their feet, even if everything goes completely wrong.
You never know whether they came to save your day or turn it upside down. Probably both. At the same time.
It is important to understand, however, that Jung did not define the number of archetypes or strictly limit them. These are just the most central types, and their manifestations naturally vary depending on culture and context. They are fundamentally dynamic energy patterns and both manifest in countless different ways and mix with each other in different ways. However, I believe that after reading the descriptions, you see both yourself and many of your loved ones in those descriptions.
Tarot, when randomness wasn't a coincidence, but the universe sent you mail
Tarot cards are like a mini-library that condenses the entire spectrum of human life into symbolic form. 78 cards, of which 22 are Major Arcana or "trump cards" (those drama queens who always steal the show) and 56 Minor Arcana cards (the extras who do all the actual work).
The connection between Tarot and Jungian archetypes is like two friends who shouldn't know each other but turn out to be related. Let's look at a few examples of these emojis of your own life:
The Fool (Child):
"Hey everyone, I'm off on an adventure! No, I don't know where. No, I don't have a map. Yes, I'm excited. Yes, I might fall off a cliff. But look, I just bought a cute dog even though I can't afford it!"
The Child and the Fool share innocence, open curiosity, and the ability to see the world as an opportunity, unfortunately also when it means hanging around on a cliff.
The Magician (Persona):
"I just need one PowerPoint presentation and everyone will believe me. Look: this is a magic wand. No, this is not a slideshow remote... or it IS NOW... but"
The Magician represents that masked self that controls situations and manipulates reality, just like the Persona, which shapes your outer shell ready for the world's eyes.
The Devil (Shadow):
"Remember when you said 'it doesn't matter' and then wrote three passive-aggressive messages? I guided your fingers to the keys."
Shadow and Devil are not evil. They are mirrors of the subconscious that show us where our desires, fears, and dependencies hide. They whisper: "Recognize me, and you'll free yourself."
The Lovers (Anima/Animus):
"The heart says yes, the mind says maybe, the inner voice asks 'why haven't you left yet?' ...and then that other voice that wants a PowerPoint on the subject before making a decision."
The Lovers depict internal polarity and a spiritual mirror image. Just as Anima and Animus have a dialogue within us, teaching about love, conflicts, and balance.
The Hermit (Wise Old Man):
"I'm here on the mountaintop, teacup in hand, waiting for you to come ask something great. My answer is a riddle—but it somehow relates to the refrigerator."
The Wise Old Man and The Hermit carry quiet wisdom, which is journeyed to, not sought after. They don't give ready answers but offer only a light by which you can find your own.
The World (Self):
"You've made a long journey, faced all your demons, got lost at least three times, and cried on the meditation retreat floor with snot running from your nose. You also Googled 'am I spiritually enlightened' and got the result that you're 'just hungry'. Now you've returned to the beginning to find that home was inside you all along... right there the whole time, but you didn't see it because you were too busy looking for yourself in Bali and on YouTube."
The World and Jung’s Self represent fulfillment and wholeness, that precise moment when all the pieces of life finally fall into place. The journey has been long and challenging, but now you understand why it had to unfold the way it did.
The Chariot (Hero/Heroine):
"I have a destination, two internal conflicts to steer, and way too much self-confidence, aka the perfect moment to flip someone off in the morning traffic jam!"
The Hero and the Chariot are manifestations of strength, will, and facing challenges. They move purposefully forward, even when the road is steep and the shoes are wet.
The Empress (Mother):
"I brought band-aids, hand sanitizer, wool socks, hair ties, and emotional support. Here's also a banana. Now you eat it and stop always arguing back!"
The Empress and Mother take care, create, nurture, and remember what you forgot. And then they clean everything up when everyone else has left.
The Tower (God/Goddess):
"Darling, you built your identity from glitter on a vision board with three affirmations. You charged stones in the moonlight and brought Feng Shui into your home. Then the universe appeared at the door, silently stared at your creation, sighed, and struck you with lightning. Twice. In the same spot."
The Tower and the Divine archetype remind us that sometimes growth requires collapse. Divinity doesn't always save; sometimes it unfortunately drops... from a height.
The Fool/The Devil (Trickster combination):
"I pressed the red button. I didn't ask why. Now it's smoking, but hey, at least we learned something, right? RIGHT?"
Trickster energy is seen in both the Fool and the Devil. Trickster doesn't cause chaos for fun but messes up plans so you can see what you never noticed from your WRONG order.
Individuation Journey
According to Carl Jung, human life is an individuation journey. A process in which we become the unique self we were originally meant to be. It's like an internal road trip, with this small, mystical deck of cards as the road map. The Major Arcana cards of Tarot describe this journey from the Fool (symbol of innocence and beginning) to the World (archetype of wholeness and fulfillment).
This is not a straight highway, but a winding and twisting route where the GPS might start repeating: "make a U-turn" just when you thought you had arrived. With Tarot, we can examine this journey like a soul map, somewhat damp and lacking a scale, but which somehow makes sense when we stop to look at it.
Shadow Work with Tarot, aka Meeting with "Your Demons"
One of the most central concepts in Jungianism is the Shadow, meaning all those aspects of ourselves that we wouldn't want to see or acknowledge. Tarot is an excellent tool for confronting the Shadow, as cards like the Devil or the Tower bring uncomfortable truths and repressed traits to the surface.
"Oops, I drew the Devil. It symbolizes addictions, materialism, and confronting one's own darkness. Or then it reminds me that I've been using my credit card like a water pistol on a hot summer day."
Shadow work isn't always easy, but it's still a necessary part of the individuation journey. Tarot cards act like subconscious calendar reminders: "Today. 3:00 PM: Honest conversation with guilt, envy, and the need for control."
Active Imagination and Tarot
Jung developed the method of active imagination, in which a person converses with the subconscious through images and symbols. Tarot offers a visually delicious field for this: you can literally imagine conversing with the characters of the cards.
"Excuse me, Empress, but why do I hear your ultra-wise snort whenever I see a dust bunny in the corner?"
This isn't play... or it is, but the serious kind. It's the return of childhood imaginary friends in a form that even a therapist approves of.
The characters in the cards represent archetypes, those forces and feelings deeply rooted in our psyche. When you "converse" with them, you let your subconscious speak in its own language: with symbols, feelings, and images. This helps you perceive your internal conflicts, find hidden wishes, or better understand your own development arc. A Tarot character doesn't offer ready answers but acts as a mirror that reflects precisely the wisdom you are ready to face.
Synchronicity
Synchronicity is a meaningful coincidence, and it's one of the background assumptions of Tarot. The cards don't come "by chance," but rise precisely when their message is timely.
"I drew five swords in a row. Maybe the universe is trying to say I'm too critical. Or do I just have no idea how to shuffle these cards."
The idea here is that you and the cards meet like two old acquaintances who nod to each other at life's traffic lights.
Archetypal Work in Modern Times – When Perseus is Fighting Medusa in Your Instagram Feed
Jung's archetypes are universal psychic figures, like internal theater roles that emerge in different life situations. Tarot makes these figures concrete.
When a Tarot reader says: "There's now Fool energy in your life," it can mean a new beginning, a confusing moment of intuition, or then it's a subtle way of saying you shouldn't have sung Celine Dion at karaoke over the weekend.
Finally – When Your Inner Wisdom Podcast is Finally Uploaded
Tarot and Jungian archetypes offer us a language to explore our inner landscape. They are like the GPS of the psyche: "Recalculating route..." just when you thought you had arrived.
Next time you spread Tarot cards before you, or read your Tarot interpretation, remember: you're not just interpreting symbols. You're in front of a mirror, in whose reflection all the figures are strangely familiar versions of yourself. And if you draw a card you didn't expect, don't worry, it's just your subconscious using a slightly more dramatic way to say: "This side of you deserves to be seen too."
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You don’t need to know the right question — your subconscious already knows the answer!