Archetypes and Tarot

I love archetypes. There, I've said it and I am sure that I'm not the only one who does.

My first foray into this fascinating concept started years ago when I read 'Women Who Run With The Wolves' by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, a Jungian psychoanalyst, poet and cantadora (keeper of the old stories). Even now, as I look through my copy of this book, with its yellowing pages, I make a promise to myself to read it again.

Carl Jung described archetypes as highly developed elements of the collective unconscious (don't you just love that - collective unconscious?) whose existence can only be deduced indirectly using story, art, myth, religion or dreams.

Or Tarot.

Archetypes are inherited potentials which are actualized when they enter consciousness as images or manifest in behaviour on interaction with the outside world.[1] Archetypes let me face myself and accept myself.

When I was able to do those things, then I was able to forgive myself.

When I got my first deck of tarot cards, like a lot of people, I tried to equate each card with a specific meaning.

"This should be easy" I thought. One card, one meaning and here is my life, in a box. I found out the cards were not to be taken so literally. From the Fool through to The World is a journey, with many stages as they wind through day to day events, backtracking, leaping forward and changing direction

again. Sometimes.

This is life, isn't it?

Okay then.

Tarot cards are not warm and fuzzy but they tell it like it is, for whoever is asking. Tarot represent the higher self of the querent. They also allow you to meet yourself. You may not like it (at first) and it can be quite humbling but you can do it!

It's kind of like looking in a mirror, only this time, instead of looking at yourself, you are actually seeing yourself.

I see you

How do the cards do it? They don't.....you do. If you've read my blog on crystals, you'll see a pattern here! When you shuffle the cards and think about your question you are putting your energy into the cards (remember, thoughts and actions are energy), connecting with your higher self and putting the cards in order, ready for interpretation.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes describes the Wild Woman archetype and found it in the study of wolves and calls it "the indigenous, the intrinsic nature of women" [2].

We are so much more than we think.

[1] Stevens,Anthony "The Archetypes"

(Chapter 3) Ed. Papadopoulos, Renos. "The Handbook of Jungian Psychology (2006)

[2] Pinkola Estes, Clarissa,1992, "Women Who Run With The Wolves", Edition 1995, First Ballantine Books, United States of America.

These humble thoughts come from the mind of Terri Portelli and EnergyXChange, with a little help from Carl Jung and Clarissa Pinkola Estes and are the property of EnergyXChange.

Reproduction of any or all of this blog needs permission of the author.

#tarot #energy #healing #tarotcards #archetype