Healing the Void: From CEN to Wholeness

Category: Jungian Dream Analysis and Archetypal Analysis

  • Tarot for Shadow Work: The Minor Arcana as a Mirror for Everyday Struggles (Part 3 of 6) + free PDF

    Introduction: The Shadows in the Small Moments

    Many people think of shadow work as diving deep into their past traumas, exploring the vast unconscious, or confronting their most hidden fears. While those elements are certainly part of the journey, the small, everyday moments often reveal just as much about our inner world.

    Think about this:

    • You snap at a loved one over something trivial, only to regret it later.
    • You feel an inexplicable sense of guilt when you take time to rest.
    • You sabotage your own success, then convince yourself it wasn’t meant to be.

    These moments may seem minor on the surface, but they often point to deeper patterns of wounding, defense mechanisms, and suppressed parts of the psyche.

    This is where the Minor Arcana of the Tarot comes in. While the Major Arcana explores overarching life themes and deep transformations, the Minor Arcana reflects the day-to-day interactions, emotions, and struggles that shape our shadow.

    Just as Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy recognizes that our everyday reactions are often driven by exiled parts and their protective mechanisms, the Minor Arcana provides a detailed map of these psychological dynamics.

    In this article, we’ll explore:

    1. The Minor Arcana’s role in shadow work (and why the small things matter)
    2. The four suits as psychological archetypes (relating them to Jungian concepts & IFS)
    3. Practical tarot spreads for uncovering everyday patterns
    4. How to integrate insights into real change

    Let’s begin by understanding why shadow work isn’t just about the big, dramatic revelations—it’s also about how you show up in the small moments.

    The Minor Arcana & The Psychology of Small Moments

    We often think of personal growth as the big breakthroughs—the moment you realize a core wound, the deep emotional release in therapy, or the sudden clarity that shifts your entire perspective.

    But the real work happens in the small, daily interactions.

    Consider these examples:

    • You’re exhausted, but instead of resting, you push yourself to clean the house. Why? Perhaps a part of you learned that your worth is tied to productivity (Wands energy).
    • You over-apologize in a conversation, even though you didn’t do anything wrong. Could it be an old pattern of keeping the peace, fearing rejection (Cups energy)?
    • You procrastinate on an important task and feel intense guilt later. What part of you is afraid of failure—or maybe even success (Swords energy)?
    • You hold onto material possessions even when they no longer serve you. Does this reflect a deeper fear of scarcity or change (Pentacles energy)?

    These subtle behaviors hold clues to our unconscious wounds, protective strategies, and unresolved emotions.

    This is why the Minor Arcana is so important in shadow work.

    Each suit represents a different domain of experience—and each card within that suit reveals a different psychological dynamic at play.

    By working with the Minor Arcana, we can:
    ✅ Identify repetitive patterns in our lives
    ✅ Recognize which inner parts (IFS) are active in certain situations
    ✅ Understand how our shadows manifest in everyday behavior
    ✅ Shift our automatic reactions into conscious responses

    Next, let’s explore the four suits of the Minor Arcana and how they relate to Jungian archetypes, shadow patterns, and IFS therapy.

    The Four Suits as Psychological Archetypes

    Each suit of the Minor Arcana represents a core area of human experience—our thoughts, emotions, actions, and material world. But when shadow work is involved, these suits take on a deeper meaning. They reveal how our wounds, defenses, and inner parts shape our daily lives.

    1. Wands – The Fire of Identity, Passion & Willpower

    Themes: Drive, ambition, creativity, personal power, life force energy
    Shadow Manifestation: Burnout, impatience, over-identification with achievement, suppressing anger
    IFS Connection: The Manager that keeps you constantly productive to avoid feelings of failure
    Example:
    You have a strong passion project but find yourself procrastinating. Your inner Manager tells you, \”You must do this perfectly, or you’ll fail.\” But beneath it, an Exile fears rejection for not being good enough.

    How to Use Tarot for Shadow Work:

    • Pull a Wands card and ask: What desire or suppressed passion is this revealing?
    • Journal: Where do I feel pressure to succeed? What emotions am I avoiding?

    2. Cups – The Ocean of Emotions, Relationships & Intuition

    Themes: Love, connection, vulnerability, subconscious patterns
    Shadow Manifestation: Fear of abandonment, emotional repression, unhealthy attachments
    IFS Connection: The Firefighter who numbs painful emotions with distractions or over-giving
    Example:
    You notice a pattern—when someone sets a boundary with you, you feel intense hurt. A Firefighter part rushes in, trying to win their affection to soothe an Exile that holds a childhood wound of rejection.

    How to Use Tarot for Shadow Work:

    • Pull a Cups card and ask: What emotional truth am I avoiding?
    • Meditate: Where do I give too much to feel worthy?

    3. Swords – The Realm of Thought, Beliefs & Inner Conflict

    Themes: Mindset, clarity, communication, truth-seeking
    Shadow Manifestation: Negative self-talk, anxiety, overthinking, self-sabotage
    IFS Connection: The Manager that controls with rigid thinking to protect an Exile from uncertainty
    Example:
    You constantly replay past conversations, wondering if you said the wrong thing. A hyper-vigilant Manager tries to prevent embarrassment, while a hidden Exile still carries childhood shame from being criticized.

    How to Use Tarot for Shadow Work:

    • Pull a Swords card and ask: What thought pattern is limiting me?
    • Challenge: Whose voice is in my head when I doubt myself?

    4. Pentacles – The Earth of Stability, Security & Worth

    Themes: Survival, abundance, self-worth, physical health
    Shadow Manifestation: Fear of scarcity, workaholism, rigid attachment to money or status
    IFS Connection: The Manager that clings to material security to avoid feeling powerless
    Example:
    You struggle with spending money on yourself, even for self-care. Your Manager says, “You must always save, or you’ll be unsafe.” Underneath, an Exile still carries childhood fears of financial instability.

    How to Use Tarot for Shadow Work:

    • Pull a Pentacles card and ask: What security need is driving my decisions?
    • Reflection: How does my relationship with money mirror my inner world?

    The Journey from Ace to King: How Each Card Reflects the Shadow Self

    Each suit in the Minor Arcana follows a structured progression from Ace to King, representing different phases of growth, challenge, and integration. When working with shadow aspects, these ranks reveal where we are stuck, what defenses we use, and what deeper wounds lie beneath.

    1. Aces – The Birth of Energy & Raw Potential

    Light Side: New beginnings, inspiration, opportunities
    Shadow Side: Fear of change, resisting initiation, self-doubt
    IFS Connection: An Exile afraid to embrace new experiences due to past wounds
    Example:

    • Ace of Cups in Shadow: You deeply crave love and connection but sabotage relationships because an inner Exile fears being hurt again.
    • Ace of Swords in Shadow: You have a brilliant idea but hold back, afraid of criticism.

    Shadow Work Question: What new beginning am I avoiding, and why?

    2-4 – Early Development & Inner Conflict

    • Twos: Choices, duality, balance (Shadow: Indecisiveness, inner conflict)
    • Threes: Growth, collaboration, first steps (Shadow: Fear of failure, needing external validation)
    • Fours: Stability, pause, contemplation (Shadow: Stagnation, resisting change, avoidance)

    Example:

    • Four of Pentacles in Shadow: You hoard money or resources out of deep-seated scarcity fears from childhood.
    • Three of Swords in Shadow: You cling to heartbreak, reliving past wounds instead of healing.

    Shadow Work Question: Where am I stuck in early growth? Am I resisting or over-controlling?

    5-7 – Struggles, Challenges & Defense Mechanisms

    • Fives: Conflict, loss, disruption (Shadow: Victim mentality, fear of instability)
    • Sixes: Transition, hope, lessons (Shadow: Avoidance, spiritual bypassing)
    • Sevens: Strategy, deception, reassessment (Shadow: Self-sabotage, distrust)

    Example:

    • Seven of Swords in Shadow: You deceive yourself about your emotions, convincing yourself you \”don’t care\” when you actually do.
    • Five of Wands in Shadow: You create conflict in relationships because inner chaos feels normal.

    Shadow Work Question: What defense mechanism am I using to cope with discomfort?

    8-10 – Breakthrough, Mastery & Transformation

    • Eights: Strength, movement, persistence (Shadow: Pushing too hard, burnout)
    • Nines: Near completion, self-reliance (Shadow: Isolation, fear of vulnerability)
    • Tens: Completion, endings, lessons (Shadow: Over-identification with suffering, resistance to closure)

    Example:

    • Nine of Swords in Shadow: Your anxiety spirals at night because you suppress emotions during the day.
    • Ten of Cups in Shadow: You believe external perfection will bring happiness while ignoring internal wounds.

    Shadow Work Question: Am I embracing or resisting the lessons I need to learn?

    Court Cards – The Inner Family of the Psyche

    Court cards represent different aspects of our personality. In shadow work, they reflect unintegrated parts, masks we wear, or inner voices that shape our behavior.

    • Pages (The Child/Exiles): Innocence, curiosity, vulnerability (Shadow: Immaturity, fear of responsibility)
    • Knights (The Rebel/Firefighters): Action, exploration, impulsiveness (Shadow: Recklessness, avoidance, overcompensation)
    • Queens (The Nurturer/Managers): Emotion, depth, inner wisdom (Shadow: Emotional repression, over-giving, control disguised as care)
    • Kings (The Authority/Integrated Self): Mastery, leadership, balance (Shadow: Tyranny, suppressing emotions, fear of change)

    Example:

    • Knight of Wands in Shadow: You chase new projects obsessively but never finish because commitment feels suffocating.
    • Queen of Cups in Shadow: You absorb everyone’s emotions but never tend to your own wounds.

    Shadow Work Question: Which court card energy do I struggle with, and why?

    Shadow Work Tarot Spreads Using the Minor Arcana

    Now that we’ve explored the psychological meaning of the Minor Arcana from Ace to King, it’s time to put this knowledge into practice. Tarot spreads designed for shadow work can reveal hidden fears, outdated patterns, and suppressed parts of the self.

    In this section, we’ll explore three powerful spreads that integrate Jungian psychology and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Each spread includes a practical example, so you can see how it works in action.

    1. The Inner Conflict Spread

    What happens when different parts of you are in disagreement?

    Purpose:

    This spread helps identify inner conflict between different psychological parts, often between an Exile (deep wounds), a Manager (control), and a Firefighter (impulsive reactions).

    The Spread Layout:

    1. The Root of the Conflict – The deep, hidden fear or wound.
    2. The Manager’s Perspective – How your controlling or perfectionist side tries to protect you.
    3. The Firefighter’s Reaction – How impulsive or numbing behaviors step in to handle distress.
    4. A Message from the Exile – What your wounded self truly needs.
    5. The Path to Integration – How to bring these parts into balance.

    Example Reading: Difficulty Accepting Change

    Situation: Sophie is struggling with unexpected changes at work. She feels out of control, overwhelmed, and keeps distracting herself to avoid dealing with the emotions.

    Her Reading:

    1. Root of the Conflict (Exile): Four of Pentacles – Fear of instability, holding on too tightly to control.
    2. Manager’s Perspective: King of Swords – A rigid need for structure and predictability.
    3. Firefighter’s Reaction: Knight of Wands – Impulsively seeking distractions (social media, overworking).
    4. Message from the Exile: Five of Cups – She needs to grieve past losses before embracing change.
    5. Path to Integration: The World – Accepting endings as part of personal growth.

    Reflection:

    Sophie realizes her Manager (King of Swords) tries to control everything, while her Firefighter (Knight of Wands) distracts her with busyness. Her Exile (Five of Cups) holds unprocessed grief. Instead of avoiding these emotions, she can work on gently allowing herself to feel and process the discomfort of change.

    2. The Self-Sabotage Spread

    Why do you keep repeating certain patterns?

    Purpose:

    This spread helps uncover self-sabotaging behaviors and their hidden roots. Often, we repeat destructive patterns because parts of us believe they are keeping us safe.

    The Spread Layout:

    1. The Repeating Pattern – What behavior keeps showing up?
    2. The Deep Fear Behind It – What hidden belief drives this pattern?
    3. How the Manager Enforces It – What protective strategies keep the pattern alive?
    4. How the Firefighter Distracts from It – How avoidance or numbing behaviors play a role.
    5. What the Exile Needs Instead – What the wounded self truly longs for.
    6. Breaking the Cycle – How to start healing this pattern.

    Example Reading: Avoiding Emotional Intimacy

    Situation: Alex finds himself pushing people away whenever relationships get too deep, even though he craves emotional closeness.

    His Reading:

    1. Repeating Pattern: Seven of Swords – Avoidance, secrecy, self-protection.
    2. Deep Fear: Three of Swords – Fear of heartbreak and emotional betrayal.
    3. How the Manager Enforces It: Queen of Swords – Keeping emotional distance, intellectualizing feelings.
    4. How the Firefighter Distracts from It: Devil – Using distractions (social media, overindulgence) to avoid intimacy.
    5. What the Exile Needs Instead: Two of Cups – Safe, reciprocal emotional connection.
    6. Breaking the Cycle: Knight of Cups – Learning to take small emotional risks.

    Reflection:

    Alex’s Manager (Queen of Swords) keeps people at a distance, while his Firefighter (Devil) numbs emotions with distractions. His Exile (Three of Swords) carries old wounds of heartbreak. He realizes that healing requires taking small, safe emotional steps (Knight of Cups), rather than shutting down at the first sign of closeness.

    3. The Shadow Integration Spread

    How can you embrace and work with your shadow?

    Purpose:

    This spread helps you face suppressed aspects of yourself—the parts you reject, fear, or avoid.

    The Spread Layout:

    1. The Shadow Self – What aspect of you is hidden or rejected?
    2. How It Affects You – How this shadow influences your life.
    3. Why You Repress It – The reason this part of you remains hidden.
    4. How to Acknowledge It – A step toward accepting and understanding this shadow.
    5. How to Integrate It Positively – How this part can be transformed into a strength.

    Example Reading: Struggling with Anger

    Situation: Mia has always seen anger as “bad” and suppresses it—but she finds herself passive-aggressive and resentful.

    Her Reading:

    1. The Shadow Self: Knight of Swords – A fiery, assertive side she denies.
    2. How It Affects Her: Four of Cups – Emotional numbness, dissatisfaction.
    3. Why She Represses It: Hierophant – She was raised to believe anger is disrespectful.
    4. How to Acknowledge It: Strength – Seeing anger as a natural, powerful emotion rather than something to suppress.
    5. How to Integrate It: King of Wands – Learning to express her needs with confidence and authority.

    Reflection:

    Mia realizes her repressed anger (Knight of Swords) manifests as detachment (Four of Cups). Her upbringing (Hierophant) taught her that anger was unacceptable. By recognizing anger as a source of power (Strength), she can learn to assert herself in a healthy way (King of Wands) rather than suppressing her needs.

    Final Thoughts

    Shadow work with the Minor Arcana offers practical, structured ways to explore your unconscious patterns and defenses. These spreads help uncover deep-seated wounds, psychological defenses, and paths to healing.

    Want to Go Deeper?

    To support your journey, download my free worksheet Exploring the Minor Arcana for Deep Shadow Work, which includes:
    ✔️ Step-by-step guidance for using these spreads.
    ✔️ Journal prompts for deeper reflection.
    ✔️ Extra techniques for working with your shadow.

    Download here

    What’s Next?

    In the next article, we’ll explore advanced tarot techniques for shadow work, including how to create your own personal tarot rituals for self-integration.

    Let’s chat!

    Have you ever used the Minor Arcana for shadow work? What insights have you uncovered about your unconscious patterns? Share your experiences in the comments below!

    Ready for the next part of this series? Read Tarot for Shadow Work: Practical Techniques & Spreads (Part 4 of 6) + free PDF

    Would you rather revisit previous parts?

    Tarot for Shadow Work? A Beginner’s Guide (Part 1 of 6) + free PDF

    Tarot for Shadow Work: The Major Arcana as a Roadmap to Your Hidden Self (Part 2 of 6) + free PDF

  • Tarot for Shadow Work: The Major Arcana as a Roadmap to Your Hidden Self (Part 2 of 6) + free PDF

    Introduction: Why the Major Arcana?

    If you’ve ever felt drawn to tarot for personal growth but weren’t sure how to go beyond simple readings, the Major Arcana offers a structured path. These 22 cards represent universal human experiences, making them a powerful tool for shadow work—the process of uncovering and integrating the hidden parts of yourself.

    Psychologists like Carl Jung and modern therapeutic models like Internal Family Systems (IFS) suggest that our unconscious mind holds aspects of ourselves that we reject, suppress, or misunderstand. Tarot mirrors this journey, with the Major Arcana guiding us through our fears, wounds, and transformations.

    This article will help you use the Major Arcana as a shadow work roadmap. Each section will explore:

    • How each card reflects an aspect of the shadow self
    • How it relates to psychological theories like Jungian archetypes and IFS
    • A tarot exercise or spread for personal exploration

    This is a deep dive, so take your time, reflect, and let the cards reveal what needs to be seen.

    Step 1: The First Encounters with the Shadow (The Fool to The Chariot)

    The first seven cards of the Major Arcana represent the initial stages of self-discovery. At this point, we often don’t recognize our shadow yet—but it starts to appear through challenges, fears, and inner conflicts.

    0 – The Fool: The Unconscious Self

    Shadow Themes: Naivety, denial, ignoring past wounds, resistance to self-awareness.

    The Fool begins the journey unaware of what lies beneath the surface. If we resist shadow work, we might act recklessly, avoid introspection, or convince ourselves that \”everything is fine\” even when we feel disconnected.

    🔹 IFS Connection: The Fool can represent a dissociated part—a part of you that avoids pain by staying in a state of unawareness.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise: Ask your deck: What am I blind to right now? Draw a card and journal about the answer.

    I – The Magician: Hidden Power & Shadow Control

    Shadow Themes: Manipulation, deceit, self-sabotage, fear of one’s own power.

    The Magician symbolizes personal power, but in shadow work, it reveals how we may manipulate situations—either to control others or to avoid vulnerability.

    🔹 IFS Connection: A protector part that controls situations to prevent deeper pain.

    🔹 Example:

    • A person raised in emotional neglect (CEN) might use charm or intellect to mask their emotions, afraid to be seen as weak.
    • Another might “fake confidence” to avoid dealing with self-doubt.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise: Draw a card asking, What hidden strength am I afraid to use?

    II – The High Priestess: Suppressed Intuition

    Shadow Themes: Avoidance of inner wisdom, distrust of emotions, secrecy.

    The High Priestess holds deep knowledge, but shadow work reveals what we refuse to acknowledge. This card often appears when we suppress emotions or ignore our gut feelings.

    🔹 IFS Connection: A protector part that disconnects you from intuition due to past hurt.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone with childhood emotional neglect (CEN) may have learned to distrust their instincts because their emotions were dismissed growing up.
    • This leads to ignoring warning signs in relationships or feeling disconnected from their true desires.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise: Pull a card and journal: What truth am I avoiding?

    III – The Empress: Fear of Nurturing & Self-Worth

    Shadow Themes: Fear of intimacy, neglecting self-care, mother wounds.

    The Empress is about nurturing and abundance, but in shadow work, it can expose wounds related to love and care—especially when self-worth is tied to external validation.

    🔹 IFS Connection: Could indicate an exiled part that feels unloved or unworthy.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone who never received emotional warmth as a child might struggle to nurture themselves, leading to overworking or people-pleasing.
    • Fear of being a burden may cause rejection of care from others.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise: Ask: How do I reject nurturing? Reflect on how this shows up in your relationships.

    IV – The Emperor: Control, Authority, and Fear of Vulnerability

    Shadow Themes: Rigid control, fear of emotions, authority struggles.

    The Emperor represents structure and discipline, but in shadow work, it may highlight an over-reliance on control to avoid emotional depth.

    🔹 IFS Connection: A protector part that creates strict boundaries to prevent vulnerability.

    🔹 Example:

    • A person who grew up in an unstable household may develop rigid routines or a need for absolute control to feel safe.
    • This can manifest as difficulty trusting others or resisting emotional openness.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise: Journal: Where in my life am I overly controlling? What am I afraid would happen if I let go?

    V – The Hierophant: Internalized Beliefs & Conditioning

    Shadow Themes: Blind adherence to rules, unexamined beliefs, rejection of individuality.

    The Hierophant represents tradition and learning, but in shadow work, it calls us to question the belief systems we’ve inherited—especially those that limit our self-expression.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone raised with rigid moral or religious beliefs may struggle with guilt over normal desires.
    • Fear of breaking family expectations can lead to self-denial.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise: Ask: What inherited belief is no longer serving me?

    VI – The Lovers: Fear of True Connection

    Shadow Themes: Fear of intimacy, avoidance of emotional depth, self-rejection.

    The Lovers represents deep relationships, but in shadow work, it highlights fears around vulnerability and connection.

    🔹 IFS Connection: Exiled parts related to rejection and attachment wounds (fearful-avoidant attachment).

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone with CEN may push partners away when they get too close out of fear of abandonment.
    • They may self-sabotage relationships due to low self-worth.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise: Journal: How do I avoid intimacy? What would it feel like to be truly seen?

    VII – The Chariot: Pushing Forward vs. Avoidance

    Shadow Themes: Overworking to escape emotions, avoidance of stillness, burnout.

    The Chariot is about willpower and movement, but in shadow work, it reveals when we push forward to avoid feeling emotions.

    🔹 Example:

    • A person who never learned how to sit with emotions might focus obsessively on goals, mistaking movement for growth.
    • Fear of stillness can lead to burnout and exhaustion.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise: Ask: What am I running from?

    This first stage of the Major Arcana journey shows how we begin encountering the shadow—often through denial, avoidance, or control. The next part will explore cards VIII–XIV, where we start actively working with the shadow.

    Step 2: Facing the Shadow (Strength to Temperance)

    At this stage, the shadow can no longer be ignored. It shows up in emotions, relationships, and life events, pushing us toward transformation.

    VIII – Strength: Learning to Work with the Shadow

    Shadow Themes: Suppressed emotions, self-criticism, forcing control over feelings.

    Strength isn’t about overpowering the shadow—it’s about taming it with compassion. This card reveals where we might try to repress anger, fear, or sadness instead of working with them.

    🔹 IFS Connection: Strength represents the Self, the calm center that can befriend wounded parts instead of fighting them.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone raised to believe that anger is “bad” might push it down—only for it to explode in unexpected ways.
    • Another might see sadness as weakness, leading to emotional shutdown.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Pull a card asking: What emotion am I suppressing? How can I work with it?

    IX – The Hermit: Confronting the Self in Solitude

    Shadow Themes: Avoidance of introspection, loneliness vs. true solitude, fear of silence.

    The Hermit calls us to look inward, but for some, this can be terrifying. True shadow work requires solitude, yet many fear what they’ll find when distractions are removed.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone who always stays busy may do so to avoid painful self-reflection.
    • Fearful-avoidant attachment may cause deep loneliness even when alone.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Spend 15 minutes in complete silence and then pull a card: What truth is waiting for me in stillness?

    X – The Wheel of Fortune: Cycles of Repeating Patterns

    Shadow Themes: Resistance to change, victim mindset, unconscious repetition of past wounds.

    The Wheel of Fortune reveals life’s cycles, but in shadow work, it highlights repeated patterns—especially painful ones.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone who keeps attracting emotionally unavailable partners might be repeating a childhood dynamic.
    • Another might feel stuck in the same job struggles, unaware of deeper fears of success or failure.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Ask: What cycle am I unconsciously repeating? Then pull a clarifying card for how to break it.

    XI – Justice: The Truth We Don’t Want to See

    Shadow Themes: Self-deception, blaming others, avoiding responsibility for personal patterns.

    Justice brings clarity, but in shadow work, it forces us to see what we’d rather ignore. This could be rationalizations, projections, or excuses we make for our own actions.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone who constantly blames external circumstances for their unhappiness might need to confront their own choices.
    • A person who prides themselves on being “good” might struggle to accept their own flaws.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Pull a card asking: What truth am I resisting? Then journal about how you react to the answer.

    XII – The Hanged Man: Surrendering to the Shadow

    Shadow Themes: Fear of letting go, avoiding discomfort, attachment to control.

    The Hanged Man teaches surrender, but in shadow work, this is often the hardest lesson. It asks us to sit with discomfort, to pause instead of react.

    🔹 IFS Connection: This card represents the moment before transformation, when protectors must step aside for deeper healing to begin.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone who always tries to “fix” their emotions may struggle with simply feeling them.
    • Fearful-avoidant types might resist sitting with uncertainty in relationships.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Ask: What do I need to surrender to right now? Pull a card and meditate on its message.

    XIII – Death: Shadow Work’s Transformation

    Shadow Themes: Fear of endings, resistance to personal growth, clinging to the old self.

    Despite its reputation, Death isn’t about physical loss—it’s about deep, personal transformation. In shadow work, this card often appears when we resist letting go of outdated identities, beliefs, or relationships.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone who always saw themselves as a caretaker may struggle with setting boundaries.
    • Another might resist outgrowing old friendships out of guilt.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Journal: What part of myself am I afraid to let go of? Pull a card for insight.

    XIV – Temperance: Integration of the Shadow

    Shadow Themes: Struggling with balance, swinging between extremes, difficulty in self-acceptance.

    Temperance represents harmony, but in shadow work, it challenges us to integrate both light and dark. Many people struggle with either over-identifying with their wounds or trying to completely reject their past.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone deep in healing may become overly focused on their wounds, feeling stuck in the past.
    • Another might push healing too quickly, avoiding deep emotional work.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Pull two cards: One for your light self, one for your shadow self. Reflect on how they coexist.

    This phase of the Major Arcana represents the hardest part of shadow work—the moment when you truly face yourself. Many people resist this stage, but if you’re here, you’re already doing the work.

    In the next part, we’ll explore The Devil through The World, the final stage of integrating the shadow into a whole, authentic self.

    🔹 Jungian Connection: Shadow work is not about eliminating the shadow—it’s about embracing it as part of your whole self.
    🔹 IFS Connection: In Internal Family Systems (IFS), true healing happens when wounded parts of the self feel safe enough to integrate.

    Step 3: Embracing the Shadow (The Devil to The World)

    At this stage, we stop fighting the shadow and begin to accept, integrate, and work with it. This is not about eliminating “bad” parts of yourself but finding balance between light and dark.

    XV – The Devil: Facing Our Deepest Fears and Addictions

    Shadow Themes: Self-sabotage, toxic patterns, unconscious coping mechanisms.

    The Devil represents being trapped, but in shadow work, the trap is often self-imposed. This card asks: What unhealthy behaviors or beliefs keep me stuck?

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone with fearful-avoidant attachment might sabotage relationships out of fear of vulnerability.
    • Another might use constant busyness as an unconscious escape from emotions.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Pull a card asking: What unhealthy pattern am I holding onto? Then another asking: What would it take to release it?

    XVI – The Tower: Ego Death and Radical Transformation

    Shadow Themes: Fear of sudden change, emotional breakdowns, loss of identity.

    The Tower is the breaking point—when the false structures we built collapse. In shadow work, this often happens when we realize a core belief or identity no longer serves us.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone who was taught to suppress emotions might suddenly experience overwhelming grief.
    • A person who always identified as a caretaker may feel lost when they finally set boundaries.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Journal: What belief about myself is crumbling? Pull a card for insight.

    XVII – The Star: Hope After Darkness

    Shadow Themes: Rebuilding self-trust, vulnerability, fear of being seen.

    After The Tower’s destruction, The Star brings healing. However, this stage of shadow work often involves learning to trust yourself again after breaking old patterns.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone who spent years in self-denial may struggle to believe their emotions are valid.
    • A person who has been deeply wounded might feel hopeful but afraid to open up again.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Pull a card asking: What part of me is ready to heal?

    XVIII – The Moon: Navigating the Unknown

    Shadow Themes: Fear of uncertainty, unconscious fears, self-deception.

    The Moon represents the mystery of the subconscious, where shadow work cannot be logically controlled. It asks us to sit with discomfort, rather than rush toward solutions.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone used to rationalizing emotions might struggle with deep, irrational fears surfacing.
    • A person confronting childhood wounds may feel lost without clear answers.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Try a stream-of-consciousness journaling session after pulling a card for What is my shadow trying to tell me?

    XIX – The Sun: The Light of Self-Acceptance

    Shadow Themes: Fear of being fully seen, struggling to accept joy, self-criticism.

    Many assume shadow work is only about darkness, but true integration also means accepting our right to happiness. The Sun reminds us: Healing is not just about pain—it’s about rediscovering joy.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone raised to minimize their own needs may feel guilty enjoying success or love.
    • A person who spent years in survival mode might struggle with relaxing into happiness.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Ask: Where am I blocking joy? Pull a card for insight.

    XX – Judgment: The Moment of Full Awareness

    Shadow Themes: Self-reflection, fear of past mistakes, resistance to transformation.

    Judgment represents the final reckoning before true integration—it asks us to accept everything we have learned.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone deep in healing might resist fully letting go of their old self.
    • Another might struggle with self-forgiveness for past actions.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Pull a card asking: What part of me is ready to rise into wholeness?

    XXI – The World: Full Integration of the Shadow

    Shadow Themes: Accepting the self as whole, ending an old chapter, embracing personal power.

    The World is the completion of the journey—where you no longer see your shadow as an enemy, but as a part of you.

    🔹 Example:

    • Someone who feared being “too much” finally embraces their depth.
    • A person who struggled with self-worth begins to truly value themselves.

    🔹 Tarot Exercise:
    Reflect on your shadow work journey and pull one final card: What have I integrated?

    Conclusion: The Major Arcana as a Map for Shadow Work

    The journey through the Major Arcana reflects the entire process of shadow work—from unconscious patterns (The Fool) to self-exploration (The Magician to The Hanged Man), through confrontation (Death to The Tower), and finally to integration and wholeness (The Star to The World).

    Shadow work is not a one-time event but a lifelong practice. Each time we cycle through these archetypes, we deepen our understanding of ourselves.

    Key Takeaways:

    ✔ Your shadow is not your enemy—it is a part of you that needs acknowledgment and integration.
    ✔ The Major Arcana provides a psychological map for self-exploration, helping you understand different stages of healing.
    ✔ Shadow work is not just about uncovering wounds—it’s about learning to live in balance with yourself.

    ✨ In the next article, we will explore how to use the Minor Arcana for everyday shadow work. Read: Tarot for Shadow Work: the Minor Arcana as a Mirror for everyday struggles.

    📥 Download the Tarot Shadow Work Integration Journal to apply what you’ve learned!

    Download now

    🗨 Which Major Arcana card resonates with your personal shadow journey? Let’s discuss in the comments!

  • Tarot for Shadow Work? A Beginner’s Guide (Part 1 of 6) + free PDF

    Introduction: What If the Answers You Fear Are Already Within You?

    You sit down after a long day, shuffle your tarot deck, and pull a card. It’s The Moon—a card of illusions, uncertainty, and hidden fears. A strange feeling rises in your chest. You were hoping for clarity, but instead, the card seems to reflect a part of you that you’d rather not face.

    This is the essence of shadow work with tarot: using the cards to uncover the thoughts, emotions, and wounds that shape your life from beneath the surface. But can tarot really be used for psychological self-exploration, or is it just a mystical tool?

    In this first article of our six-part series, we’ll explore how tarot can act as a mirror to your unconscious, why it’s a powerful tool for shadow work, and how you can start using it—even if you’ve never picked up a deck before.

    What Is Shadow Work?

    Before we get into tarot, let’s define shadow work. The term comes from Carl Jung, a Swiss psychologist who developed the concept of the shadow self—the hidden part of your psyche where you bury the traits, emotions, and memories that don’t fit your self-image.

    Your shadow might include:

    • Repressed emotions (anger, grief, jealousy)
    • Unacknowledged fears (fear of abandonment, failure, intimacy)
    • Socially unacceptable traits (selfishness, laziness, impulsivity)
    • Trauma responses (people-pleasing, avoidance, emotional numbness)

    Shadow work is the process of bringing these hidden aspects into awareness, allowing you to integrate them rather than suppress them.

    How Tarot Helps Reveal the Shadow

    Tarot cards are rich with symbols, archetypes, and psychological depth, making them an ideal tool for exploring the unconscious.

    1. Tarot as a Mirror of the Unconscious

    Have you ever noticed that certain tarot cards trigger an emotional reaction? Maybe The Devil makes you uncomfortable, or The Tower fills you with dread. That reaction isn’t random—it’s your unconscious recognizing something about yourself that you may not fully see.

    • If The Lovers makes you uneasy, you might struggle with vulnerability or intimacy.
    • If The Emperor feels oppressive, you might have authority wounds or a strained relationship with control.
    • If The High Priestess seems distant, you may have learned to mistrust your intuition.

    Tarot bypasses the rational mind, allowing buried emotions and patterns to rise to the surface.

    2. Archetypes & Symbolism in Self-Discovery

    Carl Jung believed that archetypes—universal symbols and themes—exist in all cultures and shape human psychology. Tarot’s Major Arcana is filled with these archetypes:

    • The Fool → The part of you that fears failure or seeks adventure
    • The Hermit → Your inner wisdom, but also loneliness and withdrawal
    • The Shadowy Moon → The fears, illusions, and subconscious stories shaping your life

    When you draw a card, you’re not predicting the future—you’re seeing a reflection of your current inner state.

    3. Storytelling & Myth as a Personal Growth Tool

    Humans make sense of life through stories. Mythology, fairy tales, and spiritual traditions across cultures use symbolic stories to teach us about ourselves. Tarot operates in the same way—it externalizes your inner journey, making it easier to process.

    Psychologists have found that storytelling in therapy helps people reframe their experiences and uncover deeper truths. Tarot allows you to do this by letting your intuition create a narrative from the cards you pull.

    Do You Need to “Believe” in Tarot for Shadow Work?

    One common misconception is that you have to be spiritual, mystical, or believe in fate to use tarot for self-reflection. This isn’t true! Tarot is simply a tool for self-inquiry, like journaling or dream analysis.

    • If you’re skeptical, try viewing tarot as a randomized journaling prompt generator—each card presents a concept for self-exploration.
    • You don’t have to believe the cards hold “messages from the universe.” Instead, you can see them as a way to tap into your own subconscious wisdom.

    Many therapists and coaches use tarot-like techniques, including Rorschach inkblots and guided imagery, to help clients access deeper emotions.

    Psychological Research Supporting Tarot for Shadow Work

    Tarot is often dismissed as superstition, but several psychological frameworks support its use for self-exploration:

    1️⃣ Carl Jung’s Work on Archetypes & the Unconscious

    • Jung viewed tarot as a symbolic representation of human psychology.
    • He argued that engaging with archetypes (like those in tarot) helps people integrate their unconscious material.

    2️⃣ Internal Family Systems (IFS) & Sub-Personalities

    • Tarot can reveal inner “parts” of ourselves (protector, exile, self) that mirror the IFS framework.
    • IFS therapy uses visualization techniques, much like tarot, to communicate with these parts.

    3️⃣ Projective Techniques in Psychology

    • Similar to Rorschach inkblots, tarot cards allow free association, helping people express subconscious thoughts.
    • Studies show that projective storytelling enhances emotional awareness and self-reflection.

    How to Start Using Tarot for Shadow Work

    If you’re new to tarot, start simple. You don’t need to memorize all 78 cards to begin. Instead, focus on asking meaningful questions and reflecting on your reactions to the images.

    1. Set an Intention

    Before you shuffle your deck, ask yourself:

    • What emotion am I avoiding today?
    • What part of myself do I struggle to accept?
    • What do I need to see but resist acknowledging?

    2. Pull a Single Card & Reflect

    • Observe your immediate reaction to the card.
    • Ask: Does this card feel comforting, challenging, or confusing?
    • Consider: What does this card represent in my life right now?

    3. Journal Your Thoughts

    Journaling is a key part of shadow work. You don’t need to write a formal essay—just jot down your impressions.

    Example Journal Prompts:

    • What hidden fear does this card reflect?
    • What message does my shadow self have for me today?
    • How have I been avoiding this truth in my daily life?

    Tarot Spreads for Shadow Work

    To make shadow work more accessible, here are three powerful tarot spreads designed to help you explore your unconscious patterns. These spreads integrate insights from Jungian psychology and Internal Family Systems (IFS), which both focus on working with the different aspects of the self.

    1. The Inner Conflict Spread (IFS Approach to Shadow Work)

    This spread helps uncover inner parts of yourself that are in conflict, a concept central to IFS therapy, which views the psyche as made up of different sub-personalities or \”parts.\”

    Spread Layout:
    1️⃣ The Protector: What part of me is trying to keep me safe, even if in an unhealthy way?
    2️⃣ The Wounded Part: What part of me is actually hurting or needs attention?
    3️⃣ What This Part Needs: How can I acknowledge and integrate this part in a healthy way?

    Example Reading:

    • Card 1: The Emperor → Your protector part is rigid, controlling, and tries to keep you safe by being overly structured and perfectionistic.
    • Card 2: The Five of Cups → The wounded part carries deep sadness from past failures or disappointments and is terrified of making mistakes.
    • Card 3: The Queen of Cups → Your wounded part needs compassion, self-acceptance, and permission to express emotions without judgment.

    Interpretation:
    Your inner critic (The Emperor) is trying to protect you from failure, but in doing so, it suppresses your emotional self. This can lead to burnout, emotional disconnection, and anxiety. The tarot is showing that embracing self-compassion(Queen of Cups) will allow your wounded part (Five of Cups) to heal instead of being buried under perfectionism.

    ✅ IFS Insight: This aligns with the IFS model of protectors (The Emperor) and exiles (The Five of Cups). Your protector isn’t the enemy—it just doesn’t trust that your core self (Queen of Cups) can handle vulnerability. The key is to thank your protector for its efforts while learning to lead with self-compassion.

    2. The Shadow Trigger Spread (Jungian Approach to Projection)

    Have you ever intensely disliked someone, only to realize later that they reminded you of a part of yourself that you had disowned? This is Jung’s concept of projection—our shadow often appears in what we reject in others.

    Spread Layout:
    1️⃣ The Person/Situation That Triggers Me: What external situation is revealing my shadow?
    2️⃣ The Disowned Trait: What part of myself am I rejecting or not acknowledging?
    3️⃣ How to Integrate This Trait: How can I accept and work with this shadow part?

    Example Reading:

    • Card 1: Knight of Swords → You feel triggered by someone who is impulsive, argumentative, and speaks without thinking.
    • Card 2: The Fool → Your shadow is your own suppressed spontaneity and freedom—you secretly envy people who act without overthinking.
    • Card 3: The Hanged Man → The way to integrate this trait is to pause and reflect on why you fear spontaneity, rather than suppressing it.

    Interpretation:
    You might pride yourself on being calm and rational, but deep down, you have a repressed part that craves freedom, risk-taking, and adventure. Instead of rejecting this part, tarot encourages you to explore it safely, perhaps by making small spontaneous choices.

    ✅ Jungian Insight: Shadow projection often leads us to judge in others what we suppress in ourselves. This reading suggests that examining our triggers can reveal unconscious desires and wounds.

    3. The Unfinished Story Spread (Healing Past Wounds)

    Some wounds remain unresolved because we never allow ourselves to fully process them. This spread helps identify unfinished emotional business that still affects your present.

    Spread Layout:
    1️⃣ The Past Wound: What experience still affects me today?
    2️⃣ The Current Manifestation: How is this wound showing up in my present life?
    3️⃣ The Healing Path: What do I need to do to find closure?

    Example Reading:

    • Card 1: Three of Swords → A past heartbreak, betrayal, or loss is still lingering in your subconscious.
    • Card 2: Eight of Swords → In your present life, this pain is causing self-doubt, fear, and a feeling of being trapped.
    • Card 3: The Star → Healing will come when you allow yourself to hope again, trust again, and believe in the possibility of renewal.

    Interpretation:
    The tarot reveals that an old emotional wound is still shaping your decisions today. You might be avoiding new relationships, struggling with self-worth, or fearing vulnerability. The key to healing (The Star) is to believe that healing is possible and start making choices that align with hope rather than fear.

    ✅ Psychological Insight: Research shows that unresolved emotional trauma is stored in the body and subconscious mind, influencing behaviors and perceptions. Practices like journaling, therapy, or mindfulness can help bring closure.

    Final Thoughts: Embracing the Depth of Tarot Shadow Work

    Shadow work is a lifelong journey, but tarot offers a structured, intuitive way to explore your hidden depths. By engaging with tarot:
    ✅ You gain self-awareness and uncover hidden patterns.
    ✅ You develop compassion for your wounded parts.
    ✅ You integrate your light and shadow, leading to greater wholeness.

    In Part 2, we’ll explore how each Major Arcana card represents a stage in the shadow work journey—from The Fool’s first step into the unknown to The World’s integration of all aspects of the self.

    Share Your Thoughts!

    Have you ever pulled a tarot card that revealed something deep about yourself? What shadow aspect do you struggle with the most? Let’s talk in the comments!

    Next Steps & Free Download

    🔹 Download Your Free Tarot Shadow Work Journal (PDF with spreads & prompts)

    Download now

    🔹 Read Part 2: Thet Major Arcana as a Shadow Work Roadmap