Carl Jung mentioned, even if briefly, the power of Tarot cards as a psychological tool for individuation. To explore our unconscious, both personal and collective, and integrate different aspects of ourselves. In Jung’s view, Tarot are part of the same toolbox as Alchemy and I Ching. He considered having his colleagues to test if using them all together, would have lead a client to receive compatible messages from each of this methods. He did not take this idea further, but now the interpretation of Tarot cards is nerveless influenced by the Jungian framework.
The Tarot book “EXSTATICA” brings a fresh perspective to the psychological use of the Tarot for Self-Help. It presents Four Spheres: Meaning, Cognition, Emotion, Behavior. When they are nested into each others, with Meaning being the outer/wider of the spheres, we are in harmony. If they are out of balance, our life suffers as well. As a tool to explore how these spheres apply to us, EXSTATICA uses the Mantegna Tarot. Its 50 drawings were made during the Renaissance in Italy, and with the passing of time, they became cards. The first ten cards of the Mantegna Tarot belong to the Sphere of Behavior. The cards from 11 to 20, belong to the Sphere of Emotion. From 21 to 30, to the Sphere of Cognition. And the outer Sphere of Meaning includes the cards from 31 to 50. The Visconti Sforza Tarot, Sola Busca Tarot, Tarot of Marseille, Rider-Waite Tarot, Thoth Tarot, and other decks can be used with EXSTATICA as well.
EXSTATICA has been authored by Shanti and Frank Ra. It is available at independent bookstores and online.
Be the first to comment