Using the Tarot Major Arcana in a Therapeutic Setting

So... We have had an overview of the cards in a Tarot deck and more detail on the significance of each of the Major Arcana in terms of the Jungian Archetypes and relating them to the life journey of the Fool...

If you remember, the Major Arcana refers to the 22 cards that each have an individual image. Some people will use the whole deck, but I think that this makes life far too complicated..!

But what else can you do to utilise these beautiful artefacts in therapy...? Well here is how I would suggest using them...:

 

Cards face down...

1. Let your Client choose which card they want to turn over... take their time...
2. Let them tell you what they see in the card they have selected that relates to the situation that is troubling them or their life in genertal. This is all about getting them to express themselves in their own words.
3. Avoid leading the Client (let the Client use their own words). This will draw out more of the Client's own thoughts, but if they are reluctant or hesitant then you can assist by offering the interpretation of the card given elsewhere on this site...
4. You can repeat this as much as you like, and can leave the selected cards face up and encourage the Client to position all of the cards as they select them in an arrangement that suits them. Even to the point of selecting all of the 22 cards of the Major Arcana...
5. Alternatively, you can arrange the selected cards into groups according to the Jungian consciousness categories.
6. The metaphorical imagery of the cards allows the Client to express feelings in what is called a dissociated manner ... this is very helpful if they are reticent or have difficulty expressing personal feelings ... It gives them a comfortable distance...

Cards face up...

As above, but the Client chooses the cards more consciously... you can ask more probing questions with regard to what attracted them to that particular card...

Cards arranged face up in the numerical order of the Major Arcana...

Using the Fool card to represent the Client's journey, go through the cards of the Major Arcana in order and ask the Client to express their feelings at each stage... Who do the cards represent?  What events are brought to mind? etc...