The Tarot, a seventy-eight-card deck used for divination, has been a companion of humanity for centuries. Its history is difficult to ascertain with certainty, adding to its enigmatic quality.  In this second Tarot course, the Major and Minor Arcana will be viewed from the perspectives of images and symbols and the psychological reality of both. We will also explore ways the Tarot can become an essential ally in enhancing consciousness.

The Tarot can be used for divination and for deepening our process of individuation. We will explore various dimensions of Tarot symbolism, including color, number, suits, and common elements across cards, as well as amplify the Rider-Waite-Smith deck with selected cards from other decks.

Building on the readings covered in Part I of this course (offered July 2023), we will explore other spreads, particularly the structure and dynamics of the Celtic Cross, and ways to generate new spreads to answer specific questions or concerns. We will also highlight deeper consideration of the selection of significators and the interpretation of reversed cards. 

It is recommended that each participant come prepared with a Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck, as this deck will be the foundation of class discussions and sample readings. The rationale behind this specific deck selection will be elucidated during the course. This endeavor will provide participants with an enriched understanding of the Tarot's role in divination, the study of the psyche, and personal introspection.

NOTE: While participation in the first Tarot course offered last year would be beneficial, it is not necessary.

SUGGESTED READINGS (In order of benefit for the course)

Pollack, Rachel. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom. Newburyport, MA: Samuel Weiser Inc., 2019.

Greer, Mary K. The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2002.

Kelly, Dorothy. Tarot Card Combinations. York Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, Inc., 1995.

Gad, Irene. Tarot and Individuation. Lake Worth, FL: Nicholas-Hays, Inc., 2004.

Kenneth James, Ph.D., is a Jungian analyst in private practice in Chicago. He is the founder and director of The Soulwork Center, dedicated to facilitating the process of individuation according to the teachings of C.G. Jung and other contributors to the field of Analytical Psychology. He received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University and a Diploma in Analytical Psychology from the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago. Along the way, he studied voice at the American Conservatory of Music and music therapy at the Institute for Consciousness and Music in Baltimore. He also completed four years of post-doctoral study in theology and scripture at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He has taken lay ordination in Zen Buddhism and has studied the Kabbalah with a Lubavitcher rabbi in Chicago.

Ken’s studies of the Tarot began at an early age when he was introduced to the notion of divination by an elderly aunt from Scotland. He has led workshops around the world on the relationship between divination and synchronicity, and on the use of the Tarot to explore the unconscious. The synthesis of Jungian thought, clinical practice, and the numinous has been a strong motif throughout his career.