Symbols from the past: Hidden tarot archetypes in folktales

Few relics from the past are as enigmatic and ripe for deep research as folktales. Some of these may seem quite simple, but there’s a reason why they remained engraved in our minds and cultures.

Folktales cover fundamental topics such as growth, pain, love, and transformation. So, how can we examine them under the scope of tarot readings?

In this article, we will cover some popular fairy tales and myths and how they relate to tarot.

Innocence and adventure in folktales and tarot

The fool is one of the most popular cards in tarot. Similarly, innocence and adventure are fundamental themes in fairy tales such as The Little Mermaid or Jack and the Beanstalk.

These stories have in common a main character that is innocent and unguarded against the perils of the real world. The little mermaid, for example, travels to an unknown world awaiting for a different life. She has no clue as to what it will mean for her in the future but still takes the risk.

For tarot readers, that describes the archetype of the fool. This archetype does not necessarily represent a naive character. What’s more important, The Fool is prepared for transformation and change in a daunting road.

Duality and evil and what they can teach us

The fool’s journey can be found in nearly every folktale, often linked to themes of duality. There’s always an evil counterpart lurking behind the scenes. A great example of that would be the Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf.

Here, the wolf can easily be linked to The Devil. It’s not only a shadow of greed and desire. It also represents the temptation to fall to the material world and slavery to one’s desires.

But is there a way to integrate duality into a single symbol? Beauty and the Beast is a great example filled with symbolic meaning. It is the perfect example of how animal instinct and human reason can find a middle way. 

In tarot, The Lovers card holds similar symbolism. Beyond romance, The Lovers represents a decision being made. It is also a confrontation between our minds and heart, and how the result affects what we choose to do.

Transformation under the mage’s wand

The Mage is another popular tarot archetype with parallels to figures such as the Wizard of Oz or Aladdin’s genie. These mighty beings are there to uncover the arcane truth about the occult and transformation.

In tarot, The Mage is all about dominion of the elements and being able to transform your desires into action. We can find a similar role in alchemists, genies, fairies, and wizards all about the fairy tale worlds.

There’s much more to learn by delving deeper into popular narratives, fairy tales and folk stories. For instance, we can mention the less known story about Hinemoa and Tutanekai and how it relates to The World.

This theme is beautifully portrayed in Yoshi Yoshitani’s Tarot of the Divine: A Deck and Guidebook Inspired by Deities, Folklore, and Fairy Tales from Around the World.

So, if you like folk tales and tarot, you’ll appreciate the deck’s vibrant art, and the accompanying 44-page guidebook, which contains the myth of Oedipus from Greece, Fenrir’s legend from Norway, Japan’s Crane Wife, among others.