Speaking in Archetypes: Why I Use the Caroline Myss Deck with Tarot

Every Tarot reader has a deck that sneaks its way into the practice—not because it was planned, but because it revealed itself as necessary.

That’s how it happened for me with Caroline Myss’s Archetype Cards.

At first, I treated it as a study tool. I was fascinated by the language of archetypes and how they shaped the Major Arcana—The Fool as Innocent, The Magician as Alchemist, The Empress as Nurturer or Queen. But over time, I found myself reaching for this deck during client readings, dream reflections, and personal check-ins—not as a substitute for Tarot, but as a mirror that made the reading more personal, more internalized, and more direct.

What Are Archetype Cards?

Caroline Myss’s Archetype Cards are a 74-card deck designed to explore the light and shadow aspects of universal human patterns. Each card represents an archetype—like the Visionary, the Rebel, the Caregiver, or the Trickster—and includes both empowering traits and challenges that come with inhabiting that role.

Unlike Tarot, this deck doesn’t follow a system of suits or numbers. It speaks the language of psychology and myth—rooted in Jungian thought, but accessible and emotional.

And that’s what makes it such a powerful companion to Tarot.

Why I Use This Deck Alongside Tarot

When Tarot tells a story, Archetype Cards reveal the cast of characters within you.

They name the internal voices shaping your behavior, reactions, and growth edges. They help you go deeper than “What’s happening?” into “Who am I being in this moment?” and “Who do I need to become to move forward?”

Here’s how I use them in practice:

• To ground the reading in identity: I often pull an Archetype Card before a Tarot reading to clarify what energy the querent is embodying—or resisting. It immediately sets the tone for the spread that follows.

• To explore the roles we play: After a reading about conflict, transition, or uncertainty, I might draw an Archetype Card to ask: Which part of you is in charge right now? Who else needs to speak?

• To mirror shadow and light: Myss’s cards include both shadow and light traits, and I always read both sides. It adds nuance—reminding us that every gift has a challenge, and every wound holds wisdom.

• To deepen dreamwork: When working with symbolic or emotionally charged dreams, I use these cards to identify the archetypal roles present in the dream world. It’s especially helpful in sessions where we’re tracking emotional arcs or soul themes.

  
  

The Benefit: A Reading That Lives in You

Tarot speaks in structure, pattern, story, and timing. Archetype Cards speak in identity and transformation. When combined, they offer a holistic conversation between what is and who you are becoming.

Clients often leave sessions not just with insight, but with language. They don’t say, “I need to be more assertive.” They say, “I’m stepping into my Queen energy” or “I realize my Saboteur is trying to protect me from failure.”

Language matters. Archetypal language gives us emotional precision—and with that comes clarity, compassion, and conscious change.

For Readers, Seekers, and Storytellers

If you’re a Tarot reader looking to deepen your practice, or a seeker who wants to better understand your own story arc, this deck is a wise companion.

It doesn’t replace Tarot—it supports it. It doesn’t point to the future—it holds up a mirror. And sometimes, that mirror is exactly what you need before turning another card.

The road ahead is unwritten, the cards unturned—until next time, walk between the worlds.

Carrie Slayton | Tarot Traveler ©2025