Our inner world has many dimensions. However, our outer world can also have several layers. All of those different layers make up the Persona of an individual.
Lets have a look at how this archetype has been expressed within the images of the Tarot cards.
The word ‘Persona’ has been derived from the Latin word ‘persona’ that means ‘mask’. According to Jung, the Persona is the face that an individual presented to the world. He likened it to a mask that was designed not only to impress other people, but also to hide the true nature of that individual. [Source: Wikipedia’s Page on The Persona.]
The Persona
The Persona is a very natural evolution of the growing up process of an individual. It is the way we present ourselves to the world. As such, it is a representation of our self, but on a very surface level of our personality. You can even call it the outward facing personality of the individual.
The Persona of an individual goes through several changes during his / her lifetime, growing, changing and developing as an individual experiences different aspects of life.
You might even say that the Persona is an amalgamation of what an individual thinks about himself / herself and what other people think about that individual.
Naturally, during the process of Individuation, the individual needs to get to know what his / her Persona is, and then alter it so that it becomes a truer picture of who and what he / she really is. Thus, the Persona won’t remain a mask that the individual puts on and takes off as and when he interacts with the world, but becomes a more correct depiction of his true self.
The Symbols of the Persona
Based on the definition of the term, one can clearly say that the Persona is easily symbolized by the image of the mask – especially the kind of mask that actors wear on stage.
The Persona archetype therefore can even come to symbolize the different personalities that individuals take on based on their social scenario. For example, at home a person may present himself as a loving father and a patient husband, but in the workplace he presents himself as a very demanding boss, while among friends he shows himself as a jovial and fun loving person.
These type of changes are not often considered to be unwelcome, which is probably the one factor that works against the process of Individuation.
Rigid Personas can also often hamper the growth process of an individual, or might even create personalities that appear very superficial.
Tarot Cards – The Persona Archetype
Within the Tarot cards, the Persona archetype has been very subtly expressed. Here are my thoughts on the Major Arcana cards, The Magician, The Hierophant and The Chariot, where I feel that the Persona archetype has been very cleverly expressed.
The Magician
The Magician is a very clever Persona. Here we see a man standing by a table, surrounded by interesting tools, and performing magic! However, if we look deep into the image, we realize that he is merely a channel for the energies of the Universe, and that he isn’t the one who is creating. He is merely the facilitator, albeit a knowledgeable one, but he isn’t one who is actually making the magic happen.
In the outer world, such people are often perceived as good leaders and managers, and yes, even creative people. However, the reality is that this is their Persona. This is what they show to the world, to awe the world and to lead the crowd of followers.
This Persona makes it easy for them to achieve the results that they desire. And with the personality of the Magician, they can ensure that they direct you to achieve that goal for them!
The Hierophant
The Hierophant card has often been considered to be representative of the Society, or of an Institution. The Pope, in this card, therefore has such a Persona. He is the face of the Society, the School or the Institution. The people or the students that he leads follow the laws laid down by this Persona.
In fact, in the image of this card, we see that he blesses the two priests, who are his students and gives them the keys to knowledge. He, as a teacher, can show the students the path to the knowledge, and can guide them, and give them the books to read. But he can’t make them knowledgeable simply on the basis of that. The student himself must have some capability for understanding, grasping and utilizing the knowledge so gained. Yet, the teacher, the society at large get all the credit for any positives that might happen along the way.
The Persona hidden within the layers of the Hierophant can easily be seen in the personalities of such leaders of society and its sections.
Archetypes in Tarot – The Persona
Thus, we can see that the Persona archetype in Tarot is a picture of the manifestation of the masks that get imposed upon people, and then become the symbols of those people over a period of time.
Carl Jung, in his study of the Persona said that it would be dangerous if people became identical to their Personas. However, one of the goals of the process of Individuation was the development of a realistic, flexible persona that will help an individual during his interactions with society, but won’t clash with his true self. Thus the Persona will become a true representation of that individual’s inner individuality and his outward sense of self.
Your Thoughts…
What do you think? Does this article make sense to you? Do you see the subtle hints of the Persona archetype in any other cards in the Tarot deck? If so, please do share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Do you want to learn how to leverage the power of the powerful Tarot Archetypes to figure out the tough (and sometimes not so tough) parts of your life?
Would you like to have your own personal Guide / Guides in the form of these powerful Archetypes that you can reach out and connect with, and ask your questions any time you want to?
If yes, then my Ask the Tarot Archetypes course is just perfect for you!
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But what about the Chariot ?
The Persona is about the mask / face one puts on to face the world. Archetypally-speaking, The Chariot card represents the stage of Integration where the various archetypes merge and integrate into a whole.
Thank you Madhavi, … but what ‘exactly’ does the Chariot have to contribute to this integration? What ‘qualities’, ideologies, or thoughts even does it proffer forth for inspection and integration?
Even if the Chariot is deemed simply a ‘moving force’ to propel this integration…do you not think it likely that it still has something worthwhile in knowledge to contribute as well? As most things do in life.
As I said in the previous comment, the chariot shows what happens as the integration happens. When the various facets (the self, the persona, the shadow, anima / animus) integrate into a whole, the picture is of a balanced individual who is in touch with his / her own powers, and also aware of his / her real self and can be more true to the way he / she portrays himself / herself in the world. Naturally, that will lead to their success not only in that outer world, but also in their inner world.
I think that the ‘contribution’ that the Chariot card does is that it shows us what the picture will be like once this integration happens – a sort of ‘what to expect’ image. Knowing that this will be the outcome may inspire us.
What do you think?
The Chariot doesn’t contribute – it shows how the integration manifests. The qualities of the Charioteer (based on the symbols on the card which allude to these abilities) are what the integration brings about.
Yes, I see…The Chariot embodies the totality of the process and the image of its result in the individual. I would venture farther…that the contribution so to speak would be a totality of balance, integration, and self-control of all the integration lessons and shifts which has brought the individual to this point. But also a spiritual stability and wisdom gained and felt within and without the being. The calm that precedes ‘know thyself’ has emerged as the Self is now ‘known’. The inner battle has now been conquered. Thus The Chariot as the victorious Conquerer.
I think you have quite a keen insight and should continue pursuing your trains of thought on these matters. I enjoy reading your Blog. Thank you.
Wow! You’ve summarized it really well… You certainly have a way with words! 🙂 Thank You.
There is always the ‘process’ which is important, but there is also the ‘human aspect’ as well. The latter was what I was referring toward – being the subject of The Chariot’s contribution.
You have an interesting insight as well… I can see now – The Chariot not only represents the ‘end result’ but he also represents the ‘path to take’ … In that, I think, The Chariot truly does represent the basic quality of ‘Movement’.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts… You’ve certainly got me pondering… 🙂
Thank you…lol…it sometimes takes a while 🙂
so she is looking into the deeper hidden emotional side which needs a careful attention 🙂 thanks
yes it does.. but why is queen of cups so seriously staring into a creepy fifa world cup on the left (feminine passive) side?
It’s not a fifa cup – it is a closed cup (not open like the other cups in this deck) and those are angels on the cup (look closely).
The closed cup signifies emotions and feelings that haven’t been revealed to the world. They could be so precious or spiritual that angels protect it. And as you said, it is the feminine passive side. That’s why she hasn’t revealed them yet.
All this is open to intuitive interpretation – which is kinda the point – during a reading. How would you interpret the image now that you know this?
so the cards like 5,7,8 of cups where the face is not visible is looking for a new persona? in some cards the character is facing fully left or fully right.. sometimes partially left or partially right.. does this direction have a significance?
That’s quite an interesting way to interpret it… Nice!
The directions do take on significance – in the book ‘Tarot as a Way of Life’ author Karen Hamaker-Zondag talks about this. The right side is the Yang or the male side, while the left side is the Yin or the female side. The male aspect is considered to be outward and aggressive, whereas the female aspect is said to be inward and passive.
Hope this helps…