In a systemic constellation, people, thoughts, and/or relationships are represented by objects and positioned in a room (set up). Constellations stimulate subconsciousness, which brings hidden dynamics, patterns, and cause-and-effect to light.
The spatial arrangement enables shifts in perspective, encourages self-reflection, and supports insight into subjectively experienced dynamics. The method serves to explore meanings, not to make predictions or diagnoses.
A theoretical example: Someone finds themselves torn between duty and freedom. Three positions are set up in the room, or Tarot cards are laid out: the person, duty, and freedom. The representation of the client is placed between the symbols of duty and freedom.
The client observes the constellation from an external perspective and with an attentive distance. In doing so, she escapes emotional entanglements and habitual reactions. She also becomes aware of hidden relationships and cause-and-effect patterns. Last but not least, she may take action — for example, by moving elements of the constellation, listening to them, and asking them questions.
Tarot cards are particularly well-suited for constellations. Their rich archetypal symbolism stimulates the subconscious to fully unfold its associative, integrative, and revealing capacities.
In a Tarot constellation, you experience a new form of constellation work. Unlike many other constellation methods, which usually operate only on emotional levels, Tarot cards work with the four levels of human expression: bodily–emotional, intellectual–educational, creative–feeling, and intentional–soulful.
Tarot in Psychological Research
More and more psychologists are studying Tarot and exploring its use in psychoanalysis and therapy.
In her academic paper “Tarot as a Projective Technique”, published in Spirituality and Health International (2006), Inna Semetsky examined Tarot within the framework of clinical-reflective Jungian therapy.
Semetsky argues that Tarot cards can serve as a projective medium, similar to Rorschach inkblots* or the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)**.
Projection means that people transfer their own thoughts, feelings, or conflicts onto a person or object. A projective medium must therefore be ambiguous, symbolically rich, and open to interpretation, which Tarot cards provide.
Semetsky’s key findings:
- The interpretive process using Tarot resembles depth psychology and Jungian symbolic analysis.
- Tarot cards can mediate between conscious reflection and unconscious structures.
- Tarot cards can promote psychological insight through metaphor and symbolism.
- Tarot images can stimulate narrative externalizations of inner states.
In 2009, G. M. Hofer wrote the honors thesis Tarot Cards: An Investigation of Their Benefit as a Tool for Self-Reflection at the University of Victoria. In this qualitative exploratory study, Hofer examined how participants describe their psychological experiences when working with Tarot, particularly regarding insight, personal reflection, and meaning-making.
Hofer’s findings:
- Participants reported that Tarot can act as a strong reflective stimulus.
- Tarot cards catalyze the narrative expression of complexes.
- Tarot cards help clarify emotions.
- The symbolic ambiguity of the images enables the projection of personal meaning.
In “The Mirror, Not the Crystal Ball: A Psychological Analysis of Tarot as a Self-Reflection Tool”, Yiu Kwong Au-Yeung describes Tarot as a symbolic instrument of reflection. He used Tarot within narrative psychology, sense-making methods, and interpretive psychology.
Au-Yeung’s findings:
- Tarot cards can function as ambiguous symbolic stimuli.
- Interpretation involves narrative expression.
- The reflective process resembles guided self-inquiry.
- Symbolic distance can facilitate emotional articulation.
- The cards can elicit interpretive dialogue.
In Divining the Self: Applying Tarot as a Projective Technique in Counseling, a graduate thesis from James Madison University, Eileen Clinton examines Tarot as a potential projective technique in counseling. Building on theories of projective methods such as Rorschach and TAT, she argues that Tarot images can serve as symbolic stimuli that invite clients to talk about their inner experiences.
Clinton’s findings:
- Symbolic imagery helps clients articulate unconscious or emotionally complex material.
- Tarot cards can mediate between counselor and client and reduce defensiveness.
- Meaning emerges through the client’s interpretation rather than fixed card meanings.
Clinical psychologist Arthur Rosengarten published the book Tarot and Psychology: Spectrums of Possibility (2000). In his case study “Symbolism and Tarot in Jungian Psychotherapy”, Tarot cards were used in analytical psychotherapy, Gestalt work, dream interpretation, and shadow work. The study showed that Tarot cards can help clients recognize and articulate unconscious patterns.
Across these works, Tarot is understood as:
- A symbolic-projective medium
- A tool for self-knowledge
- A catalyst for meaning-making
- A method supporting dialogical exploration
Overall, a consensus is emerging that Tarot can function as a catalyst for:
- Projection
- Self-narrative
- Reflection
- Positive suggestion
- Meaning-making
* The Rorschach method (“inkblot test”) uses images to reveal unconscious psychological patterns such as fears. Because inkblots are random, the results can be random as well—similar to fishing. Tarot cards can stimulate the subconscious more deeply because their archetypal imagery speaks directly to it and stimulates associative functions. Practitioners can also deliberately select cards such as Reason, Truth, or Sacrifice to address suspected inner complexes.
** The TAT (Thematic Apperception Test) is a projective psychological method in which a therapist shows pictures to a client who then tells stories about them.
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